A ruling by the Ontario Court of Appeals (OCA) handed down on November 17, 2008 will open the door for Ontario’s farm workers to exercise their newly found constitutional right to bargain collectively.  The Court held that the province’s Agricultural Employees Protection Act (AEPA) did not go far enough to protect farm workers’ collective bargaining rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and was therefore unconstitutional. Ontario was given 12 months to change its legislation to conform to the decision.

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The Worker Rights Consortium (WRC) has released findings from its investigation into allegations of freedom of association violations surrounding Russell Athletics’ planned closure of its Jerzees de Honduras plant. Among the findings were "that anti-union animus was a significant factor in the company’s decision to close the plant," and that threats, harassment, and interference with collective representation were used at the plant to prevent workers from exercising their right to freedom of association.

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Our most recent Update highlights recent comments by Adidas CEO Herbert Hainer which confirm that company's race to the bottom; Adidas is seeking to shift production to lower-wage countries like Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. The real impacts of this race to the bottom are being felt by the workers around the globe who produce Mr. Hainer's products. Those impacts were best illustrated last May when former Salvadorian factory worker Sonia Lara Campos attacked Adidas' poverty wages in El Salvador at the company's annual general meeting. Sonia asked the board " How long do the workers of Adidas have to wait until they receive a dignified salary?"

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Last month, MSN received the sad news of the death of our friend Antonio Villalba. Antonio was a union organizer, an important leader of Mexico's Authentic Labour Front (FAT), and a life-long fighter for the rights of workers in Mexico and internationally. Until the very end of his long struggle against cancer, Antonio continued to offer thoughtful strategic advice to his union membership, never losing his wonderful wry sense of humour.

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A sportswear working group involving the Maquila Solidarity Network, the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers Federation, the Clean Clothes Campaign and the International Trade Union Confederation has set out steps sportswear brands need to take to begin to overcome four hurdles that have hindered progress on worker rights in the industry.

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Labour lawyer Remigio Saladero of the Philippine Pro-labour Legal Assistance Centre (PLACE) is being held by police on a number of trumped up criminal charges. Please act now to challenge this act of repression against a prominent labour advocate.

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Thai workers end six week strike Between July 30 and September 13 more than 2,000 workers at the Thai subsidiary of underwear giant Triumph International went on strike to demand reinstatement of their union president, Ms. Jitra Kotchadej. Ms. Kotchadej was dismissed on July 29 in relation to her appearance during her private time in a national television debate wearing a t-shirt with the text ‘Those who do not stand are not criminals. Thinking differently is not a crime.’ The t-shirt refers to the right of people not to stand when the royal anthem is played and the abuse of lèse-majesté legislation to suppress political opposition.

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In this issue:

Thai workers walk out; Reaching a deal with Burger King; Hanesbrands workers in Dominican Republic and Mexico; Chinese labour contract law; Puebla government interferes at Mexmode; Chasing the next China.

Download Update 13.3 here.

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