[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 117 (Friday, August 2, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H9838]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  NIKE: RICH BOSSES, SWEAT SHOP SLAVES

  (Mr. TRAFICANT asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, the Olympics is great for fans, athletes, 
and sponsors. Especially sponsors. Take Nike. Please, someone take 
Nike.
  Nike pays Indonesian and Vietnamese workers an average of 15 cents an 
hour. They then sell those shoes for $140 a pair. And then, if Members 
think that is highway robbery, their chief executive officer, Phillip 
Knight, made $6.5 million in 1995.
  I say a Nike ad should read, ``Rich Bosses, Sweat Shop Slaves.'' And 
if we want to talk about sneakers, Nike is not joking.
  Mr. Speaker, I say it is time for the American consumers to tell Nike 
to take a hikey and buy some American shoes before, so help me God, we 
are all working in some sweat shop.
  With that, I yield back all the sweat and pain.
  Mr. MOAKLEY. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. TRAFICANT. I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts.
  Mr. MOAKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I am sure that the gentleman is aware that 
Reebok has ceased buying soccer balls from anybody that hires children.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, last I heard, Reebok 
was not an American operation either.

                          ____________________