Han Young: more betrayals (fwd)

[Sid Shniad <shniad@xxxxxx>]

> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 18:15:04 -0800 (PST)
> From: Campaign for Labor Rights <clr@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: clr@xxxxxxx
> Subject: Han Young: more betrayals
>
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>
> NOTE: Check out the latest issue of the Maquiladora Health and Safety
> Support Network newsletter, now available on the organization's web site:
> http://members.aol.com/ishmaelmd/INDEX.HTM   (address is case-sensitive).
> This issue includes a summary of a recent study of health and safety hazards
> in Tijuana-area maquiladoras.
>
> THANKS to the United Auto Workers for featuring the Han Young struggle on
> their web site: http://uaw.org/index.html   The UAW has now requested to add
> themselves as a petitioner in the NAO complaint (the case being pursued
> through the structure established under the NAFTA labor side agreement).
>
> THANKS to Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Local 1675 for toys and food
> baskets for the holidays for the families of the Han Young workers.
>
>
> HAN YOUNG: MORE BETRAYALS!!!
> December 20, 1997
>
> [Information provided by staff of the Support Committee for Maquiladora
> Workers, who ask that local activists seeking updates contact Campaign for
> Labor Rights: (541) 344-5410, <CLR@xxxxxxxxxxx>]
>
> According to information provided by a photographer on the scene, a group of
> the replacement workers (who had previously been brought in from Vera Cruz
> by Han Young) and other individuals not employed at the plant appeared at
> the Tijuana labor board yesterday, along with Han Young management, who
> announced that they would deal only the (government-controlled) CTM union,
> not with the twice-elected STIMAHCS union.
>
> The Support Committee for Maquiladora Workers reports that the manager of
> Han Young called the organizer and the lawyer for the workers at 9:30
> yesterday morning and told them he wanted negotiations to begin at 10 am at
> the labor board. A supporter of the independent union at Han Young contacted
> the organizer and the lawyer and warned them that there would be thugs at
> the labor board ready to attack them physically if they appeared. The Han
> Young manager and CTM or CROC (the two are functioning interchangeably right
> now) brought a busload of people. There were about 20 workers from Vera
> Cruz, plus 40-60 brought in by the CTM, claiming to the media to be Han
> Young workers. The company was claiming that these were 80 Han Young workers
> who were at the labor board to demand representation by the CROC because Han
> Young workers supposedly don't want STIMAHCS to be their representative. CTM
> filed for collective bargaining rights at Han Young.
>
> As noted by the Support Committee, this is more confirmation of our
> concerns: The company definitely has not given up yet. Also, the Mexican
> federal government is probably orchestrating, or at least supportive of,
> yesterday's actions since the government played such an underhanded role in
> the negotiations on Tuesday. International supporters of the workers had
> been pressuring Zedillo to intervene as a positive force. The federal
> intervention on Tuesday was exactly opposite of what we had requested. The
> federal government stepped in on behalf of the government-controlled union.
> For the feds to come in supposedly as impartial mediators and then to insist
> on a new election when they knew that the company was openly trying to buy
> votes, was clearly collusion with management and CTM/CROC. Even though the
> feds laid a trap, it backfired on them. Against all obstacles, a majority of
> the workers still voted for STIMAHCS. The federal government's role on
> Tuesday shows that the feds are operating on behalf of management and
> CROC/CTM and that they need to answer for any attempts to undermine the
> STIMAHCS election.
>
> The striking thing is just how blatant Han Young management and CROC/CTM are
> being in trying to reverse the election of STIMAHCS. One can only speculate
> as to the scheming behind the scenes but two possibilities leap out:
>
> *   The industry association may have struck a deal to pay off Han Young
> management in return for moving their operations elsewhere. Even if Hyundai
> Precision America is operating completely in good faith, this would still
> leave the workers stranded unless Hyundai absorbed them for in-company
> production - to do what Hyundai had been outsourcing through Han Young. Such
> a move would re-open the issue of union representation for these workers.
>
> *   Another possibility is that Hyundai Precison America has been operating
> in bad faith and that they are the power behind Han Young's actions today.
>
> Because all of this has unfolded on a Friday, many of the people with whom
> consultations need to take place are not available. Growing out of
> discussions this coming Monday, there should be a clearer sense of which
> pressure points are most important at this juncture and what are the best
> ways to exert that pressure. Meanwhile, please respond to the action request
> below.
>
> ACTION REQUEST:
>
> Please send a fax to Han Young management. Sample:
>
> Pablo Kang, Manager
> Han Young de Mexico
> Tijuana, Mexico
> Fax: 011-526-680-4481
>
> Dear Mr. Kang:
>
> I am outraged at the blatantly illegal behavior of your company at the
> offices of the Tijuana labor board on December 19, in collusion with thugs
> acting on behalf of government-controlled unions and falsely representing
> themselves as Han Young workers.
>
> A majority of Han Young workers have twice voted to be represented by the
> STIMAHCS union. In your attempts to undermine two official union
> certification elections, you are acting as an outlaw company. No matter what
> clandestine deals are being made and no matter what payments are being
> passed in secret, you need to be aware that your actions are taking place on
> the open stage of international public opinion. International supporters of
> the rights of the Han Young workers intend to hold your company to account.
>
> I demand that you fulfill your commitments and your legal obligations by
> recognizing STIMAHCS as the only representative of your employees and by
> bargaining in good faith with STIMAHCS. Justice for the Han Young workers! I
> will be watching your actions.
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
> CC: Support Committee for Maquiladora Workers (619) 295-5879
>