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Date: Monday, 19 April 1999 22:37

ASIA
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-ACTION!

WORKERS

Vol. 111. No. 3 Monthly Email and fax news sheet about workers organizing
in the region March 1999

________________________________________________________________

Garment Workers Dismissed from German Jacket Manufacturer in Thailand 


Company Closes Factory, 150 workers Dismissed without Compensation, after
Refusing to Negotiate Union Wage Demand.


Company tries to ban union from Thailand operations


On 6t January 1999, Thai Jacket Labour Union submitted a demand to Splendid
Thailand Ltd. to increase the wages of the workers. At that time workers
were receiving 162 Baht (USD 4030) per day. However this was not enough to
cover living costs. The company refused to negotiate. The union invoked the
conciliation procedures with the labour department of 9 January to force
the company to negotiate. The Labour Department set the Conciliation talks
for 12 January. The company then asked and the union agreed to postpone the
talks until 19 January.


On January 19 the company suggested to the union that the talks take place
only between the company and the union. The union agreed. The talks took
place but no agreement was made. The union again sought conciliation talks
but the company refuse to participate. At least five attempts were made to
hold these talks but the company did not appear on each occasion.


On 18 February the company said that there was a decline in production
orders and asked the workers to stay home on 70% wages from 22-28 February.
The workers refused to sign this agreement and on 19 February the company
locked out all 150 workers giving the original wage dispute as the reason
for the lockout.


On February 20 the workers returned to the factory and gathered inside the
factory in front of the factory building demanding that the lockout be
lifted and that they be able to return to work. The company declared this
action as an illegal picket. However the workers stayed in front of the
factory on a 24 hour basis.


On March 4 the company dismissed 130 of the workers and took 9 union
leaders to Court claiming damages of 700.000 Baht (USD 19,000) the company
announced that it was completely closing down because of the action of the
workers and the union. The company refused to pay and redundancy
compensation because of what they called the "illegal picket line".


The workers continued their action outside the factory and on 29 March held
a demonstration in Bangkok from Victory Monument to the Labour Ministry.
Labour Ministry officials met with representatives of the union and
promised to call a meeting with the union and the company on 1 April. 


At this meeting the company said that they wish to continue the business in
Thailand but without the union as the union always made"demands and
problems" for the company. The union said that if the company closed down
it must pay compensation to the workers. If the company continues the
business it must reinstate all the workers and the union will agree to
withdraw the wage demand. The Managing Director of Splendid (Thailand)
Ltd., 


Action has been taken:

Write telephone, fax or email to Splendid in Thailand, Hong Kong or
Duesseldorf demanding:


    a.. That Splendid reopens the factory its Thailand and reinstates all
dismissed workers. 


    b.. That the company drops the damage action against the 9 union
leaders. 


Please fax or Email copies of your letters to the Thai Jacket Labour Union
C/o Fax: 66-2-972 7035, Email:clist at loxinfo.co.th


Company Profile:

Splendid (Thailand) Ltd.

140 Moo 17, New Town, 3 Bangpee Industrial Estate

Teparaks Rd,

Samuthprakarn Province 10540,

Thailand

Tel: 66-2-315 1007

Fax: 66-2-315 1009

Email: splbkk at mozart.inet.co.th

Managing Director: Mr Hilmar Sauer


Headquarters

Splendid Dussesseldorf Production (Ltd)

Karl Arnold Str 5

47877 Willich

Muenchheide

Germany

Tel: 49-2154- 94100

Tel:49-2154-941052

Managing Director: Mr. Hermann Gerlach


Asian Headquarters:

8th Floor, Chung Shun Knitting Centre

1-3 Wing Yip Street

Kwai Chung

New Territories

Hong Kong

Tel; 852-2422 $(H(B8332


Grand Boulevard Hotel Strike Attacked, Unionists fired


About 300 Security Guards and hired goons of the Grand Boulevard Hotel
management attacked the picketline of striking workers and their
supporters, last night, March. At least two workers were rushed to the
hospital after being seriously injured.


Among those attacked were women strike supporters who came from rally held
by KMU, Gabriela and Bayan commemorating the International Working Women$B(Bs
Day.


On March 3, the day after the strike started, the hotel management sent a
notice of the termination of 25 unionists "and all those who participated
in the strike". Yesterday, a return to-work order was issued by Labour
Secretary Beinevido Laguesma.


The hotel management, headed by big businessman rebecco Panililio, is
reportedly close to the Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabayan (RAM)
responsible for the killing of KMU chair Rolando Olalia and Leonor Alay-Ay
in 1986.


The grand Boulevard Workers continue to defy the government order and vowed
to fight on for their demands.


REINSTATE THIS DISMISSED STRIKERS!

GRANT TH E UNION$B(BS DEMANDS!

STOP THE REPRESSION


Send protest letters to:


Rebecco Panililio

The Management

Grand Bouleverd Hotel

1990 Roxas Blvd

Manila 1057

Philippines

Fax: (632) 524-2526/526-0111

Email: grand at pdpx.rpnet.com


Solidarity Letters to:


GLOWHRAIN-KMU

Grand Boulevard Hotel Chapter

1990 Roxas Blvd.

Manila 1057

Philippines


C/o KMU International Department

Fax: (632) 373-1838

Email: kmuid at csi.com.ph


ACTION !

Action is designed for workplace notice boards.

Please circulate this news sheet widely

APWSL : 14 N, Industrial Area, Gulberg, Lahore 54660, Pakistan 

Tel: 92-42-5715 252 Fax: 92-42-5715 252 Email: rjapwsl at brain.net.pk