Anarchoblogs

The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) and its affiliate, the State Railway Workers' Union of Thailand (SRUT) are demanding the Thai rail management (SRT) stop its anti-union practices and improve its industrial relationship with the union. Six union officials in the Hat Yai Branch were unfairly dismissed in October 2009 for taking part in national industrial action. Union members refused to drive unsafe trains after a fatal accident had occurred. The driver in the crash had fallen asleep on duty because he had been working for a month with only one rest day. Background to this incident are the lack of investment and a large-scale reduction of jobs in the SRT by the government. To investigate the dismissal case and to study the safety conditions in the SRT, the ITF sent its mission to Bangkok and Hat Yai in January 2010. Based on its findings, the team recommended the management to (a) reinstate the dismissed workers; (b) stop further victimisation of union officials; (c) drop the law suit for damages filed against the union and (d) build a new safety culture in the Thai railways with the workers and the union where whistle-blowers are not penalised. The ITF visit coincided with the meeting of the State Enterprise Labour Relations Committee, which was investigating the dismissal case. On 15 January, this tripartite panel voted 5 to 4 against the management's decision. Nevertheless, the Transport Minister is pushing the SRT to take the case to court. In the meantime, the SRT tried to revoke the collective bargaining agreement but was forced to withdraw its proposals within days, after being confronted with a very unpopular response from the workplaces. The management has only a week left to submit the case to court. Now is the time to act and urge them to stop this.

The following appeal for solidarity with Mexican mineworkers in the 'Los Mineros' union comes from the online labour solidarity site Labour Start. Note that the workers have occupied the mine.

Some 1,200 members of Mexico’s National Miners’ and Metalworkers’ Union, or Los Mineros, have been on strike since July 2007 at the Cananea mine over health and safety and other contract violations. Grupo Mexico – the mining giant which operates Cananea – and the Mexican government have continuously tried to end the strike and crush the union. The Government of Mexico has threatened and jailed union leaders, illegally frozen union bank accounts and failed to investigate or prosecute assassinations of union members. On February 11, a federal court gave Grupo Mexico permission to fire the striking workers and terminate the labor agreement, effectively eliminating the right to strike in Mexico. The Mexican government has threatened to use armed force to gain control of Cananea. The Los Mineros members at Cananea are resolved to continue occupying the mine until a fair labour agreement is reached. Los Mineros is one of the strongest and most democratic trade unions in Mexico.For more information see the ICEM and IMF websites.

We support Los Mineros in their fight for justice against the Mexican government and the attack on labor and human rights posed by Grupo México throughout the country, and specifically at Cananea. We call on the Mexican government to withdraw its threats to use armed force in Cananea and instead seek a peaceful solution to the conflict that respects the right to collective bargaining and the right to strike. Your government’s interference in union governance, its threatening and jailing of union leaders, freezing union bank accounts, declaring strikes illegal and failing to prosecute the killers of union leaders, are serious and unacceptable violations of basic human rights.

The following, from the Clean Clothes Campaign, is somewhat ironic, coming as close as it does to International Womens' Day on March 8. One of the events that led to the establishment of IWD was the March 25, 1911 'Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire' in which 140 workers were killed. In that case exits were also locked. La Plus Ça Change I guess.

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21 Workers Die at Bangladeshi Factory Fire
Bangladesh unions and international labour rights organisations are calling for immediate action from brands and the government of Bangladesh following a fatal factory fire which killed at least 21 workers and injured a further 50.

The Garib & Garib Sweater Factory in Gazipur, Bangladesh has been producing knitwear for Swedish retailer H&M, reportedly a main buyer from the factory. The company's own website cites Otto, 3Suisses International, Pimkie, Provera, Lindex, Littlewoods, Wal-Mart and JC Penny as other current and previous buyers. The CCC is currently trying to verify this and other sourcing information provided by workers.The fire, seemingly caused by an electrical short circuit, started on the first floor of the seven story building at 9.30pm on Thursday February 25. As the fire spread, workers became trapped on the floors above. It appears, from witness statements and press reports, that emergency exits were blocked, the front gate was locked and fire extinguishing equipment was either missing or inappropriate. According to one survivor, rescue efforts were further hampered by the fact that firemen had to cut the window grills to access the building and rescue the trapped workers. No-one on the scene could tell fire fighters how many workers were in the factory at the time the fire began.

The National Garment Workers Federation and other organisations supporting the workers and their families call for:

1)the immediate arrest of the factory owner,
2)immediate payment of 500.000 Taka for the families of the dead workers;
3)provision of medical treatment and necessary compensation for the injured workers;
4)effective and immediate measures for compensation of the victims on the longer term, and
a credible investigation into the circumstances under which this tragedy could have happened.

