News Releases & Statements
December 2, 2009 – FLA Board of Directors ends the special review period and restores compliance of Russell Corporation with FLA standards. Based on the progress documented by COVERCO and a review of the agreement between Russell and the CGT and SITRAJERZEESH union, the Board adopted a resolution on December 1, 2009 finding Russell in good standing with the FLA.
November 17, 2009 – Negotiations result in agreement between Russell Corporation and the union workers of SITRAJERZEESH and the General Confederation of Workers (CGT) in Honduras. The statement released today by parties to the negotiations addresses many of the key concerns that the FLA Board expressed in placing Russell on 90-day special review in June 2009. Details of the agreement and the overall remediation plan will be assessed to determine Russell's status with the FLA following the conclusion of the extended special review period in mid-December.
October 29, 2009 – FLA Board of Directors issued a statement on Russell Corporation's status. The Board decided to extend the special review period period another 45 days to allow the remediation process to continue. The Board's decision took into consideration requests from the parties currently engaged in negotiations as part of the remediation, letters from various stakeholders in the labor rights community, and an FLA-commissioned independent verification report that confirms progress is being made.
October 6, 2009 – FLA Releases 2008 Annual Public Report
The Fair Labor Association (FLA) today released its 2008 annual public report, which provides statistics on the 239 unannounced factory audits conducted in 2007 and 2008 by FLA-accredited independent monitors and highlights FLA projects that have found innovative approaches to addressing ongoing challenges in labor compliance. This is the sixth annual report published by the FLA since it began its global monitoring program in 1999.
June 29, 2009 – The FLA released today a detailed remediation plan that defines the timelines and deliverables Russell Corporation will be required to meet in order to be removed from special review status at the end of the 90-day period. The FLA worked with Russell on the development of this plan in response to the FLA Board resolution of June 25, and the company has agreed to meet its requirements.
June 26, 2009 – The FLA Board of Directors issued a new resolution regarding Russell Corporation. At its June 25 meeting, the Board adopted a resolution to put Russell Corporation on 90-day special review. Special review requires specific actions by Russell to address issues related to the closure of the Jerzees de Honduras factory and to be in good standing with the FLA. The Board’s decision was based on review of the independent verification report commissioned by the FLA to review Russell’s implementation of the remediation plan adopted by the FLA and the Board of Directors on January 29 and February 12, 2009.
April 9, 2009 – The FLA released today a report from Russell Corporation regarding actions it has taken to address issues found at Jerzees de Honduras. They have provided an activities matrix that addresses point by point the remedial steps listed in the FLA report issued on January 28, 2009, as well as the recommendations in the FLA Board resolution issued on February 13, 2009.
March 25, 2009 – The FLA closes the Third Party Complaint regarding Estofel, S.A., a factory in Guatemala City, Guatemala, that shut down in late 2007. The FLA summary report reflects the collaborative effort of an ad-hoc, multi-stakeholder group organized by the FLA and WRC. The group consisted of representatives of the University of Washington, GFSI, Inc., Hanesbrands, Phillips-Van Heusen, Ghim Li, and the Collegiate Licensing Company, supported by FLA-accredited monitor COVERCO in Guatemala. The effort resulted in payment of additional severance to over 871 former Estofel workers.
February 13, 2009 – The FLA Board of Directors issued a resolution regarding Russell Corporation's closure of Jerzees de Honduras. At its February 12 meeting, the Board recommended nine additional remedial steps that Russell should take to address serious concerns about allegations of violations of associational rights at the JDH plant. View the resolution and the release.
January 28, 2009 – FLA released today its report based on three independent investigations to determine the facts surrounding the Russell Corporation's announced closure of Jerzees de Honduras (JDH). Three investigations were launched in response to allegations that Russell’s decision to close the factory was motivated by a desire to shut down the union and in violation of the FLA Workplace Code of Conduct on freedom of association. An investigation into the business case was conducted at Russell headquarters in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and two independent investigations were conducted on freedom of association in Honduras. Below is the FLA’s statement and report on these investigations, as well as the third-party reports.
2008
November 19, 2008 – The FLA Board voted to accredit the labor compliance programs of Patagonia and H&M, and reaccredited the programs of Nike and adidas. The Board also provisionally admitted six new affiliates, including five to the new Participating Supplier program, which is aimed at increasing ownership for code compliance at the supplier level. Read the press release.
