Updates_Union busting by Body Fashion, Triumph International Limited Thailand Urgent Appeals / Formal Sector Posted by Admin on Aug 22, 2008 - 03:54 AM One week after the dismissal of Ms. Jitra, the president of Triumph International Labour Union Thailand, workers were able to negotiate with the regional representative of Triumph International Limited in a tripartite meeting. However, this meeting on August 9 had made little progress. On August 11, the union again called for a strike. About 1000 workers, one third of the company�s labour force, blocked the entrance of the factory. Hundreds of workers blocked the industrial zone intersection. They demanded Body Fashion, Triumph International�s manufacturing arm, reinstate union president Ms. Jitra Kotchadej, refrain from taking legal and disciplinary action against striking workers and remove company executives who tried to disrupt union activities. Facing the continuous strike, the company threatened the workers that they would fire all current workers and start new recruitment. The governor of Samut Prakarn city, where the factory located, visited the striking workers and claimed that the company had followed legal steps to dismiss the union leader. There is nothing he could do. He also said Thai executives of Body Fashion had softened their stance and wanted to compromise with workers in the negotiation, but foreign executives were strongly against complying with workers� demands. On August 14, Committee for Asian Women (CAW) received official replies from Triumph International Company in Switzerland. The company denied the dismissal of Ms. Jitra Kotchadej is an act of busting the trade union. According to the company, it is merely a legal disciplinary action against a breach of company work regulations. The company claimed that it had never the intention to fire any union leaders and they had not made any charge under Lese Majeste Laws against any employee. The denial and the explanation of the company are basically lies. Neither we nor the workers accept these excuses. We are strongly against the company�s behaviour and very disappointed with the local government. The workers had vowed to strike until their demands are met. We will keep supporting the workers to fight for justice. This article comes from Committee for Asian Women (CAW)   http://www.cawinfo.org/ The URL for this story is:   http://www.cawinfo.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=358