back to home

back to index for this section

See also other materials on "Labour issues: General"

Mar. 2002:

Alcoa workers win battle for member-controlled union [Mexico] - The war continues - On March 4th, workers at an Alcoa plant in Piedras Negras voted 892 to 592 to reaffirm their February 22nd vote electing a slate on independent candidates to lead the plant’s existing union. (Maquiladora Health & Safety Support Network Newsletter, 31 Mar. 2002)

China: March evaluation visits to three giant footwear plants - Plant-wide health and safety committees involving production workers as full, active committee members have been established and are beginning to function in three large sports shoe factories in the Pearl River Delta of southern China. The plants involved are the Kong Tai Shoe plant in Longgan, the Pegasus plant in Panyu, and the Yue Yuen II plant in Dongguan City, which produce shoes for Reebok, Nike and adidas, respectively. The plants are all operated by Taiwanese companies. (Maquiladora Health & Safety Support Network Newsletter, 31 Mar. 2002)

A glimpse of the future - Factory life in the "new China" - [China] has become a "capitalist paradise" of low wages, long hours, no member-controlled unions, no environmental or occupational health regulations, and no problem that cannot be solved with the discreet use of influence peddling and/or bribery. (Maquiladora Health & Safety Support Network Newsletter, 31 Mar. 2002)

Major reports on Mexico and global sweatshops (Maquiladora Health & Safety Support Network Newsletter, 31 Mar. 2002)

Chinese labor leaders indicted for illegal assembly (AFP, 31 Mar. 2002)

Global union accuses China of violating protesting workers' rights: A leading international labor union has accused China of violating workers' rights in its handling of recent large-scale labor unrest and expressed fears for the safety of labor leaders arrested during protests in the past few weeks. (AFP, 29 Mar. 2002)

Study Finds Garment Jobs More in Line With the Law [New York]: The United States Department of Labor reported yesterday that there has been a significant drop in the number of minimum-wage and overtime violations in New York City's apparel industry. (Steven Greenhouse, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2002)

Rights group to pressure M&M on trade: Non-profit organization Global Exchange plans to begin a campaign this weekend intended to pressure privately held chocolate manufacturer M&M/Mars to use so-called "fair trade certified" cocoa beans (Carole Vaporean, Reuters, 28 Mar. 2002)

Outcry as Another Colombian Union Leader Slain Amid Rising Tensions: International unions are denouncing last week's murder, apparently by right-wing paramilitary forces, of a union leader in a key oil-refining center, the northern city of Barrancabermeja, that has become Colombia's bloodiest urban battleground over the past two years. (Jim Lobe, OneWorld US, 28 Mar. 2002) 

ICFTU lodges complaint with ILO against China: Independent labour leader feared critically ill or killed in custody... (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 28 Mar. 2002)

• China: Letter of complaint to the ILO (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 27 Mar. 2002)

ICFTU condemns serious trade union rights violations in [South] Korea (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 28 Mar. 2002)

• {···français} La CISL dénonce la poursuite de graves violations des droits syndicaux en Corée (Confédération internationale des syndicats libres, 28 mars 2002)

Shangri-La Case Goes to Supreme Court [Indonesia]: The Shangri-La Hotel labor dispute looks set to enter world labor case history with the hotel’s management appealing the case – based on the definition of what constitutes a legal strike – to the Supreme Court. (Laksamana.Net [Indonesia], 28 Mar. 2002) 

Final Solutions: How IBM Helped Automate the Nazi Death Machine in Poland (Edwin Black, Village Voice, 27 Mar. - 2 Apr. 2002)

• company website: IBM (IBM)

Drummond says assassination suit effort to destroy Colombian jobs: Drummond Co., accused in a [U.S.] federal lawsuit of encouraging the assassination of three union leaders in Colombia, said the accusations are part of an effort to destroy jobs in that country...Drummond, in its statement, says it vehemently denies the allegations (Val Walton, Birmingham News [USA], 27 Mar. 2002)

Lawsuit Chases Companies Tied to Slavery [USA]: A prayer on a Brooklyn street preceded the filing of an unprecedented $1.4 trillion lawsuit against eight major corporations alleged to have profited from their historical ties to the slave trade more than 137 years ago. Claiming to represent all of the United States' 35 million African-Americans, New York slave reparations activist Deadria Farmer-Paellmann named Aetna Inc., CSX Corp. and FleetBoston Financial Corp., among others, as unjustly profiting from the slave trade before the Civil War ended in 1865. (Kelley Vlahos Beaucar, Fox News, 27 Mar. 2002)

{···français} Le nord-est de la Chine entre chômage de masse, tensions sociales et gangrène mafieuse: Dans la région de Liaoyang, les autorités tentent de désamorcer l'un des mouvements de protestation ouvriers les plus durs que le pays ait connus -...Ils continuent de demander la libération de quatre de leurs porte-parole - Yao Fuxin, Xiao Yunliang, Pang Qingxiang et Wang Zhaoming - arrêtés les 17 et 20 mars pour avoir organisé des "rassemblements illégaux". (Frédéric Bobin, Le Monde, 27 mars 2002)

ICFTU calls for solidarity over harassment of Zimbabwe union leader (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 27 Mar. 2002)

Thirteen dead in Dubai shipyard flood: At least 13 workers are reported to have died in Dubai after a dry dock flooded with sea water...Officials at Dubai Drydocks, one of the world's biggest shipping repair facilities, said the casualty figures might rise as divers began rescue operations after the incident. (BBC News, 27 Mar. 2002)

Court Sides With Co. in Labor Dispute [USA]: The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that illegal immigrants do not have the same rights as Americans when they are wrongly fired from U.S. jobs. The court split 5-4 on whether companies can be forced to give back pay to illegal workers when they mistreat them on the job. (Gina Holland, Associated Press, in Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2002)

Belarus Unions' Action Day For Labour Rights: Belarus unions will stage a Day of Action tomorrow (Thursday) to defend their basic labour rights. (ICEM - International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions, 27 Mar. 2002)

Former Shangri-La Hotel Workers Win Case [Indonesia] (english translation of article in Koran Tempo [Indonesia], 27 Mar. 2002)

WRC Assessment re PT Dada Indonesia: Preliminary Findings and Recommendations - This is the Preliminary Report of an assessment of working conditions at an apparel and stuffed-toy factory in Indonesia [supplying companies including Adidas, Disney, Gap, Top of the World Inc, American Needle and Novelty Inc] (Worker Rights Consortium, 26 Mar. 2002)

• FLA issues public statement on PT Dada, Indonesia - The Fair Labor Association noted today that the Worker Rights Consortium...has released a Preliminary Report on PT Dada. The FLA has been closely following the situation at PT Dada, and coordinating with adidas to ensure that the plant is closely monitored and that non-compliance issues are remediated. (Fair Labor Association, 28 Mar. 2002)

{···français} Les distributeurs français pour la promotion de normes sociales en Asie: Les plus grands distributeurs français [Carrefour, Auchan, Leclerc, Casino, Cora, Système U, Monoprix et Camif] ont décidé de multiplier les audits sociaux de leurs fournisseurs en Asie et d'échanger leurs informations pour pousser les directeurs d'usines locaux à améliorer les conditions de travail, encore très loin des normes internationales. (AFP, 26 mars 2002)

{···français} L'amiante, une véritable épée de Damoclès [France]: Un arrêt de la Cour de cassation bouleverse le régime d'indemnisation des accidents du travail (Le Monde, 26 mars 2002)

Help firms to employ disabled, Brown told [UK]: At a meeting with the chancellor, the British Chambers of Commerce will call for the government to extend its Access to Work Scheme, which helps firms with the costs of hiring employees with disabilities...From 2004, the Disability Discrimination Act will mean that companies have to provide equal employment opportunities to disabled workers. (Heather Stewart, Guardian [UK], 26 Mar. 2002)