November 7, 2008 – The Fair Labor Association commissions independent investigation to determine facts surrounding the pending closure of Jerzees de Honduras in 2009. The Russell Corporation announced October 8, 2008 its decision to close the factory because of economic conditions. Since then allegations that the factory closing may be in violation of freedom of association have surfaced. The FLA is taking several steps to uncover the facts and to ensure that workers’ rights are being respected. View the FLA’s statement.
October 8, 2008 – The Fair Labor Association upholds freedom of association in a statement regarding an independent report on factory closings in Sri Lanka. Three factories of the Jaqalanka Group shuttered their doors in the first quarter of 2008. The FLA commissioned T-Group Solutions, an independent monitor in South Asia, to investigate the causes of the closures. Key findings of the report indicate that the factory closings were the result of economic and financial challenges, and not the result of any union activities. To read the statement, click here.
September 19, 2008 – The Fair Labor Association publishes independent audit reports and corrective action plan relating to Mainland Headwear. PlayFair 2008, a campaign organized by the Clean Clothes Campaign, the International Trade Union Confederation, and the International Textile, Garment and Leather Worker’s Federation, issued a report on labor violations they found in factories producing licensed products for the Beijing games. Mainland Headwear, a supplier to FLA Participating Companies and university licensees, was cited in this report for labor violations. The FLA commissioned an independent investigation of two Mainland Headwear factories, and Mainland Headwear committed to correct violations that were identified. The results of the independent audits and corrective action plan are below.
July 25, 2008 – An FLA Stakeholder Forum titled “Labor Law Reform in China: Opportunities and Challenges for Improving Workers’ Lives” was held on June 24, 2008 in Kunshan city (near Shanghai, China) at the facility of the Chenfeng Group, an FLA-affiliated Participating Supplier. The forum was held in conjunction with the FLA’s first Board meeting in Asia and was attended by over 100 participants representing local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), companies, and universities. They came together to produce an unprecedented day of presentations and discussion on issues related to labor law reform in China.
- View the Stakeholder Forum Agenda here.
- Read a summary of the Stakeholder Forum presentations and discussion here.
- View a photo of Stakeholder Forum attendees gathered outside the Kunshan factory of the Chenfeng Group where the Stakeholder Forum was held here.
- Speaker Presentations:
- Prof. Qiao Jian, Associate Professor and Dean, Labor Relations Department, China Industrial Relations College
- Kan Wang, On Action
- Chen Mingyu, Qingdao Xiaochen Hotline Center
- Changhee Lee, Senior Specialist on Industrial Relations and Social Dialogue, ILO Office for China and Mongolia
- Patricia Jurewicz, Associate Director-Corporate Responsibility Program, As You Sow
- William Anderson, Head of Social and Environmental Affairs (Asia Pacific), adidas Group
- Ian Spaulding, Managing Director of Infact Global Partners and Consultant to the FLA
July 23, 2008 – The FLA publishes a summary report on the Third Party Complaint regarding Taiway Sports, China. Read the report here.
July 15, 2008 – Fair Labor Association Board Holds First-Ever Meeting in Asia -- The FLA Board held its first-ever meeting in Asia on June 25, 2008. At the meeting, the FLA Board voted to reaccredit the labor compliance programs of two FLA Participating Companies -- Liz Claiborne, Inc. and Phillips-Van Heusen. The Board also provisionally admitted a number of new company and factory affiliates into the FLA. Read the press release here.
March 14, 2008 – FLA releases independent verification report of Russell's Corrective Action Plan (CAP) for Jerzees de Choloma and Jerzees de Honduras -- Today the FLA released the report of an independent verification of the CAP developed by Russell Corporation to address noncompliances at its Jerzees de Choloma factory in Honduras. The verification was commissioned by the FLA and conducted by A & L Group Inc. (ALGI), a labor compliance firm accredited by the FLA to conduct monitoring in several countries. ALGI also conducted the independent investigation at Jerzees de Choloma in October 2007 that gave rise to the CAP.
February 21, 2008 – Fair Labor Association Board Admits New Company and Factory Affiliates -- The Board of Directors of the Fair Labor Association voted at its meeting on February 13, 2008 to approve the affiliation requests of seven new companies and suppliers. The FLA also announced that it will conduct a review of its Workplace Code of Conduct during 2008. Read the press release here.
To read news releases and statements prior to 2008, visit our News Releases Archive.
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