Sri Lankan unions stand up against violation of ILO core conventions

The Free Trade Zones and General Services Employees Union (FTZ&GSEU) was a driving force in forming the new Trade Union Confederation (TUC) of Sri Lanka. This was an act of strengthening workers’ solidarity and power across sectors, but also an act of insubordination towards illegal restrictions of the Freedom of Association in Sri Lankan labour law, prohibiting the formation of federations between unions of the private sector and unions of the public sector.

The newly formed TUC launched a complaint with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), because the verdict against the formation of public-private union federations is a massive violation of ILO core conventions 87 and 98 (Freedom of Association, Collective Bargaining). Sri Lanka has ratified both conventions, which was a prerequisite for Sri Lankan economy to obtain the status of privileged access to important EU markets (GSP+).

The ILO has meanwhile announced that they follow the TUC’s argumentation; it has asked the government of Sri Lanka to remove the restricting paragraphs from its labour law.

  read more >>

Textile production in Germany and international solidarity

Discussion with works council member Albert Koolen

February 21, 2008 in Hannover

  read more >>

(Preliminary?) Success for the Right to Organise at H&M Supplier in Cambodia

10 union activists achieved reinstatement to their jobs after seven hard months fighting River Rich Textile Ltd., Cambodia. River Rich is part of HongKong based Addchance Holding, producing knitwear, for H&M and Inditex, among others.

read more >>

Lives and trade union activities at risk in Sri Lanka:
Intimidation and threats of abduction

The background
On 06.02.2007 three men including a railway trade union activist and two media personnel were abducted by unknown groups in Colombo. These abductions indicate the spread of disappearances. As clearly evidenced in recent times, such acts are used as a means of dealing with opponents. Whereabouts of hundreds of abducted men and women in the recent past still remains a mystery. This sparked a spontaneous protest by an independent and progressive segment of trade unionists immediately the next day in front of the country’s prominent Fort Railway Station. The protestors with the backing of about 500 trade union activist agitated for the release of their union colleague.

read more >>