US firms face slave reparations suit: Three major US corporations accused of profiting from the slave trade before it was abolished almost 150 years ago are being taken to court by African-Americans seeking compensation for the abuses suffered by their ancestors. The lawsuit is the first of what is expected to be a deluge of claims against insurer Aetna, railroad firm CSX and financial services firm Fleet Boston. (BBC News, 26 Mar. 2002)

• Aetna, CSX, FleetBoston face slave reparations suit [USA] - The complaint, to be filed Tuesday in federal District Court in New York, asks for unspecified damages, restitution for unpaid slave labor and a share of corporate profits derived from slavery. (James Cox, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2002)

• Corporations challenged by reparations activists [USA]:..So far, the reparations legal team has publicly identified five companies it says have slave ties: insurers Aetna, New York Life and AIG and financial giants J.P. Morgan Chase Manhattan Bank and FleetBoston Financial Group...Independently, USA TODAY has found documentation tying several others to slavery: Investment banks Brown Bros. Harriman and Lehman Bros.; Railroads Norfolk Southern, CSX, Union Pacific and Canadian National; Textile maker WestPoint Stevens; Newspaper publishers Knight Ridder, Tribune, Media General, Advance Publications, E.W. Scripps and Gannett, parent and publisher of USA TODAY...USA TODAY contacted all the companies named in this article. Some acknowledged the evidence, others disputed it. Many declined comment. Of those that did comment, virtually all said the current company isn't liable for what happened before the Civil War. (James Cox, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2002)

Trapped like slaves on Brazilian ranches:...government authorities admit that despite a federal crackdown announced seven years ago, "contemporary forms of slavery" in which workers are held in unpaid, coerced labor continue to flourish...The reasons...growing pressure to exploit and develop the Amazon's vast agricultural frontier to supply foreign markets with two prized goods: timber and beef. (Larry Rohter, New York Times, in International Herald Tribune, 26 Mar. 2002) 

{···français} Le droit des sociétés de plus en plus politique [France]: Avec la loi sur les nouvelles régulations économiques, il est aussi un outil de protection des salariés -...La liste vise l'effectif et les embauches, mais aussi les licenciements et leurs motifs, les heures supplémentaires, la main-d'œuvre extérieure, l'organisation du temps de travail, l'état de l'égalité professionnelle entre femmes et hommes, l'insertion des travailleurs handicapés, l'importance de la sous-traitance ou la manière dont la société prend en compte l'impact territorial de ses activités. (Marie-Anne Frison-Roche, professeur de droit à l'Institut d'études politiques de Paris, Le Monde, 25 mars 2002)

China faces growing labor unrest: Workers in Liaoyang are threatening to march again this week if protest leaders are not freed from jail. (Robert Marquand, Christian Science Monitor, 25 Mar. 2002)

Gov't, private organizations to form rules to protect foreign workers' rights [South Korea]: Amid growing concerns about rampant abuse of foreign laborers in Korea, the government and private organizations will work together to form working rules that guarantee rights to such workers, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy said. According to the ministry, regulations for non-native laborers' human rights will be created on the private level and autonomously governed by independent industry leaders. The government will assist the cooperative efforts in a hands-off manner. (Korea Herald, 25 Mar. 2002)

Burma protest hits Bloomingdale's [USA] -...students from Brandeis University protested the store's refusal to eliminate made-in-Burma apparel from its clothing racks. (Benjamin Gedan, Boston Globe, 24 Mar. 2002)

Deaths of Hispanic workers soar 53% [USA]: The Labor Department is intensifying efforts to stem an alarming rise in workplace deaths among Hispanics...At least 815 Hispanics died on the job in 2000, mostly in construction trades and often because of language gaps between supervisors and immigrant workers (Jim Hopkins, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2002)

{···français} Faut-il une seule loi du travail pour tous les secteurs? La grève des travailleurs chinois la semaine dernière a mis en lumière la face cachée des conditions de travail dans la zone franche [Ile Maurice]. Une loi-cadre est-elle nécessaire? Débat: Louis Laï Fat Fur, Président de la Mauritius Export Processing Zone Association (MEPZA); Yacoob Ghanty, Management Consultant (Lyndsay Prosper, L'express [Ile Maurice], 24 mars 2002)

High court ruling nicks the protective coating of arbitration policies [USA]:...Arbitration clauses have become common in most business agreements, including employment contracts...In a recent case, EEOC v. Waffle House Inc., the US Supreme Court has declared that the EEOC [U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission] may go to court to seek all available remedies for alleged job discrimination regardless of the employer-employee agreement to resolve their disputes through binding arbitration. (Andrew Grainger & Thomas Royall Smith, Boston Globe, 24 Mar. 2002)

Nike greenwash over sweatshop labour - Following years of criticism over its poor labour and environmental standards, Nike claims to have cleaned up its act, even signing onto the Global Compact to prove it. But the truth is rather different, and the company’s recent behaviour is a textbook study in greenwash. (Sharon Beder, Ecologist, 22 Mar. 2002)

• company website: Nike - Global Citizenship (Nike)

Alabama coal giant is sued over 3 killings in Colombia:...Now the state's largest mining business, the Drummond Company, has been accused of encouraging the assassination of three union leaders at its giant coal mine in Colombia. (Steven Greenhouse, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2002)

MYANMAR [Burma]: Leadership To Allow ILO To Monitor Forced Labor - Myanmar yesterday agreed to allow the International Labor Organization to monitor the government's efforts to eliminate forced labor, United Press International reports...The agreement was received cautiously by many ILO members, and the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions said "the brutality continues virtually unabated." (UN Wire, 22 Mar. 2002)

ILO's World Commission on Globalization begins work:...It will seek to harness the globalization process to foster growth and reduce poverty...Mr. Somavia [ILO Director-General Juan Somavia]  said..."Labour unions, citizens and, increasingly, enlightened business leaders around the world have made their point: we can no longer ignore the social dimension of globalization." (International Labour Organization, 22 Mar. 2002)

• {···español} Inicia sus trabajos la Comisión Mundial sobre la Globalización (Organización Internacional del Trabajo, 22 marzo 2002)

• {···français} La Commission mondiale sur la dimension sociale de la mondialisation de l'OIT commence ses travaux (Organisation internationale du Travail, 22 mars 2002)

ITF calls for end to union-busting in Mumbai/Bombay port [India]: Transport and dockers' unions have united to call on an Indian port to reverse union busting measures that have led to more than 300 employees being prevented from working. (ITF - International Transport Workers' Federation, 22 Mar. 2002)

China labour protest suspended: Chinese workers have suspended a labour protest in the city of Liaoyang in the country's economically depressed north-east. The decision was made in the hope that the authorities would deliver on a promise to release four detained labour leaders if the demonstration stopped. (BBC News, 22 Mar. 2002)

• Beijing clamps down on labor unrest: The Chinese leadership is targeting underground labor organizations, which are thought to be behind growing instances of industrial unrest over the last month. (CNN, 21 Mar. 2002)

• Sichuan Textile Workers Struck Against Arrests [China]:...Eyewitnesses reported that several strikers were beaten up by the police at the picket line outside the factory, and about a dozen had been detained. (China Labour Bulletin, 20 Mar. 2002)

UNI supports ZCTU in struggle to defend trade union rights in Zimbabwe (Union Network International, 21 Mar. 2002)

Time for action over Burma:...In the 21 months since the ILO condemnation of forced labour in Burma in June 2000, whilst a number of companies have taken action, not a single government has implemented mandatory economic measures against the regime...Rangoon accepted the posting of an ILO liaison person in Burma from June 2002. The ICFTU welcomes this step but stresses that, according to the terms of the agreement approved today, the posting of this liaison officer is only a first step toward a permanent and effective ILO presence in Burma, with all means necessary at its disposal to achieve the complete eradication of forced labour in the country. (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 21 Mar. 2002)

