2 November, 2010After 12 imprisoned Foxconn workers and union leaders are released in Chennai, India, IMF joins with LabourStart in maintaining the pressure on the Tamil Nadu government and Foxconn by demanding all criminal charges be dropped, the reinstatement of 24 suspended workers and recognition of the FITS union.
INDIA: The 12 imprisoned Foxconn workers and union leaders were released on October 22, having spent 13 days in jail after police arrested 319 striking workers on October 9 at the Foxconn India plant located in the Nokia Special Economic Zone in Chennai. The 12 union leaders and workers were released on bail, but continue to face criminal charges and have to sign at the Kanchipuram court everyday.
The International Metalworkers' Federation is supporting the LabourStart campaign for a second round of letters to Indian government authorities on this case and another similar dispute which has emerged at BYD Electronics, where the company has resorted to mass dismissals and is refusing to recognize a union.
To send an email protest letter to the Indian authorities in support of these Foxconn and BYD Electronics workers go to the LabourStart campaign page at: http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=814
An earlier LabourStart campaign and a call for action from IMF in support of the Foxconn workers launched in mid-October resulted in thousands of emails and letters of protest being sent to local Indian officials and Foxconn management, putting the company and the government on the back foot.
Further pressure for recognition of the workers' right came on October 27 when the Chennai High Court asked Foxconn management why an election was not conducted at its plant to identify which union has the support of the majority of workers.
The struggle for union recognition of the more than 1,200 permanent workers belonging to the Foxconn India Thozhilalar Sangam (FITS) union was undermined when the company refused to recognize the union and responded by entering into an agreement with an alternative and less representative union, the Foxconn India Thozhilalar Munnetra Sangam (FITMS).
The High Court has given the company two weeks to explain why a union election did not occur and has ordered management not to go for further agreements with any union. The Court also directed the Labour Welfare Department to submit a report on the situation at the Foxconn India plant in Chennai
Prior to the Court's ruling, on October 26 and 27, 307 workers and union leaders were served with a charge sheet stating that if the workers did not return to work and give an explanation of their actions within three days they would be suspended. The FITS demanded the company revoke these threats in a meeting with management on October 27 held at the Labour Commissioner's Office. During the meeting the company agreed to reconsider the suspension of the 307 workers, but not the suspension of 23 union leaders and members that occurred on September 24, or the subsequent suspension of one other union member, bringing the total suspensions to 24.
FITS filed its case with the High Court after stumbling across an old letter sent by Foxconn management to the Labour Commissioner's Office requesting the Office facilitate an election in factory to decide a union which has the support of majority of the membership. However the Office remained silent.
To send an email protest letter to the Indian authorities in support of these Foxconn and BYD Electronics workers go to the LabourStart campaign here.