1|Indonesia: Demand reinstatement of Honda workers!|Since March last year, 368 workers at Honda Prospect, Indonesia, a subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Japan, have been suspended or dismissed for taking legal strike action. The strike was a result of a deadlock in wage negotiations. As the months go by, the situation for the workers continually worsens: they don't have money to buy decent food, children are being taken out of school to help their families survive, household goods are sold to provide temporary economic relief.````Honda's favourite slogan is "The Power of Dreams". Soon there will be no dreams left for the Honda workers in Indonesia, only nightmares. The powerful Honda Motor Co. management in Japan arrogantly calls the Indonesian situation a "local labour matter" and is refusing to use its influence to resolve the conflict.````The International Metalworkers' Federation is calling for a worldwide campaign of protest, demanding that fundamental workers' rights be respected, workers reinstated and negotiations resumed. You can add your voice to the international outcry by filling in the following form and clicking on 'Submit' below. Thank you.|Mr. Satoshi Toshida``Managing Director``Honda Motor Co. Ltd.``Japan````Dear Mr. Toshida:````I am shocked to learn about the violation of basic workers' and trade union rights at Honda Prospect Motor, Indonesia, a subsidiary of Honda Motor Co. Ltd., Japan.````Since April last year, 368 workers have been suspended or dismissed for taking legal strike action. As the months go by, the situation for the workers continually worsens: people do not have money to buy decent food, children are being taken out of school to help their families survive, household goods are sold to provide temporary economic relief.````The management of Honda Motor Co., Japan, would never suggest that the expansion plans of its Indonesian subsidiary, its production, its quality system or its financial result are 'local matters' in which it has no influence or interest. Nor are violations of fundamental workers' rights a 'local matter', as you have stated.````I, therefore, call upon you and your company to act responsibly and without delay to promote a fair settlement of the dispute, including reinstatement of all dismissed workers, full compensation for lost wages and a resumption of negotiations with the union at local level.|press@imfmetal.org,imfseo@tm.net.my|Reinstate Honda workers in Indonesia|17-Jan-2003|http://www.imfmetal.org/honda|||closed|en3|Indonesia: Demand reinstatement of Shangri-La Hotel workers!|According to a report on the web, "The tenacious fight for union rights at the Jakarta Shangri-La [hotel] has won widespread respect and admiration for the workers, who continue to fight against powerful opponents. The conflict has become the most visible and best-publicized industrial dispute in Indonesia, with important implications for the country and the region." The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers Associations (IUF) is calling for an international campaign of protest, demanding the reinstatement of all the sacked workers. You can add your voice to the international outcry by filling in the following form and clicking on 'Submit' below. Thank you.|Mr. Robert Kuok``Shangri-La International Hotel Management Ltd ````Dear Mr. Kuok````I call upon you to act without delay to ensure that the 81 dismissed workers are reinstated in their positions at the Jakarta Shangri-La hotel, and that the hotel owners drop their claim to USD 2.2 million in 'damages' from 7 trade union members and leaders associated with the Shangri-La conflict. All appeals against the March 26 court decision must be dropped.````Thank you.|slim@shangri-la.com,iuf@iuf.org|Reinstate sacked Shangri-La Hotel workers|2-Jul-2002|http://www.labourstart.org/indonesia/shangrila.shtml|||closed|en4|South Korea: Free imprisoned trade unionists!|South Korean President Kim Dae Jung -- hailed by some in the media as the "Asian Nelson Mandela" and as a proponent of democracy and human rights -- has imprisoned more trade unionists than his discredited predecessor. Today there are some 50 South Korean trade union activists in prison, including the President of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Dan Byung-Ho. On 27 June there was an international day of protest, which led to immediate results: within a week, two leaders of the Daewoo car workers union were suddenly released from jail. (For full details of all these events, visit http://www.labourstart.org/korea.)````The Seoul government is obviously vulnerable to pressure, and will listen to sustained, massive protest. We cannot let up that pressure now and the protest must continue. You can add your voice to the international outcry by filling in the following form and clicking on 'Submit' below. Thank you.|President Kim Dae Jung``Seoul, South Korea````Dear President Kim:````I wish to add my name to the thousands of trade unionists around the globe who have appealed to you to start respecting the fundamental rights of workers to engage in legitimate trade union activity -- and to immediately release the dozens of imprisoned trade union leaders in your country, including Dan Byung-ho, President of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.````Thank you.|president@cwd.go.kr,inter@kctu.org|Free imprisoned Korean trade union leaders|19-Jan-2003|http://www.kctu.org/|||closed|en5|Hong Kong: Oppose Article 23 anti-subversion laws|Defend the right of Chinese workers in Hong Kong to organise, protest and campaign for better working conditions and human rights!````Help us in our campaign to protest the plans by the Hong Kong government to introduce an 'anti-subversion law' which will stop workers in the Hong Kong Special Autonomous Region (HKSAR) coming together as trade unionists to campaign for their existing rights and campaign for improved rights - and to campaign for the rights of workers on the mainland.````If the Hong Kong anti-subversion laws are passed it will put back the growing struggle for workers' rights and free trade unions in mainland China.````The China Labour Bulletin and the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions are asking the international trade union movement to stand in solidarity with the workers in Hong Kong and mainland China against the enactment of these anti-subversion laws in the name of "protecting national security".````LabourStart has been asked by the China Labour Bulletin and the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions to help build support for an international campaign against the anti-subversion laws which are scheduled to operate from July 2003.````The 'need' to enact anti-subversion laws is prescribed by Article 23 of the Basic Law which states:````The HKSAR shall enact laws on its own to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the Central People's Government, or theft of state secrets, to prohibit foreign political organizations or bodies from conducting political activities in the Region, and to prohibit political organizations or bodies of the Region from establishing ties with foreign political organizations or bodies.````Article 23 offences are not ordinary crimes -- they can be political crimes. They can be used to silence opposition, restrict press freedom, ideas, research, freedom of speech and freedom of belief. The consultation paper has drawn severe opposition at home and abroad because of its potential threats to political and civil rights, particularly in view of concrete cases of political repression in Mainland China in the name of 'national security'.|Mr. Tung Chee Hwa, Chief Executive``Office of the Chief Executive``5/F Central Government Offices, Main Wing``Lower Albert Road``Hong Kong````Dear Mr. Tung:````I am writing to express my concerns over the proposals for implementing Article 23 of the Basic Law as contained in the consultation document. These proposals seriously endanger the one country two systems policy by bringing into Hong Kong, Mainland China's concept of national security. These proposals on subversion, sedition and secession would severely limit the exercise of political and civil rights.````We have seen in Mainland China the imprisonment of labour activists on subversive charges for merely exercising fundamental workers' rights of freedom of expression and collective bargaining. The Proposals on Article 23 will in effect become a political tool to silence all forms of dissent including trade unions and workers opposition to anti-workers and anti-trade union rights policies. In solidarity with the workers of Hong Kong and Mainland China, I urge you to ensure that genuine public consultation takes place. I believe that the current HKSAR laws are adequate to prosecute for the crimes listed in Article 23, and any new legislation must adequately protect the civil and political rights of Hong Kong citizens.|ceo@ceo.gov.hk,article23@clb.org.hk|Concerned over Article 23 proposals|03-Jan-2003|http://www.china-labour.org.hk/iso/news_item.adp?news_id=2362|http://www.labourstart.org/images/hkctu.jpg||closed|en6|USA: Azteca Foods - Time for a Contract!|Please help Azteca Foods workers in the United States.````Azteca workers, who have been walking a picket line in Chicago, Illinois, since September 30th, simply want their employer to obey the law and respect their right to a union and a decent contract.````They want a fair raise, health and safety protections in the plant, improvements in their health insurance, a fair pension, union security and respect for their years of service.````Despite appeals from religious and community leaders to negotiate fairly, the company is seeking to cut the minimal protections and benefits workers have had for many years.````For example, Azteca is demanding workers pay an incredible 700% increase for health care while proposing a 5 cent an hour wage increase for most workers.````Please let Azteca know the world is watching -- and demanding its workers be treated fairly.|Arthur Velasquez, President, Azteca Foods.````As CEO of your company, you are well aware of the contribution your workers have made to the success of Azteca Tortillas.````The majority of your employees have provided Azteca with more than 15 years of loyal service.````They expect to be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.````Please add my voice to those urging you to respect both the law and your employees' rights in negotiating a fair first contract with UE.````Instead of engaging in threats, interrogation and surveillance, and, instead of attacking your workers' benefits and protections, I urge you to negotiate with the union fairly and in good faith.````I respectfully request a response to this message on the status of your negotiations with the union and your willingness to provide your workers with improvements in their wages, benefits and protections under a fair UE contract.|arthur.velasquez@aztecafoods.com,info@aztecafoods.com,ueactivistnet-azteca@ranknfile-ue.org|Azteca Foods - Negotiate a Fair Contract!|17-Dec-2002|http://www.ranknfile-ue.org/1159azteca_bg.html|||closed|en7|USA: Solidarity with LSG Sky Chefs workers!