MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2004
Workers and Union Officers Fired at Nicotex T-Shirt Factory in Sébaco, Nicaragua! Tell Gildan to support worker rights!
This action alert comes to you from the Nicaragua Network and the Campaign for Labor Rights. For more information, call 202-544-9355 or write kathy@afgj.org.T-shirt manufacturer Gildan continues its nasty habit of labor rights violations in Honduras in its new factory, Nicotex, located in Sébaco, Nicaragua.
Take Action!
Action 1: Write a letter to Gildan today!
Action 2: Send a donation to support fired workers in Nicaragua!
Background: Gildan violates labor rights in Honduras and Nicaragua
[This information has been provided by United Students Against Sweatshops (Honduras) and the Sandinista Workers Central-JBE (Nicaragua).]
After the Fair Labor Association and the Workers Rights Consortium (two groups that monitor garment factories) requested that giant T-shirt manufacturer Gildan put a stop to its labor rights violations in its factory in El Progreso, Honduras, where 100 workers had been fired in the last two years. Gildan chose to cut and run, leaving 1800 workers unemployed. Rather than stand up to their commitment to workers rights, Gildan closed the factory, in order to move production to cheaper locales such as the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.
In response, the FLA did something it had never done before; it put Gildan on a period of Special Review, with their membership pendant on certain requirements laid out by the FLA. Unless Gildan cleaned up its act by November 30, the FLA promised to revoke their membership. November 30 has come and gone, and Gildan has done nothing.
Starting in the fall of 2003, Gildan has also been sourcing from a Korean-owned factory in Nicaragua, called Nicotex. We learned recently that since workers attempted to form a union on August 26 of this year, the factory management has been illegally firing workers who are in the leadership of the union or are affiliates. Unfortunately, the unionized workers have no legal protection at this time, as the Nicaragua Labor Ministry has delayed in granting the recognition of their union. The union applied for this recognition in August and the Ministry of Labor, which should have extended recognition within ten days, has still not done so and has given no explanation.
As of November 16, 6 union officers and 40 workers affiliated with the union at Nicotex have been fired. This is a continuation of Gildan's consistent policy of union-busting. Protest this injustice today! Tell Gildan it is not above the rules!
Take Action!
Action 1: Write a Letter to Gildan
Contact Gildan immediately to insist it rehire union leaders and members at the Nicotex factory in Sébaco, Nicaragua, as well as fulfill its obligations to the workers in Honduras.
SAMPLE LETTER
Mr. Glenn Chamandy Chief Executive Officer Gildan Activewear 725 Montee de Liesse Montreal, Quebec, Canada H4T 1P5 Fax: 514-738-2269
Dear Mr. Chamandy:
I write regarding labor rights situations in Honduras and Nicaragua. I insist you: 1) First, satisfy the Fair Labor Association (FLA) requirements for continued membership and meet your responsibilities towards the laid-off workers in El Progreso, Honduras, and 2) Second, rehire the union officers and union members at the Nicotex factory in Sébaco, Nicaragua.
Cutting and running from your responsibilities to El Progreso workers in Honduras was unacceptable. I urge you to fully comply with the conditions set by the Fair Labor Association for Gildan's continued membership in the Association without delay. I look for your corrective action to include full back pay to all unjustly fired union supporters from the date of their firings to the date of the factory closure; first-hire job opportunities for laid-off El Progreso workers; assistance to those workers to find employment at other factories in the free trade zones; and protection against blacklisting at those factories.
According to reports from Nicaragua, an effort has been underway since August 2004 to organize a union at the Nicotex factory. Gildan is reportedly the sole client in the factory. I have learned that on November 15, 2004, six union leaders were fired and on November 16, 2004, 40 union members were fired. The trade union confederation supporting these workers has asked for international solidarity to seek reinstatement of the fired workers.
I am therefore contacting you to ask that Gildan intervene with Nicotex and urge its management to reinstate the fired union workers and respect the basic rights of their workers, including the right to form a union and the right to collective bargaining. The workers and their supporters urge Gildan to continue sourcing from the factory and to use its influence to obtain a just resolution for the workers.
If you want to be recognized for quality garments made by a high-quality company, you will take these steps, proving you are serious about respecting workers' rights. I will continue to follow this case closely. Thank you for considering my views.
Sincerely, [your name and address]
Action 2: Send a donation to support fired Nicaraguan workers!
The fired union officers and union members at the Nicotex factory need support for their own survival and that of their families while they are out of work. This is a crucial time for them; without financial support many workers find it difficult to continue their struggle to unionize and are often forced to compromise due to economic pressures.
The union also needs funds for workers to pay the bus fare of the union officers so they can visit the Labor Ministry office in Matagalpa (the provincial capital) and the main office of the Labor Ministry and the trade union confederation (CST-JBE) in the capital, Managua. Write a check, large or small, to Campaign for Labor Rights/AGJ and send your tax-deductible donation for this struggle to: Campaign for Labor Rights, 1247 "E" Street SE, Washington, DC 20003. Please put "Nicotex workers" in the memo line.
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