8 September, 2010Human Rights Watch report reveals numerous cases of violation of international labour standards by European multinational companies in their U.S. operations.
GLOBAL: In its report "A Strange Case: Violations of Workers' Freedom of Association in the United States by European Multinational Corporations", Human Rights Watch provides a detailed description of violations of internationally recognized labour standards including fundamental workers' rights on freedom of association by European multinational companies in their U.S. operations.
The companies spotlighted in the report include Norway-based Kongsberg Automotive, Germany-based Deutsche Telekom's T-Mobile USA and Deutsche Post's DHL, UK-based Tesco's Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets and G4S Wackenhut security, France-based Sodexo food services and Saint-Gobain industrial equipment, and the Dutch firm Gamma Holding.
Human Rights Watch reveals the hypocrisy of the companies who publicly adhere to the core labour standards of the International Labour Organization, including the principles of freedom of association and collective bargaining, yet in practice trample on workers' fundamental rights. Violations by the companies include harassment of workers, different types of union busting activities, promotion of anti-union messages while preventing pro-union voices, recourse to strikebreakers during strikes and spying on and dismissing employees involved in organizing.
All cases are based on interviews, legal testimonies, official decisions of U.S. labour authorities, company documents and written exchanges with company management.
The full report is available on Human Rights Watch website. Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization developing research and advocacy on human rights.