|Tell Lufthansa to negotiate fairly with the union!````The 10,000 U.S. employees of Lufthansa's catering division, LSG Sky Chefs, have been trying to negotiate a new collective agreement since April 2000.````The major issues for these workers are affordable health care for themselves and their families, a fair grievance procedure, and better working conditions. Pressure and intimidation from supervisors to keep apace with increased line speeds has led to shortened or eliminated breaks, mandatory overtime - and an increase in the level of stress and physical wear and tear. Workers with long years of service face the threat of dismissal for "poor productivity"; 15 days' severance pay after 10 years of service is the norm.````LSG Sky Chefs workers are counting on a new collective agreement to address these issues. They have the support of the ITF and the IUF who are co-ordinating solidarity activities amongst their affiliates world-wide. Please write to the management of Lufthansa and LSG Sky Chefs to express your concern at the failure of Lufthansa's catering segment to conclude an agreement with their union, the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union (HERE) by filling in the following form and clicking on 'Submit' below. Thank you.|Dr. Juergen Weber``Chairman and CEO``Deutsche Lufthansa AG````Dear Dr. Weber:````I am writing to express concern at the failure of your catering segment, LSG Sky Chefs, to negotiate an acceptable collective agreement for its ten thousand employees in the United States. These employees have been trying to negotiate a new agreement since April 2000. A collective agreement negotiated with representative unions is a basic right for working people.````In particular, I am concerned over reports of poor treatment, unsafe working conditions and the high cost of health insurance provided to a low-wage workforce. These issues must be immediately addressed and corrected through negotiations with HERE, the union representing LSG Sky Chefs workers in the United States.````Poor treatment of employees and unsafe working conditions have the real potential of causing damage to the business and reputation of a company. It is important that this dispute be settled quickly and I encourage you to take steps to that end.|fravv@dlh.de,Hanns.Rech@lsgskychefs.com,Randall.Boyd@lsgskychefs.com,mayadehart@yahoo.com,iuf@iuf.org,aviation@itf.org.uk|LSG Sky Chefs - negotiate fairly with HERE!|11-Oct-2002|http://www.lsg-skychefs-alert.org|||closed|en8|Korea: Worker commits suicide to protest anti-union repression|In January 2002, a trade union activist at Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction, 50 year old Bae Dal-ho, burned himself to death. He decided to commit suicide in protest against company's brutal suppression of union members. ````Bae Dal-ho,a team leader of the boilers section, was found burned to death nearby the cooling tower. He left behind a wife and two teenage daughters.````Bae had been working for Doosan for 21 years, and his family depended on his earnings. Doosan blamed Bae for his involvement in the 47-day strike in May last year. The company convinced a court to withhold his wages and restrict his bank access. ````Before his self-immolation, Bae wrote a note, which was found in his car and which read in part:`` ``"Due to the company's provisional seizure of my wage, I had not received any pay for more than 6 months. No wage will be paid to me on this forthcoming payday, nor the day after tomorrow. But the most painful thing is to see my co-workers dismissed for union activities. Doosan should reinstate them."````The members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and the Korean Metal Workers Federation (KMWF) are organising nation-wide struggles. One of their demands is the resignation of Doosan president Park Yong-sung from the ``chair of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). Another is the ending of seizures of union property and charging unions for damages. The unions are also demanding a full investigation of Doosan's acquisition of Korea Heavy Industries and Construction.````You can support their campaign by sending the message below to Doosan's president, Park Yong sung.|Park Yong sung``President, Doosan Heavy Industry and Construction````I have learned about the tragic suicide of Bae Dal-ho, who died protesting the anti-union activies of your company -- and the campaign subsequently launched by the Korean Metal Workers Federation and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions in his memory.````I urge you to reinstate those Doosan workers dismissed for union activities and to stop all repressive anti-union measures at once.|yspark@doosan.com,kmwf@kmwf.or.kr|Stop union-bashing at Doosan|06-Feb-2003|http://www.kmwf.or.kr/|||closed|en9|GrainCorp's Joe Di Leo, union-busting chardonnay socialist|GrainCorp is Australia's largest bulk commodity storage and handling company, this is a highly unionised company with the majority of its workforce scattered across remote areas of the state.````GrainCorp's current Enterprise Bargaining Agreement is due to expire shortly and negotiations for a new Agreement are due to begin. GrainCorp decided to tip the scales in their favor by cutting off the deduction of union dues from employees pay this week.````Luckerly the vast majority of Australian Workers' Union members at GrainCorp have set up alternative ways to continue their union membership and therefore will be able to still negotiate a fair Agreement.````The architect of GrainCorp's de-unionisation strategy is Chief Operating Officer Joe Di Leo, also a well-known identity within the Australian Labor Party.````As a good chardonnay-socialist Joe is often seen at ALP fundraising events, and likes to boast to union officials about his 'personal friendships' with senior ALP Ministers.````With the worst drought in living memory reeking havoc across the state with grain growers going bust every where, farmers will be pleased to learn that GrainCorp's Senior Executives are still enjoying the highlife.````Last year the champion of this working class pulled in a cool $357,463.00 - not to mention 100,000 share options.````The AWU is now launching a campaign to make sure that members of the Australian Labor Party abide by the Rules and Objectives of the ALP and call for Joe to be expelled from the ALP.````ALP Rules state "An employer can only join, or remain in the Party, if he/she makes genuine endeavors to ensure all their employees join union and union/award/agreement conditions are observed."|Mr. Joe Di Leo``Chief Operating Officer``GrainCorp````Dear Mr. Di Leo,````I am writing to you to express my outrage at your recent attempt to wipe out a union presence at GrainCorp.````Whilst I would expect some firms such as Rio Tinto or Patricks to engage in such actions, I find it disgraceful that a member of the Australian Labor Party could be involved in such anti-worker activities.````I am calling on you to reverse GrainCorp's decision to stop payroll deductions or for you to resign from the Australian Labor Party immediately and join a political organisation that may be more up your alley.|jdileo@graincorp.com.au, phowes@awu-nsw.asn.au|Allow union payroll deductions or quit Labor Party|19-Feb-2003|http://www.awu-nsw.asn.au|||embargoed|en10|Mexico: Puma - Don't turn your backs on Matamoros workers!|Workers at Matamoros Garments, a factory in Puebla, Mexico, struck over wages and conditions and the right to form a union.````The factory has responded by intimidating and threatening workers and by drafting in a 'company' union to police them.````Puma have responded by pulling out of Matamoros and leaving the workers to take the heat.````In response to complaints from activists Puma have claimed that they inspected the factory, respected freedom of association and pulled out for purely economic reasons. ````Their claims have provoked an angry response from the workers.````Feeling the pressure, Puma seem set to meet the Clean Clothes campaign and the CAT (workers' support centre) next week in Germany.````Now is the time to turn up the pressure.|Dear Herr Hengstmann and Herr Zeitz,````I am writing to express my grave concern regarding Puma's actions over events at Matamoros Garments in Mexico.````I understand that Puma claims to have cancelled its order at Matamoros last October, yet workers continued to stitch Puma goods until January this year.````Your company only withdrew Puma tags and material in the``aftermath of action by workers to form an independent union and better their conditions.````I also understand that the factory has refused to officially recognize the workers' union, SITEMAG, and has broken Mexican minimum wage legislation and Puma's own code of conduct. ````It is not acceptable to simply walk away from these workers. I urge you to:````* Meet with Representatives of the Centro de Apoyo al Trabajador and the Clean Clothes Campaign to urgently address the situation.````* Resume production at Matamoros and ensure that your code and internationally recognised labour standards are respected.````* A system for independently verifying compliance with these standards needs to be set up which includes workers and their organisations, such as the CAT.````* Insist on free trade unions and a living wage in all your factories.````* Don't turn your backs on Matamoros workers.|reiner.hengstmann@puma.com,jochen.zeitz@puma.com|Don't turn your backs on Matamoros workers|19-Feb-2003|http://www.nosweat.org.uk|||closed|en11|Russia: Support hunger-strikers at 'Norilsk Nickel'|According to the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the All-Russian Confederation of Labour (VKT), workers are being subjected to unacceptable treatment at the OAO Metal Mining Plant 'Norilsk Nickel'. The situation is now so desperate that at least 20 workers are now on hunger strike. ````The trade unions at Norilsk Nickel are protesting against the refusal of the management to negotiate in good faith, and against the management's systematic harassment, intended to undermine the capacity of the trade unions to represent their members and to defend their legitimate rights and interests. Add your voice to that protest.````The Norilsk Nickel Management seems to have decided upon direct confrontation with the trade unions, through a campaign orchestrated in the local media and inside the company to discredit the trade unions. Threats have been made against union leaders and activists; employees have been openly called upon to leave their trade unions; and isolationist measures have been adopted to segregate the union representatives from the main local production teams.````These tactics represent an unacceptable and dangerous denial of basic trade union rights, as enshrined in the main conventions of the ILO, ratified by the Russian government. ````Please show your support to these workers by telling President Putin to urge Norilsk Nickel to re-establish the conditions of normal dialogue inside the OAO Metal Mining Plant 'Norilsk Nickel'.