|
|
|
|
TITLE: Chentex Points Finger of Blame for Blocking Agreement at Nien Hsing Chairman, Ron Chu Chen |
AUTHOR: |
ORG: Nicaragua Network |
DATE: January 19, 2001 |
|
Despite the enormous mismatch in resources between Nien Hsing and the Chentex union, and despite Nien Hsing's very close relationship with the Aleman administration in Nicaragua, the Chentex union continues to fight back and is now drawing up a new action strategy to increase pressure on the ground in Nicaragua. We shouldn't forget that the union already has: * Two suits pending before the ILO, and * a legal suit before the Nicaraguan courts calling for reinstatement of all the fired union leaders. There is also the legal suit in the U.S. on behalf of the Nicaraguan plaintiffs; the upcoming GAO investigation; continued interest in the U.S. Congress, and much more going on. Lucas Huang Passes the Blame Lucas Huang is now claiming that he personally favors the agreement, but that it is being blocked in Taiwan by Nien Hsing's powerful chairman, Ron Chu Chen, who, according to Lucas Huang, refuses to allow reinstatement of anywhere near the 80 to 100 fired workers the union is demanding. Chairman Chen will accept the return of two, or possibly three, fired union leaders, but only a handful of the fired workers, if any at all. Perhaps that is why the company came up with the figure of only seven workers out of the list of 139 fired unionists, as having "clean work records." (Note: Perhaps Lucas Huang does not understand the implication of what he is saying. Nien Hsing, sending someone in as chief negotiator who does not have the authority to negotiate is, in itself, acting in bad faith.) Whether Lucas Huang is telling the truth or not with regard to Chen, this is, of course, just another move to confuse, delay and avoid signing an agreement. This has been their strategy all along. On the other hand, Nien Hsing's lawyer, Doris Escalona, said that their company review showed seven workers with completely clean records, 20 to 30 others with just one warning against them, and 20 more with two warnings. So why not immediately reinstate 57 of the fired workers, along with the 2-3 union leaders, with an agreement that an independent comission which includes representatives of the company and the CST union will conduct a case by case review of the remainder of the 80 to 100 workers to see who should be reinstate? Using every tactic, Lucas Huang is now saying that he will be forced to lay off 135 workers, closing down a production line, in February, given the falling orders. Whether or not orders are actually falling is under investigation by the union now. The need for lay-offs could be wholly untrue, but it is a great bluff to keep the workers in the factory terrified. Lucas Huang is giving this supposed "need" for lay-offs as another reason why he cannot reinstate 80 to 100 fired workers as agreed. It has been one excuse after another, non-stop, so as never to be pinned down, to avoid any concrete settlement. The CST union has some surprises in store. The agreement will be signed. We need to do our part--and keep up the pressure. More to follow. END |