New developments in North Sails case

Press Release

Discussions between Boards & More/North Sails Lanka, the Clean Clothes Campagne, ÖGB and FTZWU (Free Trade Zone Workers Union)

The discussions between trade union representatives from Austria, Sri Lanka and the Clean Clothes Campaign on one side and Boards & More, Molln and North Sails Lanka, Sri Lanka on the other side on the subject of "Dismissal of North Sails Lanka workers following strike actions" resulted in the following mutual announcement:

1. North Sails Lanka declares to reinstate those dismissed workers, found to be dismissed unjustifiably by the courts on the conclusion of the current labour court cases.

2. North Sails Lanka declares to negotiate directly with the FTZWU and declares to permit the establishment of unions at North Sails Lanka following the approval of the Board of Investment (BOI).

3. The Management of North Sails as always acknowledges the workers right to strike and states that it has no intention to persecute strikers and/or pickets through police action when indulging in strike.

4. FTZWU declares to negotiate with the Management of North Sails Lanka to work out a procedure that would manage a conflict up to the ultimate position taken by the workers namely strike.

5. Clean Clothes Campaign and the ÖGB declare to stop their campaign on Boards & More / North Sails Lanka, as long as substantial negotiations between North Sails Lanka and Unions including the FTZWU in Sri Lanka happen and the above mentioned points 1 - 4 are implemented.

6. Representatives of ÖGB and/or Clean Clothes Campaign will visit North Sails Lanka in Sri Lanka to convince themselves of the compliance of the standards set out by International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the points agreed above.

Point of contact:
Clean Clothes Campaign Österreich Boards & More Gmbh
Stefan Kerl Rolf Frischknecht
Tel: +43 1 405 55 15 - 306 Tel.: +43 7584 403 1108

The FTZWU would like to thank everyone, especially CCC and the Austrian federation of trade unions, very much for all the international support and campaigning. They will keep us informed about the developments.

The visit of Anton Marcus of the FTZWU and former NSL worker Indrani Wijebandara to Austria is part of a workers tour through Europe, which the Clean Clothes Campaign is currently organising. The managements of both Boards & More and North Sails Lanka attended a press meeting set up by the Austrian CCC about this ongoing case.