The Bangladesh garment industry has a horrendous safety history. Since the start of this millennium, the Clean Clothes Campaign has highlighted 9 other similar cases with a total of 273 deaths (see for more info: http://www.cleanclothes.org/news/international-action-day-bangladesh).

We are angry and saddened that once again workers have paid the price for the failure of international brands, the Bangladesh government and the Bangladesh industry to take adequate steps to prevent such incidents from happening. A culture of impunity still exists that allows such incidents to be written of as simply tragic accidents, allowing everyone involved to deny responsibility for the consequences. A recent inquiry into one of these cases, KTS Sweater, found that the owners were cleared of criminal convictions, despite admitting to locking workers into the factory, after the police involved changed the charge sheet. (see http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=128183)

The Garib & Garib Sweater Factory case once again proves that company audits are failing to pick up serious violations of international labour rights and corporate codes of conduct, and that the labour inspectorate and government monitoring of labour laws is woefully inadequate. At the same time the constant repression of trade union organisation within workplaces and the failure of brands to work with trade union representatives means that workers themselves are unable to report and challenge health and safety violations. If the industry is really serious about preventing future deaths they must start involving workers directly in monitoring health and safety standards. This can only be done through supporting the right to organise and working directly with trade unions.

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Chinese battery producer fails to be a decent employer

Chinese battery producer Gold Peak Industrial Holding Ltd is under fire by Chinese and international labour groups for failing to be a decent employer. Year-long struggles of (ex-) workers with cadmium related health problems have not yet resulted in an acceptable solution. Gold Peak unilateral decision to close down and relocate its Shenzhen-based Jet Power plant, completely disregarding workers interests, has caused distress. Recently, a strike erupted at Power Pack, another Gold Peak subsidiary in Huizhou, China, over wages and benefits. The management's response so far has been totally inadequate. Chinese labour groups have addressed Gold Peak via two open letters, dated 10 and 31 December 2009 respectively.
Gold Peak batteries are used in all types of toys and electronics products.

On 28 April 2009, on the occasion of the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers, GoodElectronics reported about the ongoing struggle of Chinese cadmium poisoned workers, addressing their (former) employer Gold Peak Industrial Holding Ltd for compensation and redress. GoodElectronics called upon Gold Peak and its subsidiaries to listen to the concerns and demands of the affected workers and take appropriate steps to resolve the lingering conflicts. Moreover, GoodElectronics called upon electronic brand name companies sourcing from Gold Peak to look into the issues raised by Gold Peak workers and Chinese labour groups and to put their policies regarding supply chain responsibility in practice.

Since then, Gold Peak has made some little steps towards its workers, but the overall picture is still rather grim. It is now time for Gold Peak to structurally improve its labour record. Gold Peak should ensure that the management of its respective subsidiaries engages upon meaningful negotiations with its workers and their representatives on the basis of equality and transparency, in order to resolve disputes over wages, benefits and compensation packages.
GoodElectronics will also address buyers of Gold Peak products.

Click here to join and send a letter to Gold Peak >

Mr Victor Lo

Union activist Seher Tümer, Branch Secretary of PSI affiliate SES (the trade union of public employees in health and social services), will spend International Women’s Day 2010 in prison.

But international solidarity action could open the door to freedom for her.

Ms Tümer has now been detained in an F-type prison for almost a year, with no clear charges being brought against her. PSI is convinced that her arrest is linked to her activities in the labour and women’s movements in that country, including participating in International Women’s Day activities last year. Tumer, who is Kurdish, was arrested and imprisoned in April 2009. Her case mirrors that of fellow union leader Meryem Özsöðüt, who faced similar charges of belonging to a terrorist organisation. (Özsöðüt was released after eight months in prison following a major international protest campaign led by PSI.)

PSI has been closely following this case. Ms Tümer’s next court appearance is planned for 9 March, PSI and EPSU have sent a joint letter of protest to the Turkish Prime Minister demanding that all charges be dropped and that she be immediately released.

PSI urgently calls on trade unions and concerned organisations to write similar letters of protest. Join the Labourstart Campaign and send a letter of protest now.

Mr Recep Tayyip Erdoðan

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Take action on Philippines labour rights abuses‏
Last fall, a high-level International Labour Organization (ILO) mission went to the Philippines to investigate “serious allegations of the murder of trade unionists, death threats, arrests of trade union leaders in connection with their trade union activities, widespread impunity relating to violence against trade unionists and the militarization of workplaces in export processing zones (EPZs) and special economic zones”. Their report is due to be released next month.

