Jerzees Choloma, Jerzees de Honduras, Jerzees Nuevo Dia

A set of ground-breaking agreements were reached on November 14, 2009 between Russell Athletic/Fruit of the Loom and the union representing Jerzees de Honduras (JDH) workers and, separately, between the company and the WRC to address labor rights issues in the company’s operations in Honduras. The agreements were the culmination of WRC investigation and remediation efforts spanning a twenty-six month period.

The WRC’s work at the Jerzees Choloma and JDH factories was initiated in September 2007, pursuant to allegations that both facilities dismissed large numbers of workers in retaliation for their decision to form unions. The WRC found that the dismissals were unlawful. Ultimately, following the engagement of WRC affiliate universities, Russell agreed to provide offers of reinstatement and back pay totaling roughly $150,000 to 145 dismissed workers at the two factories. Jerzees Choloma closed in March 2008; the WRC did not find persuasive evidence that the closure was motivated by anti-union animus.

In October 2008, Russell announced the closure of the JDH facility, leaving its 1,200 workers without employment. A WRC investigation found that the company’s decision to close the JDH factory was carried out in violation of standards on freedom of association.

Substantial efforts were made by student activists, faculty, university administrators, and organizations in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Central America to persuade the company to undertake corrective action. In November 2009, Russell Athletic/Fruit of the Loom agreed to rehire and compensate JDH’s 1,200 dismissed workers, open a new unionized factory in Honduras, and take concrete steps to respect and recognize its workers’ rights to freedom of association at the company’s seven other existing Honduran plants.

Unfortunately, in 2025, Fruit of the Loom made the decision to close the new factory, Jerzees Nuevo Día, that was established as part of its 2009 remediation, and its other remaining unionized garment factory in the country, Confecciones Dos Caminos. These closures mean that Fruit of the Loom, which had received numerous accolades for making and implementing the 2009 agreement, has effectively turned its back on its role as a leader in advancing respect for fundamental workplace rights.

Read More:

• Webinar: Unraveled Commitments: The Global Impact of Fruit of the Loom’s Unionized Factory Shutdowns – June 23, 2025
• A Leading Garment Brand Exits the High Road – June 3, 2025
• Una marca deja de ser líder en su apoyo para los derechos fundamentales – June 3, 2025
• Honduras: Fruit of the Loom accused of union-busting as unionised factories face closure; incl. co. response – April 22, 2025
• Fruit of the Loom Turns Rotten on Worker Rights – February 14, 2025
• Bargaining for Decent Work and Beyond: Transforming Work and Lives through Collective Bargaining Agreements in the Honduran Maquila Sector – May 24, 2022
• Second Progress Report on Russell Accords – August 16, 2011
• Russell and Union Sign Collective Bargaining Agreement – May 20, 2011
• WRC Issues Progress report on Implementation of Russell Agreements – February 17, 2010
• Informe sobre la implementación de los acuerdos de remediación – February 17, 2010
• WRC Statement on Agreement – November 17, 2009
• Russell/Union Agreement – November 14, 2009
• WRC/Russell Memorandum of Understanding – November 14, 2009
• Update on Russell Athletic/Jerzees de Honduras – September 10, 2009
• Two New WRC Reports Concerning Russell Athletic – June 19, 2009
• Findings and Recommendations: WRC Analysis of Russell “Collective Pacts” – June 19, 2009
• Findings and Recommendations: WRC Report on Russell Worker Interviews – June 19, 2009
• Additional Remediation Recommendations re Russell Case – June 1, 2009
• Russell’s Letter Dated May 1 – May 18, 2009
• Russell Now Claims Death Threats Never Happened – May 14, 2009
• Update: Russell Athletic – May 8, 2009
• New WRC Finding on Russell Case – April 2, 2009
• Russell Says Workers in Honduras Don’t Want to Exercise Their Associational Rights – March 17, 2009
• Russell Letter of March 4 – March 5, 2009
• NY Times, BusinessWeek, and Chronicle Stories on Russell Case – February 24, 2009
• Letters from Jerzees de Honduras Union – February 23, 2009
• FLA Acknowledges Depth of Evidence Against Russell; But Russell Still Refuses Adequate Remediation – February 17, 2009
• Irresponsible Posting on Russell Website – February 12, 2009
• WRC Memo to Affiliate Universities: FLA Report on Russell Case – January 29, 2009
• WRC Update: Jerzees de Honduras – January 28, 2009
• WRC Update: Jerzees de Honduras – January 16, 2009
• Brief Update: Jerzees de Honduras/Russell Athletic – December 9, 2008
• WRC Findings and Recommendations Report re Jerzees de Honduras – November 7, 2008
• Hallazgos y Recomendaciones re Jerzees de Honduras – November 7, 2008
• WRC Response to Russell Memo Concerning Factory Closure Announcement – October 21, 2008
• WRC Memo to Universities: Crisis re Russell Factory in Honduras – October 10, 2008
• WRC Update on Remediation at Russell Athletic Facilities in Honduras – January 30, 2008
• WRC Update on Russell Athletic – October 26, 2007
• WRC Memo to Russell Athletic re Remediation Steps – October 24, 2007
• WRC Memo to Russell Athletic re Jerzees de Honduras – October 22, 2007
• WRC Findings and Recommendations Report re Jerzees de Choloma – October 3, 2007
• Hallazgos y Recomendaciones re Jerzees de Choloma – October 3, 2007

In the News:

• “Fruit of the Loom Transformed Workers’ Rights in Honduras. It’s Now Accused of Union-Busting,” Sourcing Journal, April 1, 2025
• “Labor Fight Ends in Win for Students,” New York Times, November 17, 2009
• “Michigan Is the Latest University to End a Licensing Deal With an Apparel Maker,” New York Times, February 23, 2009
• “2 More Companies Cut Ties with Apparel Company,” Chronicle of Higher Education, February 23, 2009