PENCHAN CHAROENSUTHIPAN
Bangkok Post Saturday August 23, 2008
Body Fashion Thailand (BFT), the manufacturing arm of world undergarment giant Triumph International, maintained its tough stance not to reinstate the Triumph labour union leader in the latest round of talks with the striking workers yesterday.
The tripartite talks between the BFT, labour union representatives, and labour officials have made little progress over the reinstatement row that has dragged on for two months now.
The workers are demanding that the company re-employ Jitra Kotchadej, who was sacked early last month after wearing a T-shirt bearing a slogan supporting the right not to stand when the royal anthem is played in cinemas.
The union has accused the company of using the lese majeste allegations to disrupt the labour union's movement.
The BFT has agreed not to punish the 3,000 striking workers, but refused to reinstate Ms Jitra.
Triumph International sent its representatives from its headquarters overseas to attend yesterday's round of negotiations and to listen to what the workers had to say.
The talks, however, ended in another stalemate and both sides agreed to meet again on Monday.
Ms Jitra claimed the company had tried to provoke the striking workers by mobilising a group of employees for a counter-rally in front of the factory in Samut Prakan. The union believes some of them were outsiders.
The Asian Human Rights Commission on Tuesday issued a statement saying that Ms Jitra's right to freedom of expression, in wearing a protest T-shirt, is protected under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Thailand is a party to and under the Thai constitution.
They called on the BFT to ''hold itself to higher standards in its treatment of workers and trade unions''.
From http://www.bangkokpost.com/230808_News/23Aug2008_news07.php
