But this is manipulated by the factory management. Mostly, the trade union is composed of the management only and workers have no say in it. It is controlled by the Communist Party and the government, so the workers have no right to independent organizing. Most of the Nike workers who we have asked whether or not they have a trade union in their factory don't know. When we ask those that say there is a union what the union does, they say they organize picnics, karaoke singing contests, a monthly birthday party, but they never try to help solve labor disputes or stand with the workers.
China is a unique case.
Because most of the workers stay in the factory campus, all of their dormitories, accommodations and food are provided by the management. All of this is deducted from their wages, and it makes it difficult to contact the workers themselves. What the people in the United States and elsewhere can do is focus on the national law rather than a company's Code of Conduct. We have put too much attention on whether Nike complies with its Code of Conduct. Whether they follow that or not, there is a national labor law that they should be forced to comply with.