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The Maquila Solidarity Network (MSN) is a labour and women's rights organization that supports the efforts of workers in global supply chains to win improved wages and working conditions and a better quality of life. (More…)
On October 3, 2008, the terror felt among labour activists in the Philippines grew even stronger. In addition to the arrest of Remigio Saladero, which MSN alerted you to earlier, another 71 people including well-known human and labour rights advocates were put on an arrest list by the Philippines government.
The three complainants in a NAFTA labour side agreement case against Mexico were conspicuously absent from a December 3 stakeholder consultation in Puebla, Mexico in which the governments of Canada, the U.S. and Mexico were supposed to discuss Mexico’s commitment to freedom of association.
Five years after the Puebla case was filed, the Worker Assistance Center (CAT) of Mexico, the Maquila Solidarity Network (MSN) of Canada, and United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) of the United States announced they were boycotting the so-called “stakeholder seminar” citing serious flaws in the side agreement process.
Vancouver-based outdoor sportswear company Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) has become the first Canadian apparel retailer to disclose the supplier factories of its own-brand products. MEC cited its “commitment to being upfront about how and where [it sources] MEC-brand products” and its belief “that doing so will further workers' rights, and lead to better sourcing practices,” as reasons for its decision.
On November 27, 2008, a Bangkok labour court gave Body Fashion Thailand, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Triumph International, the green light to dismiss union president Jitra Kotshadej.
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.
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.
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?"
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.
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.
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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