Unfortunately, violence and judicial persecution of trade union leaders and activists is continuing. Below, we urge you to support workers’ rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining by taking part in two action campaigns by labour and human rights promoters that highlight the continuing pattern of abuse of worker rights in the Philippines.

Karnation Industries:

Twenty workers at Karnation Industries were arrested during a 2007 strike against the illegal dismissal of union members, the non-payment of holiday pay and night bonuses, as well as a salary that was only half of the minimum wage at the time. They have spent two and a half years in prison, during which time two workers died from tuberculosis contracted since their incarceration. 14 workers were temporarily released on bail in November of 2009. Four of the workers remain in prison. All of the surviving workers are still facing charges, and the company has filed a motion to reverse the bail decision and return all of the workers to prison. Join the Asia Human Rights Committee in protesting the continuing judicial persecution of the Karnation 20 here.

Managers at a Dole pineapple plantation in the Philippines have worked with the military on an intimidation campaign against an independent workers’ union and their democratically elected union leaders for the past four years. Workers who met recently with an International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF) representative have been fired or suspended. Join the ILRF in protecting the rights of Dole workers to freedom of association and collective bargaining here.

Thank you for joining with the Maquila Solidarity Network in supporting the continuing efforts of labour and human rights workers on the ground.

--Maquila Solidarity Network

606 Shaw St.

Toronto, ON

M6G 3L6

Canada

416 532-8584

Two trade unionists are on hunger strike outside the Green Isle Foods plant in Naas, Co Kildare, Ireland. They are members of the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union. The first of the men began his hunger strike on February 17th, the second on February 24th, a third will join them on March 3rd. They embarked on this action after being left on the picket line for six months because the company, a wholly owned subsidiary of British based conglomerate Northern Foods, rejected every initiative of the Irish state's industrial relations machinery to resolve their dispute. The dispute began over the unfair dismissal of three TEEU members and the company's refusal to recognise the union. It has also refused to accept an Irish Labour Court recommendation that it reinstate the dismissed workers with compensation for lost earnings or pay them €160,000 compensation for the loss of their jobs. Since the hunger strike began the company has finally engaged in talks but we know there will only be a successful outcome if we can increase the pressure generated by the heroic action of these men.

I will not be putting any more Northern Foods products such as Goodfellas and San Marco pizza, Donegal Catch, Dalepak or Green Isle frozen vegetables in my shopping trolley while this company behaves so callously towards its own employees. It should be ashamed that its behaviour has forced employees to resort to hunger strikes before it will engage with them and their union, and that it has rejected all attempts by the industrial relations machinery of the Irish state, including the Irish Labour Court to resolve this dispute. Recognise the men's right to be in a union and respect the Labour Court's findings if you want my business back.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-THE PHILIPPINES:

JUSTICE FOR DOLE PLANTATION WORKERS:

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Urgent Solidarity for Dole Workers in the Philippines!:
Workers in the Philippines are just like workers here in the U.S. who want a decent job so that they can provide for their families. Just two weeks ago ILRF staffer Brian Campbell sat down with some unionized workers in the Philippines to learn more about recent change on a Dole plantation there.

Unfortunately what we found out is that things have gotten worse for workers there and especially those workers that have chosen to be part of the independent union. Even more shocking we learned that some of the workers that Brian met with may have been suspended or fired from their jobs within hours of meeting with him.

As ILRF has highlighted in our past two reports on the worst global corporations for recognizing the right of workers to organize, Dole has frequently violated freedom of association. These latest incidents are part of a disturbing pattern of abuse. It's time to tell Dole that this behavior is unacceptable and must end now.

Please join us in expressing your urgent solidarity with union leaders at Dole Philippines.

I am outraged to learn about recent violations of workers' freedom of association at your pineapple facility in the Philippines.

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McJobs‏
McJobs -- we all know what those are.
One online source defines a McJob as "a low-paying, low-prestige job that requires few skills and offers very little chance of intracompany advancement". McDonald's was never very happy about the use of this term.

In fact, the company bought the domain name "mcjobs.com" just to make sure that no one could use it.

But they forget to acquire "mcjobs.org"( To "oops" is management-Molly ) -- and the global union federation for food workers, the IUF, together with LabourStart, bought the name and today are pleased to announce the public launch of McJobs.org, the website for McDonald's workers around the world.

If you work in McDonald's, or know anyone who does, or are just curious, please do check it out:

Eric Lee