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From: AAWL <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, September 04, 2000 3:48 PM
Subject: Fw: Thai workers on strike
Australia Asia Worker Links
Asia Pacific Workers Solidarity Links
From: Manrico Moro, APWSL Convenor
URGENT
Bangkok 2 September 2000
More than 500 women workers are holding a permanent protest in front of the
Government House of Thailand.
The workers are members of the Thai Kriang Durable Textile Trade Union,
which is affiliated to the Textile Garment and Leather Workers Federation of
Thailand and to the Labor Congress of Thailand.
The Thai Durable company employs 1500 mostly women workers. The workers have
been helping the company during the years of economic crisis by agreeing to
no pay increasess and accepting the loss of their holiday pay.
Now the company is again making profits and has invested in millions of
dollars of new machinery. When the contract expired in February 2000 the
workers asked for a pay increase of (AUS$) 5 cents per day and a two month
bonus for all workers.
The company refused to discuss these demands and the workers went on strike
in May and occupied the factory.
On 14 June the company sent plainclothes security guards to attack the
workers assembled in the factory. The security guards were supported by riot
police. The security guards and police eventually cleared the factory and
390 workers were sacked.
The union complained that the attack on the workers was contrary to Thai
labor laws and that the police should prosecute those who assaulted the
workers.
On 27 July more than 2000 workers joined a demonstration in front of
Government House to support the textile workers.
On 1 August the Thai Kriang Durable Textile Trade Union set up a protest in
front of Government House, to request government support for their claims.
The workers' protest has been joined by a permanent protest of 3000
peasants, organised by the Assembly of the Poor, who are demanding
compensation because their lands have been submerged by a new dam. They have
a log of claims that includes no more dams on their land and compensation.
The two protests have developed into three very organised and very
disciplined tent cities. But there are rows of riot police standing just two
meters from the protesterss.
This protest has united 23 Thai local unions and labor centres in a major
effort of solidarity and support. Unions have provided tents against the
monsoon rain, and donations of money and food. Cultural groups have held
performances and labor activists visit the protest.
The Thai Kriang Durable Textile Trade Union has received messages of
solidarity from two textile trade unions outside Thailand, and they have
asked other unions in the Asia Pacific Region to send their message of
solidarity to the workers assembled outside the Thai Government House.
Please send your message of solidarity to:
Thai Kriang Durable Textile Trade Union
Email: [log in to unmask]
***
AAWL -APWSL
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D.J. McKnight
Room 107
Department of Geography
Roxby Building
University of Liverpool
Liverpool
L69 3BX
(0151) 794 6422
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