【Solidarity across Boundary

against Exploitation】

the Case of Nicaraguan Workers’ Struggle in Taiwanese Owned

Nien-Hsing Textile Company

Taiwan Solidarity with Nicaraguan Workers:

  Asian Pacific Labour Update ( http://www.geocities.com/aplu1960/ , E-mail: aplu@ms58.url.com.tw )

  Coollouder Web ( http://www.coolloud.org.tw/ , E-mail: coolloud@mail2000.com.tw )

  Ching-Jen Labor Health & Safety Service Center ( http://www.cjlabor.org.tw ,

     E-mail: cjlhassc@ms39.hinet.net )

  Chen, Hsin-Hsing   Chen, Hsiu-Man   Lin, Chen-Hui

2001/09

English Translation: Lo, Pei- Shan (2004/01)

Editing of English Edition: Ching-Jen Labor Health & Safety Service Center

Note on English Edition:

  This booklet is made for Taiwan workers. When the Nien-Hsing dispute was settle down, we felt it was necessary to record down the whole story and share our points of views about labor's international solidarity with all Taiwan workers. So we made this booklet and tried to circulate it as wide as possible through some trade unions. It's in Chinese originally. Now we translate it into English. The same we would like to share with you how we thought and what we did in the campaign. We hope we can get some reflections from you to improve our solidarity in the future!

Preface: Why Taiwanese Workers Have to Support Nicaraguan Workers

  Since 1994, the Taiwanese cotton spinner and blue jeans manufacturing company named Nien-Hsing Textile started its investment in Nicaragua. Late 1997, the workers at Chentex factory of Nien-Hsing began to struggle for their own independent union, due to poor working conditions. In Sep of 2000, learning the information, some organizations and individuals in Taiwan concerning about labor issues composed “Taiwan Solidarity with Nicaragua Workers”. We went campaigning in Taiwan during the labor dispute to support the workers in Nicaragua.

  Another labor campaign happened at the same time in Taiwan. At the end of 2000, the issue of shortening working-hours broke out in Taiwan. Taiwan workers were overburdened with long working-hours for more than thirty years since the industrialization. So everyone thought it was a late justice to shorten working-hours. But when the bill was enacted by the parliament, Taiwan capitalists threatened the government and workers with moving out to make the workers lose their jobs unless the government formed a complete set to meet the interests of the capitalists.

  With this booklet, we show you the abominations that Taiwanese businessmen did in Nicaragua, including oppressing workers and busting the independent union. Because they do everything they want to the workers in other countries, you can understand why Taiwanese capitalists dare to threaten Taiwan local workers with moving out. If we continue to allow them to do so, they will always threaten Taiwan government and workers with moving-out.

The Floating Capital Victimizes the Labor in the Both Side Countries

  The working conditions in the countries where Taiwanese businessmen went abroad to invest, such as Nicaragua, also affect the working conditions in Taiwan deeply. With those bad working conditions in the Third World countries, the capitalists can take them for bargaining chips and depress the working conditions in Taiwan. The reason is the same as the capitalists import a lot of migrant workers to replace local workers. Facing a large amount of cheaper labor forces abroad, Taiwan workers usually have to cut the price to get jobs. Then it is hard to raise the working conditions in Taiwan.

  All we can do to fight with the capitalists is to defend the rights of workers not only in Taiwan but also in other places where Taiwanese businessmen invest. If the working conditions in the Third World countries can be raised, the capitalists would lose their bargaining chips to depress local working conditions. The benefits of Taiwanese workers are combined with all foreign workers!

To Give Them a Favor Equals to Give Ourselves a Favor

  The floating of capitals and labor forces became freer and freer internationally, and the capitalists have more and more bargaining chips. Under this “globalization” situation, the capitalists can close the factories in Taiwan, and choose another place in the world with cheaper labor forces to set up their new factories. We have to fight with this kind of abomination. What we have to do is to be associated with all workers and to promote the working conditions all over the world, to defeat the neo-liberalism globalization.

Working Class of the World, Unite!