|Dear Mr President,````According to the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the All-Russian Confederation of Labour (VKT), workers are being subjected to unacceptable treatment at the OAO Metal Mining Plant 'Norilsk Nickel'. The situation is now so desperate that at least 20 workers are now on hunger strike. ````The trade unions at Norilsk Nickel are protesting against the refusal of the management to negotiate in good faith, and against the management's systematic harassment, intended to undermine the capacity of the trade unions to represent their members and to defend their legitimate rights and interests. I add my voice to that protest.````The Norilsk Nickel Management seems to have decided upon direct confrontation with the trade unions, through a campaign orchestrated in the local media and inside the company to discredit the trade unions. Threats have been made against union leaders and activists; employees have been openly called upon to leave their trade unions; and isolationist measures have been adopted to segregate the union representatives from the main local production teams.````These tactics represent an unacceptable and dangerous denial of basic trade union rights, as enshrined in the main conventions of the ILO, ratified by your government. ````Please urge Norilsk Nickel to re-establish the conditions of normal dialogue inside the OAO Metal Mining Plant 'Norilsk Nickel'.|president@gov.ru,press@icftu.org|Support hunger-strikers at Norilsk Nickel|20-Feb-2003|http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Index=991217226&Language=EN|||closed|en12|British Columbia Government: Stop violating workers' rights|The International Labour Organization (ILO) found that the British Columbia (Canada) government violated basic international rights and standards protecting workers. The government of the province of British Columbia passed six pieces of legislation affecting 150,000 workers in education, health care and social services. ````These laws impose contracts, force an end to legal strike action, strip basic protections from negotiated collective agreements and pave the way for thousands of women to lose their jobs.````At the same time the government of British Columbia wants to host the 2010 Winter Olympics.|To: Premier Gordon Campbell````I am concerned by the recent ruling of the International Labour Organization that the government of British Columbia, Canada has passed six laws that violate basic protections for working people.````Your government is actively seeking international support for Vancouver's bid to host the 2010 Winter Olympics. As such it is critical that your government comply with basic international standards and fundamental labour and human rights.````I demand that your government treat public sector workers fairly and with dignity. You must comply with international law and repeal the offending legislation.|premier@gov.bc.ca|Repeal anti-labour laws|05-May-2003|http://www.ciea.bc.ca/resources/ILObill28.pdf|||closed|en13|Colombia: 130 trade union murders in 1 year|From the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers Associations (IUF):````With great sorrow and anger we inform you of the murder of another officer of the Colombian rural workers union SINTRAINAGRO. Juan de Jess Gmez, president of the local SINTRAINAGRO organization of Minas, in the municipality of San Martn, Cesar department, was gunned down on May 1 in the city of San Alberto.````SINTRAINAGRO, in an official release, has stated that his murder can only benefit employers hostile to collective bargaining with workers and their trade union organizations.````Gmez and the union he led had been seeking unsuccessfully to get the palm oil company Palmas del Cesar S.A. to the negotiating table. ````Despite the union's declared willingness to negotiate compromises on issues concerning productivity and the organization of work, the company management had rejected all negotiations and was instead firing SINTRAINAGRO members and bribing others to leave the union. ````SINTRAINAGRO's requests to meet with the government ministry for social protection in connection with the conflict had all gone unanswered.````The murder of Jess Gmez brings to over 130 the number of union leaders murdered in Colombia over the past year. To date, no one has been prosecuted or even detained by the authorities in connection with these serial murders.````Some two weeks ago we reported that protection for union vice-president Guillermo Rivera (scheduled to take over again as SINTRAINAGRO president) had been restored after being removed from him and other union leaders who had previously benefited from police protection earlier this year. Clearly, the existing level of protection provided by the state is not enough to ensure the lives of trade union members and leaders in Colombia. Some 425 SINTRAINAGRO members and officers have now been murdered. ````We urge you to join with us in calling on the Colombian authorities to ensure that all trade union leaders in Colombia who request protection by the state are given adequate levels of protection, without conditions.````````English translation of the message we are urging you to send follows:``````Mr. President,````Juan de Jess Gmez, president of the local SINTRAINAGRO organization of Minas, in the municipality of San Martn, Cesar department, was gunned down on May 1 in the city of San Alberto. Gmez and the union he led had been seeking unsuccessfully to get the palm oil company Palmas del Cesar S.A. to the negotiating table. Rather than negotiate a collective agreement with the union, company management had been firing SINTRAINAGRO members and bribing others to leave the union.````More than 425 officers and members of SINTRAINAGRO have been murdered since the union was founded. Over 130 trade union leaders have been murdered in your country over the past year.````In view of this unparalleled record of anti-union violence, it is essential that your government provide, without condition, the necessary protective measures for all leaders of SINTRAINAGRO and other trade unions who request such protection.````Given your government's failure to investigate these murders and apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators, and in the absence of the necessary protective measures, the trade union movement and democratic public opinion internationally will hold the Colombian authorities directly accountable for the lives and wellbeing of your country's trade union leaders.````I look forward to immediate action on your part.````|Sr. Presidente,````Juan de Jess Gmez, presidente de la organizacin local de SINTRAINAGRO de Minas, en la municipalidad de San Martn, departamento Cesar, fue baleado de muerte el 1 de mayo en la ciudad de San Alberto. Gmez y el sindicato que diriga haban procurado infructuosamente llevar a la compaa de aceite de palma, Palmas del Cesar S.A. a la mesa de negociaciones. En lugar de negociar un convenio colectivo con el sindicato, la direccin de la compaa estaba despidiendo a miembros de SINTRAINAGRO y sobornando a otros para que dejaran el sindicato.````Ms de 425 dirigentes y miembros de SINTRAINAGRO han sido asesinados desde que se fund el sindicato. Ms de 130 dirigentes sindicales han sido asesinados en su pas durante el ao pasado.````En vista de este rcord sin paralelo de violencia antisindical, es esencial que su gobierno proporcione sin condiciones las necesarias medidas de proteccin para todos los dirigentes de SINTRAINAGRO y de otros sindicatos que soliciten proteccin.````Dado que su gobierno no ha investigado, apresado y procesado a los perpetradores de estos asesinatos y en ausencia de tal proteccin, el movimiento sindical y la opinin pblica democrtica a nivel internacional considerarn a las autoridades colombianas directamente responsables de las vidas y bienestar de los dirigentes sindicales de su pas.````Esperamos medidas inmediatas de su parte.````Atentamente,|auribe@presidencia.gov.co,ministro@mininterior.gov.co,sintrainagro@edatel.net.co, unionagroalimentaria@hotmail.com, iuf@iuf.org|Juan de Jess Gmez|13-May-2003|http://www.iuf.org|||closed|en14|Release Yao Fuxin and Xiao Yunliang|China Labour Bulletin has just learned that both Xiao Yunliang and Yao Fuxins health have deteriorated rapidly. They were first detained in March 2002 after leading peaceful worker demonstrations in Liaoyang City in the northeast of China and on 9 May 2003 , Yao Fuxin was sentenced to seven years imprisonment and Xiao Yunliang to four years imprisonment on charges of "subversion". Both men are now seriously ill and there are serious concerns that they will not survive their prison terms. We call upon the Chinese authorities to immediately release the two men on medical bail.|Dear Minister Zhang Fusen,````We, the undersigned, call upon you and your government to unconditionally release Yao Fuxin and Xiao Yunliang and failing that to immediately release them on medical parole. ``Both men are reported to be very ill. Yao Fuxin is suffering from intermittent heart failure for several months as well as extremely high blood pressure and great difficulty in walking. Xiao Yunliang has pleurisy, difficulty in speaking and he suffers from frequent stabbing chest pains. On 17 April he was diagnosed by police doctors as being virtually blind in both eyes. Neither man can receive the full and proper medical treatment needed for their illnesses while in prison and their condition is rapidly deteriorating. We urge you to release both men on immediate medical parole, according to the Chinese Criminal Procedure Law, so that they can receive the correct medical care.|minister@legalinfo.gov.cn,clb@clb.org.hk|Release Yao Fuxin and Xiao Yunliang|27-Oct-2003|http://www.china-labour.org.hk/iso/article.adp?article_id=5077|||closed|en16|Support Justice for Janitors|Everyone deserves a chance at a decent life no matter where they live. That is why on this International Justice for Janitors Day, June 15th, janitors are uniting across the world in an unprecedented show of solidarity. ``Janitors are coming together to send a message to the multinational company behind the Westfield shopping mall chain - with outlets in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Canada.````They are demanding that Westfield mall cleaners be treated with fairness, dignity and respect. They are demanding a Clearance Sale at Westfield Malls: Everything Unjust Must Go.````In Australia, the janitors (or cleaners as they are known Down Under) who clean Westfield Malls sometimes go weeks without being paid. Others have had their hours cut so they take home less money. In Westfield malls across the United States, janitors are paid poverty wages and receive few if any benefits.`` ``Why? Because Westfield Malls contracts out cleaning services to the lowest bidder. these cleaning companies have been known to break the law and refuse to treat janitors with the dignity and respect they deserve.|Mr Mark Ryan, Director - Westfield Corporate Affairs`` ``Your malls are often the best places to find a great deal, but that's hardly true for the hard-working men and women who keep your malls clean. ````I have learned that in some places in Australia and the United States, Westfield Malls are using cleaning companies that break the law and refuse to treat cleaners and janitors with the dignity and respect they deserve. ````It's your responsibility to see to it that mall contractors respect the law and that janitors are treated decently. Your responsibility doesn't stop because janitors and cleaners aren't employees of the mall.