A failed trade union reform

Labor researcher Peter Lee went back to the scene of an effort to democratize a labor union at a shoe factory supplying to Reebok in 2002. As a part of its CSR-effort Reebok replaced a "yellow union", representing management, with a democratic elected one. The effort failed, we reed in an executive summery of the report in China Translators.
In November, five years after the first election, new elections are due in the Da Shun Sporting Good Corporation in Fuzhou.

The results of the investigation were extremely disappointing. Working conditions have deteriorated noticeably, and the trade union is doing more or less nothing to further workers’ interests. Interviews with workers uncovered widespread dissatisfaction and distrust towards the current union.
Another change in the past few years has been the purchase of the Reebok brand by its competitor Adidas. Lee’s study suggests that Adidas’ has not matched Reebok’s efforts to protect workers’ rights. In fact, Adidas’ new production management system has actually been disadvantageous to workers, shortening production lines and increasing the intensity of their work. Adidas is reportedly not interested in engaging with the company union.

The full report is available here: CLNT_Reebok_union_election_update.pdf [286.06KB] 5 year update on Reebok-initated trade union election in Fujian