Workers triumph after setting up cooperative

After losing their jobs, the 12 workers set up a small “social venture” to start producing undergarments for both sexes under the “Try Arm” brand in October 2009. Now, they allocate 10 per cent of their income to support union rights and political activities.
Jitra Kotchadej, coordinator of the cooperative, explained that the venture was not a factory, but a business venture with a political dimension. She said all co-owners of the cooperative, which is located in a four-storey shophouse in Samut Prakan’s Samrong area, earn Bt20 more than the current Bt300 daily minimum wage.
Jitra, a committed red shirt like the rest of the co-owners, lost her job in Triumph after she was seen on television wearing a T-shirt supporting Thai citizens’ right to not stand up when the Royal anthem is played.
She explained that demand for Try Arm products was increasing and that they now have 40 sewing machines and are looking to purchase a few more second-hand machines, which cost between Bt30,000 and 40,000, to produce women’s undergarments sold for between Bt79 and Bt120 and men’s underwear retailed at Bt69 to Bt220.
Jitra called on consumers to not just think about fashion or price but to consider fair trade as well.
“When you buy goods, don’t just think about the trend, but also look at the lives of the people behind these products. Find out if they are leading a decent life,” Jitra advised.
At Try Arm, all workers are co-owners, own the tools they use and are paid 50 per cent of their daily wage for overtime. Jitra, who is one of the 12 co-owners, says their quality of life is good.
The workers often set up booths at red-shirt gatherings and rallies, and Jitra said that sometimes even the opposing yellow shirts buy Try Arm products because they know the group supports the right to collective bargaining.
“They [the yellow shirts] see it as a kind of social activism,” Jitra said, adding that most purchases are made by placing orders on the phone or directly from the factory.