`` ``Make your malls not just places to find a bargain, but places where janitors can earn a good and decent living.|andrewc@lhmu.org.au, corporateaffairs@westfield.com.au|Justice 4 Cleaners|07-Jun-2003|http://www.lhmu.org.au/lhmu/news/1054969910_7988.html|||closed|en17|Freds Inc - Justice for workers in Burma and USA|In recent months, Fred's Inc, a popular discount chain store found primarily in the southeastern United States, has come under close scrutiny on an international level. Following the harassment and eventual dismissal of union ``activists at the company's distribution center in Memphis last year, Fred's has drawn fire from both labor and civil ``rights communities for its apparent disregard of labor rights around the world. ````Amidst the swirling allegations of harassment, racism, and unfair labor practices domestically, Fred's tacit support ``of the brutal military regime in Burma has come to light, adding to the company's dismal labor record. ````In late May 2003, United Students Against Sweatshops and UNITE jointly released a report linking Fred's Inc. and ``the brutal regime in Burma, a nation whose tarnished and battered human rights record is known world wide. Well ``documented reports of slave labor, sweatshops, systematic rape, and the military conscription of children in the ``Southeast Asian country have sparked global protest, and many major retailers, including Tommy Hilfiger and ``Wal-Mart, have pulled their business from Burma. Even the American Apparel and Footwear Association has ``officially withdrawn from Burma, calling for a "law banning apparel and footwear imports from Burma until the ``human rights of its people are respected."````Despite this international trend, Fred's continues to support the military regime of the State Peace and ``Development Council (SPDC) through its use of Burmese contractors. According to a UNITE report, Fred's ``imported $2.7 million worth of apparel from Burma in a recent one month period, roughly 6% of all apparel and ``textile imports from Burma to the U.S. in that month. ````You can act now to fight back against this injustice.|Michael Hayes``CEO````Dear Mr. Hayes,````In recent months, news of your company's involvement with the brutal military dictatorship has spread like wildfire ``across the world. The majority of your corporate peers, understanding the gravity of the situation, have removed their business from Burma, and as this letter is written, the U.S. Congress is preparing to pass a bill banning all imports from Burma. ````I write to you today as a concerned global citizen and consumer, outraged at your corporation's treatment of ``workers in the United States and in sweatshops in Burma.````Along with thousands of other consumers, I urge you to:````-Refuse to source goods from Burma while the SPDC remains in power;``-Refuse to purchase closeout goods Made in Burma for sale in your stores;``-Cancel your current orders placed with manufacturers in Burma.``-Remove all Burma-made products from your shelves immediately and donate them to shelters. No one should ``profit from the oppression of the Burmese people, but these products can still benefit those less fortunate.``-Donate profits made in 2003 from Burma-made goods to an organization assisting Burma's Internally Displaced ``Persons, and make financial records available to UNITE so that the accuracy of the figure can be confirmed. ````I am confident that you will take a stand for justice in Burma.|dkizer@fredsinc.com|Justice in Burma|23-Jul-2003|http://www.behindthelabel.org|||closed|en18|Mexico: Tarrant - Respect garment workers rights!|Tarrant is a garment factory in the Maquila zone of Northern Mexico. It produces for brands including Levis and Tommy Hillfiger. ````Recently the workers formed their own, independent union, SUITTAR, and struck to demand a profit sharing scheme. Despite recently buying up more machinery and factories, the management claimed they were not making a profit. They then sacked five union leaders. Since then they have sacked another 50 and are threatening thousands more lay-offs to come. They are also trying to re-register the factory in another name, with the connivance of the state, so as to avoid having to pay severance pay. If they succeed it will leave the families of these workers destitute and will be a huge setback to the struggle for independent trade unionism in Mexico.````For that reason, SUITTAR and the Centro de Apoyo al Trabajador (CAT - workers organising centre) are appealing for international solidarity. ````Please help by sending a letter of protest to Tarrant's management.````Please also make a donation to support the sacked workers, their families and their union. You can donate by credit card at No Sweat - click on the donate button in the Solidarity with Mexican sweatshop Workers box (top right). You can also send cheques to Mexican Workers Solidarity, c/o No Sweat PO Box 36707, London SW9 8YA. For US readers, you can donate at Sweatshop Watch/CAT, C/o Sweatshop Watch, 310 Eighth Street, Suite 303, Oakland, CA, USA 94607. Or on-line at Sweatshop Watch - click on the Donate Now button, selecting``'Tarrant Mxico Ajalpan' in the 'Purpose' field.|Dear Gerard Guez:````I am writing to protest at your shocking treatment of workers at Tarrant Ajalpan. Specifically I implore you to:````1. Stop illegally dismissing and threatening the Ajalpan workers and reinstall them according to Federal Labor Law, Chapter IV.````2. Meet your responsibility to the workers, whether you have a different company name, or your factories are leased to a 'third party,' and respect their labor rights.````3. Recognize SUITTAR as the only true worker representative at the plant, and get rid of the protection contract union that the company supposedly has, and negotiate a collective bargaining agreement with``SUITTAR. The Mexican Constitution and Federal Labor Law (Articles 357-359) grant the right to freely form labor unions.````4. Make public representations to the JLCA in Puebla and Governor Melquades Morales Flores, to grant SUITTAR its legal recognition.````5. Agree to meet the No Sweat UK trade union delegation to Puebla between September 21 and 26 this year.````I look forward to your reply,|gerard.guez@tags.com,catpuebla@yahoo.com.mx|Respect garment workers rights|21-Aug-2003|http://www.nosweat.org.uk/article.php?sid=600&mode=thread&order=0|||closed|en19|British American Tobacco - Out of Burma!|The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF) and the international trade union movement has repeatedly called on the UK-based tobacco transnational British American Tobacco (BAT to pull out of Burma, where it operates a cigarette factory. ````The company's presence in Burma dates from 1993, when the Singapore-based subsidiary of Rothmans International (which BAT acquired in 1999) set up a joint venture with the Union of Myanmar Economic Holding Co. Ltd. UMEH is an investment company whose majority shareholder is the Directorate of Procurement of the Ministry of Defence.````The BAT cigarette factory, which began production in 1995, is located in the military-owned Pyinmapin Industrial Zone near Rangoon and its production is marketed by the Myawaddy Trading Co., a subsidiary of UMEH. ````BAT is therefore directly and unambiguously involved with the ruling military dictatorship as joint venture partner, distributor and landlord. ````The National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, representing the parliament elected by a huge majority of voters in 1990 but forced underground by the military coup, has repeatedly called for an end to foreign investment in the country pending democratic civilian rule. ````On July 8, Prime Minister Dr. Sein Win reiterated the elected government's view that "funds from these investments are prolonging military rule", drawing attention in BAT as one of the last significant TNCs to remain active in Burma. ````Burma's underground trade union movement, organized in the Federation of Trade Unions of Burma (FTUB), has echoed this call. ````BAT, however, insists that its joint venture with the dictatorship is "defining, demonstrating and setting an example for corporate social responsibility in Myanmar." ````We believe that under current conditions in Burma, transnational investment in the country can only fund the ongoing repression. ````We believe that BAT needs to hear this from all supporters of democracy and human rights. We therefore encourage messages to the company, calling upon BAT to follow the example of other transnationals who have withdrawn from Burma in recognition of the fact that investment in repression is fundamentally incompatible with international standards governing the relationship between foreign direct investment by multinational companies and the social, political and human rights context in which they operate.|Dear Mr. Broughton, ````The military dictatorship in Burma and the gross violations of human rights which sustain its rule have been repeatedly condemned by the United Nations General Assembly, the ILO, and other international bodies as well as by respected organizations committed to the defense of human rights such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. The elected government of the Burmese people, the NCGUB, has repeatedly called on transnational companies to cease their involvement with the dictatorship and to disinvest from Burma. As recently as July 8, Prime Minister Win Sein, referring directly to your company's joint venture with the military, said that 'Military officers benefit most from foreign investments. We understand that there will be casualties at times like this. But for the good of the majority and for the long-term benefit of all, foreign companies must go.' ````BAT cannot possibly profess a commitment to corporate social responsibility and remain in a joint venture with the torturers who have illegally seized power in Burma. Under these conditions, your operation funds a military regime which is permanently at war with its own people and rules through murder, torture, rape and forced labour. ````We therefore call upon you to withdraw from Burma or suffer the inevitable damage to your company's reputation worldwide.|Martin_Broughton@bat.com, press_office@bat.com,iuf@iuf.org|Burma|22-Sep-2003|http://www.iuf.org/cgi-bin/dbman/db.cgi?db=default&uid=default&ID=1062&view_records=1&ww=1&en=1|||closed|en20|Mexico: Tarrant - it's time for justice|In early June 2003, workers at Tarrant Mxico, a garment manufacturing plant in Ajalpan, Puebla, conducted a three-day work stoppage to demand payment of their legally-entitled benefits and improved health and safety conditions, and end forced overtime and verbal and sexual harassment by management. 