Details on Han Young victory (fwd)

[Sid Shniad <shniad@xxxxxx>]

> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Wed, 17 Dec 1997 22:08:52 -0800 (PST)
> From: Campaign for Labor Rights <clr@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: clr@xxxxxxx
> Subject: Details on Han Young victory
>
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> *********************************
> See ACTION REQUEST at end of alert
> *********************************
>
> MORE ABOUT THE HAN YOUNG VICTORY
> December 17, 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>]
>
> Those who have been following the Han Young/Hyundai situation know from our
> previous alert that the workers won official recognition of an independent
> union yesterday. This alert gives some details on that development. This is
> a complex situation. We apologize if what follows is confusing.
>
> This victory was not due to concessions on the part of the Mexican federal
> government, the state government of Baja nor the management of Han Young.
> Instead, all of these players conspired to lure the workers into a trap. For
> two days leading up to the election, management had been offering 1,000-peso
> bribes to any worker who would vote for what management was claiming was a
> different "independent union," going by the name "Revindication for the
> Working Class." However, the director of this supposed independent union is
> known as an operative for the CTM, the government-affiliated labor federation.
>
> During intense negotiations on December 16, the government and Han Young
> management insisted on a new union certification election, even though the
> workers already had indicated their preference in an earlier election on
> October 6, when they voted overwhelmingly to be represented by a union not
> aligned with the government. The new election would not just include the
> CROC, the government-affiliated union which previously had a contract with
> the company, but also the CTM union that was posing as an independent union,
> even though it apparently did not file appropriate papers or have standing
> to be in the election.
>
> Knowing that they were taking a huge risk - given the recent bribe offers
> and attempts by management to sow confusion and given how long the struggle
> already had dragged on - the workers agreed to a new election, but only on
> condition that the government commit in writing before the election to
> certify an independent union (a state industrial union not affiliated with
> any federation) whether STIMAHCS (part of the independent FAT union
> federation) won or not. The government agreed, believing there was no chance
> that STIMAHCS would win the election. Apparently the government figured that
> the workers would lose face when STIMAHCS was defeated during the second
> election and, with the workers in this weakened position, the company and
> the government could withdraw their recognition of the unaffiliated
> independent union.
>
>
> And so, STIMAHCS, a member of the Frente Autentico de Trabajo (FAT), has
> been certified as the legal representative of the workers to negotiate a
> contract. In addition to that, the workers have a signed agreement that they
> can also register a state industrial (unaffiliated) union if they choose.
>
> International solidarity played a crucial role in this struggle. Although
> the government and Han Young management did not intend to have justice
> served by the second union election, that does not mean that our pressure
> was ineffective. Quite the contrary: The usual response of these forces
> would have been outright repression. However, they felt constrained to
> negotiate precisely because of intense international scrutiny. They schemed.
> Their scheme failed. In spite of every effort on the part of the wealthy and
> the powerful, justice prevailed for these workers.
>
> The hunger strike was called off and the workers are gradually preparing to
> return to solid food under doctors' supervision.
>
> In addition to the above, which mostly resulted from negotiations between
> the workers and the government, workers also reached an accord with Han
> Young management, the terms of which are close to those of the agreement
> struck on Friday but not ratified on Saturday:
> * Reinstatement of fired workers with back pay.
> * Pay raises - not the 30 percent across-the-board raises agreed to on
> Friday, but raises based on job category - essentially, the equivalent of
> the earlier raise.
> * Establishment of a health and safety commission.
>
> These commitments do not constitute a collective bargaining agreement.
> Negotiations for the latter are to begin when workers return from their
> Christmas break.
>
> We should expect the power structure to try to derail this process. There
> may be attempts to crush the union. Han Young may renege on its promises to
> bargain a contract in good faith. The Support Committee for Maquiladora
> Workers will continue to monitor the situation closely. Campaign for Labor
> Rights will continue to notify international solidarity activists of
> unfolding events.
>
> Given the behavior of both the government and Han Young management during
> the negotiations on Monday, we have to be prepared that these parties still
> have something up their sleeves. Until a collective bargaining agreement is
> signed, we need to keep up the pressure: THE BOYCOTT OF HYUNDAI MOTORS IS
> STILL ON! ["Boycott Hyundai" bumper stickers are still available. Contact
> Labor/Community Alliance: (209) 226-0477 or <CLR2@xxxxxxxxxxx>.]
>
> ******************
> ACTION REQUEST
> ******************
>
> 1) The Support Committee for Maquiladora Workers is asking people to
> publicize the victory and the reasons for it, including the role of
> international solidarity. It would be helpful to get stories about the
> victory into union newsletters and progressive community newspapers. If
> local activists were involved, give credit for their part and get the word
> out to local mainstream media. This kind of follow-up is helpful for
> building the basis for further support from your community when it is needed
> in the future.
>
>
> 2) Please send a letter to Hyundai Precision America. Sample:
>
> Ted Chung, President
> Hyundai Precision America
> 8880 Rio San Diego Drive
> San Diego, CA 92108
> Telephone: (619) 574-1500
>
> Dear Mr. Chung:
>
> I have been following the situation at Han Young. While I am pleased that
> the workers were able to win official certification for an independent
> union, I am also aware that collective bargaining for a contract is still to
> come. I urge you: Bring to bear on Han Young management all of the
> considerable pressure at your disposal so that Han Young:
>
> * Engages in good faith bargaining with the union immediately after the
> Christmas holidays.
> * Abides by the agreements it signed with the workers on December 16.
> * Undertakes no illegal actions against the union.
>
> The Support Committee for Maquiladora Workers advises me that the boycott of
> Hyundai Motors is still in effect until a collective bargaining agreement is
> signed between Han Young management and the union truly representing the
> workers. I will continue to support that boycott until I hear that your
> contractor, Han Young, has fully complied with its obligations to the workers.
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
> CC: Support Committee for Maquiladora Workers, 3909 Centre Street, #210, San
> Diego, CA 92103
>