Contents

Ⅰ The Whole Story

1. The Struggle of Chentex Independent Union

  In 1979, there was an ongoing revolution in Nicaragua. FSLN representing the interests of farmers and workers came to power. But the United States government constantly supported the right-wing guerrilla to harass the buildup of the Sandinista government. In 1990, the liberal Chamorro assumed the reins of government. The fate of Nicaragua was controlled by the bourgeoisie. Nien-Hsing, relying on a large amount of capital and smooth relationship with government, started its investment in Nicaragua when 1994. The company owners kept the same attitude and managing style of oppressing workers as in Taiwan and did many abominations of labor rights violation.

  NLC, a none-governmental organization in the US, paid attention to the abominations of Nien-Hsing. In Nov of 1997, one US nationwide TV news program and NLC went to Las Mercedes Free Trade Zone near the Nicaraguan capital city Managua for some investigations. They visited some workers of Nien-Hsing (Chentex factory). They discovered many crimes, including child labor, sexual harassment, forced overtime, very low pay, and so on. With the abominations of Nien-Hsing were revealed by the media, the labor was irritated and decided to struggle for the independent union.

The Management Supported the Yellow Union and Busted the Independent Union

  During that period of time, the active workers worked hard to consolidate the support from other workers for the independent union. On January 24 of 1998, the workers applied for a legal union. The following day, 90 workers in the member list were fired. But 1200 workers, out of the total numbers of 1500, went on a strike to protest the repressing from the management. Finally, the management compromised to recognize the independent union. The workers who have been fired got back their jobs. The independent union was affiliated with CST. And after the establishment, the management formed another yellow union affiliated with CTN for the purpose to harass the independent union.

Organizing from the Grassroots and Fighting Together

  Because of the bad pay, CST demanded 8 US cents rise per hour. The Chentex management raised wages for the workers who joined CTN but not for the members of CST. CST launched a strike immediately to express their dissatisfaction. After that, one board member of the independent union was attacked. And when the management failed in luring workers with some advantages to disaffiliate from CST, they fired almost 500 members of the independent union. The board members of the independent union were blacklisted and they would never get a job in the Free Trade Zone.

Labor’s International Solidarity Led to the Victory of Workers

  From the end of 2000, the management and the labor accused each other and started negotiations for several times. The Nien-Hsing General Manager in Nicaragua Lucas Huang was either absent or backtracked, even demolished the achieved agreement without any faith. Through the hardest work of CST and the supports from the labor organizations in Taiwan and US, the Nicaraguan Court eventually made a decision on this case on April 4, 2001. The final adjudgement ascertained it was illegal that Nien-Hsing fired the board members of the independent union. Nien-Hsing was asked to reestablish the jobs for the workers and pay the wages during the dispute.

  The adjudgement made Nien-Hsing compromise. On May 10, the Chentex management signed a formal agreement with CST, ensuring that Nien-Hsing has to reestablish some jobs for the workers. The others who didn't go back to Chentex could get double lay-off pay and double wages of the dispute duration. After all, the solidarity campaign across countries brought the labor with big victory!

Contents

2. The Working Conditions of Chentex Workers

  Taiwan President Chen Shui-Bian called his diplomatic visit to Central America, including Nicaragua, was the Trip of Democracy. But Nicaraguan labors seldom had economic democracy but were exploited by the capitalists. Since 1990, the Chamorro regime adopted the export oriented economy policy. In order to attract the capitalists from abroad, the government’s policy was to cut the taxes and raise some rewards for the transnational companies. The Free Trade Zones that surrounded by tall walls and electric nets were just like the concessions that controlled by the foreign capitalists. Taiwan capitalists were also considered as honored guests in Nicaragua, who brought not only capitals but also the very exploitative managing style to Nicaragua.

The Very Bad Working Conditions like Slave Labors

a. Low Pay

  The basic wage of Chentex worker was 65 US dollars per month, about one third the living needs of one family. Therefore the workers were forced to work over time to raise their wage to 125 dollars a month. But that could only afford two thirds of family living fee (the average living fee for one small family was about 208.3 dollars). They even could not keep their basic livings. When a blue jean was sold in US by 30 dollars, only 50 cents of them went to the workers. In the meantime, the demand of the Chentex workers was just to raise the wage for 8 cents per jean.

