Thai Workers Triumph After Setting Up Cooperative

[webfact]

Workers triumph after setting up cooperative

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

SAMUT PRAKAN: -- For three years now, the cooperative set up by workers who were dismissed by bra-maker Triumph is not just thriving, but is also successful in supporting other workers' rights.

After losing their jobs, the 12 workers set up a small "social venture" to start producing undergarments for both sexes under the "Try Arm" brand in October 2009. Now, they allocate 10 per cent of their income to support union rights and political activities.

Jitra Kotchadej, coordinator of the cooperative, explained that the venture was not a factory, but a business venture with a political dimension. She said all co-owners of the cooperative, which is located in a four-storey shophouse in Samut Prakan's Samrong area, earn Bt20 more than the current Bt300 daily minimum wage.

Jitra, a committed red shirt like the rest of the co-owners, lost her job in Triumph after she was seen on television wearing a T-shirt supporting Thai citizens' right to not stand up when the Royal anthem is played.

She explained that demand for Try Arm products was increasing and that they now have 40 sewing machines and are looking to purchase a few more second-hand machines, which cost between Bt30,000 and 40,000, to produce women's undergarments sold for between Bt79 and Bt120 and men's underwear retailed at Bt69 to Bt220.

Jitra called on consumers to not just think about fashion or price but to consider fair trade as well.

"When you buy goods, don't just think about the trend, but also look at the lives of the people behind these products. Find out if they are leading a decent life," Jitra advised.

At Try Arm, all workers are co-owners, own the tools they use and are paid 50 per cent of their daily wage for overtime. Jitra, who is one of the 12 co-owners, says their quality of life is good.

The workers often set up booths at red-shirt gatherings and rallies, and Jitra said that sometimes even the opposing yellow shirts buy Try Arm products because they know the group supports the right to collective bargaining.

"They [the yellow shirts] see it as a kind of social activism," Jitra said, adding that most purchases are made by placing orders on the phone or directly from the factory.

-- The Nation 2012-11-01

[Ricardo]

A rare 'Good News' story !

Perhaps the 'peoples government' might pass legislation, to encourage the setting-up of more co-operatives, in both industry and agriculture, or would that upset too many of the parties' backers ?

[asiawatcher]

Irrespective of the political alliances, they are enterprising and if quality control and pricing is competitive, then good luck to them for making it work.

[DocN]

This is a good story.

I wish it could (for once) be told without mentioning red or yellow shirts!

[Katipo]

Yes, it is good news and hopefully an inspiration to others

But ....'Try Arm' and Triumph.... no similarity there at all. There is that complete lack of originality (or should I say almost copying) again.

[robblok]

Im pro yellow, but firing someone because they are red shirts is crazy. So all the luck to this lady. Also my political views would not change the products i buy. If the quality and price are good then buy from that person.

I don't get the politics angle here, but then again the current government needs to have some good news stories now and again.

[stoneyboy]

Im pro yellow, but firing someone because they are red shirts is crazy. So all the luck to this lady. Also my political views would not change the products i buy. If the quality and price are good then buy from that person.

I don't get the politics angle here, but then again the current government needs to have some good news stories now and again.

I'm pro yellow.

So you are able to vote here in Thailand ?

[cloudhopper]

'Jitra, a committed red shirt like the rest of the co-owners, lost her job in Triumph after she was seen on television wearing a T-shirt supporting Thai citizens' right to not stand up when the Royal anthem is played.'

A real hero IMO. Hopefully someday she will realize that her party, now in power, has done nothing to remedy her legitimate grievances and is only shamelessly using people like her to gain and abuse raw political power.

[robblok]

Im pro yellow, but firing someone because they are red shirts is crazy. So all the luck to this lady. Also my political views would not change the products i buy. If the quality and price are good then buy from that person.

I don't get the politics angle here, but then again the current government needs to have some good news stories now and again.

I'm pro yellow.

So you are able to vote here in Thailand ?

I can't vote but i can have preferences. I'm also for Obama instead of Romney and im no american. Strange concept for some to have preferences.

[stoneyboy]

Im pro yellow, but firing someone because they are red shirts is crazy. So all the luck to this lady. Also my political views would not change the products i buy. If the quality and price are good then buy from that person.

I don't get the politics angle here, but then again the current government needs to have some good news stories now and again.

