Haiti: 'rebels' used to break union at Grupo M (Levi's) factory

[Tinoire]

Haiti: 'rebels' used to break union at Grupo M (Levi's) factory

2004-03-06 09:30:21
by Haiti Support Group

The new union of workers at the Grupo M factory at Ouanaminthe on Haiti’s border with the Dominican Republic has been violently busted. The Grupo M management has enlisted the support of the armed insurgents, who earlier this week overthrew the Haitian government, to break the union. Please take action now to demand the re-instatement of the sacked union members.

On Monday March 1st, 2004, 34 members of the SOKOWA, the new trade union at the Grupo M-owned free trade zone at Ouanaminthe in north-east Haiti were fired by the management. The next day, as workers at the Codevi Free Trade Zone began to take action in support of the union, members of the so-called ‘rebel’ forces, who last week staged a coup d’etat against the Haitian government, arrived at the factory with guns to rough up the workers. After several workers were handcuffed and others beaten up, the workforce was compelled to resume work. Later, the ‘rebels’ revealed that they had been contacted the previous evening by the Grupo M factory management who had told them that workers were going to “make problems”.

Please take action now in support of the Sendika Ouvriye Kodevi Wanament - SOKOWA (the Ouanaminthe Codevi Workers’ Union) - who have been told to collect their final paychecks on Monday, 8th March. The main contract at the Ouanaminthe Grupo M factory is to assemble jeans for the world-famous Levi Strauss company. To support the new union at the Grupo M factory in Haiti, please write letters and emails demanding the reinstatement of the fired union members immediately.

Send to:

Fernando Capellan, CEO Grupo M SA Caribbean Industrial Park, Matanzas, Santiago, Dominican Republic email: [e-mail] cc: [e-mail]

Michael Kobori, Director, Global Code of Conduct, Levi Strauss & Co. 1155 Battery St. San Francisco, CA 94111 USA Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] email: [e-mail]

cc: Haiti Support Group - email: [e-mail] First of May-Batay Ouvriye union federation - email: [e-mail]

http://www.newshaiti.com/index.php?mode=single&page=2&n=513


((All of this is happening with the acquiscence & under the watchful, unseeing eyes of the US command down there))

[Mika]

1. The "rebels" are our Pinkertons

Another tactical "pratice" run for future use in the homeland.

Thanks for the links, Tinoire.

[Bozita]

2. great analogy

[AP]

8. Oh, so this was what it was all about?

How effing obvious.

[w4rma]

3. The Bush agenda in Haiti becomes clearer. (n/t)

[9215]

4. Inevitable revolutions

It is becoming clear to many people around the world and particularly to those from this poor, beat up country: The fascists don't just want their labor for free they want their souls, their lives.

They have no choice but to fight the bastards. I'm so sickened by this blatant attempt to further impoverish this already poverty stricken nation. :Grr:

[proud patriot]

5. My dad just sent me this cartoon

http://unclebam.homestead.com/BamVert59.html

[Judi Lynn]

7. That's a great one, too. Really, really good.

You've got a very astute father. Sure wish there were more like him!

"Uncle Bam." I won't forget that one.

[Tinoire]

11. That's it in a nut-shell! :( n/t

[proud patriot]

12. Hugs :(

:hug:

[Tinoire]

13. Thanks :) See you on the 20th

My sign this time will say "US out of Haiti" but I'll still help with the banner! :)

:hug:

[Dover]

6. Those "REBELS" are not freedom fighters...they are corporate terrorists

If ever there was a clear definition of the term "terrorist", this is it.

[Judi Lynn]

9. They didn't waste any time at all.

Got right to work getting everything just the way the the American business people want it.

I would never have believed Levi Strauss would stoop to this kind of violent mugging of the world's poorest.

It's almost as if Haitians' only hope is to leave the island altogether.

Of course that only means we'd see this happen somewhere else, to different poor people who have no one to protect them.

Thank you for the addresses.

[Just Me]

10. Shame on the neocons,...shame on loyalists to corporate fascism,...

,...shame on the Bush administration!!!

:puke: