Georgetown, Rutgers, Houston Cut Russell Athletic Ties, Too

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Who are you people that are saying Russell "treats its employees well"? You obviously never worked for them.
I did! I know first hand the lousy way they treat their employees. I worked in one of the U.S. based plants and if conditions were terrible there, I can imagine how bad they are in the Honduras plant!
It was tolerable to begin with, but when Fruit of the Loom bought the company it only got worse. That's one of the reasons I had to get out of there! I don't know how Fruit of the Loom has managed to stay in business the way they treat their employees!
So for all of you singing Russell's praises, I recommend you go work for that company for a little while. I guarantee you'll be singing a different tune real quick!

Previous Employee of AL 2:54PM February 12, 2009

Check out the articles in the student newspapers! The workers from the factory actually came to the schools to report the horrible intimidation they faced while trying to organize. As for the "American Made" comment - what makes it American Made if the factory is in Honduras?
Furthermore, the Honduran factory HAD a union - one of the only unions in that part of the world - and it was running well. It was RUSSELL that decided to close the factory solely because it opposed union activity. The close had nothing to do with worker productivity.
Schools are cutting contracts to pressure Russell to re-open their factories.
Check out more at www.georgetownsolidarity.org

Georgetown Student of DC 10:02PM February 10, 2009

People who hate unions are mostly suburbanite snobs who've never had to do an honest day's work in their lives. Russell has conducted a campaign of harassment against Honduran workers who've tried to organize themselves in hopes of gaining more leverage to bargain with management. They've threatened labor organizers with violence and issued an "omerta" edict to their workforce. Add to this deplorable behavior the fact that it is in direct violation of their labor practice agreements with the universities in question and it's not hard to see why they are losing their contracts.
Russell needs to learn that they cannot abuse these foreign workers in the name of their profit margin. Kudos to these universities for holding this corrupt company accountable for their unethical actions.

Mike of TX 12:13AM February 10, 2009

So it's the unions who design lame cars. I didn't know that. It figures someone from Tx. is completely wrong.
Unions form because they don't get a living wage or benefits from their employer. People wouldn't voluntarily pay initiation fees and dues if they didn't have to. Producers go to Canada to make movies, not because the crews are better, but they don't have to pay health benefits there, it's covered by the govt.

deeman of CA 11:02PM February 09, 2009

To the knee-jerks spewing the anti-union garbage above, ALL of NE is right. Read the original story. The link is on the right of this page, and we know how you all like to keep to the right. It wasn't hard to find. The universities cited are protesting anti-union activity by Russell, not the lack of unions in their workplaces. And the alleged anti-union activity was in Honduras. So much for Russell being red, white and blue.

DG of OK 9:23PM February 09, 2009

These posters should read the actual story. The anti-union activity was in Honduras.

ALL of NE 7:39PM February 09, 2009

Unless you have worked in a place like this do not pretend you know what you are talking about. They go over seas because of greed not because of unions. I hope you go out into the work force and find this out first hand. Unless you have worked in an auto plant don't hand out this BS. It is like working in a prison and without the union noone would be paid good wages to work in these kinds of conditions. Every American should buy from American owned companies like General Motors, Ford, etc. Support your country and quit making excuses for these companies. I bet you are a Bush lover and look where he has put the USA, in the hole.
nVaughan

N Vaughan of GA 7:24PM February 09, 2009

Unless you have worked in a place like this do not pretend you know what you are talking about. They go over seas because of greed not because of unions. I hope you go out into the work force and find this out first hand. Unless you have worked in an auto plant don't hand out this BS. It is like working in a prison and without the union noone would be paid good wages to work in these kinds of conditions. Every American should buy from American owned companies like General Motors, Ford, etc. Support your country and quit making excuses for these companies. I bet you are a Bush lover and look where he has put the USA, in the hole.
nVaughan

N Vaughan of GA 7:24PM February 09, 2009

Being AMERICAN-MADE means alot to me, irregardles of its non-union involvement. I will continue to buy and support, when need be, this brand.
Russell will increase its share-of-market elsewhere in major markets to make up for the collegiate loss.

Terence Sutherland of NY 7:00PM February 09, 2009

Facts apparantly do not matter. How many apparell companies produce quality goods in the U.S.? Not many, in part due to union rules and inflexibility. Colleges however are the pinacle mindless political correctness, and last place you should ever look for wisdom.
If Unions were the end all be all, we'd still be able to manufacture things in the U.S. Like cars and clothes.

scott keeler of TX 6:45PM February 09, 2009