{···français} « Les biens publics mondiaux à l'honneur »: [la conférence de Monterrey] - La représentante de la CISL a souligné qu'en matière de responsabilité sociale des entreprises, la priorité devait aller aux respect des droits sociaux fondamentaux et au développement de la négociation collective. Elle a plaidé pour la négociation de codes de conduite et d'accord cadre au sein des multinationales sur la base des normes de l'Organisation internationale du travail et des principes directeurs de l'OCDE (CFDT - Confédération française démocratique du travail, 21 mars 2002)

China Cracks Down on Worker Protests: Leaders Detained As 2 Cities Face Continued Unrest - Chinese riot police smashed into a crowd of retreating protesters in a northern industrial city today and dragged off three more leaders of a nascent independent workers' movement. (John Pomfret, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2002)

{···español} Mercedes Benz: la empresa no estaba contra los trabajadores, dijo un gerente [Argentina]: El ex gerente de Personal negó que los directivos entregaran el domicilio de los obreros a los represores. (Francisco Martínez, Asamblea Permanente por los Derechos Humanos La Plata, 20 marzo 2002)

ICFTU report condemns Mexican core labour rights abuses: Fierce anti-union discrimination, shocking working conditions in the maquiladoras, some 1.5 million unrecognised domestic workers with no legal rights and widespread discrimination against women and the indigenous population: these are among the findings of a new critical report on Mexico released by the ICFTU to coincide with the 20-22 March WTO trade policy review of the country. (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 20 Mar. 2002)

• {···español} Informe de la CIOSL condena los atropellos mexicanos de los derechos sindicales fundamentales: Feroz discriminación antisindical, abrumadoras condiciones de trabajo en las maquiladoras, alrededor de 1,5 millón de trabajadores y trabajadoras domésticos no declarados que no tienen ningún derecho legal y difundida discriminación contra la mujer y la población indígena (Confederación Internacional de Organizaciones Sindicales Libres, 20 marzo 2002)

• {···français} Un rapport de la CISL condamne des atteintes contre les droits fondamentaux du travail au Mexique: Une discrimination antisyndicale féroce, des conditions de travail scandaleuses dans les maquiladoras, près de 1,5 million de travailleurs domestiques non reconnus et ne jouissant d'aucun droit légal, de même qu'une discrimination généralisée à l'encontre des femmes et des populations autochtones (Confédération internationale des syndicats libres, 20 mars 2002) 

Mugabe and unions on collision course [Zimbabwe]:...A new security law gives the president the power to declare any strike illegal. All public demonstrations - including protests by striking workers - now require prior police approval. (Joseph Winter, BBC News, 20 Mar. 2002)

Workers demand dismissal [Indonesia]: Some 250 workers of PT Sandang Indo Pratama [garment company] staged a protest rally...demanding the dismissal of the company's production supervisor..."The supervisor, Zakaria, has frequently harassed workers with his insulting words. I was once ordered to give him sexual favors at work," said a female worker...Gatot Subagyo, a labor activists, said that Zakaria had allegedly hired local thugs in break up an earlier rally staged by the workers. (Jakarta Post, 20 Mar. 2002)

Clothing workers down tools [South Africa]: About 500 Fort Jackson clothing factory employees downed tools this week in protest against a myriad of alleged factory floor abuses by management. Alleged abuses by International Clothing Manufacturer (ICM) factory management range from unpaid maternity and sick leave, unpaid overtime, long working hours and failure by management to recognise their union, the South African Clothing and Textile Workers' Union (Sactwu). (Zama Feni, Dispatch [South Africa], 20 Mar. 2002)

Cosatu aims to launch campaign in Piketberg [South Africa]: Plan is to stop rights abuses against farm workers in Western Cape...THE Council of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) is set to launch a campaign in Piketberg in Western Cape tomorrow in a bid to stop human rights abuses against farm workers in the province. But the planned campaign has angered organised agriculture in the province. (Business Day [South Africa], 20 Mar. 2002)

'Corporate killing' law demanded [UK]: Families of workplace death victims were due in Parliament on Wednesday to demand the introduction of a corporate killing law. Relatives of those who died in tragedies like the Ladbroke Grove rail crash were also due to lobby MPs over making company directors legally accountable. (BBC News, 20 Mar. 2002)

{···français} Comité interministériel: Le sort des ouvriers étrangers s'améliore [Ile Maurice] - Les moyens dont dispose le ministère du Travail pour contrôler les conditions de vie et d'emploi des travailleurs étrangers ont été au centre des discussions, hier, d'un comité interministériel...L'accord signé, lundi soir, entre la direction de Novel Garments et le ministère du Travail porte sur huit points: (i) application de la semaine de 45 heures et un maximum de 10 heures supplémentaires...(iv) mise sur place d'un comité à l'usine pour écouter les doléances des ouvrières...(vii) pas de travail sept jours d'affilée (Jean-Denis Permal, L'Express [Ile Maurice], 20 mars 2002)

• {···français} 5e jour de grève à l'ambassade de chine: Les ouvriers chinois fondent tous leurs espoirs sur la réunion de ce soir [Ile Maurice] (Le Mauricien, 18 mars 2002)

Int'l Labor Unionists Urge Seoul to Free Labor Leaders [South Korea]: Twenty one labor leaders from international labor unions yesterday held a press conference in Seoul, calling on the government to free jailed labor leaders and guarantee labor union rights. (Heo Yun-seon, Korea Times, 19 Mar. 2002)

TUC hails Euro-Parliament move to protect workers from asbestos: The European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee today voted to cut in half the maximum exposure for asbestos proposed by the European Commission in its new Asbestos Directive. (TUC [UK], 19 Mar. 2002)

Legal Action Intensifies Against BC [British Columbia, Canada] Labour Minister: "De Facto Discrimination" Charged - Legal action has intensified against the BC Government over Labour Minister Graham Bruce’s secondhand smoke regulation 3/2002 introduced in January. In a document released today, the Labour Minister is charged with “de facto discrimination” which “authorizes and condones the poisoning of hospitality workers by secondhand smoke”. (Airspace Action on Smoking & Health, 19 Mar. 2002)

MEXICO-U.S.: U.N. Expert Wraps Up Mission On Migrants' Rights -...Besides risks the migrants and smugglers take which threaten the migrants' safety, they are also at risk of being subjected to forced labor, and children in particular are at risk of being sold into prostitution or forced into pornography, Rodriguez said. (Angela Stephens, UN Wire, 19 Mar. 2002)

Fifteen Sentenced for Killing 81 Miners in Guangxi [China]: On 12 March, 2002, 15 people were sentenced by the High People's Court of the Guangxi Zhuang Minority Autonomous Region to imprisonment and fines for causing a serious accident which killed 81 miners. (source - China News Service, in China Labour Bulletin, 18 Mar. 2002)

Victory for IUF affiliated hotel workers in Korea against sexual harassment [South Korea]: The IUF's Korean hotel workers affiliate has ended a major recognition battle in the Cheju Island Paradise Casino...Over 100 workers...have won the right to a new and independent union able to negotiate on their behalf....Workers have successfully negotiated an agreement to set up a Joint Union/Management Counter Measures To Avoid Sexual Harassment Committee (IUF - International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations, 18 Mar. 2002)

Korea [South Korea]: the ICFTU condemns the ruling against KCTU leader - The ICFTU is calling for the immediate release of the Korean Congress of Trade Union (KCTU) President, Dan Byung-ho, who was sentenced today to 2 years imprisonment under Korean laws which are in clear contravention of internationally recognised standards on trade union rights. (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 18 Mar. 2002)

Spotlight on Indonesian activist, Dita Sari [interview with labour activist Dita Sari; includes questions: What are the major problems facing Indonesian workers at present? You were offered the Reebok Human Rights Award this year, how did you come to the decision to refuse it?] (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 18 Mar. 2002)

• {···español} En primer plano: Dita Sari, militante indonesia [¿Cuáles son los principales problemas que enfrentan los trabajadores indonesios en este momento? ¿Qué motivó su decisión de rechazar el Premio Reebok de Derechos Humanos de 2002?] (Confederación Internacional de Organizaciones Sindicales Libres, 18 marzo 2002)

• {···français} Cros plan sur Dita Sari, militante indonésienne [Quels sont les principaux problèmes auxquels se heurtent les travailleurs indonésiens à l'heure actuelle? Comment avez-vous pris la décision de refuser le Prix des droits de l'Homme 2002 de Reebok?] (Confédération internationale des Syndicats libres, 18 mars 2002)

Industrial unrest spirals in rust belt of northeast China:...Workers from up to 10 ailing state-owned factories in Liaoyang city, Liaoning province, gathered Monday to voice grievances including unpaid wages or pensions, low severance pay, and alleged corruption. Police in the city have already arrested one of the organizers of the protest, which began a week ago, and were hunting up to a dozen others, the Hong Kong-based Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy said. (AFP, 18 Mar. 2002)

• Chinese labour protests spread (BBC News, 18 Mar. 2002)

• China police detain leader of protesting workers (Reuters, 18 Mar. 2002)

• Arrests Threaten 10,000 Laid-off Protesters in Liaoyang (China Labour Bulletin, 16 Mar. 2002)

• Laid-Off Chinese Protest En Masse (Christopher Bodeen, Associated Press, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2002)

Labor group calls on Seoul to ease action on strikers [South Korea]: The International Labor Organization urged the South Korean government Saturday to allow labor unions freedom in seeking outside mediation of labor-management disputes. It also demanded that Seoul revise its labor laws, which allow union leaders to be punished for impeding business operations, to meet international standards of freedom of association. (Koh Han-sun, JoongAng Ilbo [South Korea], 18 Mar. 2002)

PROFILE: British entrepreneur seeks fairer deal for world's poorest communities [profile of Safia Minney, president of the Fair Trade Co. in Japan]:...Japan is a great market for Fair Trade, says Minney, because Japanese consumers are increasingly interested in the conditions of producers. (Kimberly Palmer, Asahi Shimbun News Service [Japan], 17 Mar. 2002)

Colombia: Union sues U.S. coal company: On March 14, the Union of Workers of the Mining and Energy Industry of Colombia (Sintramienergetica) filed a civil lawsuit in U.S. federal court in Birmingham, Alabama, against the Alabama-based Drummond mining company and its owner, Garry Drummond...Sintramienergetica charges the mining company with having hired rightwing paramilitaries to abduct, torture and kill three of the union’s leaders in 2001 as part of a plan to stop other Drummond employees from joining the union. (Americas.org, 17 Mar. 2002)

• company website: Drummond Company Inc. (Drummond Company)

Chinese Oil Country Simmers as Workers Protest Cost-Cutting: Thousands Laid Off, Benefits Reduced - The situation is complicated by the fact that PetroChina Co., which owns most of Daqing's oil assets, is listed on the New York and Hong Kong stock exchanges so its actions, when dealing with the workers, could be subject to the scrutiny of its foreign shareholders. (John Pomfret, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2002)

Coffee in good conscience: Students campaign for roasters to provide only 'fair-trade' beans [USA] -...with the school [Western Washington University] considering bids for a new 10-year food-services contract, McDonald and the group he leads, Students for Fair Trade, are pushing for all coffee — including decaf and espresso drinks — on campus to be fair-trade certified. To be certified, third-party monitors must have confirmed that farmers were paid a fair price for their beans. (Jake Batsell, Seattle Times, 17 Mar. 2002)

Women paid 63 percent of what men earn [South Korea]: The wage gap between Korean men and women has been narrowing significantly for decades, but women are still being paid much less due to discrimination, a report showed yesterday. (Byun Tae-kyung, Korea Herald, 16 Mar. 2002) 

Wal-Mart Wins Ruling Against Union [USA]: Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has won a court injunction to keep union organizers out of its 3,200 U.S. stores, and company officials said Saturday they hoped the union abides by the order. (Peggy Harris, Associated Press, 16 Mar. 2002)

Threat to arrest IUF general secretary as Indonesian Minister fails to show for Shangri-La dialogue: With two patrol cars from the Jakarta Central police station headed to the Shangri-La Hotel to arrest IUF general secretary Ron Oswald, Shangri-La union members whisked him away and out of reach of local police. (IUF - International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations, 16 Mar. 2002)

Codes of conduct not preventing worker abuse [includes references to Gap] (Laura Slattery, Irish Times, 15 Mar. 2002)

• company website: Gap Inc.: Ethical Sourcing (Gap)

ICFTU accuses Zimbabwe of trade union rights violations: In a letter to ILO Director General, Juan Somavia, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) has submitted a complaint against the government of Zimbabwe for grave violations of trade union rights. The protest follows yesterday’s police actions in banning a legitimate ZCTU meeting. (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 15 Mar. 2002)

• text of letter sent to Juan Somavia, ILO Director General (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 15 Mar. 2002)

• protest letter sent to President Robert Mugabe (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 15 Mar. 2002)

• {···français} La CISL porte plainte à l’OIT contre le Zimbabwe (Confédération internationale des Syndicats Libres, 15 mars 2002)

• {···español} La CIOSL acusa a Zimbabwe de violaciones de derechos sindicales (Confederación Internacional de Organizaciones Sindicales Libres, 18 marzo 2002)

China: ICFTU deeply concerned about workers’s protest at the Daqing Petroleum Company - With pressure building on China’s authorities to negotiate with a newly-established independent trade union of oil workers, Guy Ryder, the ICFTU General Secretary, has written to the President of the People’s Republic of China, Jiang Zeming...The independent union’s leaders have so far remained in hiding for fear of arrest. (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 15 Mar. 2002)

US trade 'exploits' Lesotho workers:...The Lesotho Clothing & Allied Workers Union (LCAWU) said textile factories often ignored Lesotho's labour laws. (BBC News, 15 Mar. 2002)

Girl's Maiming Sparks Entry Plea [Australia]: Unions are demanding immediate right of entry provisions in the wake of a 10-year-old girl being mutilated in a Sydney sweatshop..."It is obvious that when you are required to give 24-hours notice you are never going to find a 10-year-old working a sewing machine," Tubner [Textile Clothing and Footwear Union secretary Barry Tubner] says. (Workers Online [Australia], 15 Mar. 2002)

{···français} En Belgique aussi, une enquête administrative est ouverte: La ministre de l'emploi saisit l'Inspection sociale -...Laurette Onkelinx, la ministre fédérale de l'emploi (PS), a diligenté une enquête de l'Inspection sociale, lui demandant de vérifier notamment si l'entreprise fixait des "quotas d'exclusion", si des femmes enceintes avaient été écartées par ce biais (Le Monde, 15 mars 2002)

Chocolate's dark secret: Industry faces charges that slave labor is used in the Ivory Coast to harvest cocoa beans (Dennis Murphy, MSNBC, 14 Mar. 2002)

{···español} Protesta contra nuevos asesinatos, amenazas en Colombia (Confederación Internacional de Organizaciones Sindicales Libres, 14 marzo 2002)

Unions argue for safety investment [New Zealand]: The union movement's top body says workplace accidents and diseases cost more than $4.5 billion a year and tough new health and safety rules are urgently needed. Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson told a parliamentary committee yesterday that the present health and safety law had failed to improve the appalling workplace injury and death rate. (Kevin Taylor, New Zealand Herald, 14 Mar. 2002)

Chinese oil workers in massive protest:...The BBC Beijing correspondent says this is one of the biggest labour protests in China in recent years...Mr Han's organisation, the Chinese Labor Bulletin, says the workers have set up their own independent union. This is illegal in China, where workers can only seek redress through official unions controlled by the Communist Party. (BBC News, 13 Mar. 2002)

