Dear Friends,At a time when we are locked in bitter battle for survival, with the GP Garments (We have reasons to believe number of BFTZ companies have formed an underground group to bust Progress Union) your message of solidarity and protest letters to appropriate authorities would give us some courage and boost the morale of our activists. So far we received o­nly a couple ofmessages or interventions o­n our behalf. We urge you to act o­n this matter.UPDATE:An inquiry was held today, (1/4/2005) before the Asst. Commissioner of Labour, at 2.30 p.m. local time, to inquire into our complaint of LOCKOUT. All our 600 members came to Colombo in 4 buses and held picket, against the unfair labour practices of GP Garments, in front of the Ministry of Labour / Labour Dept. (for 5 hours - 12.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.) where the inquiry took place.

The government is allowing these killings to occur

More than 47 assassinations have occurred since 1 January this year

The government has done nothing to bring those who are responsible to account

All victims have been involved with progressive groups

They were all respected leaders within their communities

Send protest letters to the Philippine government:

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,

President of the Republic

Malacanang Palace,

JP Laurel St, San Miguel Manila,

Philippines

Fax: (+632) 742 1641 / 929 3968

Demand that the government stop these killings

Demand that those responsible be brought to justice

More information: http://www.philonline.com.ph/~krptn/index.html

Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) : Press Statement , April 1st, 2005

1. Today afternoon, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) will enter a four-hour warning strike in order to protect the rights of irregular workers and to stop further polarization of society.

The government is planning to unilaterally push forth its bill o­n irregular workers, which is expected to expand irregular labour and worsen social polarization, during the April session of National Assembly. In the meantime, labour circles have continuously called for withdrawal of the government�s bill while proposing an alternative legislation aimed at substantially protecting the rights of irregular workers.

However, the government and National Assembly have ignored this alternative proposal and remain obstinate o­n enforcing the government bill. As a result, the KCTU had implemented a six-hour strike o­n 26th November, and also struggled throughout February.

The government thoroughly underestimates the destructive effects that its bill will bring.

How can irregular workers be protected when there are no measures inside the bill to ban discrimination, when there are no set standards for use of period workers?

Dear Friends,We come to you with an URGENT APPEAL for your help to meet the Union Busting Agenda of G.P Garments (P) Ltd, Export Processing Zone, Biyagama, Sri Lanka.Yesterday (23rd March) personnels from Special Task Force of the Police Department entered the Factory at Biyagama and interrogated the Chief Organizer Anura Kirithi Rajah of the branch union and threatened him with life alleging that he had connections with the underworld.

Mr. Dharmananda Pant, the Chairman of Mahakali Zonal Committee of the GEFONT has been arrested from his own residence by the security personals; exact reason is not disclosed yet.

Sources to the GEFONT Mahakali Zone opined that his arrest would be linked with recently held Zonal convention of GEFONT which has re-elected him in the position of Chairman for next 3 year term. The secretariat of the Zonal committee claims Mr. Pant had led a procession prior to the formal procedure of the Convention in the city where sizable number of unionists had chanted slogan in favour of peace, democracy and the trade union rights which was in the information of local administration.