(more info on this
case)
ATTACKED MAQUILA WORKERS NEED IMPLEMENTATION OF RECENT
AGREEMENT
ACTION NEEDED!
Source: US/LEAP
Update 8-3-01
Workers fighting for an independent union at the Cimatextiles and
Choishin factories in Guatemala, both of which produce for, among
others, Liz Claiborne, are reportedly still experiencing anti-union
activity by the company, a direct violation of an agreement signed
by management, Guatemala labor law, and the Liz Claiborne code of
conduct.
Harassment and intimidation of the union supporters escalated into
mob attacks reportedly orchestrated by company supervisors on July
18th. The Guatemalan Labor Minister facilitated negotiations between
the union and the company, which resulted in an agreement signed
by the two unions, SITRACHOI and SITRACIMA, the factory management,
MINUGUA (the United Nations body in Guatemala that oversees the
peace process), and the Guatemalan Labor Minister.
The agreement states that the company will respect the right of
the workers to organize, reinstate union members who were forced
to resign, and establishes measures to ensure unionists' safety
in the factory. Given the violent attacks of union leaders, the
full implementation of this agreement is necessary to provide an
environment that is not only safe for the union supporters, but
that is conducive to organizing a union at the factory.
Liz Claiborne took a good step forward in demonstrating its support
of worker rights when on July 25th, the company sent a letter to
the union stating its support of workers' right to choose a union.
However, despite the intervention of the Labor Minister and the
statement from Liz Claiborne, the right to organize is still hampered
in the factory.
Violations Abundant
Since the agreement was signed, the company management is reportedly
still involved in anti-union activity that includes:
- Management is threatening to file criminal charges against
union activists (the nature of the charges is unknown, but the
threat is intimidation and discrimination nonetheless).
- Union supporters are being given new job assignments which
they are interpreting as reprisals for being union members.
- Management is also reportedly sowing confusion by falsely stating
that the union has two months to get 50% of the plant affiliated.
If not, all union members will be fired after the two months.
- After Liz Claiborne delivered a letter to the union stating
the company's support of the workers' right to choose a union,
the company reportedly held a session with the supervisors that
resulted in the supervisors delivering the following message to
their employees regarding the Liz Claiborne letter:"Yes,
the workers can choose the union but to choose the union is to
choose something harmful. Like the warnings on beer -- you can
still drink it even if it is bad for you. All the same, if the
workers choose the union, the company will close in three months."
Finally, there are reports that the secretary general of the Choi
union, Camilio Rodriquez Pojoy, has twice received telephone calls
at 1 a.m. and awoken to find a man watching his house.
In addition, the management has not yet taken any steps to suspend
any of those who led the violent intimidation against union members
as it promised in the agreement.
Through these continued violations, the factory management is demonstrating
its lack of willingness to comply with the July 25th agreement.
Liz Claiborne has demonstrated its support of workers' right to
choose a union when they sent a letter to the union, however, it
is becoming evident that Liz Claiborne needs to continue to pressure
its contractor to cease all violations immediately for the factory
where workers can exercise their right to join a union.
Suggested Action:
1) Write Liz Claiborne and thank the company for their assistance
in supporting respect for the basic right of workers at their supplier,
especially the letter Liz Claiborne directly sent to the workers
that supports the right to freedom of association. Inform the company
that you are aware of the reports of continued violations at the
Choishins and Cimatextiles factories in Guatemala despite the July
25th agreement and ask Liz Claiborne to urge their contractor, Choi
& Shin's, to cease all anti-union activity in the factory. Note
also your concern that the company has not yet taken steps to suspend
those involved in the violent
intimidation against union members.
Contact: Paul R. Charron, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
Liz Claiborne, Inc., 1441 Broadway, New York, NY 10018. Tel: (212)-354-4900;
Fax: (212)-626-3416. You can email Liz Claiborne about this situation
through their webpage by going to http://www.lizclaiborne.com/lizinc/lizworks/workers/contact.asp.
For more detailed information on the Choi & Shin's workers
in Guatemala and the other campaigns we work to support, go to the
U.S./LEAP webpage at www.usleap.org
U.S./Labor Education in the Americas Project
P.O. Box 268-290
Chicago, IL 60626
Tel: 773-262-6502
Fax: 773-262-6602
usleapja@mindspring.com
http://www.usleap.org
|