{···español} Carta de protesta al Presidente ecuatoriano Gustavo Noboa: sector bananero (Confederación Internacional de Organizaciones Sindicales Libres, 13 marzo 2002)

Sacked Chinese workers in mass rally: Tens of thousands of laid-off workers are protesting outside China's biggest oil field, angry at a dispute over their severance and at not being able to organize their own unions. (CNN, 13 Mar. 2002) 

Spotlight on unions and women [Mauritania]: Mahjouba Mint Saleek (CGTM, Mauritania) (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 13 Mar. 2002)

• {···español} En Primer plano: Mahjouba Mint Saleek, secretaria ejecutiva del departamento de mujeres y juventud de la CGTM [Mauritania] (Confederación Internacional de Organizaciones Sindicales Libres, 13 marzo 2002)

• {···français} Gros Plan sur les Femmes - Mahjouba Mint Saleek (CGTM - Mauritanie) (Confédération Internationale des Syndicats Libres, 13 mars 2002)

Union fears Govt. backflip on smoking ban at Crown Casino [Australia]: The union representing hospitality workers said today it would step up its public campaign to force the state government to legislate to make hospitality and gaming areas smoke-free. (LHMU, Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union, 13 Mar. 2002)

Bahamas Votes Against Women’s Rights: Bahamians last week voted against two women’s rights amendments to the Bahamas constitution. One would have protected women against job discrimination (Feminist Daily News Wire, 12 Mar. 2002)

Spotlight on unions and women [Germany]: Ursula Engelen-Kefer of the German DGB [German Trade Union Confederation] -...Legislation [in Germany] is definitely not discriminatory: on the contrary it guarantees male-female equality in many areas such as fixed-term contracts and part-time work. However, in practice equality is still hard to achieve. (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 12 Mar. 2002)

Spotlight on unions and women: Barbro Budin of the IUF [International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations] -...Women suffer from musculoskeletal disorders linked to repetitive work and this is a real scourge in both Northern and Southern countries. Some women become completely paralysed after a few years’ work, particularly in the food industry, hotels and agriculture...In agriculture, a new ILO convention should help us to fight pesticide abuse more effectively. These pollutants have caused many deaths and brought other serious health problems to women, such as sterility. (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 12 Mar. 2002)

• {···español} En primer plano: Barbro Budin de la UITA [Unión Internacional de Trabajadores de la Alimentación, la Agricultura, Hotelería, Suministro de Comida, Industrias Tabacaleras y Afines] -...Las mujeres sufren muchos más problemas músculo-esqueléticos vinculados a tareas repetitivas, que son un verdadero flagelo, tanto en los países del Norte como en los del Sur. Algunas mujeres quedan completamente paralizadas luego de algunos años de trabajo, principalmente en la industria alimentaria, en la hotelería y en la agricultura...En la agricultura, un nuevo convenio de la OIT nos ayudaría a combatir mejor los abusos en la utilización de plaguicidas. Esos agentes contaminantes ocasionaron ya muchas muertes y problemas graves de salud a las mujeres, como abortos o esterilidad. (Confederación Internacional de Organizaciones Sindicales Libres, 12 marzo 2002)

• {···français} Gros Plan sur les Femmes - Barbro Budin (UITA- Union internationale des travailleurs de l’alimentation, de l’agriculture, de l’hôtellerie-restauration, du tabac et des branches connexes): Les femmes souffrent davantage de troubles musculo-squelettiques liés à un travail répétitif, qui est un vrai fléau, autant dans les pays du Nord que du Sud. Certaines femmes deviennent complètement paralysées après quelques années de travail, notamment dans l’industrie alimentaire, dans l’hôtellerie, et dans l’agriculture...Dans l’agriculture, une nouvelle convention de l’OIT devrait nous aider à mieux lutter contre l’abus des pesticides. Ces polluants ont causé beaucoup de morts et entraîné de graves problèmes de santé chez les femmes, comme des avortements, ou la stérilité. (Confédération Internationale des Syndicats Libres, 12 mars 2002)

Concern over 15 Fiji gold mine deaths: One hundred and fourteen Emperor Gold Mine (EGM) injuries and deaths have been reported to the Ministry of Labor. (Fiji's Daily Post/FijiLive, in Pacific Islands Report [Hawaii, USA], 12 Mar. 2002)

Summary of the Saipan Sweatshop Litigation [update regarding 3 lawsuits filed on behalf of thousands of workers who are currently working and formerly worked on the island of Saipan - 19 companies have settled; the following companies have not settled: GAP, Abercrombie and Fitch, Dayton Hudson, Levis, the Limited, and JC Penney] (Michael Rubin, Global Exchange website, 11 Mar. 2002)

Spotlight on unions and women [Belgium]: Mia de Vits, FGTB Belgium -...The gap between men and women remains very large, with a 30% difference in pay for jobs of equal status...That is all compounded by other factors, such as sexual harassment, which are increasingly being brought to light with women often being the victims. In Belgium, a law providing for a protection procedure is currently in draft form. With regard to sexual harassment, we have managed to get companies to designate members of staff whom employees can confide in. (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 11 Mar. 2002)

• {···español} En primer plano: Mia de Vits , Secretaria General de la FGTB [Bélgica] -...La brecha entre hombres y mujeres sigue siendo muy grande ya que todavía hay 30% de diferencia entre los salarios de puestos equivalentes...A eso se agregan otros fenómenos, como el acoso sexual o la intimidación moral, de los que se habla mucho más que antes y que generalmente afecta a las mujeres. En Bélgica se ha hecho un proyecto de ley estipulando diversos procedimientos de protección. En lo concerniente al acoso sexual, se consiguió que las empresas designen a personas de confianza con quienes las asalariadas pueden hablar. (Confederación Internacional de Organizaciones Sindicales Libres, 11 marzo 2002)

• {···français} Gros Plan sur les Femmes - Mia de Vits (FGTB) [Belgique]: Le clivage entre hommes et femmes reste encore très important car il y a toujours 30% de différence de salaires pour des postes équivalents...A cela s'ajoutent d'autres phénomènes, comme le harcèlement sexuel ou l'intimidation morale, dont on parle beaucoup plus qu'auparavant, et dont les femmes sont souvent victimes. En Belgique, un projet de loi prévoit une procédure de protection. Pour le harcèlement sexuel, on a obtenu que les entreprises désignent des personnes de confiance avec lesquelles les salariés peuvent parler. (Confédération Internationale des Syndicats Libres, 11 mars 2002)

4 Fort Jackson factories found flouting law [South Africa]: The provincial Labour Department is preparing written notices for Fort Jackson factories found to be contravening labour laws during a visit last week. (Mayibongwe Maqhina, Dispatch [South Africa], 11 Mar. 2002)

Spotlight on unions and women [India]: Christine Nathan of the Indian IFBWW [Indian Federation of Building and Woodworkers] [refers to rights of women workers] (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 11 Mar. 2002)

Workplace deaths add fuel to union's safety campaign [New Zealand]: Two more people have died in workplace accidents, one a stevedore and the other a coalminer. The latest deaths come amid heated debate over the Health and Safety in Employment Amendment Bill, aimed at cracking down on workplace accidents and injuries. (The Dominion [New Zealand], 11 Mar. 2002)

Workers 'exploited' in Durban sweatshops [South Africa]: A 66-year-old clothing factory worker still bears the scars on his hands of being burnt while working at a pressing machine. The Phoenix father of two, who has devoted his working life to the clothing industry, is among scores of workers who are allegedly being exploited and underpaid by Durban sweatshops. (Prega Govender, Sunday Times [South Africa], 10 Mar. 2002)

Coca-Cola 'conned employees out of $200 million' [USA]: Nine former and current Coca-Cola employees are suing the company, alleging it cheated workers out of millions of dollars' wages over the past four years. The three class-action lawsuits also claim that Atlanta-based Coke and its California subsidiaries retaliated against those who tried to stop the practice. (Ananova, 10 Mar. 2002)