b. Long Working Hours

  Because the basic wage was not enough for living, the workers were forced to work over time. They worked from 7AM to 7PM during Monday and Friday, and from 7AM to 5PM on Saturday. They worked 70 hours a week. They worked for more than 12 hours on weekdays, but the management did not pay for one hour of lunch time. In reality, the workers got only 64 hours of wage.

c. Disregard of Labor Safety and Health

  The management prohibited the workers to go to the medical checkup clinic that was provided by the social welfare system, but they had deducted the fee from the wage. In order to avoid the expense during the female workers' pregnancy and puerperium, the management fired workers immediately after they were found pregnant. If a female worker wanted to apply for a job in Chentex factory, she had to pass through the pregnancy test and paid the expense equals to three days wage by herself.

d. Violent Management

  Nien-Hsing hired armed guards to maintain the work order. It happened not only one time that the middle management knocked worker's head or called her horse or donkey to humiliate her when she made a mistake. The Taiwan managers always roared at the workers, even pelting their faces with irregular apparels.

Union Busting

a. The Establishment of the Yellow Union

  The management established the yellow union. They raised wages for the members of the yellow union, and refused to negotiate with the independent union at the beginning. They intended to break up the workers' solidarity with advantages and repress the independent union.

b. Illegal Layoff

  In June of 1999, Nien-Hsing fired 12 representatives of the independent union. The management forced workers to disaffiliate from the independent union since May of 2000, and fired 200 workers who refused the order. There were many rounds of negotiation between the management and the labor in the period. During the period, the attitude of Nien-Hsing was changeable. They did not have good faith to talk with the union, and refused to get back the jobs to the fired workers.

c. Dishonest Law Suits

  During the labor dispute, the union members had ever once asked for one night's staying in factory restaurant to wait for the representative from the Department of Labor. But Nien-Hsing took it for excuse to accuse the union leaders declaring that the union occupied the instruments of the factory illegally.

Contents

3. Industrial Development and Labor Rights in Taiwan under the Export-Oriented Economy

  People say the economic development of Taiwan after WWⅡ is a ‘miracle’. It’s right that the living condition now is much better than 50 years ago. Therefore, one of the reasons causing the economic miracle is that we earn much money by export. Most of the products in our factory are to produce for the foreign market, not for the consumption of local market. It is called export-oriented economy.

Two Characters of the Export-Oriented Economy

  Because the industrial development of Taiwan is built by export, the following are the two characters of Taiwan economy:

a. The changeful Sorts of Industries

  There are many changeable factors of the international market. If Taiwan industries want to make profits, they had to meet the needs of the international market. They must have the ability to change fast. In the 1960s and 1970s, the main industries in Taiwan are textile, garment, umbrella, bicycle, etc. Entering the 1980s, the so called ‘high tech’ electronics become most popular. On the other hand, for the particular factories, what kinds of products are to be made depend on the needs of foreign buyers. Consequently, the products were Barbie Dolls last year but Nike sport shoes this year. The small factories closed down and then opened, again and again.

b. The Competition Ability Depends on Cheap Labor Forces

  Taiwan products supply the needs of the international market, so the competitors do not come from local alone but also other countries. If the businessmen want to become competitive, they have to cut the costs to raise the ‘competition ability’. For Taiwan businessmen, it is very important to become competitive by using cheap labor forces. So the wage level in Taiwan was always low for a long time. It’s the same reason why Taiwan capitalists like to import migrant workers now.

Labor Rights under the Structure Adjustment of Industries

  After 1980s, more and more Third World countries like Nicaragua obey the export-oriented policy and join the international supply chain. But the need of the international market is limited. With the developing of technology and the update of industries, many trades that can not adapt the market change or keep competitive will become sunset industries in Taiwan. So many Taiwan capitalists move their factories to the Third World for their cost-cutting.

  In the process, Taiwan workers must learn to adapt the changes of the trade. They have to learn new skills for new production, facing the unemployment crisis of plant closuring. So the labor rights in Taiwan are much related with the changes of industrial structure. Taking Nien-Hsing’s investing in Nicaragua for an example, let’s see how the labor should take care of the capital out-flowing problem.

Contents

4. Why Nien-Hsing Go to Central America for Investing? (Part 1)

     Cheap Labor Forces and the Global Supply Chain

  Nien-Hsing has two small factories in Taiwan. But the main producing plants are overseas including Nicaragua in Central America, Mexico in North America and Lesotho in Africa.

