ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT
7 APRIL 1999
GARMENT WORKERS DISMISSED FROM GERMAN JACKET MANUFACTURER IN THAILAND
COMPANY CLOSES FACTORY, 150 WORKERS DISMISSED WITHOUT COMPENSATION, AFTER REFUSING TO NEGOTIATE UNION WAGE DEMAND COMPANY TRIES TO BAN UNION FROM THAILAND OPERATIONS
Request from Thai Jacket Union (affiliated to Textile, Garment and Leather Labour Federation of Thailand)
Prepared by Somyot Pruksakasemsuk
Supported by TIE ASIA, APWSL and ALARM
On 6 January 1999, Thai Jacket Labour Union submitted a demand to Splendid Thailand Ltd to increase the wages of the workers. At that time the workers were receiving 162 Baht (USD 4.30) per day. However this was not enough to cover living costs. The company refused to negotiate. The union invoked the conciliation procedures with the Labour Department on 9 January to force the company to negotiate. The Labour Department set the Conciliation talks for 13 January. The company then asked and the union agreed to postpone the talks until 19 January.
On 19 January the company suggested to the union that the talks take place only between the company and the union. The union agreed. The talks took place but no agreement was made. The union again sought conciliation talks but the company refuse to participate. At least five attempts were made to hold these talks but the company did not appear on each occasion.
On 18 February the company said that there was a decline in production orders and asked the workers to stay home on 70% wages from 22-28 February. The workers refused to sign this agreement and on 19 February the company locked out all 150 workers giving the original wage dispute as the reason for the lockout.
On 20 February the workers returned to the factory and gathered inside the factory gate in front of the factory building demanding that the lockout be lifted and that they be able return to work. The company declared this action as an illegal picket. However the workers stayed in front of the factory on a 24 hour basis.
On 4 March the company dismissed 130 of the workers and took 9 union leaders to Court claiming damages of 700,000 Baht (USD 19,000). The company announced that it was completely closing down because of the action of the workers and the union. The company refused to pay and redundancy compensation because of what they called the "illegal picket line".
The workers continued their action outside the factory and on 29 March held a demonstration in Bangkok from Victory Monument to the Labour Ministry. Labour Ministry officials met with representatives of the union and promised to call a meeting with the union and the company on 1 April.
At this meeting on 1 April the company said that they wished to continue the business in Thailand but without the union as the union always made "demands and problems" for the company. The union said that if the company closed down it must pay compensation to the workers. If the company continues the business it must reinstate all the workers and the union will agree to withdraw the wage demand. The Managing Director of Splendid (Thailand) Ltd, Mr Hilmar Sauer replied that he could not make these decisions, they had to be made in Duesseldorf not in Bangkok. He promised an answer by 8 April.
Please write, telephone, fax or e-mail to Splendid in Thailand, Hong Kong or Duesseldorf demanding:
1) That Slendid re-open the factory its Thailand and reinstate all dismissed workers.
2) That the company drop the damages action against the 9 union leaders.
Please post this Action Alert on labour web-sites and e-mail lists. We cannot do from here.
Please fax or e-mail copies of your letters to the Thai Jacket Labour Union c/o fax: 66-2-972 7035, e-mail: <clist@loxinfo.co.th>
Company Profile:
Name:
Splendid (Thailand) Ltd
Address:
140 Moo 17, New Town,
3 Bangplee Industrial Estate,
Teparaks Rd,
Samuthprakarn Province 10540,
THAILAND
Tel:: 66-2-315 1007
Fax 66-2-315 1009
E-mail: <splbkk@mozart.inet.co.th>
Managing Director: Mr Hilmar Sauer
Headquarters:
Splendid Duesseldorf Production (Ltd)
Karl Arnold Str 5
47877 Willich Muenchheide
GERMANY
Tel: 49-2154-94100
Fax: 49-2154-941052
Managing Director: Mr Hermann Gerlach
Asian Headquarters:
8 th Floor,
Chung Shun Knitting Centre
1-3 Wing Yip Street
Kwai Chung
New Territories
HONG KONG
Tel: 852-2422 8332
Main Production:
Leather Jackets for export to Europe.
Brand Names Produced (as remembered by workers):
Harvest Splendid, Anson's, HG Classics, Rue Blanche, Mey & Edliche, Tony Gard, Man's, Vincente, Mon Albert, Waggenheimer, WHG, Hirmer, Herren Globus, B.T.V., Speed Wear, Knilli, Breuninger, Bellini, Don Gill, Eckerle, Engelhorn & S, Kaiser, Sport Eybl, Holy, Bernies, Kandismann, Uliknecht, Leonardo, M.O.F., I.T.K., Klepper, Annas Moden, Kirchbaumer, ABZ, Quelle, Michael Bogner, Peak Performance, Bogner Sports, Harvest, Erdmann, Pochar.