750 of 1,100 employees formed the Only Independent Union of Tarrant Mxico Company Workers (SUITTAR). Just four days after forming the union, its eight main leaders were illegally fired and physically removed from the facility. Then during the next two months, Tarrant management fired over 250 more SUITTAR supporters.````The Ajalpan plant produces denim products for clients such as Levis (Levi's Strauss Signature jeans for exclusive distribution at Wal-Mart), Tommy Hilfiger, Charming Shoppes (Venezia and L.A. Blues jeans) and Limited Brands (Express jeans), and is just one of 11 denim factories in the region owned by Los Angeles-based Tarrant Apparel Group (TAG).````On October 6 Pueblas labor board denied SUITTARs petition for legal recognition citing three bureaucratic and questionable reasons. SUITTAR will file an appeal of the decision. On October 15 and 23, complaints filed by the fired workers will have its first reinstallation hearing dates.````The Worker Rights Consortium has conducted an independent investigation and corroborated the human and labor rights violations at the factory.````SUITTAR has reached out to Mexican and international labor solidarity organizations, local and international media, North American and Mexican government officials and the denim brands themselves to ensure that Tarrant respect its clients' Codes of Conduct and Mexican labor laws guaranteeing the right to freedom of association and providing for the workers' reinstallation.`` ``Thanks to international pressure Levis has been the only brand to quickly respond to the workers' concerns, including meeting with the fired leaders and informing Tarrant and the Puebla state government of the Code of Conduct and Mexican labor law violations.`` ``Urgent, immediate pressure is required to influence TAGs major international clients to force Tarrant to respect their Codes of Conduct and Mexican law, and urgent help is needed to donate to the Dismissed Workers Fund!|I am writing to express my concern about the labor situation at the Tarrant Mxico - Ajalpan denim plant in Puebla, Mxico. After workers took action to demand better working conditions, Tarrant management fired eight elected leaders of SUITTAR, the independent union formed by 750 of the plants 1,100 employees on July 12, 2003. Then during the next two months, Tarrant management illegally fired over 250 more SUITTAR supporters. ````On October 6 Pueblas labor board denied SUITTARs petition for legal recognition citing three bureaucratic and questionable reasons. SUITTAR will file an appeal of the decision. On October 15 and 23, complaints filed by the fired workers will have its first reinstallation hearing dates.````The Worker Rights Consortium (WRC) has conducted an independent investigation and confirmed these human and labor rights violations, and many others (www.workersrights.org).````One of the plant's clients, Levi Strauss, has taken significant steps to enforce its Code of Conduct, meet with the fired leaders and communicate its concerns to the Puebla state government. However, Tarrant Apparel Group (TAG) has told Levis that it would rather lose its relatively small amount of production than allow an independent verification to enforce the brands Code of Conduct. But will TAG tell huge clients like Wet Seal, Federated Department Stores and Tommy Hilfiger the same? I insist that you:````1. Contact TAG and the Mexican and Puebla government to ensure: The right to freedom of association, thus accepting SUITTARs appeal, overturning the October 6 decision and legally recognizing the independent union. Reinstallation of all fired workers. Removal of the C.T.M. protection contract union illegally forced on the workers. A signed collective bargaining agreement between SUITTAR and Tarrant.````2. Work together with Levis, Limited Brands, Charming Shoppes and other TAG clients to demand that TAG comply with the Codes of Conduct and Mexican law.````3. Publicly cite the WRC report as evidence of the illegal violations.````4. Communicate directly with the workers catpuebla@yahoo.com.mx.````I will be following this case closely. Thank you.|peter.whitford@wetseal.com, jzimmerman@fds.com, ddyer@tommy-usa.com, gguez@aol.com, buzon_abascal@stps.gob.mx, catpuebla@yahoo.com.mx|TAG|13-Oct-2003|http://www.nosweat.org.uk|||closed|en21|Korea: Free 8 jailed construction union officials|The police have currently launched a series of unwarranted and unjust investigations into the organizing efforts of the Korean Federation of Construction Industries Union (KFCITU), an affiliate of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. ````These investigations are an attempt to stop the KFCITU from organizing the more than 2 million blue-collar workers in``various constructions sites all across South Korea. ````As a result of these investigations the police have already arrested eight union officers and organizers in Daejeon and Chunahn:````Cho Jung Hee````Kim Myung Hwan````Kim Wool Hyun````Lee Sung Woo````Noh Jae Dong````Noh Sun Kun````Park Chang Man````Park Yong Jae ````In addition, the union believes the continuous harassment and investigations by the police will lead to further arrests of union officials and organizers in other cities.````Although South Korean construction companies appear to have fully recovered and in some cases have gained significant profits since the IMF crisis of 1997, construction workers working in thousands of construction sites across South Korea are barely able to survive. In fact the success and the rebirth of South Korean construction companies is due to the hard work of these workers. ````The organizing of blue collar construction workers has been a major priority for the KFCITU since the merger of the Korean Federation of Construction Trade Unions and the Korean Federation of Construction Workers Union in 2001. The KFCITU recognized that only by organizing these workers, can the union truly change the standards of the construction industry so that construction workers can have a livable wage, benefits such as health insurance, safe and decent working conditions, and dignity in the work place. The KFCITU's perseverance and hard work was slowly paying off with recent success in organizing construction workers in various cities across South Korea much to chagrin of construction companies.````The police have accused union officials and organizers in using force or coercing construction site managements to sign collective bargaining agreements and receiving payments as a result of these agreements. These charges are baseless and without any real merit. The police have refused to name its sources or reveal the names of those who have brought these accusations. However, it is clear from the line of police questioning and the 'evidence' that the police and prosecution have gathered, that the construction companies are behind these investigations. The construction companies are in collusion with the police and prosecution and are using the current investigations to stop the KFCITU from continuing to organize construction workers.````The KFCITU is calling for your support by writing to President Roh Moo Hyun to demand the immediate release of the eight union officials and organizers who have been arrested as a result of these baseless investigations. In addition, the KFCITU is demanding an end to these investigations that is merely an attempt by both the police and the construction companies to undermine trade union and worker rights in South Korea.|Dear President Roh:````I am writing to express my outrage at the recent arrest of Cho Jung Hee, Kim Myung Hwan, Kim Wool Hyun, Lee Sung Woo, Noh Jae Dong, Noh Sun Kun, Park Chang Man, and Park Young Jae -- union officials and organizers of Daejeon and Chunahn local unions of the Korean Federation of Construction Industries Union (KFCITU), an affiliate of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. ````We are particularly concerned about the imprisonment of Lee Sung Woo, President of the Daejeon local union. In 1995 he lost both his legs and his arm due to a tragic work-site accident at one of the construction sites. Since the prosecution has declared President Lee to be a flight risk, he is to be incarcerated until the end of his trial, which will has yet to be set. Due to his physical challenges, we are concerned about his health if he is not released immediately.````The police have launched a series of unwarranted and unjust investigations into the organizing efforts of the KFCITU in order to stop the KFCITU from organizing the more than two million day laborers working in construction sites all across South Korea. For the past several years, the KFCITU has been successful in organizing blue-collar construction workers to ensure that they have a living wage, safe and decent working conditions, dignity and respect in the work place. ````The police have accused the union of coercing construction companies to sign collective bargaining agreements and taking payments as a result of these agreements. It is our understanding that the collective bargaining agreements were conducted in a manner that was agreeable to both the union and the management and in no circumstances was there any use of force or duress to force the management to sign these agreements. These are unfounded charges and merely an attempt to stop the KFCITU in continuing to organize construction workers to ensure that they have a right to a union.````As a former labor attorney and a supposed friend of labor, you more than any other President should be aware of the need for construction workers to have union representation. You have consistently alluded to the need to create a new type of relationship between labor, government, and business that would benefit both the South Korean economy and its workers. The first step to creating this new relationship would be to ensure that workers have the right to join a union.````We call for the immediate release of those arrested as a result of these unfounded police allegations. We also demand an end to the police's unjust investigations into the organizing efforts of the Korean Federation of Construction Industries Union. Finally we call on your government to ensure that trade union rights and worker rights are fully respected in South Korea. We will continue to monitor the situation until this matter is resolved.|president@cwd.go.kr, m_molab@molab.go.kr, kfcitu@kfcitu.org|Free jailed KFCITU officials|20-Oct-2003|http://www.ifbww.org/index.cfm?n=155&l=2&trad=1026&detail=true|||closed|en22|US occupation forces raid IFTU HQ - demand full investigation!|On Saturday 6 December 2003 US occupation forces using about ten armoured cars and dozens of soldiers attacked the temporary headquarters of the Iraqi Federation of Workers Trade Unions (IFTU) in the Karkh District of Baghdad and arrested eight IFTU leaders who were subsequently released. The soldiers ransacked and destroyed IFTU possessions, including posters and banners condemning terrorism, covering the federation's name with black paint, smashing windows, seizing documents, without any explanation or reason.````Please send this message to President Bush today demanding a full investigation.