Businesses cool to new gender-equality law [Taiwan]: As the Gender Equality Labor Law went into effect on Friday, nearly 70 percent of Taiwan's businesses believe that the law will cause difficulties in terms of management, according to the results of a poll released yesterday. (Taipei Times, 10 Mar. 2002)

Women Tell of Rape in Farms [Kenya]: Women workers in flower farms in Naivasha and Ruiru yesterday narrated shocking stories of their daily experiences at the hands of their superiors in the farms. During a workshop to mark the International Women's Day in Nairobi, they recounted how they are daily subjected to sexual harassment-including rape-but they don't complain for fear of victimisation. (Njue Lloyd, East African Standard [Nairobi], 9 Mar. 2002)

Assassinations of Juan Montiel and Emilio Villeras, two members of IUF Colombian affiliate SINTRAINAGRO [Colombia]: The IUF has just learnt of the killing of two banana workers: Juan Montiel and Emilio Villeras Durán, both from the Ceiba y Circasia plantations. Both were active in the local leadership of the IUF’s rural workers affiliate SINTRAINAGRO in the Department of Magdalena. (IUF - International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations, 9 Mar. 2002) 

Protesters march for Women's Day [Indonesia]:...IWLTUF [Indonesian Women Leader's Trade Union Forum] coordinator, Ester S. Tuange, said they were demanding equal treatment for women and equal opportunities in the labor market. She said companies must not practice wage discrimination as between men and women, and must eliminate the exploitation of women. (Jakarta Post, 9 Mar. 2002) 

Koo's Group faces protest [Taiwan/USA]: Activists are upset that the company is doing little to solve a lingering dispute between workers and plant management at one of its factories in the US - US and Taiwanese labor and environmental activists yesterday protested in Taipei City against the Koo's Group, urging the corporation to solve disputes [including labour safety and environmental issues] in the US surrounding one of its subsidiaries, Continental Carbon Company. (Chiu Yu-Tzu, Taipei Times, 9 Mar. 2002)

Emerging Markets List: Calpers' review 'at least once a year'  - The California Public Employees' Retirement System (Calpers), which roiled South-east Asian markets last month by saying it would exit some countries, will review which emerging markets it favours at least once a year...China failed to make it to the list because of low scores in political stability, market transparency, labour practices, market regulation and legal protection for foreign investors (Bloomberg News, in Straits Times [Singapore], 9 Mar. 2002)

{···español} Los accidentes mortales en el metal crecieron un 25,7% en 2001:...Los fallecimientos en el trabajo crecieron un 25,7%, con un total de 88 muertes, según un informe del sindicato UGT elaborado con datos del Ministerio de Trabajo. (El País, 9 marzo 2002)

Worker dies in coalmine cave-in [New Zealand] (Karen Potter, Southland Times [New Zealand], 9 Mar. 2002)

Federal Court Rejects Claims Against Forever 21 [USA]: Dismissing the notion that a retailer is the ultimate employer in the apparel supply chain, a Los Angeles federal court has rejected a case by 19 plaintiffs who sued Forever 21 for wage and labor violations. (Nola Sarkisian-Miller, ApparelNews.net, 8-14 Mar. 2002)

'Drop your pants' outrage at Indonesian shoe factory: Oxfam says workers were put through humiliating examinations before getting the menstrual leave they were entitled to - Indonesian workers at a shoe factory supplying Nike and Adidas have had to prove to company doctors that they were menstruating in order to get their allotted sick leave. (AFP, in Straits Times [Singapore], 8 Mar. 2002)

Nike and Adidas 'have failed to stop sweatshop abuses': Indonesian workers producing sports shoes for the multinational companies Nike and Adidas live in extreme poverty and face prosecution and physical assault for trade union activity, according to a report published yesterday. (Richard Lloyd Parry, Independent [UK], 8 Mar. 2002)

Protesters take aim at Taco Bell [USA]: The Coalition of Immokalee Workers, a grass-roots organization based in Florida, includes farmworkers who say they are incensed at the stagnant wages and poor living conditions of tomato pickers. And Taco Bell, they claim, is one of the nation's largest tomato purchasers. (Dave Anderton, Deseret News [Salt Lake City, USA], 8 Mar. 2002)

Workers Demand Independent Health Assessment [India]: Employees from the now-closed controversial Hindustan Lever Thermometer thermometer factory in Kodaikanal today condemned the company's efforts to stifle their right to demand an independent medical and health evaluation for the mercury contamination caused due to mercury exposure at the thermometer factory. (United Citizens Council of Kodaikanal, Palni Hills Conservation Council, and Greenpeace India, 7 Mar. 2002)

• company website: Unilever - Thermometer factory: Kodaikanal, India - 21 June 2001 (Unilever)

Nike says improving Indonesian labor conditions: Athletic shoe giant Nike Inc. on Thursday welcomed an aid agency report alleging its workers in Indonesia are overworked and underpaid, but said it had already made improvements to shed its sweatshop image. (Reuters, 7 Mar. 2002)

• Nike's Response: Nike has made a number of criticisms of Oxfam Community Aid Abroad's new report, "We Are Not Machines". Tim Connor, the coordinator of our NikeWatch campaign, responds - Nike is arguing that the Global Alliance report on Nike factories in Indonesia released in February 2001 is superior to the new Oxfam Community Aid Abroad report. Three points need to be made in response. (NikeWatch, Oxfam Community Aid Abroad [Australia], Mar. 2002)

Banana workers strike to fight the race to the bottom [Ecuador]: On 25 February, more than 1,400 workers at seven plantations producing for the Noboa Corporation in Ecuador went on strike to call for their basic labor rights. (Campaign for Labor Rights, 7 Mar. 2002)

{···français} Formation de dix jours pour les employés d'"Island Clothing" [Ile Maurice]: Le coup d'envoi d'une session de formation de dix jours (du 5 au 22 mars) sur le site de travail à l'intention des employés d'Island Clothing a été lancé, hier, par le ministre du Travail et des Relations industrielles, Showkutally Soodhun. Cette formation s'inscrit dans le cadre d'un programme de formation globale qui touchera soixante-dix neuf entreprises de la zone franche sensibilisera les employés aux droits du travail et aux procédures en vue de régler des conflits au travail. (Le Mauricien, 7 mars 2002)

Oxfam challenges Nike, Adidas to pay workers [Indonesia] (Miranda Korzy, AAP, 7 Mar. 2002)

• press release: We are not machines - International Women's Day Event - Today young women involved in the Fair School Wear campaign will challenge Nike and Adidas to respect the rights of Asian women workers [in Indonesia] and stop breaking up families: "Nike and Adidas must ensure that wages meet workers' basic needs, ensure workers are free to form unions, and adopt a genuinely independent and transparent factory monitoring system" (Oxfam Community Aid Abroad, 7 Mar. 2002)

  full report: We Are Not Machines - Despite some small steps forward, poverty and fear still dominate the lives of Nike and Adidas workers in Indonesia. (Timothy Connor, Clean Clothes Campaign, Global Exchange, Maquila Solidarity Network, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam Community Aid Abroad, Mar. 2002)

Spotlight on unions and women: Nancy Riche [President of the Canadian Labour Congress] and Elsa Ramos [Director of the ICFTU Equality Department] (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 7 Mar. 2002)

Worker who lost hands keeps compensation [Singapore]: A factory worker, who cannot even bathe herself after an accident at work, repelled a bid by her former employer to reduce the $750,000 compensation given to her by the High Court...Hong Kong Industrial Company had wanted the Appeals Court to reduce the awards of $260,000 for the cost of her mechanical hands and $153,000 for her future cost of nursing. (Straits Times, 7 Mar. 2002)

