“We are garment workers who make Nike shoes. We are now on our way to the United States to finally meet in person with our allies. And bring our demands directly to Nike!” said Dinar, Leni, and Dedeh excitedly as they began their journey from Jakarta to Portland. The three Indonesian worker activists, visibly happy but determined, are bringing their demands directly to Nike’s doorstep. Their U.S. tour will span Portland, New York, and Washington, D.C., connecting worker activists with U.S.-based unions and allies to expose Nike’s exploitation and build a global call for change.

Dinar Swandini, Leni Oktira Sari, and Dedeh Nurhasanah are travelling from Jakarta to Portland, Oregon, to confront Nike face-to-face. As representatives of thousands of Asian garment workers, their journey is part of the Fight the Heist campaign, led jointly by their unions, Asia Floor Wage Alliance (AFWA), and Global Labor Justice (GLJ). They will bring their demands for wage increases and human rights protections directly to Nike and strengthen their relationships with US-based unions and other allies.

Who are Dinar, Leni and Dedeh – and what drives their journey?

Dinar Swandini works at a Nike-sourcing factory in Tangerang, Indonesia, sewing Nike logos onto shoes with a computerized machine at a rate of 60 pairs per hour. She also supports union communications for Garteks. “I was very disappointed in Nike during the pandemic. My fellow workers and I faced economic difficulties and needed to look for extra money just to meet our needs while Nike increased its profits,” she said. “Nike has never taken responsibility for the workers who make its products. Along with workers from other countries, I believe we will win this fight for better wages. With a lot of support, I am sure we can win.”

Dedeh Nurhasanah has worked in a Nike shoe factory for five years. Reflecting on what pushed her to speak out, she shared: “I am a technician in my factory and sometimes have to chip in from my own income to buy the materials we need for work,” she said. “In 2020, many workers were pushed to resign. For those of us who stayed, we saw our incomes cut by as much as half. I decided to join this campaign because while my close friends were laid off with only half their wages, Nike was making record profits. That’s what made me angry. Nike is a big brand that makes a lot of profit from the products we make — we workers have the right to enjoy the benefits of the work we do.”

Leni Oktira Sari has worked in a Nike shoe factory for 14 years and is a mother of two. Looking back on the pandemic and the risks she and her coworkers endured, she stated: “When I was infected with COVID-19 and had to be quarantined, there was no concern or support from my factory, even though I had a 6-month-old baby at home. My union, GSBI, opposed the wage cuts. As a result, we faced threats of dismissal just for standing up for our rights and our families. Even after the pandemic, we have to fight constantly against abuses in the factory, from reduced work breaks to poor handling of gender-based violence. We will keep fighting until we win. We need the support of all our fellow workers and the international community to speak up, to campaign and to win in the name of humanity.”

What will they do on this tour?

Dinar, Dedeh, and Leni, chosen by their unions and coworkers, will travel from Portland to New York to Washington, DC, to strategize, campaign, and protest alongside major U.S. labor organizations like AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers, Communication Workers of America, Unite Here, and Jobs with Justice. Their arrival marks the beginning of a powerful confrontation with Nike—a call for the brand to finally acknowledge and act upon the demands of the workers who sustain its profits.

---

Stay tuned for more updates from the Worker Activist Tour as Leni, Dedeh, and Dinar continue to raise their voices across the U.S. in their fight for justice!