Russell Athletic shifts course on Honduran workers after pressure from anti-sweatshop groups

Russell shifts course on Honduran union workers

Sports apparel maker Russell Athletic says it will open a new factory in Honduras and rehire ousted union workers after widespread student protests on U.S. college campuses.

The company announced the decision on its Web site this week.

Leaders of the long-running anti-sweatshop movement say the company’s move is its biggest victory to date. Nearly 100 colleges and universities had dropped their licensing deals with the company in response to student pressure. The deals allow manufacturers to print clothing with colleges’ trademarks.

The factory will reopen in Choloma and be called Jerzees Nuevo Dia (hehr-ZEES’ noo-WAY’-voh DEE’-ah). The name means “new day” in Spanish. The company has agreed to rehire 1,200 former workers and abide by collective bargaining agreements.