50,000 Daqing Oilfield Workers Organise Independent Trade Union [China]:...the workers have set up their own union, the Daqing PAB Retrenched Workers' Provisional Union Committee, and elected representatives. The local authorities responded by sending para-military police, and deploying a PLA tank regiment. (China Labour Bulletin, 6 Mar. 2002)

World Bank to investigate miners' deaths [Tanzania]: The World Bank has promised to investigate allegations that more than 50 small-scale gold miners were buried alive because police wanted to evict them from land to make way for a foreign company, operating with an investment guarantee from the bank. (Christine Otien, BBC News, 6 Mar. 2002)

Why Nike has broken into a sweat: The sports equipment maker has been a target for anti-sweatshop campaigners. It has responded with self-criticism, says Michael Skapinker...Nike's experience provides a vivid illustration of the perils facing companies that believe they can ignore the efforts of campaigning organisations (Michael Skapinker, Financial Times, 6 Mar. 2002)

Thousands of workers left unprotected in W. Java [Indonesia]: Of more than 1,270 companies employing a total of 95,000 workers in the West Java regencies of Cirebon, Indramayu, Majalengka and Kuningan, only 40 percent have participated in the obligatory social security programs, an official says. (Nana Rukmana, Jakarta Post, 6 Mar. 2002)

Work spying may be banned [Victoria, Australia]: Spy cameras, e-mail monitoring and other types of surveillance may be banned or curtailed in workplaces if they are found to breach workers' privacy. (Fay Burstin, Herald Sun [Australia], 6 Mar. 2002)

Blitz on Durban [apparel] factory sparks an uproar [South Africa]:...Govender was charged with contravening health and safety regulations (Margie Inggs, Business Report [South Africa], 6 Mar. 2002)

The Verdict Is In: Smithfield's Use of Intimidation, Violence and False Arrests Violates Civil Rights Laws [USA] - Workers Win $755,000 In Jury Verdict Against Smithfield:...The jury verdict directed Smithfield [Smithfield Packing Co.] and the company's former security chief, Danny Priest, to pay $755,000 in compensation and punitive damages as the result of the beating and arrests of two union supporters at the company's Tar Heel, North Carolina facility in 1997. (UFCW - United Food and Commercial Workers Union, 5 Mar. 2002)

Hudson's Bay Urged to Clean Up Sweatshop Abuses in Lesotho [Canada]: The Ethical Trading Action Group (ETAG), a national coalition of church, labour and non-governmental organizations, is calling on the Hudson's Bay Company to work with its suppliers and the garment workers' union in Lesotho to eliminate sweatshop abuses in three factories producing clothes for Zellers. "The worst thing they could do right now would be to cut and run from Lesotho in an attempt to escape responsibility for sweatshop practices" (Maquila Solidarity Network, 5 Mar. 2002)

• {···français} On ordonne à la Compagnie de la Baie d'Hudson d'arrêter l'exploitation des travailleuses et travailleurs des ateliers de misère du Lesotho (Maquila Solidarity Network, 5 mars 2002)

• full report: The Workers' Story: Labour Rights Violations at Hudson's Bay Supply Factories in Lesotho (Gary Phillips and Jantjie Xaba, Trade Union Research Project - University of Natal, published by Ethical Trading Action Group, Mar. 2002)

Factory audit details sought: Anti-sweatshop group raps Hudson's Bay Co. - An anti-sweatshop group is demanding Hudson's Bay Co. disclose the results of an audit the retailer performed on factories in southern Africa [garment factories in Lesotho] making private-label clothing for Zellers...Allegations included the use of child labour, verbal and sexual harassment, locked emergency doors and compulsory overtime that sometimes stretched to 75 hours a week. (Steven Theobald, Toronto Star, 5 Mar. 2002)

U. Iowa president moves to end cap contract [USA]: University of Iowa President Mary Sue Coleman on Monday moved to terminate the university's contract with a cap manufacturer [New Era Cap Co.] that has been accused of violating the school's labor standards, enforcing the nearly two-year-old code of conduct for the first time. (Deidre Bello, Daily Iowan, 5 Mar. 2002)

A fresh start for human rights in Pakistan:...The purpose of this project is to help vulnerable working people - particularly, but not exclusively - those who are not covered by existing labour law. This includes women workers, bonded labour, child labour, home based workers, contract and casual labour and workers in EPZs. (Labour and Society International, 5 Mar. 2002)

Mr Price passes the sweatshop buck [South Africa]: Mr Price, the discount retailer whose products were discovered at a Newcastle sweatshop, has laid the responsibility for policing suspected manufacturers squarely on the shoulders of the union and the department of labour. (Margie Inggs, Business Report [South Africa], 5 Mar. 2002)

US Government Human Rights Report Cites Shangri-La Hotel For Abuses [Indonesia] (IUF - International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations, 5 Mar. 2002)

US Asked to Cut Cancer-Causing Chemical Exposure: A consumer advocacy group and a labor union asked a federal court on Monday to order the government to cut workers' exposure levels to a cancer-causing chemical used in chrome and stainless steel manufacturing. (Peter Szekely, Reuters, 5 Mar. 2002)

Sweatshop campaign by students comes to head: FSU [Florida State University] refuses to join 2nd factory-monitoring group [USA] - Members of the FSU Students Against Sweatshops have been trying to persuade D'Alemberte [FSU President Sandy D'Alemberte] to affiliate the university with the Workers Rights Consortium, an advocacy group that would monitor the factories that manufacture FSU-licensed products. (Melanie Yeager, Tallahassee Democrat [Florida], 4 Mar. 2002)

{···français} Le droit à la santé au travail confirmé [France]: La Cour de cassation vient de rejeter la contestation en appel d'entreprises ayant exposé leurs salariés à l'amiante. Ces entreprises n'en avaient ni averti les salariés, ni pris les mesures de prévention imposées par la réglementation. La faute inexcusable avait donc été retenue contre elles. (CGT - Confédération Générale du Travail, 4 mars 2002)

Prison Blues; Starbucks, Nike, others profit from inmate labor [at U.S. prisons] - A partial list of companies that have worked within the prison system, directly employed prison workers, or contracted with companies that employ prison workers, either currently or in the past: Allstate, Best Western, Dell Computer, Eddie Bauer, Hawaiian Tropical Products, J. C. Penney, Kmart, Kwalu Inc., Konica, Lockhart Technologies, McDonald's, Merrill Lynch, Microjet, Microsoft, New York, New York Hotel and Casino, Nike, No Fear Inc., Omega Pacific, Parke-Davis, Planet Hollywood, Prison Blues (jeans), Shearson Lehman, Starbucks, Target, TWA, Victoria's Secret, Union Bay, Upjohn, Washington Marketing Group (Erica Barnett, In These Times, 4 Mar. 2002)

Housing for Field Workers Eyed [Napa Valley, California]: In this conspicuously prosperous valley, home to a $4 billion wine industry, hundreds of migrant farm workers sleep in cars or under the stars. (Justin Pritchard, Associated Press, 4 Mar. 2002)

A White Book or Black List for TNCs? In December every year, The Financial Times...publishes a list of the world's most respected transnational companies (TNCs)...I believe that in order to bring justice to such a list, we should also ask TNCs about their social policy and their social behaviour...I have a suggestion to make to the Financial Times and the company which made the top TNCs' list, PriceWaterhouse: Let's do a black list together for next December. (Marcello Malentacchi, General Secretary, International Metalworkers' Federation, 4 Mar. 2002)

Man killed in oil rig accident [UK]: A 44-year-old oil worker has died in an accident on a drilling rig near Shetland. Andrew Graham, from Aberdeen, died on Saturday on a rig operated by the company Transocean Sedcoforex...It was operating 86-miles west of Shetland, in BP's Schiehallion Field. (BBC News, 3 Mar. 2002)

