Manhattan workers on strike again

More than 1,000 workers at the Manhattan (Cambodia) Co Ltd garment factory in Kampong Cham province are striking in the wake of factory management’s reaction to their last strike action.

Employees walked off the job nearly two weeks ago, after the suspension of seven Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (CATU) representatives who allegedly led workers to participate in a previous nationwide garment strike.

“Some workers who joined the mass demonstration … returned to work,” said Kim Oun, one of the suspended employees. “But most of the workers refused, because their seven union representatives were suspended from work and sued in court.”

Workers are demanding the factory drop court complaints filed against four of the reps, and not punish returning employees, Oun said.

An unnamed provincial Labour Department official said the department would meet with the union to find a solution today.