Unions protest Olympic uniforms

Unions protest Olympic uniforms

SYDNEY (AFP): Only half of the clothes the 60,000 Olympic
workers will wear at next year's Sydney Olympics will be made in
Australia, the New South Wales Labor Council said on Wednesday.

Council secretary Michael Costa said he had asked Sydney
Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games deputy chief executive
Jim Sloman to pay for a union official to travel to Fiji,
Indonesia and Malaysia to ensure Olympic clothing was not being
made in "sweatshop" conditions.

"We are disappointed that only about 50 percent of SOCOG's
requirements would be met by Australian manufacturers," Costa
said.

He expected to meet the Australian Olympic Committee next week
to discuss overseas contracts for athletes' and officials'
clothing.