  For the capitalists, one way to maintain the 'competition ability' in the international market is to lower workers' wages for cost-cutting, as mentioned earlier. Because more and more Third World countries join in the export-oriented policy and their wage level is much cheaper than Taiwan, the cheap labor forces attract Taiwan capitalists to move the factories out to China, South East Asia, and even Latin America.

The Quota System and the Global Supply Chain

  Another problem is the market place. The biggest market in the world is the US. However, since the economic depression of the 1970s, the US government began to regulate the import by special custom taxes or quota system, to protect the domestic market. The foreign products can not enter the U.S. market without limitation any more. For instance, there are more and more barriers for Taiwan textile products to be sold in the US.

  But to draw the Third World countries to its side, the US government still has some privileges for these countries to import their products. Like CBI and AGOA, giving some particular countries for quota free. And the NAFTA with Canada and Mexico, setting up a very big free trade area to compete with EU.

  For Taiwan capitalists, though China and South East Asia are near, the wage level is low and they might get enough quotas there so far. But maybe the competition for the quota would be serious in the coming few years. So some businessmen such as Nien-Hsing went for investing in Nicaragua - the privilege from CBI, Mexico - the privilege from NAFTA and Lesotho - the privilege from AGOA. They sought to establish their own special supply chain.

Contents

5. Why Nien-Hsing Go to Central America for Investing? (Part 2)

     The Diplomatic Policy of Taiwan Government and Capitals Out-Flowing

  Since the late 1980s, there are amounts of capitals out-flowing from Taiwan. Although it's launched by the capitalists, Taiwan government also plays an active pushing role.

Political-Economic Transformation and the Capital's Out-Flowing

  In economy, Taiwan's exporting face a big bottleneck since the US government took the protectionist policy. For Taiwan capitalists, what they can do is to cut the costs and get quotas from other Third World countries. We have already explained for that.

  In politics, since the liberalization policy from the late 1980s, Taiwan capitalists can affect the government more than ever. They gradually move their factories out, at the same time they ask for subsidies and benefits from the government to cover their risks of investment overseas. Taiwan government began to revise some enforcement to deregulate the limitations on overseas investment and foreign exchange in 1985.

“Dollar Diplomacy” and Capital's Out-Flowing

  There are some countries in Latin America that have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. And it's important diplomatic support for Taiwan government. Under this situation, Taiwan government will try its best to keep the relations even spending a lot of money. So you can easily hear from people in those countries saying that Taiwan government sponsored many of their highways and governmental buildings. It is no strange even the Free Trade Zones or EPZs. On July 1 of 1995, International Cooperation and Development Fund was established by the funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan government. One of the goals of ICDF is to provide loans for the countries that have diplomatic relationship with Taiwan.

   September 1984, Taiwan government announced the 'Program for the Investment and Cooperation in Central America and the Caribbean'. Since that there are more and more subsidies, benefits and loan assistance to encourage Taiwanese businessmen to invest in that region. The most important is the 'Plans of Improvement for the Investment in the Countries with Diplomatic Relationships'. According to this enforcement, businessmen like Nien-Hsing can apply the subsidy for workers' salary, factory rental fee or interests of bank loans.

  The Cabinets are also active in business solicitation. When Taiwan Minister of Economic Affairs visited Nicaragua in 1993, the chairman of Nien-Hsing Chen was accompanied with him. It's an important cause for Chen's later investment in Nicaragua. Whenever Taiwan President visits Central America, there are definitely some certain businessmen going together, including the leaders of the Chamber of Commerce.

  Taiwan government always says that it has nothing to do and no rights to stop the capitalists to move their factories out. But after the interpreting above, we can know that what the government has really done is to encourage the moving out. We are not saying that we disagree our government to support the development of other countries. But the question is that the money is spending on the right things or just for corruption. Besides, does our government think about the labor rights as it supports the economic development?

Ⅱ Campaign Strategy

6. The Strategy to Resist the Displacing Cheap Labor Forces

  In recent years, for the effect of the global economy, many countries constantly advocate the principle about economical liberalization, and contribute to all kinds of international trade organizations such as WTO and APEC. Under these international trade systems, the control over the flowing of capitals, raw materials, labor forces and merchandises were deregulated. Capitalists can obtain these things much more conveniently and have more chances to choose where they want to establish their production bases.

