Laidoff plant workers seek help from labour groups
Gathering outside the Labour Ministry yesterday after a threeday rally in Nakhon Ratchasima, workers at an aluminiumprocessing plant sought assistance from seven labour groups after a large number of the workers were laid off.
Protest leader Ongart Chaorakam said the protesting workers had dropped almost all of their initial demands and were now asking only that all 700 laidoff workers be rehired – including 176 members of the labour union who submitted the original demands – or that all of them be terminated with full compensation.
He called on the Japanese owner of Chin A Hi Tech Co Ltd, Kurio Nichimura, to talk directly with the workers, saying that at previous meetings the firm had been represented by officials who did not have the authority to make important decisions. “The workers know Mr Nichimura well and have good relations with him. We want to hear directly from him, if he really doesn’t want us any longer,” he added.
Ongart said leaders of the seven labour groups had described the protest at Chin A Hi Tech as a model for employers who wanted to weaken employees by undermining labour unions. “If successful, the situation at this plant will be used by many other companies,” he added.
“It will be known by [today] how we will escalate our rally with the help of the seven labour groups. A largescale rally supported by many fellow workers from other organisations is anticipated,” he said, without elaborating.
Ongart apologised for any convenience caused by his rally at the Labour Ministry.
