|
URGENT APPEAL |
|
. Urgent Appeal: Garment Factory Strike in the Philippines Following is an appeal for support from a garment factory union on strike in the Philippines. The company, International Garments Manufacturing Corp. (IGMC) produces for Wrangler and The Gap, among others. Seventy percent of the total production is geared for the overseas market- 90% of which goes to the USA and Asia, and the rest to Europe. Participated in by about a third of the factory's 629 workforce, the strike broke out last May 1 when union negotiations with the management under government mediation failed. Claiming loses on one hand, and new ownership on the other, the management wanted to dismiss all its workers. The striking unions- one for supervisors called International Garments Supervisory Union (IGSU) and another for rank-and-file workers called United Workers of International Garments (MANAIG) oppose the mass dismissal saying that the real purpose of the management is not to close the company but to bust the militant union existing in the factory. Last February, management put the workers on job rotation (workers have to work alternately with other workers). As it affected the workers take home pay and welfare, the union opposed this measure and held negotiations with the management but to no avail. The management even extended job rotation for another month. Worth noting is that during this period, the workers realized that raw materials, supplies, and other purchases intended for the factory were diverted to the company's sub-contractors. In March the company suddenly announced that the company was sold to new owners and that all workers have to be terminated after paying a small separation fee. The union protested on the bases of the existing collective bargaining agreement. In a move seen to weaken the union position, management promised to rehire workers who are voluntarily resigning. The unions dispute the claim of the company that it is losing money. Although the company\rquote s financial statements for the current year shows loss, the consecutive years before showed huge profit margins. Moreover, the unions express doubt over the veracity of this year's financial statement shown to them by the company as it doesn't jibe with the figures (which showed profit) of the financial statement of the company members of the supervisory union had access to prior to the strike. Although many union members accepted the company's termination package hoping that management keeps its promise to rehire them, some union members are holding on to their strike demanding that the company honours the current collective bargaining agreement. Of the 200 or so strikers, 179 of them are female. On the average, the workers have worked in this factory from 17-20 years! This protest/appeal is meant for Wrangler and The GAP to pressure their suppler International Garments Mfg. Co. to respect the rights of the workers to unionise and to respect the present bargaining agreement in line with the ILO covenants. Please find attached the sample protest letter, which you can mail to the following addresses: VF Corporation 628 Green Valley Road, Suite 500 Greensboro, NC 27408 Phone: 336.547.6000 Fax: 336.547.7634 |
What is IDES? | Objectives | Program Services | Officers & Staffs | Contact | Support |