  To think about where to establish the production bases is on the basis of the principle of maximizing the profits. Maybe it depends on where the capitalists can get the cheapest raw materials, or maybe it depends on where can get most quotas. But anyway one of the most important factors is where can get the cheapest labor forces. There are two main ways to obtain the low-priced labor forces, one is to import migrant workers, and the other is to move the production bases to the countries where workers are with low wages.

The Displacing Cheap Labor Forces and Labor’s Solidarity

  In recent years, because a lot of migrant workers come into Taiwan, some local workers think it's the migrants workers who 'steal' the jobs-- that is exactly the capitalists’ purpose. If the cheap labor forces become displacing, not only the capitalists could save the wage cost, but they could also threaten local workers with the displacing cheap labor forces or moving out. It is very possible that the threat from the capitalists would probably cause distrust and conflicts among the labor from different countries.

  In the era of the global economy, the importing of migrant workers and capital's moving out are serious threats for the labor rights. As long as the capitalists can find the cheaper labor forces, they could always take the advantage of the different treatments among the workers from different countries to destroy the labor's unity. On the contrary, if the wages and working conditions were in the same level all over the world, then the capitalists would never have the chance to threaten workers.

Against the Low Wage to Promote the Labor Rights of All Workers

  We said the wage and the working conditions must be in the same level. It's very important that we have to raise the level together but not lower the level together. In other words, the countries with bad labor conditions have to catch up with the countries with good labor conditions. So the workers with better working conditions should help the workers with worse working conditions. As long as there are still some places where the labor rights are worse than Taiwan, the capitalists can always take it for advantages to threaten Taiwan workers, to make the labor conditions down. That is the reason why the labor organizations advocate the policy of equal work equal pay between the local workers and the migrant workers, and the importance of international solidarity.

  In short, the problem of displacing cheap labor forces is the problem about the capital exploits the labor. It's not the problem about migrant workers 'stealing' the jobs of Taiwan workers. It's not necessary to become the conflict between workers. We can only confront the conflict through labor's international solidarity.

Contents

7. Some Methods for Labor’s International Solidarity

  With the capital's international floating getting more frequently and easily, almost workers all over world face the same problem. Whenever workers struggle to achieve for some victory, then the capitalists will have the idea to move their factories away, or import migrant workers to displace the original workers. This is the problem about the displacing low-priced labor forces that was mentioned in chapter 6.

  It is often happened in the history of labor movement. In fact, the 'internationalism' in labor movement is to cope with this situation. The method that labor movement often takes is the international solidarity action, such as sympathy strikes and boycotts. The very first case was in 1866. One tailors' union went on a strike in Edinburgh of the Britain. The employers tried to recruit 'scabs' from Denmark and Germany to substitute for the strikers. However, the labor movement in Europe boycotted the substitution so the employers can't hire workers from The European continent. It brought the victory to the tailors in Edinburgh. The recent one happened in Liverpool when 1995. The dock workers there were locked out and the employers hired other non-union workers to do the jobs. Many dock workers' unions around the world joined the struggle. Their members refused to unload the cargoes that shipped from Liverpool.

New Economic Surrounding and New International Solidarity

  From the European Common Market founded in the 1960s to the nowadays WTO, the transnational capital is becoming a dominant power. Trade unions and NGOs that concern about labor rights also bring up some new methods to face the challenge. 

  For example, some people launched campaigns against the sweatshops. Just like the Nien-Hsing case, many factories with bad working conditions manufacture for the big brand names. These famous brands pay a lot of attentions to their public images for maintaining the market benefits. So when the anti-sweatshop campaigns appeal to the consumers to boycott the products from sweatshops, they can make pressures to the big brand companies to force their supplying factories to respect the labor rights. But there are two main limits in this way. First, it is only suitable for where the main markets are. It can't function well if we have a consumers' campaign in a place like Taiwan because Taiwan is not a big market place. Second, if we only rely on the consuming side, then we will neglect the linkage with the resistance from the rank-and-file workers.

An Injury to One Is an Injury to All !