Auburn woman sues egg farm [Maine, USA]: The safety of workers at the former DeCoster Egg Farms is once again being questioned. An Auburn woman who was hired to serve as a liaison to the Spanish-speaking employees claims that she was fired after reporting unsafe working conditions, including her concerns that employees were being denied proper medical attention for workplace injuries. (Lisa Chmelecki, Sun Journal [Lewiston, Maine], 2 Mar. 2002)

Gap resists settlement of Saipan sweatshop suit (Jenny Strasburg, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Mar. 2002)

Activists win lawsuit against meat company [USA]: Two claimed excessive force by Smithfield - Two union activists won a lawsuit Friday that claimed they were beaten and falsely arrested during organizing efforts at a Smithfield Packing Co. plant, union officials said. (Emery P. Dalesio, Associated Press, in News & Observer [North Carolina, USA], 2 Mar. 2002)

Yunnan Gas Accident Verdict [China]: The owners of an illegal coal mine in the southwestern province of Yunnan have received jail sentences for causing serious industrial casualties. A gas explosion occurred on 14 January, 2002 at the mine in Wenshan county, killing 25 and injuring another 10 miners. (China Labour Bulletin [Source: Xinhuanet], 1 Mar. 2002)

Business group denies "blacklisting" employees [Mexico] (Conrad Fox, TheNewsMexico.com [Mexico], 1 Mar. 2002) 

• Maquiladora union "blacklist" condemned [Ciudad Juarez, Mexico]:...The bureau, they say, will blacklist maquiladora workers involved in union activities and is a violation of human rights. (Conrad Fox, TheNewsMexico.com [Mexico], 28 Feb. 2002) 

Zim violence rife, says union leader: Zimbabwe's labour movement has called for a halt to "state-sponsored terrorism" in the run-up to the presidential election...Meanwhile, Matombo said a top ZCTU official, Ephraim Tapa, was abducted along with his wife on February 16 and has not been seen since. (South African Press Association-AFP, in News24.com [South Africa], 1 Mar. 2002)

SAB provides soul support: HIV is the greatest threat to the health of both staff and profits at South African Breweries (Andrew Clark, Guardian [UK], 1 Mar. 2002)

Labor agencies join battle against forced arbitration - Burton bill seeks to preserve right to state's protection [USA]: The state agencies that protect the rights of California workers have joined the fight against mandatory arbitration, moving to stop the private system of resolving disputes from encroaching on their power to hear complaints against employers. (Reynolds Holding, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Mar. 2002)

Carbon plant union files lawsuit [USA]: The union that represents workers at the Continental Carbon plant filed a notice of intent to sue this week against the company, alleging violations of environmental regulations that jeopardize worker safety...The union alleges that Continental Carbon [which converts carbon black oil, a byproduct of oil refining, into carbon black, which is used in tires and plastic products] handles and disposes of hazardous waste without proper permits or procedures to protect workers or the local environment. (Greg Cunningham, Amarillo Globe-News [USA], 1 Mar. 2002)

Jury recommends protection for farm workers [Canada]: The death of a teenage farm worker [16 year old Alex Webster] led Friday to calls for better protection and training for people who work in Prince Edward Island's agriculture industry. (CBC Prince Edward Island, 1 Mar. 2002)

{···français} L'Industrie de l'amiante jugée inexcusable...Une victoire pour les victimes [France] -...Trente affaires lui avaient été soumises le 17 janvier, impliquant les grands producteurs de produits à base d'amiante, comme Everite ou Eternit, des sidérurgistes, comme le groupe Sollac-Usinor, des entreprises de la métallurgie. (Armelle Thoraval, Libération, 1 mars 2002)

• {···français} 100 000 morts d'ici à 2025 [France]: Des matelassières en Bretagne, des ouvriers d'entretien à la SNCF, ceux affectés à la maintenance à la RATP: en dehors des employés atteints dans des entreprises qui maniaient notoirement l'amiante comme composante essentielle de leur production, comme Everite et Eternit, le risque sanitaire pour les «amiantés» est considérable. (Armelle Thoraval, Libération, 1 mars 2002)

• {···français} Le souffle court et la mort en tête [France]: Manifestation hier à Paris de 2 000 métallurgistes exposés à l'amiante. (Didier Arnaud & Charlotte Moreau, Libération, 1 mars 2002)

• {···français} "Patrons pollueurs, patrons payeurs", le slogan de 2 000 manifestants à Paris:...Stein Industrie (ex-Alstom)...De l'amiante pour le calorifugeage, les ouvriers de cette usine de fabrication de chaudières thermiques et nucléaires en ont cotoyé des quantités considérables, sans précaution et sans en connaître les risques. Cinq en seraient morts et quinze cas de maladies ont été décelés. (Le Monde, 1 mars 2002)

Moving up the learning curve – corporate management of supply chain labour standards - Recent reports on Triumph International (‘Support Breast not Dictators’) and Nike (‘We are not Machines’) have again drawn attention to the policy and management of supply chain labour issues within apparel and footwear companies. But overall is anything actually getting better? (John Sabapathy, Programme Manager at AccountAbility, in SustainAbility Radar, Mar. 2002)

Whose Business? A Handbook on Corporate Responsibility for Human Rights and the Environment -...Produced primarily for use by North American educators, students, and activists...The central theme of this handbook is that the institutions and regulatory frameworks now governing the global economy have not adequately protected human rights, the environment, and labor rights. (California Global Corporate Accountability Project, Mar. 2002)

Food for thought: Corporate Social Responsibility for food and beverage manufactures -  An introduction for policy-setters and operational managers, featuring best practice from eight leading companies in the food and beverage sector. [includes reference to social & environmental issues; cocoa, coffee, tea & banana sectors; Tea Sourcing Partnership in the UK; Chiquita/Rainforest Alliance's 'Better Banana Project'] (Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum, Mar. 2002)

Beyond the Monterrey consensus: A trade union agenda for the governance of globalization -...We demand that Core Labour Standards as set out in the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and its Follow-up be at the centre of global and sustainable development strategies. (WCL [World Confederation of Labour] & ICFTU [International Confederation of Labour], Mar. 2002)

• {···español}  Más allá del consenso de Monterrey: Una agenda sindical para el gobierno de la mundialización -...Demandamos que las estrategias de desarrollo global y sostenible estén centradas en las Normas Laborales Fundamentales tales como figuran en la Declaración de la OIT sobre Principios y Derechos Fundamentales en el Trabajo y su Seguimiento. (CMT [Confederación Mundial del Trabajo] & CIOSL [Confederación Internacional de Organizaciones Sindicales Libres], marzo 2002)

• {···français} Au-delà de consensus de Monterrey: Agenda syndical pour la gouvernabilité de la mondialisation -...Nous exigeons que les Normes fondamentales du travail, telles que définies dans la Déclaration de l’OIT sur les droits et principes fondamentaux au travail, ainsi que leur suivi, soient au centre des stratégies pour un développement mondial durable. (CMT [Confédération Mondiale du Travail] & CISL [Confédération internationale des syndicats libres], mars 2002)

Sweatshop Labor, Sweatshop Movement [USA] [book review of Sweatshop Warriors: Immigrant Women Workers Take on the Global Economy, Miriam Ching Yoon Louie]: Miriam Ching Yoon Louie offers an important and insightful look at sweatshops in the United States. (Bill Fletcher, Jr., Monthly Review, Mar. 2002)

Living Wage Movement Greets the Recession with New Victories [USA]:...on February 2, 63 percent of voters in New Orleans said yes to setting a citywide minimum wage at one dollar above the federal minimum of $5.15. The ordinance is unprecedented in that it will cover all private-sector employees working within city borders (Jen Kern and Stephanie Luce, Labor Notes, Mar. 2002)

Viewpoint: Labor Missed a Big Opportunity at the World Economic Forum (David Pratt, Labor Notes, Mar. 2002)

• Doe v. Unocal: Case Outline

• Audio of the opening Arguments and Rebuttals in the Doe vs Unocal case