Haitian Garment Workers Win Reinstatement from Levi's Subcontractor

From the Maquila Solidarity Network

May 10, 2004 

Victory in Haiti: Grupo M Workers Win Reinstatement 

On April 13, workers at the Grupo M factory, AM Industries, in the Codevi Free Trade 

Zone in Ouanaminthe, Haiti scored a major victory when their employer agreed to

reinstate fired union members and negotiate with the workers' union, SOKOWA.

At an April 13 meeting, factory management agreed to:

* reinstate all 34 workers who were unjustly fired on March 2;

* provide back pay to the fired workers, based on minimum wages for the 

6-week period the workers were denied entry to the factory;

* reimburse union member Ariel Jerome for his medical expenses for injuries

suffered when he was beaten during worker protests;

* eliminate the presence of armed guards within the factory;

* recognize the workers' right to organize and make a statement to all 

factory employees in support of freedom of association; and

* enter into negotiations with the union to discuss the workers' demands.

Participants in the meeting included: SOKOWA, the workers' union; factory management; 

the Haitian worker support group Batay Ouvriye; the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC); 

a tripartite delegation representing the Haitian Social Affairs Labor Ministry, 

a local labour organization (OGITH) and the Association of Haitian Industrialists (ADIH); 

officials from the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank; 

and a representative from Levi-Strauss, the factory's largest buyer.

While previous meetings had failed to yield a satisfactory resolution to the dispute, 

mounting pressure in Haiti and internationally convinced Grupo M to take substantial 

steps towards remediation. The workers and their advocates left the bargaining table 

with assurances that workers' rights would be respected and their demands would be met.

Unfortunately, factory management wasted little time before attempting to back-pedal 

on its commitments. When the fired workers attempted to return to work on April 14,

they were forced to spend hours waiting in a training facility before being reintegrated 

into the factory. In addition, the workers were given "provisional" work badges and had to 

agree to participate in a "reorientation" program. As a result, workers' seniority 

and status as permanent employees once again hung in the balance.

According to Batay Ouvriye, while management has made good on some of its commitments,

including reinstating the workers, making a public announcement to all the factory 

employees on the company's support for freedom of association, and meeting with union 

delegates to discuss outstanding issues, the employer continues to resist working 

with the union to improve conditions.

According to a recent update from Levi's, on May 4 a team of independent observers - agreed

to by all parties - was established to monitor there instatement process and to ensure

that the terms of the agreement are fulfilled.

Thanks to all of you who wrote letters to Grupo M and Levi's in response to the firing of the 

union activists. Many of you have recently received a brief update from Levi's with the good 

news that the fired workers have been reinstated and an agreement reached between 

the union and management. However, your continuing support may be needed to help 

ensure that factory management complies fully with its commitments. MSN will 

continue to be in touch with Batay Ouvriye, the WRC and Levi's to monitor the situation, 

and will get back to you if and when further solidarity action is needed.

Background

On March 2, the Maquila Solidarity Network received disturbing information from the

Haitian worker support group Batay Ouvriye regarding labour rights violations at 

the Grupo M factory in the recently constructed Codevi Free Trade Zone in 

Ouanaminthe, Haiti. It was reported that 34 members of the trade union SOKOWA 

had been illegally fired for speaking out about working conditions and for

their union organizing activities. Members of the Dominican military intervened 

by pointing their weapons at the fired workers and confiscating their work badges.

Several workers were also roughed up.

On March 3, all the workers at the factory staged a work stoppage to protest the firings.

Soon after, armed members of the Haitian rebel army arrived in the factory and forced 

everyone back to work. Protestors were threatened, physically assaulted and some 

were handcuffed. According to Batay Ouvriye, there is good reason to believe that

this assault was premeditated, as some of the rebels have admitted that they 

were contacted the previous evening by factory management who claimed workers

were going to cause problems.

Following the firings, Batay Ouvriye attended two initial meetings with Grupo M to press

for remediation. At the second meeting on March 8, representatives of the

International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank, the Dominican labour organizations

FEDOTRAZONA and CNUS were also present. The IFC had granted a $20 million loan 

to Grupo M for the construction of an industrial park in the Codevi Free Trade Zone,

under the condition that the company respect the right of its Haitian workers to 

freedom of association and to bargain collectively.

Pressure from several Haitian NGOs, labour and anti-sweatshop groups around the world, 

and the positive intervention of Levi's and the Worker Rights Consortium eventually 

convinced Grupo M to agree to reinstate the fired workers and negotiate with their union.

********************************************************

Maquila Solidarity Network / Ethical Trading Action Group / 606 Shaw Street, 

Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6G 3L6 / 416-532-8584 (phone) | 

416-532-7688 (fax) / info@maquilasolidarity.org / www.maquilasolidarity.org