Date: Tue, 9 Dec 1997 20:13:22 -0500 (EST) From: "Liam R.Flynn" <trinity-AT-hot-shot.com> Subject: M-G: Unions across boarders. > =======================================================> Stop reading the Boss Press! Read the INDUSTRIAL WORKER. > =======================================================> Monthly newspaper of the Industrial Workers of the World > =======================================================> > Online at: http://parsons.iww.org/~iw > > >From the December, 1997 issue of the INDUSTRIAL WORKER: > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > URL: http://parsons.iww.org/~iw/dec1997/stories/hyund2.html > > Hyundai union-busting > > A Nov. 10 decision by the Tijuana Labor Board has overturned the results of > an election in which workers at the Han Young maquiladora factory, which > manufactures parts for Hyundai, voted for union representation. Enrique > Hernandez, coordinator of Union de Defensa Laboral Comunitaria, which has > been assisting the workers, termed the board's ruling a "ridiculous > explanation for a travesty of justice." > > The decision claims that the independent Union of Metal, Steel, Iron and > Allied Workers (STIMAHCS, affiliated to the independent FAT federation) can > not legally represent the workers because they make auto parts and > therefore cannot be represented by a union of metal workers. Further, while > STIMAHCS has been registered as a national industrial union for many years, > the labor board says that it is not. > > The board also suggests that a wave of firings of union supporters since > the election (Mexican law requires workers to declare their vote in front > of management - see report last issue) may have overcome the union's > majority support. > > Despite seemingly strong labor laws, Mexico's labor boards routinely uphold > management actions and protect government-affiliated unions' sweetheart > deals with the bosses. Indeed, the first time Han Young workers learned > they were in a "union" was when a stranger appeared in the midst of a > wildcat strike, identifying himself to workers as their union > representative and saying workers were lucky to be earning twice Mexico's > minimum wage, which is about 41 cents an hour. Infuriated, the workers > began pelting the man with their leather welders' gloves, driving him from > the plant. > > The Support Committee for Maquila-dora Workers in cooperation with Campaign > for Labor Rights is coordinating a boycott of Hyundai Motors that has > involved demonstrations in over 25 cities nationwide. Members and friends > of the Chicago General Membership Branch of the IWW picketed a Hyundai > dealer last month in support of the Tijuana workers. > > Boycott Hyundai bumper stickers are available for $1 each or $6 for 10 (add > $2.50 per order shipping) from: Labor/Community Alliance, POB 5077, Fresno > CA 93755 > > Thugs Hired to Smash Union > > Workers at a Hyndai contractor in South Korea are engaged in a desparate > struggle to maintain their union in the face of continual attacks by > gangsters hired by Korea-Fukoku management. Korea-Fukoku produces damper > pulleys and windshield wipers for Hyundai Motors. It is located in Banwol > Industrial Complex of Ansan City. The company is controlled by Fukoku > Japan, which in turn is controlled by a Mr. Kawamato. > > The Fukoku Trade Union, established in 1988, represents most of the plant's > 200 production workers. The union has been one of the most active members > of the Korean Metalworkers Federation in southern Kyonggi region, the home > to many small to medium metal industry enterprises. > > In July 1996 management began a campaign to destroy the union, refusing to > negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement and stepping up repression > of the union. Various welfare facilities and benefits were withdrawn, > including the sudden closure of the workers' dormitory. > > Management has increased work speed. Workers are prohibited from speaking > to other workers during work. Workers going to toilet during work are > closely monitored in order to control the free movement and `waste' of > production time. > > In flagrant violation of the contract and the labour law, management > arbitrarily transferred active unionists to other sections, changed the pay > rate for mandatory night shifts, and shuffled around the weekly days off. > > The union conducted sit-in protests, rallies, picketing, and every kind of > means to pressure management to refrain from its anti-union actions and to > return to the negotiating table. In response, management began to mobilise > hired thugs to physically crack down on union activists and to terrorize > ordinary members. > > Physical violence against unionists has become Fukoku management's standard > means of responding to industrial disputes. Known criminals and thugs have > been hired to attack the union and unionists. These thugs raided union > meetings, protest rallies and picket lines and physically brutalized active > unionists to terrorize the ordinary union members. > > These thugs were later hired permanently as `security guards' to engage in > constant surveillance and harassment of unionists. They have physically > stopped union leaders and rank-and-file members from entering the union > office. Many union members have been taken off production, and upon > reporting for work are herded into a separate room where they are confined > under constant watch. These attacks have driven some 70 unionists from the > plant, creating vacancies that were filled by the thugs, their coterie and > other temporary workers. > > In April 1997, the Ministry of Labor placed the company under special > supervision. The company was ordered to withdraw the "security guards," pay > up unpaid backwages and to comply with a total of 17 orders. However, > Fukoku management continues to refuse compliance. Instead, they issued > notice of dismissal against 15 key union leaders, and dealt out > disciplinary measures against some 100 workers, ranging from pay cuts to > exclusion from work. > > The company-hired corps of ex-convicts work as both "security guards" and > production workers. These thugs are organised as the "Seung Hwa Company." > When the nature of Seung Hwa Company was exposed in August 1997, the thugs > simply registered under a new name, "Ace Personnel Management Company." > > The thugs are working as line workers in damper pulley production and have > been given the authority to hire daily contract workers. This is a > systematic effort to isolate the union by keeping new employees under the > thugs' strict control. > > The union is demanding that Fukoku recognize its right to exist and > represent its members. It calls on management to comply with Korean labor > laws, to remove its thugs from the plant, to pay overdue backwages, and to > reinstate unjustly dismissed workers. Finally, the union is calling for > opening negotiations for a new contract. > > Letters supporting the union can be faxed to Fukoku headquarter in Japan > (+81-48-776-0609), support message can be sent to the union > (+82-331-45-0144). Liam R.Flynn liam-AT-stones.com ICQ*5031073 --- from list marxism-general-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
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