  From the producing side, trade unions in different countries are also developing some new strategies to face the global economy:

  (1) To strive for the transnational collective bargain agreements. Many production chains are across country boundaries but they belong to the same company. So the trade unions try to negotiate with the company together crossing the boundaries. The company should have the same levels in every factory about the wages, working conditions and working rules, no matter where the factory is. For example, the workers in German and the US working for transnational automobile companies try to strive for the global collective bargain mechanism since the 1990s.

  (2) To strive for the transnational workers' council. Many European governments ask the business to set up the workers' council. The workers' council representing the social rights is on the equal basis with the employers who own the power about the management. So the workers' council can examine the important plans of the factory and a certain trade unions play important roles in the workers' council. Now some transnational companies already set up the Europe-wide workers' council, then it would be a good useful tool for the trade unions. Like General Motors tried to shut down one assembling factory in Luton of the Britain and lay off many thousands of employees when 2000. The Europe-wide workers' council Of GM considered it was a violation of collective bargain agreements, so the workers cross the factory boundaries went on a strike at the same time to protest the shut down.

  (3) To strive for the reform of international trade organizations. Since the trade organizations as WTO were founded, many social movement groups from different sectors continue to strive for the reform of these organizations constantly. Their goal is to let these organizations be controlled by the people democratically to avoid the policy of international trade and investment endangering peoples' living. One possible strategy is just like to draw up some sorts of social clause. However, we can not ignore that, the international trade organizations essentially serve the interests for the capital and there might be some limitations on the social clauses. That is the reason why we must discuss more about it.

  In a word, facing the globalization of capital flowing, we have to walk out to protect our basic living rights in various ways against it.

Contents

8. International Campaigns for Supporting the Chentex Workers

  Many international labor and human rights organizations paid attention to the Chentex workers in Nicaragua, after they took various actions to strive for their labor rights. The organizations most concern about this case in the US for a long time are National Labor Committee 、Nicaragua Network and Campaign for Labor Rights. They not only post the information through the internet but also appealed people to send protest letters to Nien-Hsing and Taiwan government to make pressure upon the company. It’s deserved to be mentioned that the campaign in the US also appealed to the consumers to boycott Lee and Levi’s, because the two big blue jean brands are the main customers of Nien-Hsing. The campaign tried to make pressure to these brands to force Nien-Hsing to improve the working conditions.

We Are Not Alone as Long as We Take Actions

  Besides NGOs, the international unions also quite support the campaign. The dock and transportation unions in Nicaragua and the US have ever planned to go on strike to boycott the cargo of Nien-Hsing. The ITGLWF made a complain to ILO and Taiwan President with a lots of evidences regarding Nien-Hsing’s human rights violations and union busting. And more, the textile unions in Lesotho, Swaziland and South Africa also did their utmost to express their solidarity with Chentex workers, even sending some delegates to Nicaragua to join the actions against Nien-Hsing.

  On Dec 5 of 2000, the Nation Labor Committee in company with some US Congressmen held a news conference. They asked the US parliament to investigate Nien-Hsing under suspicion of sweatshop, for Nien-Hsing also manufactured sport suits for the US Army. Center of Constitution Rights, USWA and UNITE together in the name of the exploited labor, filed a case to the court to accuse Nien-Hsing that it violated the international labor rights.

The Strong Strength of Labor’s International Solidarity

  International solidarity is not a new thing even between Asia and Central America. In the 1920s, Augusto Sandino of Nicaragua and Dr. Sun Yat-Sen of China have ever joined together with Jawaharal Nehru of India and some French progressives to form an international coalition to against the aggression of the imperialists. We think the campaign against the labor exploitations is just like the campaign against the imperialists. It is really a good example for international solidarity that crossing the borders of the nationalities, races, languages and the occupations. Now the internet is so convenient that we can connect each other with other labor organizations more effectively. Regarding to the meaning of international solidarity, we really have the duty to support the Chentex workers even if Nien-Hsing is not a Taiwan company.

Labor Need International Solidarity due to the Capitalist Globalization !!

Contents

After word: Our Imagination in Chentex Campaign

  When we have contacts with some international labor organizations, they often ask us how we can support the labor's struggle in the Taiwanese owned investments. In this sense, after knowing that not only Taiwan workers but the ones in other countries also suffer due to the capitalist globalization, we formed TSNW to support Nicaraguan workers.

