For over six months, workers at the Kings Land Garment Company in Cambodia have asked management to address problems with working conditions at the factory. After seeking government intervention and exhausting every possibility to urge management to meet with them, the Garment Workers Democratic Union went on strike on January 11 to demand that Kings Land recognize the union, discuss labor violations and reinstate 18 union activists who have been illegally dismissed since the union was formed in July 2007.

Please take action today in support of the striking workers and tell Kings Land management that union rights are human rights. Send a letter demanding that Kings Land reinstate the dismissed workers and recognize the union's right to discuss working conditions at the factory.

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Background

On July 13, 2007 the Garment Worker Democratic Union of Kings Land Garment Co. was formed in affiliation with the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union (C.CAWDU) and the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation (ITGLWF). The local union represents more than 300 workers at the Kings Land factory and is certified by the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training. 

After its formation, the union endeavored multiple times to meet with the management to discuss labour violations.  When Kings Land management refused to respond, C.CAWDU filed a complaint to the Labour Ministry’s Labour Dispute Department. 

Management continued to refuse to recognize the union and failed to attend the Labour Dispute Department’s meetings.  

Management told workers to leave the union and terminated a number of union leaders and union activists.  Since the union was established in July, Kings Land has illegally terminated a total of 16 union members, including the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, as well as 11 union activists and 1 union advisor. 

The case was sent to arbitration by the Labour Dispute Department. In hearings on October 24, 27, and 30 and November 16 of last year management agreed to resolve a number of issues, however it has yet to implement those changes. 

On December 12, 2007 the Arbitration Council issued a decision related to some of the reported violations, ordering the company to pay appropriate wages for maternity leave and ordering the company to reinstate five of the dismissed union members. The Arbitration Council did not rule on the status of the other dismissed union members for technical reasons. 

On December 17 Kings Land management submitted a letter rejecting the Arbitration Council’s decision. 

On January 11, the Garment Workers Democratic Union went on strike to demand that Kings Land recognize the union, discuss labor violations, and reinstate 18 union activists who have been illegally dismissed since the union was formed in July 2007.

MSN is calling on factory management to:

1. reinstate all 16 fired union members to their original status and pay back wages;
2. formally recognize the union including:
1. its right to negotiate individual and collective disputes and other labour-related matters;
2. its right to have a “check-off system” through the company (for payment of union dues); and
3. its right to access information and to broadcast information; and
3. follow the orders of the Arbitration Council issued on December 12, 2007 and implement the agreements it made on October 24, 27, 30 and November 16, 2007  

In addition to Kings Land’s disregard for freedom of association, a number of other labour problems at the factory exist, making the need for communication between management and the union all the more urgent.

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