Finnish Chemical Workers’ Union Begins “Fair Play” Drive Toward Olympics

The 2008 Olympics are still a full two years away, but ICEM Finnish chemicals union affiliate Kemianliitto-Kemifacket has already made an event out of a resolution it proposed – and passed – at the recent Congress of SASK, the Trade Union Solidarity Centre of Finland.

SAK's Lauri Ihalainen takes aim, while Kemianliitto President Timo Valliitu points the way

The resolution is coupled with an example of what “Fair Play” means when it comes to clothing, shoes and sporting equipment for the Beijing Games. Kemianliitto-Kemifacket showcased such ethically made apparel by sponsoring a Youth-10 girls football team whose players are outfitted with clothing made in Finland, and play only with balls certified by the Fair Trade Association.

The 50,000-member trade union calls its campaign a public awareness effort to draw Nordic attention to the lack of bargaining rights and worker protections in many of the countries where big-name sporting companies produce their goods.