|Dear President Bush:````We have read about the raid carried out in Baghdad on 6 December 2003 by US soldiers at the headquarters of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions, including the arrest of 8 IFTU leaders who were subsequently released. The soldiers destroyed IFTU property and gave no reason or explanation for their attack. We call upon you to conduct a full investigation of this attack and to guarantee that it will not happen again. The United States is obligated under international law to respect the rights of workers to form free and independent trade unions.````Thank you.|president@whitehouse.gov|Raid on Iraqi union HQ|09-Dec-2003|http://www.labourstart.org/iraq/|||closed|en23|South Korea: Support Migrant Workers Union|The Equality Trade Union, Migrant's Branch (ETU-MB) is the only nationwide migrant workers union in existence. Committed to bottom-up organizing and worker empowerment, we have struggled hard for the workers rights of migrants in South Korea since our inception in 2001. As both the South Korean and migrant exporting countries profit greatly from the trade in cheap, docile migrant labour, our fledgling union has been under constant attack. The South Korean government is currently engaged in a wholesale deportation crackdown, aiming to deport 120,000 undocumented migrant workers by August 2004 (two-thirds of the migrant workforce). Core members of the ETU-MB have engaged in a sit-in struggle at Myongdong cathedral since November 15, 2003. The government has publicly threatened that they are at risk of arrest and deportation if they venture out of cathedral grounds. On two occasions in the last week legal ETU-MB demonstrations have been viciously attacked by units of immigration officers and riot police, resulting in two migrants being seized and multiple injuries. We are fighting for our lives. We desperately need your support. International support is of the utmost importance in the next two weeks: without it the union will surely be destroyed.|Dear Mr. President, I am writing this letter to protest South Koreas harsh, inhumane and unjust treatment of migrant workers, especially its treatment of the ETU-MB (Equality Trade Union - Migrants Branch). In my opinion, South Korea disregards the human and worker rights of migrant workers. I believe that the vicious crackdowns that the department of immigration engages in are wholly designed to intimidate workers into submission and docility and, moreover, to thwart efforts on the part of these workers to organize, a fundamental right of all workers. I mourn the tragic loss of seven migrant workers who committed suicide out of desperation because of the crackdown. I hold South Korea responsible for their deaths. I am also shocked at the brutality of the immigration police I know about the gun-wielding immigration/police attack on the workers and it adds to the increasingly ugly picture that South Korea is presenting to the world. These demonstrations were legal. The workers had the governments permission to hold them. I strongly implore you: set the global standard for the fair treatment of migrant workers. Do not forget that it was not long ago that South Koreans themselves were migrant workers, enduring the same injustices that the workers you are now ttacking face. Allow South Korea to set the world standard for the fair treatment of migrant workers. Stop the crackdown. Desist from destroying the ETU-MB. Legalise all migrant workers!|vmigrant@hotmail.com,president@cwd.go.kr|Stop crackdown on migrant workers|14-Jan-2004|http://migrant.nodong.net|||closed|en24|Haiti: Stop union-busting, respect workers' rights!|On Monday 1 March, 2004, thirty-four (34) members of the Sendika Ouvriye Kodevi Wanament (SOKOWA, Ouanaminthe Codevi Workers' Union) were fired by the management of the Grupo M textile assembly factory in northeast Haiti. (This union ``had filed its official registration with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour in Port-au-Prince on 10 February, 2004.) The following day, as co-workers prepared to take action in support of the union, members of the so-called ``"rebel" forces, who in recent days staged a violent coup d'etat against the Haitian government, arrived at the factory and attacked the workers. After several workers were handcuffed and others beaten up, the workforce was compelled to resume work. The "rebels" said they had been called in by the Grupo M factory management. ````The following is an urgent action appeal directed to Fernando Capellan, the CEO of Grupo M, in Matanzas, ``Santiago, Dominican Republic, with copies to Levi Strauss and the union in Haiti.|[English translation follows - see below]````Msye Capellan, ````Mwen konsnen anpil pa rap ak abi tr serye ak vyolasyon dwa travay yo nan izin Grupo M, Wanament, Ayiti. Enfmasyon ki rive jwenn mwen montre jou ki te premye mas 2004, yon 34 manm sendika SOKOWA revoke abitrman e, nan demen, direksyon an rele yon fs paramilit pou atake lt ouvriye faktori a. Sanble yo ta enfme ouvriye sendike yo pou yo vin nan izin la lendi 8 mas la pou yo touche dnye lajan yo, sa ki ap enplike ke yo aksepte revokasyon gwo ponyt sila a.````Msye Capellan, ou konnen tr byen dwa pou sendike a f pati Konstitisyon peyi a (e f pati tout nm entnasyonal travay yo). M ap mande w pou ou tounen sou desizyon revokasyon sa a touswit touswit e remete travay sendikal yo nan travay yo. Piplis toujou, anplwaye ki patisipe nan gwo atak sa a sou dwa travay yo dwe revoke. Anyen ki mwens ke aksyon sila yo pa akseptab.````Mwen konnen konpayi Levi-Strauss se youn nan prensipal kliyan ou, e ke li menm tou li f part angajman piblik li yo an fav dwa travay yo nan tout konpayi ki soutrete av l. Poutt sa, m ap voye yon kopi lt sa a bay M. Michael ``Kobori, Direkt Kd Kondwit Global Levi Strauss & Co.````---````I am very concerned about serious abuses and violations of workers' rights at the Grupo M factory in Ouanaminthe, Haiti. I understand that on 1 March 2004, some 34 members of the SOKOWA union were arbitrarily dismissed, and that the ``following day, the management called in a paramilitary force to attack other workers at the factory. I understand that the dismissed union members have been told to return to the factory on 8 March to collect their final wages, an act ``which implies acceptance of their summary dismissal.````Senor Capellan, you know very well that the right to unionise is enshrined in Haitian law (and is also an internationally-recognised labour standard), and ``I am calling on you to immediately rescind the dismissal notices, and to re-instate the union members. Furthermore, those managers involved in this violent denial of workers' rights must be dismissed. Nothing less than these actions ``will be acceptable. ````I know that the Levi Strauss Company is one of your main clients, and that it has made public commitments in favour of workers' rights at all its sub-contracting companies. For this reason, I am sending a copy of this letter to Mr. ``Michael Kobori, the Levi Strauss & Co. director for Global Code of Conduct.|fcapellan@grupom.com.do, mkobori@levi.com|Haiti: stop union-busting, respect workers' rights|05-Mar-2004|http://www.nosweat.org.uk/article.php?sid=825&mode=thread&order=1|||closed|en26|Solidarity with Cambodian Hotel Workers!|Hundreds of members of the Cambodian Tourism and Service Workers Federation (CTSWF) have been sacked in retaliation against a peaceful, legal one-week strike. Employers have unilaterally rejected rulings of the Cambodia Arbitration Council instructing them to comply with Cambodian law and distribute 100 percent of the service charges to employees on a regular monthly basis. Now the employers are seeking to bust the union. At issue is the employers' determination to unilaterally reject the collective bargaining process and impose on employees a massive loss of income. Your support is needed.|Dear Madame/Sir,``Members of the Cambodian Tourism and Service Workers' Federation (CTSWF) have been dismissed from employment at your hotel in retaliation for their participation in the peaceful, legal strike of April 5-12. These dismissals are in direct violation of the interim order of the Cambodian Arbitration Council instructing employers to allow all workers to return to their jobs. ``We call upon you to immediately reinstate all workers dismissed for their participation in the strike, and to enter into good faith negotiations to find a mutually satisfactory solution through the arbitration process. Failure to do so will result in a deterioration of the quality of service available to your guests and severely tarnish the reputation of tourism in Cambodia as well as that of your particular establishment. Negotiation rather than confrontation offers the only way forward for Cambodian tourism.````Yours sincerely,|iuf@iuf.org,stephan.gnaegi@raffles.com,riaz.mahmood@raffles.com,phnompenh@interconti.com,asunway@online.com.kh|Cambodian hotel workers|06-May-2004|http://www.iuf.org/cgi-bin/dbman/db.cgi?db=default&uid=default&ID=1528&view_records=1&ww=1&en=1|||closed|en27|Thailand: Support union call to stop privatisation!|Union protests in defiance of the Thaksin administration's plan to privatise the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) have steadily escalated since the initial February 23rd protest involving over 2,000 workers from 5 state enterprises. ````On March 3rd tens of thousands workers from all 41 state enterprises were joined by private sector workers, students and activists in front of EGAT headquarters in the biggest demonstration against Thailands Thaksin government, well known for its authoritarian, CEO-style governance. From there the protests have gained strength along with the mobilized Thai labour movement.````May Day in Thailand was historic, well over 50-60,000 joined. Inspired by the new-found strength of labour, the streets were full with workers from both private and state sector. Those leading the movement come from the state enterprises and private, legally separate workers for over a decade, but in solidarity to stop privatisation. ````EGAT union members contend that the government's privatization policy would hurt the people with higher costs, poor service and would allow ruling politicians, their families and cronies to grab a majority of shares, as``was the case with the privatization of the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT) last year. PTT shares were sold in just a few minutes through pre-arranged``buying to which fewer than 2,000 people had access. ````The lack of transparency in the proposed EGAT privatization is a cause of concern to the unions and the public. From the beginning the unions have demanded that the prime minister hold open forums that will allow people to air their opinions about EGAT's privatization, a demand``supported by an increasing majority of the public. ````EGAT labour union head Sirichai Maingam stated that the union would defer to the will of the public, and that if the public supports privatisation in a referendum, the protests would end. The Thai government has offered many incentives to the Egat labour union to end the protest, but theyve all been denied.