Freedom Socialist Bulletin • Number 36 • Summer/Autumn 2007

UnionEyes


Workers resist union busting in Thailand

Goodyear is a union busting employer. In the U.S., members of the United Steelworkers Union at Goodyear just ended a 12-week strike with a settlement that will result in massive job cuts. In Thailand, the company uses fixed-term contracts as a union busting tool. Many workers have been employed by Goodyear Thailand for more than a decade, but under one-year fixed-term contracts that deny them the same pay and conditions as workmates employed on a permanent basis. The company also blatantly harasses union activists.

For the last two years, members of the Petroleum and Chemical Workers Federation of Thailand (PCFT) have been on the offensive. In February 2005, 18 contract employees who were excluded from the collective bargaining agreement filed suit in the Labour Court. The case was significant, because it was the first time that the use of short-term contract labour as a way to deny workers their rights would be heard in court. Because many Thai bosses adopt this practice, the case could set an important precedent.

The month after the case was lodged, management fired the chair of the Goodyear Thailand PCFT branch, Anan Pol-ung. A sustained campaign by union members resulted in Anan Pol-ung being reinstated six months later.

Then in November 2005, Goodyear management fired the 18 contract workers and brought in a labour hire agency to do the work. This agency offered the sacked workers jobs, but under even worse conditions! The unionists lodged a complaint with the Industrial Relations Committee and launched a campaign to get their jobs back.

In April 2006, the court ruled that they should be reinstated, but the bosses responded with an appeal to the central labour court.

In August, Goodyear showed its anti-union agenda when it once again sacked Anan Pol-ung. The local manager stated that he was acting on instructions from headquarters in the U.S. to fire Anan for his mobilisation of solidarity for the short-term contract workers.

On 31 October 2006, the central labour court ruled that the sacking of contract worker, Chalom Longnok, was illegal. They ordered the company to reinstate him and award him back-pay and full collective bargaining benefits for the last 10 years. On 30 November, the remaining workers won a big legal victory when the labour court ruled that Goodyear had dismissed them illegally. It ordered that the company pay compensation to the workers.

Alison Thorne

International solidarity has been part of the ongoing battle. Contact the Goodyear Company and let them know what you think of their miserable union busting record. Email your protest to justin.foley @ goodyear.com and goodyear.investor.relations @ goodyear.com