TITLE: Iryo Garment Workers Union Start Their Own Sewing Group and Continue Union Activity

AUTHOR: Lek Jyimprasert

PUB:

DATE: March 16, 2001

Members of Thailand's Iryo Garment Union closed their protest at the Ministry of Labor last month. Members of the union, friends and fellow garment workers gathered for a final meal together at the protest site. Leaders of the union and their supporters spoke about their feelings and experience during the six month protest. Even though many of these women were separating from friends they had worked with for 15 years, the women decided that Thai Iryo Garment Union would not die. The workers would continue to think of themselves as union members and continue to fight for labor rights wherever they ended up working. Although the workers have not yet received 17 million baht that they are owed in severance, they decided to leave the Ministry of Labor to begin restarting their lives since January 31. The sale of the companies assets is under way and is expected to be completed in the next month. Ironically, union members have been put in charge of the sale as the company has completely abandoned the factory. The union does not expect to get their full severance as the profits from the company's assets will first go to pay off bank loans. Twenty five members of Thai Iryo Garment Union have decided to form their own sewing cooperative. The women have rented a building in Rangsit and have purchased sewing machines. Some of them have been able to purchase machines while others have had to go into debt in order to make the purchase. The hope is that these women will eventually be able to receive direct orders from companies and be able to retain 100% of profits. Unfortunately they currently are relying on subcontracting orders as they do not yet have enough equipment to complete the entire production process. At the same time, these women are proving that twenty five workers can live and work together productively and cooperatively without foremen, managers or factory owners. Since they have started working, their spirits have risen immensely. On Wednesday the 14th of March, the workers held a traditional merit making ceremony at the cooperative. Monks from a local temple came to make merit and offer blessings. The workers treated family, supporters and friends with food and drink to mark the occasion. This ceremony marks the end of a long process of struggle for the twenty five women involved in the cooperative. Since September they have protested in front of the factory, at the Ministry of Labor, been to court hearings, dealt with the sales of the company assets, supervised the renovation of the building they are renting, purchased machinery, set up shop, and searched for orders. This also marks the beginning of their enterprise which we hope will be a model of women working in dignity, earning a living wage and playing an active role in the broader labor movement. We will keep you posted on the progress of the Thai Iryo workers Union and Cooperative. END top