Laid off Triumph International union members have transformed their action camp into a sewing factory producing panties under the label “Try Arm”.  Since October 16, 2009 hundreds of workers have occupied the grounds of the Ministry of Labour to protest mass dismissals by Triumph International subsidiary Body Fashion Thailand.

The union members protested for more than 100 days in front of the Bangkok factory.  But when management refused to speak with them, they took their protest to the Labour Minister’s office to urge him to stand up for the rights of Thai workers in international supply chains.  Triumph International failed to conduct timely and transparent negotiations about its retrenchment plan with the factory workers’ union as required by ILO Convention 158 and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.

Nearly 200 workers have started sewing bras and underwear at the ministry.  Representing more or less all sections in the production line, they work in different sections on specific tasks.  A Triumph designer and a sewing machine technician, who were also laid off, volunteered to help.  With the production of their own panties, the union members hope to bring in revenue to support their struggle.  The first pair of panties will be presented to the Director-General of the Department of Labour.