Penn State is hosting two Indonesian sweatshop employees and activists tonight who will speak about their fight to force Adidas to pay $1.8 million in owed severance to 2,800 former employees of Adidas supplier factory, PT Kizone in Indonesia.
“This is a really rare opportunity to be able to hear first hand from the people in sweatshops who make the majority of your clothes,” Shelby Mastovich said.
Mastovich (junior-sociology) is a member of Penn State’s United Students Against Sweatshops, which works to bring labor and social justice to communities around the world, according to the organizations’ website. USAS is hosting the event along with the Penn State Center for Global Workers’ Rights to shed light on USAS’ campaign against Adidas for refusing to pay Indonesian sweatshop workers legally owed severance pay.
The event will consist of two Indonesian workers telling personal stories of their work in the PT Kizone sweatshop and the events that led up to Adidas refusing to pay owed severance. This event is a part of a nationwide tour hosted by USAS. Toward the end of the event, USAS will open the floor to questions and discussion from audience members, Mastovich said.
Mastovich said USAS plans to sit down with Penn State President Rodney Erickson at the end of February to discuss cutting its contract with Adidas because the company is violating the university’s labor code of conduct for apparel production by not paying the $1.8 million in owed severance.
Currently, six universities including the University of Washington, Rutgers, Cornell University, Oberlin College, the College of William and Mary and Georgetown University, have cut their contract with Adidas because of its sweatshop worker abuse, according to the press release.
The event will take place at 7 p.m tonight in 111 Chambers building.
