No Triumph For Fired Seamstresses Picketing Swiss Embassy

[george]

No Triumph for fired seamstresses picketing Swiss embassy

By John Le Fevre

BANGKOK (thaivisa.com): -- The Swiss embassy in Bangkok has been picketed by angry seamstresses fired by multi-million dollar lingerie manufacturer Triumph International.

The Thai seamstresses, along with their counterparts in the Philippines, were informed in June that the company was cutting 3,714 of its world-wide 40,000 workforce and set up picket lines outside the companies factories in both countries.

Feeling that their plight was being ignored, the workers have now moved their protest to the Swiss embassies in both countries, amidst claims that severance payments, salaries and benefits have not been paid.

According to the Berne Declaration, a group that strives for equitable North-South relations, and a Swiss trade union, Unia, the workers are yet to receive their entitlements – a fact that would appear to be supported by a statement from the company.

Triumph, which is headquartered in the northerly canton of Aargau, Switzerland and has an annual turnover in excess of $US1.6 billion, (about Bt54.36 billion) said the retrenchment in staff numbers was the result of a “general downturn in consumer demand".

It said it had given written notices to employees according to law and that discussions were still underway with unions over severance payments.

"The company deeply regrets that any job losses are necessary. Triumph is making every possible effort to ensure that all affected employees are being treated fairly and with respect," the company claimed.

However, the Berne Declaration and Unia claim the response from the company is far from satisfactory and have demanded the company rescind the dismissals and collaborate with unions on a restructuring plan to ensure international guidelines are met.

In a statement the two groups said, "it is conspicuous that only factories with well organised unions are affected”.

-- thaivisa.com 2009-07-25

[Who, me ?]

In a statement the two groups said, "it is conspicuous that only factories with well organised unions are affected”.

It might be related to the fact that last year there was a 45 days strike to defend a worker who was fired with good reasons (confirmed by court), leading to a massive loss of orders for the Thai plant. Orders which have been moved to other plants, that gladly welcome the job in these times of downturn. Conducting such a hard strike when this company offers already the highest salary in this field of activity, together with social packages, transportation, bonus, etc....has certainly brought the Swiss group to reconsider its strategy in Asia.

A well organised union would certainly understand the implication of such a long and hard strike, wouldn't it?

[jonclark]

Sorry don't see what the actions of Triumph a private company, have got to do with the Swiss embassy??? The government and / or embassy has no influence over internal business decisions.

Imagine protesting outside the Thai embassy in London at the actions of a Thai company. They'd simply shut the doors and look the other way.

[geriatrickid]

Some important characteristics about this company, all of which support the statement from the union, need mentioning. As well, the court case in question is still pending with the next review to be undertaken in November. The person terminated was the Union president, not some crooked employee.

Let's back up first and take a look at this German company. Yes, it's functionally German as Triumph International AG is a publicly traded company on the FRA. I believe the move of the HQ to Switzerland was a tax and compliance based decision. The Germans have a tendancy to fair trade and integrity, at least to a significantly greater degree than the Swiss and the HQ in Switzerland means that the German meddlers can be avoided. The Spiesshofer & Braun families moved the holding company Triumph International to Switzerland. Switzerland is the country that the North Korean dictator sent his son (great Leader III) to be groomed. It is where Uncle Kim and other despots/mass murderers are alleged to have stashed their money. This should give you a hint as to why the Swiss embassy would be picketed, not that the Swiss care. The Swiss government facilitates the unethical behaviour of its corporate citizens. If you need a recent example, google UBS tax fraud IRS tax shelters and have fun.

I believe that Triumph has an embarrassing history in Asia. For those that might have forgotten, Triumph was the company that had refused to divest from Myanamar and fought international efforts to force a divestment. (Interesting to note that the Germans are strong supporters the economic sanctions on the junta, whereas the Swiss have a different approach.) Triumph backed down after the international boycott picked up steam and was about to provoke sanctions against the company as well. At the time, Triumph was paying its workers in Myanamar 1.5 swiss francs for a long day of work. Hardly the wages of a generous firm.

Triumph's manufacturing plants are considered by many observers to be consistently anti-labor Read the newspaper report from Kristine L. Alave, Philippine Daily Inquirer 11/19/2008

In the fall of 2008, a Manila, Philippines court ruled that the Triumph workers did not have the right to strike as negotiations with the company began to collapse.(Are you surprised?) Triumph locates its Asian plants in locales where the workers are kept docile. I believe it was one of the reasons manufacturing was shifted from Australia.

29-Jul-2008 Jitra Kotshadej, the president of the Triumph International Labor union, was terminated for "damaging" the reputation of Body Fashion Thailand, a subsidiary of Triumph International. In April 2009 Kotshadej had appeared on a talk show as a private citizen with a tshirt that stated "Those who do not stand are not criminals. Thinking differently is not a crime" She was interviewed on unwanted pregnancy among Thai workers and rights to abortion.

Triumph said that this caused its company to suffer damage to its reputation and terminated Kotshadej. However, this is the person that has just finished a round of labour protests and negotiations that won the workers improved working conditions and a slight increase in wages. Subsequent to the firing from July 30 through September 13, the 2000 workers at Body Fashion swent on strike to reinstate Kotshadej. Triumph fired all of the striking workers. However, triumph then found itself in court over the firing of the union president. At the same time it agreed to rehire the workers who walked out in support of Kotchadej. It continued to refuse to rehire Kotchadej, only agreeing to pay her back-wages. The case was decided in favour of Triumph. (Are you surprised?) On September 23, the labor court agreed to retry the case on November 17. Body Fashion will continue to pay her wages until her appeal is finalized. Workers who participated in the strike claim that they are not being given work and are therefore denied the portion of income derived from productivity bonuses.

More specifically, I think Triumph really does wish to send a message to its Thai workers as Triumph's conduct in Thailand has apaprently resulted in several demonstrations and threats of boycott in Europe. According to the letter writing campaign on behalf of the fired union president

There have been protests at Triumph's International headquarters in various countries and have initiated campaigns to challenge the company's actions by confronting its management and demanding Kotshadej's reinstatement, the end of retaliatory actions against union workers, the cessation of company attempts to break the union, and disciplinary action against the BFT managers who inappropriately initiated the procedings against the union leader and are, some say, emphasizing reverence from workers towards the royal family as an excuse to undermine workers' rights and weaken the union without having to admit to doing so directly, thereby undermining workers' ability to confront their mistreatment.

There are many groups that support the Triumph workers;

Thai Labor campaign (TLC). International Labor Task Force for Cross Border Labor Standards, Chinese Women Workers Network, Maquila Soilidarity Newtork, Committee For Asian Women and the usual Church and labour activist groups.

I believe that Triumph is using economic conditions as a cover for an attempt to break a union that stood up for its members. If one wishes to bust a union , then one should at least have the courage to say so.

Edited July 25, 2009 by geriatrickid