````This is the first major mass protest against the Thaksin elite, and the unions are now letting the government know that the world is behind them in their call to stop privatisation, promote transparency and democracy, and above all else, to listen to the voice of the people. As the call to the Thaksin government for basic democracy enters its fourth month, the workers of Thailand are requesting solidarity support from their brothers and sisters in the``international community.|Dear Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, ````I am concerned that attempts to privatize the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and other state enterprises without consulting the Thai people contradicts the democratic principles of the Royal Thai Government. Thailands state enterprises belong to the Thai people, and it is the Thai people who should decide the fate of these enterprises. Surely you agree that the people you were democratically elected to represent are capable of making rational, intelligent decisions which affect their daily lives. ````It is well understood that when public utilities such as electricity and water are privatized the prices people must pay for these services increase and the quality of service provision decreases. We need only look at the record to see``the disastrous consequences of electricity privatization. From arbitrary suspension and faulty bills in Colombia to massive blackouts in North America, privatization always means the same thing - ordinary people pay for inadequate service and wealthy investors privileged lives.`` ``I stand in solidarity with the EGAT and state enterprises workers in inviting you to discuss the proposed privatization openly and transparently. I support the union's demand for a national referendum - the Thai people are owners of this public company, their tax money built it, and their voice should be heard. I also join with the Thai people who are calling upon you to act in the public interest by immediately halting all plans for the privatization of EGAT. ````Sincerely,|spokesman@thaigov.go.th, kseelasorn@yahoo.com|Stop privatisation of EGAT|19-May-2004|http://www.thailabour.org/|http://www.thailabour.org/thai/wnews/images/040310-1.jpg||closed|en29|Colombia: Support striking oil workers, stop repression|The oil strike by USO in Colombia at national oil company Ecopetrol is a key struggle that demands global attention. A courageous union is challenging the Colombian government's game plan of opening oil lease and development so multinational oil companies can write their own ticket on the gains from Colombia's oil resources. USO is the only thing standing between the plunder of a nation's oil wealth into coffers of the supermajors or use of such monies for sustainable domestic development. Please support USO in its fight to resist the privatisation of a state-owned asset.|Dear President Uribe,````I am writing to urge you to personally intervene in the ongoing strike of Ecopetrol by the trade union USO. I have been informed by the International Federation of Chemical, Eneregy, Mine & General Workers' Unions (ICEM) that your government and the company has repressed trade union rights by the arrests, firings and general harassment of USO leaders and members. I call on you stop this repression, reinstate those that have been fired and begin honest and fair dialogue with USO over the future of Ecopetrol, as well as an equitable collective agreement in the short term.|auribe@presidencia.gov.co|Ecopetrol strike - stop repression, open dialogue|21-May-2004|http://www.icem.org/update/upd2004/upd04-27.html|||closed|en30|Stop violence, recognize workers' rights in Haiti's Codevi FTZ|After a representative of the SOKOWA union was fired and brutally beaten up in February 2004, factory workers at the Codevi Free Trade Zone in Ouanaminthe [Haiti] stopped working in protest. The conflict worsened in early March when 33 trade union members were attacked and illegally dismissed from the factory. Workers at the factory were reportedly attacked several times by management-hired rebel thugs and by the Dominican army. Following an international campaign in support of the workers, negotiations in April lead to an agreement between management and the workers. In mid-May all workers were back to work but still the SOKOWA union had not been legally recognized by the Haitian government. A breach of the agreement led to a one-hour warning strike on Thursday, June 4 when all workers stopped work. The following day, the head of Grupo M arrived at the plant to tell workers that the plant would probably shut down. In the afternoon, management called in the Dominican Army to expel workers from the free trade zone, after another dispute had developed after management forcibly removed the t-shirts and ID badges of a group of women. Haitian death squad members have reportedly been circulating in Ouanaminthe. A full day of strike took place on Monday June 7. Workers agreed to return to work on Tuesday June 8 despite the continuing presence of the Dominican Army on-site, because management had agreed to negotiate with the union. When workers showed up to work, however, they found that they were locked-out. Worse was to follow when production resumed a few days later. Grupo M, without any warning, closed half of the factory units and fired over 300 workers, including the SOKOWA union leadership. This factory was set up with financing from the World Bank that was conditional upon respect for trade union rights! Please take action today to demand that Dominican Army Forces are withdrawn immediately and permanently from the Codevi FTZ; that all violence against workers ceases and all management personnel found to have committed a violent act against a worker are disciplined; that Grupo M negotiates in good faith with SOKOWA and Bataye Ouvriye (an association of unions, committees, and workers from the industrial, agricultural, and informal economy in Haiti that has been supporting the union in this case) and ceases to threaten closure; that the IFC and Levis demand that the Haitian government give SOKOWA its legal registration, as required by law; and that Levi Strauss does not cut and run. Your support is urgently needed.|To````Fernando Capellan - Grupo M CEO;``Limbert Cruz - Ouanaminthe factory general director````CC````Michael Kobori Director, Global Code of Conduct, Levi Strauss; ``Miriam Rodriguez, Regional Compliance Manager, Levi Strauss; Mark Constantine, World Bank's International Finance Corporation ````Sirs, ````I am writing to you today to demand an end to the violence used against workers in the Codevi Free Trade Zone in Haiti and that Dominican Army Forces are withdrawn immediately and permanently from the Zone. I also ask that all management personnel found to have committed a violent act against a worker are disciplined; and that Grupo M negotiate in good faith with SOKOWA and Bataye Ouvriye and cease to threaten closure of the factory. Furthermore they should respect the workers' right to organize a union and provide medical attention for those workers who were beaten up. These anti-union activities and violent management tactics must come to an end. Grupo M has an obligation to respect workers rights under Haitian law, the code of conduct of their client Levi Strauss, and as part of the conditions of its loan from the IFC.````Thank you.|fcapellan@grupom.com.do,lcruz@grupom.com.do,mkobori@levi.com,Mrodriguez@levi.com,mconstantine@ifc.org,bmcnamara@ifc.org,batay@batayouvriye.org|Haiti - Codevi FTZ: Stop violence, recognize workers rights|09-Jun-2004|http://www.batayouvriye.org|||closed|en31|Bahamas Royal Oasis Resort: Solidarity with casino workers|The Royal Oasis Resort and Casino is engaging in union busting tactics against the Bahamas Gaming and Allied Workers Union although the union has received accreditation from the Government of the Bahamas to negotiate and protect the rights of casino employees at the resort. Negotiations have been protracted for over two years and the government seems unable to enforce the Industrial relations laws against the resort and compel the resort to bargain in good faith.|To Mr. David Buddemeyer, President and C.E.O. of Driftwood Hospitality Management Corporation````In regards to your property of the Royal Oasis Resort and Casino(now Crowne Plaza Resorts):````The Bahamas Gaming and Allied Workers Union has been granted the right by the Bahamas Government to negotiate and conclude a contract on behalf of the casino employees of your resort. We ask that you respect the laws of that country which guarantees freedom of association and the right to organize in the form of a trade union. The government of the Bahamas must also uphold the constitutional rights of its citizens as a member of the ILO and ensure the protection of their people. Negotiation is always better than confrontation and will lead to a win/win situation for all partners. We are monitoring this situation very closely and support the Gaming Union.|info@driftwoodhospitality.com, resortinfo@crowneplazagrandbahama.com, deptlabourgeneral@bahamas.gov.bs, dennisbrittonjr@coralwave.com|Bahamas Royal Oasis Resort: Solidarity with casino workers|20-Jun-2004|http://www.jonescommunicationsltd.com/journal/index.php?url_channel_id=1&url_subchannel_id=&url_publish_channel_id=387&well_id=2|||closed|en32|Sri Lanka: End union-busting at Workwear Lanka|The dispute at the Workwear Lanka (Pvt) ltd in the Biyagama FTZ in Sri Lanka is about the right to organise and bargain collectively in the FTZs in Sri Lanka. Since the formation of the branch union of the Free Trade Zones and General Services Employees Union in December 2003 at the Workwear Lanka factory, the management have carried out union busting activities including intimidations, harassments, demotions and transfers of branch union members, and suspension of services of branch union office bearers. Since then the union complained to the Labour Department against the management's unfair labour practices, which are illegal under Sri Lankan law, but the inaction so far of the relevant authorities to resolve this dispute appears to indicate they also support union busting. The union has been trying to resolve the dispute through negotiations, but has not had any success. An international, regional and locally based campaign has received great support. It is placing pressure on management and the government, but it seems more pressure is needed.|To: Mustafa Mussa Kassam Somji, Managing Director``C/O Zakir Abdi``Workwear Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.``78. Biyagama Export Processing Zone``Walgama, Malwana``Sri Lanka````Dear Sir:````I fully support the campaign of the Free Trade Zones and General Services Employees Union against Workwear Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, because the company carried out union busting activities at their factory by means of intimidations, harassments, demotion and transfers of the union members and suspension of services of branch union office bearers. Therefore I demand: That Workwear Lanka stop all anti-union activities; That Workwear Lanka take corrective action by reinstating all the workers whose services have been terminated; That Workwear Lanka withdraw the suspension of branch union office bearers, committee members and activists, and call them all back to work; That Workwear Lanka cancel all transfers and demotions of union members and restore them to their previous positions; and``That Workwear Lanka respects the workers rights to organize by not interfering with any activities of the trade union. Please keep me updated on any measures you take to correct the situation at Workwear Lanka.