I'm pro yellow.

So you are able to vote here in Thailand ?

I can't vote but i can have preferences. I'm also for Obama instead of Romney and im no american. Strange concept for some to have preferences.

Indeed given that ones chosen preference has no effect whatsoever.

Still I suppose it's nice to feel part of the bigger picture.

[robblok]

Im pro yellow, but firing someone because they are red shirts is crazy. So all the luck to this lady. Also my political views would not change the products i buy. If the quality and price are good then buy from that person.

I don't get the politics angle here, but then again the current government needs to have some good news stories now and again.

I'm pro yellow.

So you are able to vote here in Thailand ?

I can't vote but i can have preferences. I'm also for Obama instead of Romney and im no american. Strange concept for some to have preferences.

Indeed given that ones chosen preference has no effect whatsoever.

Still I suppose it's nice to feel part of the bigger picture.

What a strange remark, saying you cant be for something because you cant influence it. Tell that to every sports fan watching a game, or people watching movies.

Come back when you learned a bit more ok.

[jerrysteve]

YES!!! YES YES it is good they have Triumphed....and Stood Tall inspite of the Odds..

CHEERS for these people...Hell! that calls for a Gin N Tonic with a lemon or lime twist; ABSOLUTE Gin of Course..

Thats a Triumph worth Celebrating...

Edited November 1, 2012 by jerrysteve

[OzMick]

Im pro yellow, but firing someone because they are red shirts is crazy. So all the luck to this lady. Also my political views would not change the products i buy. If the quality and price are good then buy from that person.

I don't get the politics angle here, but then again the current government needs to have some good news stories now and again.

I'm pro yellow.

So you are able to vote here in Thailand ?

I can't vote but i can have preferences. I'm also for Obama instead of Romney and im no american. Strange concept for some to have preferences.

Indeed given that ones chosen preference has no effect whatsoever.

Still I suppose it's nice to feel part of the bigger picture.

Even if he had a vote, the effect of a single vote is miniscule and hardly worth arguing.

" no effect whatsoever" also excludes the effect that the preferred may have on the preferee. Life in Thailand may be considerably different should the reds held political dominance.

[jbrain]

Im pro yellow, but firing someone because they are red shirts is crazy. So all the luck to this lady. Also my political views would not change the products i buy. If the quality and price are good then buy from that person.

I don't get the politics angle here, but then again the current government needs to have some good news stories now and again.

I'm pro yellow.

So you are able to vote here in Thailand ?

I can't vote but i can have preferences. I'm also for Obama instead of Romney and im no american. Strange concept for some to have preferences.

Indeed given that ones chosen preference has no effect whatsoever.

Still I suppose it's nice to feel part of the bigger picture.

So if you're well aware of all this, what's your point of continuing spouting your opinions on an anonymaous forum.

[jaltsc]

Without a line in a company's budget for "payoffs/graft" it would totally confuse the economic committee of any Thai government

[firdaus]

Yes, a good news. Should inspire others to come out of their relaxed compartments. But I'd prefer that such causes must not be associated with any political party. These should remain neutral.

[osiboy]

Well ithink its fantastic that a bra making cooperative is able to '' support'' the workers at least !!

[Soi Dog]

A very uplifting story. Sorry, it had to be said.

[h90]

This is a good story.

I wish it could (for once) be told without mentioning red or yellow shirts!

Well it is important: "The workers often set up booths at red-shirt gatherings and rallies." There is a high chance that the get financed from big brother....producing something for them.

Well connected it is easy to make profit......

[kaliYUGA]

Yellow-related businesses employ foreigners illegally. Want proof? Just drop me a private message

[KhaoNiaw]

Jitra said that sometimes even the opposing yellow shirts buy Try Arm products because they know the group supports the right to collective bargaining.

"They [the yellow shirts] see it as a kind of social activism," Jitra said, adding that most purchases are made by placing orders on the phone or directly from the factory.

Actually not so much separating ordinary reds and yellows. Cut out the personalities playing their own games with their self-serving and deliberately inflammatory rhetoric and lies, and Thais can all get along.

[stefb1964]

Finally some nice news to read..

[whybother]

Yellow-related businesses employ foreigners illegally. Want proof? Just drop me a private message

You don't think that "red related" businesses employ foreigners illegally? Colour has nothing to do with it. It's just greed.