Open Letters to Brands

“After many months of communication with adidas, the union committee of the Pay Your Workers– Respect Labour Rights agreement is disappointed to conclude that there never was any good faith dialogue from the side of adidas about the feasibility of, and its participation in the Pay Your Workers – Respect Labour Rights agreement. We would like to clearly express that the campaign does not consider itself to be in any form of genuine dialogue with the company about the proposal, despite the increased urgency of the agreement in the context of the unfolding climate crisis.”

“We, the undersigned unions, have read your recent announcement regarding Adidas’ decision to sell Yeezy shoes and donate the profits to organisations combating discrimination and hate. We welcome this decision, but knowing the high value that the Yeezy shoes represent, we urge you to also consider dedicating a small amount of the proceeds to the workers harmed in the process of producing these shoes. Many of us represent workers in the adidas supply chain.”

“The devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria [on 6 February 2023] affected a region in Turkey with a large amount of textile and garment production. International brands sourcing from the area, together with factory owners and the Turkish government, must ensure that workers don't face additional financial hardship on top of the suffering inflicted by the earthquake. We call upon brands and retailers to pay their suppliers on time; to ensure workers receive their full, regular wages (or severance in the case of layoffs); and to make sure factories are not reopened until they are verified as safe.”