|workwear@slt.lk, zakir.ww@lankasafety.com, ftzunion@diamond.lanka.net, cgldol@sltnet.lk, lalithd@boi.lk|Workwear Lanka - stop union busting|23-Jun-2004|http://www.itglwf.org/displaydocument.asp?DocType=Press&Language=&Index=779||ftzunion@diamond.lanka.net|closed|en33|Egypt: Support strikers at asbestos factory|Egyptian workers at the Aura-Misr (Aura-Egypt) Company, a manufacturer of asbestos products, went on strike on 6 June 2004, in protest over their employer's refusal to ameliorate longstanding conditions of deadly asbestos exposure in his factory, and to comply with multiple ministerial decrees ordering; to provide for the costs of medical treatment for the some 46 employees discovered to have contracted asbestos-related cancer; and to pay wages, retroactive to April 2004, during a plant closure mandated by Ministerial Decree No. 4/2004, issued on 11 January 2004. Settlement negotiations conducted on 16 June, with participation of the Egyptian Trade Union Federation, the trade union committee, the employer, and the Manpower Ministry, resulted in an agreement under which the employer would be authorized to re-open his factory, subject to his agreement to ameliorate all hazardous conditions within a one-month period. He also agreed to pay his employees back wages for the months of April and May, and to restore to 25 striking employees the 5 days of wages withheld as retaliation for their protest. In the wake of the negotiations, the workers suspended their strike and received two months of back wages. However, the employer failed to restore retaliatory wage deductions as he agreed to do, and he refused to sign and give effect to the strike settlement agreement. In the meantime, he has called his employees back to work under the same deadly conditions. He has also initiated court action to challenge the prior closure decree issued by the manpower ministry.|Sir: I am writing in deep protest against your precipitate, egregious action to reopen your factory and force your employees back to work, without taking any further steps to ameliorate the deadly asbestos hazards you are exposing them to. I hereby demand that you: (1) sign and fully implement the agreement, to which you were a party, which was negotiated in June 2004 to settle the strike; (2) take immediate action to fully rectify the hazardous conditions in your factory ;(3) withdraw your court appeal of the closure decree of the Ministry of Manpower and take immediate steps to comply fully with all conditions set forth in that decree and in all others issued by the ministry; (4) agree to assume full financial responsibility for the costs of medical treatment of all of your employees who have been diagnosed with asbestos-related cancer and cancer-related illnesses, and for the expenses of the families of those employees who have or will have died from their illnesses; and (5) immediately restore to your 25 employees the 5 days of wages you withheld from them as retaliation for their protest action.````Sincerely,|awfi@lokma.com.eg, info@mome.gov.eg, niosh@idsc.net.eg, eeaa@eeaa.gov.eg, saic12@idscl.gov.eg, Gsecretariat@parliament.gov.eg, speaker@parliament.gov.eg, ctuws@intouch.com, etufegypt@hotmail.com|Aura-Misr Company|25-Jun-2004|http://www.btinternet.com/%7Eibas/Frames/f_lka_vict_egypt_asb_wrks.htm|||closed|en34|Pakistan: Solidarity with Colorking workers|On 10 April 2004, workers at the Colorking printing press in the Lahore District of Pakistan formed a trade union, as is their right under national laws and ILO conventions. They applied a day later to the local authorities to register their union. They appealed to the National Industrial Relations Commission regarding the termination of employment of workers at the company, and got the Commission to issue an order as of 21 April not to terminate anyone. But the employer has ignored this order. Twenty-five workers, including union officers, have been locked out. In addition, the employer has not allowed a Labour Department representative to enter the factory. On June 13th, the employer arranged for the police to arrest two union officials, who were released following union pressure three days later. The union, and the All Pakistan Trade Union Federation, have been the subject of threats and attacks by the employer, and by religious fundamentalist groups backed by the employer. They have now issued an appeal to the international labour movement to send messages of solidarity and protest.|To``Gulzar Ahmed Chaudhary, General Secretary, All Pakistan Trade Union Federation``Honorable Kahlid Maqbool, Governor of Punjab``Labor and Manpower Department````Sirs,````I am writing to express my full support for the demands of the All Pakistan Trade Union Federation regarding the situation at the Colorking Printing Press in the Lahore District.````Those demands are as follows:````1. That the employer stop violating ILO conventions 87 and 98 which recognize the right of workers to join and form trade unions.````2. To immediately reinstate all the workers terminated at Colorking.````3. To register the Colorking Printing Press Workers Union under the law.````4. And finally, to stop the contract labour system.````Sincerely,|aptuf@brain.net.pk,governor.sectt@punjab.gov.pk,labour@punjab.gov.pk|Colorking printing press workers|30-Jun-2004|http://lnn.laborstart.org/more.php?id=194_0_1_0_M|||closed|en35|New Zealand: Dunedin Casino - Union delegate sacked|On 2nd July 2004 Dunedin Casino sacked a Croupier/Inspector, Union Delegate for his communications with them about workers' issues. This is outrageous! It breaches the law and will be legally challenged by his union, the Service and Food Workers Union. Dunedin Casino workers and supporters are campaigning, demanding that Casino management takes steps towards a respectful relationship with the union and reinstates the sacked Delegate. The rash step taken by management in firing this Delegate may seriously undermine the communications and organising potential of this worksite, at a time when union membership at the Casino is growing fast. Dunedin Casino workers are appealing to the international labour movement to support their struggle to have their rights recognised by their employer.|To Dunedin Casino - Rod Woolley - General Manager, Lawrence Peeters - Operations Manager````Union members rely on their elected Delegates to take their concerns about workplace issues to management. Disrupting that communication channel by dismissing a Delegate seriously threatens the ability of workers to have their voices heard in the workplace. Workers' right to organise in their workplace is supported by New Zealand law and the election of Delegates to represent union members is also legitimised by legislation. The dismissal of a Delegate is a serious issue for union members as it undermines trust in their employers' good faith. Reinstating the SFWU Delegate you dismissed on 2nd July would be a positive first step in healing the rift caused by your hasty actions. Union members and their families depend on the robust activism of their Delegates to convey their issues to you, as the representatives of Dunedin Casino management.|rodw@dunedincasino.co.nz, peeters@dunedincasino.co.nz|Bring back Andrew!|06-Jul-2004|http://www.sfwu.org/index.asp?PageID=2145827133|||closed|en36|South Africa: Stop Telkom Retrenchments|Telkom workers in South Africa are facing a new wave of retrenchments. The telecommunications giant plans to shed another 4,181 workers in 3 years, despite its record R4.592 billion profit for the 2004 book year -- in a country``with an unemployment rate of 42%. ````In 1999 Telkom employed 61,237 workers. This number has almost been halved to 31,624 by 30 June 2004. The company is planning a further 30% cut in personnel over the next three years, in order to achieve a reduction in operating costs from the current 22.6% to 17%. ````Meanwhile, Telkom chief executive Siswe Nxasana receives a remuneration of R11.1 million, which translates to a daily income of R30,410. Telkom also rewarded its directors with bonuses worth a total of R48 million for the past year. In 2003 the Telkom Directors received R60 million. ````The three trade unions in Telkom -- the Communication Workers Union, Solidarity and South African Communication Union have formed a joint pact to fight these retrenchments and are asking for your help. Please send off this message today.|To Siswe Nxasana, Chief Executive, Telkom````I am writing to urge you to stop the planned retrenchment of 4,181 Telkom workers in light of the following:````(a) Your company made a profit of R4.5 billion during the last financial year. ````(b) You were paid R11.1 million in the same period. ````(c) The directors received bonuses of R47 million. ````(d) Telkom still has an enormous growth potential. ````(e) Telkom has retrenched 30,000 workers since 1997. ````(f) South Africa has an unemployment rate of 42 percent.````Thank you.|nxasanse@telkom.co.za, nkadimgm@telkom.co.za, Maharar7@telkom.co.za, reint@solidariteit.co.za, mfanafuthis@cwu.org.za|Telkom - Stop Retrenchments|27-Aug-2004|http://www.solidarity.co.za|||closed|en37|Australia: Qantas workers deserve their fair share!|ASU members in the Qantas Group are currently negotiating their seventh enterprise agreement. ASU members work in areas like checkin, reservations, operations, holidays, finance, freight, catering and IT. Qantas Group employees have a long history of taking below average pay rises to assist the company. In 2001 they took a wage freeze as the airline industry was going through turbulent times. For the last 10 years there have also been layoffs (redundancies) despite continuing profits. This year Qantas made record profits and improved productivity, yet still rejected ASU members' claims for a 6% pay rise per year and job security commitments. At the recent Annual General Meeting, Qantas shareholders voted to increase the Directors fees pool by 66% and executive salaries and bonuses have skyrocketed. Meanwhile Qantas employees are offered a measly 3% per year wage increase and no job security commitments. The corporate greed at Qantas must come to an end; workers deserve a fair share of the profits. To voice your disgust over Qantass ludicrous offer send an email to CEO Geoff Dixon.|I'm writing to you to express my outrage over the recent decision to increase company directors' fees by 66%, while at the same time Qantas is only offering its hard working employees a less than average wage rise of 3% per year. I support the ASU campaign for a better wage deal and job security. Qantas workers deserve their fair share of the Company's profits.|gdixon@qantas.com.au, airlines@asu.asn.au|Qantas workers deserve their fair share|22-Oct-2004|http://www.asu.asn.au/airlines