20 Oct 2000, update on Thai Iryo and Thai Krieng

September 15th 2000 Thai Iryo and Thai Iryo garment companies laid off 1,236 workers
26 Oct, Victory of Thai Iryo and Thai Iryo Garment workers.

Dear people,

Find updates on 2 cases in Thailand, Thai Iryo (and Iryo Garment) and Thai Krieng that have been send out on the mailinglist before.

From Lek the following:
In the case of Thai Iryo and Iryo Garment we asked people to write to:
the Prime Minister of Thailand at
Fax: + 66 2 281 4358, 280 1443
and the Ministry of Labour at + 66 2 281 4358.

We are now aslo asking them to write to the Federation of Thai Industry (FTI) that the Thai Iryo Garment is their member under number MEMBER ID : OC4896.
The FTI and many of the employers associations in Thailand are very powerful influential group to the Thai Government on trade and commercial policy. Therefore, we should pressure the FTI to help to pressure the employer of the company to pay severance pay to their workers.

The FTI office is at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, 3rd fl., (zone C) 60 New Rachadapisek Rd., Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110 Tel. (662) 229-4255 Fax. (662) 229-4939 website: http://www.fti.or.th

And the other office to write to is the Thai Garment Manufactory Association, The Association's office is located on 127/36 Panjathani Tower 31 Fl., Nonsee Road. Chongnonsee, Yannawa, Bangkong 10120 (Thailand) Tel. (662) 681-2222 Fax. 681-2223, 681-0231-2 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , their website: http://www.thaigarment.org

From Miriam on Thai Krieng:
Here is an update on the situation of the Thai Krieng workers. If you are looking to express support, Please send letters to the Federation of Thai Industries. The FTI office is at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, 3rd fl., (zone C) 60 New Rachadapisek Rd., Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110 Tel. (662) 229-4255 Fax. (662) 229-4939 website: http://www.fti.or.th

more info on the demands and the situation follows below.... Lek is in Korea for the ASEM meetings, meanwhile the workers have decided to step up their activities to coincide with the forum...I got to see in person for the first time the incredible strenth and determination of these women.

First, two items of interest for the international community.

1. The union members who are camped in front of the THai Government House informed me today that the 100 union members who remained working in the factory have all been forced to formally resign from the union. The employer made them submit resignation forms by mail in order to keep their jobs, this was after months of harrassment. After he suceeded in ridding his factory of a union, he then closed down the dormitory, forcing 700 workers to find new housing. Previously the workers had free housing, now they must pay more than 1500 baht per month (US $38), a big sum when the minimum wage is about 130 baht per day. This is demonstrative of why the factory owner wanted to get rid of the union - now he can implement any cost cutting changes that he likes.
2. Apparently the owner of the factory told the union members that foreign investors, who have supplied capital for the factory do not want a union. Investors said simply, ' if you have a union, we will not invest.' Thus, it is not only the corporate clients of the factory that are usually the targets of our criticism, but investors as well who need to be held accountable. Hopefully I will have a chance to research a bit into who has supplied capital for the THai Textile Factory.

The leader of the union wished to send the message uot internationally that unions are nothing to be afraid of. Workers having the right to collectively bargain should not be a scary thing if employers would just respect it.

Yet the spirit of the Krieng Durable Union is still very strong in the fifth month of its strike! Tuesday about 100 members of the union who have been staying in Bangkok in front of the Government House and 100 members of Thai Iryu Union gathered at Lumphini park and marched to the office of the Federation of Thai Employees. As Lek mentioned in an earlier e=mail, the workers are targetting the Federation of Thai Industry because they are a powerful lobbying force in Thailand. Also, the THai Durable Textile Company is a member of this Federation, therefore there should be some accountability of the Federation to the workers. The workers are asking that the Federation uphold its standards and pressure its member to treat these workers fairly.

At FTI, they attempted to submit a formal complaint to the chairman of the Federation. He was not there but a representative received the complaint. The representative received their complaint and said he would look into the situation.

The workers then continued on to the Ministry of Industry where they presented a complaint and their demands to the Minister. THe Minister tried to argue that this situation was not his direct responsibility, but that he would try to influence the Mintister of Labour to help. The workers approached the minister of industry because the Minister of labour has arranged meetings with the employer but has not been able to persuade the employer to drop charges against the workers.

The demands of the union continue to be that the company drop charges against them (charges for using water and electricity in the dorms while on strike). Originally the workers were demanding that 390 people be allowed to return to work, now they are willing to compromise and allow the MInistry of Labor issue a ruling on reinstatment. However, the employer refuses to negotiate, is still pursuing charges against the workers and suing them for 8 million baht and does not want to pay any severence to the 390 people who have not been allowed to return to work.

On Saturday, union members will travel to an industrial park near Bangkok and speak to workers at other factories and regular citizens about why they are purusing this fight and why they are camped out in protest.

It is not clear where Thai Krieng products are retailed. Thai Krieng produces cloth and we have some information about the buyers. As soon as we know more information on retailers, that information will go out... Tomorrow will follow an update on the THai Iryu situation In solidarity, Miriam