  This campaign is not only a case about labor dispute in a transnational company. It reveals the problem to Taiwan workers how to face the capital's out-flowing and how to against the transnational exploitation through the international solidarity. In this booklet, first we tell you the whole story of the campaign. Then we also introduce our strategy to resist the displacing cheap labor forces, and some practical methods for labor's international solidarity. We hope to share our points of views with you all Taiwan workers and further discussions in the future.

  Finally, we very appreciate TCTU, CFL, LRA, Call and TLF for promising us to be the leading endorsement organization in this campaign. They took part in our activities and gave us much assistance. Many student clubs participated in the actions with enthusiasm. Many more friends support us on the internet. Thanks a lot!

Contents

Abbreviations:

AGOA= African Growth and Opportunity Act

CBI= Caribbean Basin Initiative

CFL= Chinese Federation of Labor

CST= Central Sandinista de Trabajadores

The textile federation affiliated with CST: Federacion Nacional de los Sindicatos Heroes y Martires de la Industria Textil Vestuario, Piel y Calzado

CTN= Central de Trabajadores de Nicaragua

FSLN= Frente Sandinista de Liberacion Nacional/ National Liberation Front of Saninista

ITGLWF= International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation

TCTU= Taiwan Confederation of Trade Unions

UNITE= Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees

USWA= United Steelworkers of America

Contents

Appendix: The Time Table of Campaigning Activities Launched by Taiwan Solidarity with    

                    Nicaraguan Workers

2000.09.16　After we got the information about Chentex labor dispute in Nicaragua, we first met to discuss how to connect to Nicaragua workers and how to support them in Taiwan.

2000.09.23　Taiwan Solidarity with Nicaraguan Worker formed and had its name on. The members include APLU, Coollouder, Ching-Jen, Chen Hsin-Hsing, Chen Hsiu-Man and Lin Chen-Hui. We started the campaign by launching signing a petition through the internet and make a linkage with the labor organizations such as CFL, TCTU, Labor Rights Association, Committee for the Action of Labor’s Legislation and Taiwan Labor Front to take the initiative of signing.

2000.11.06　TSNW protested in front of Nien-Hsing headquarters in Taipei with 50 activists from labor organizations and student clubs who express support. The spokesperson of Nien-Hsing appeared to take the protest letter. We read five demands out in public and burned a jean to express our angry. The demands on Nien-Hsing are as below:

  1. To absolutely recognize the legality of Chentex independent union that affiliated with CST.

  2. To resume the negotiation with CST immediately.

  3. To reinstate the jobs of the Chentex workers who were laid off.

  4. To withdraw all the law suits against the leaders and members of the independent union.

  5. To negotiate with the independent union about the collective bargain agreement and the enforcement.

2000.11.08　TSNW raided the meeting on the interpretation for the investors in the stock exchange market that held by Nien-Hsing. We exposed the lie that Nien-Hsing ensured no dispute between the labor and the management in their Nicaragua factory. We dispatched leaflets to remind the investors that Nien-Hsing was boycotted around the world. If they did not reinstate the rights to work of the leaders and members of the independent union, the benefits of the investors will be jeopardized.

2000.11.13　The members of TSNW and supporting groups who took part in the November 6 action received the lawyer letter that Nien-Hsing commissioned. Nien-Hsing asked each labor organization to apologize on the newspaper and threatened to file a law suit. The abomination made all the labor organizations still more determined to stand with the Nicaraguan workers.

2000.12.01　TSNW together with 60 activists from supporting labor organizations and student clubs made a demonstration outside Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We brought some demands on Taiwan government subsidy for Taiwanese businessmen who invest in the countries that have diplomatic relation with Taiwan. We played an action drama call “Dollar diplomacy, labor suffering”. The following are our demands:

  1. To revise the subsidy regulation that rewards the businessmen who invest in the countries with diplomatic relations. The labor rights clause is needed. It can not approbate to any company that is involving in significant dispute between labor and management.

  2. To investigate all notorious Taiwan businessmen immediately. All the other subsidies for the businessmen who invest in the countries with diplomatic relations have to be cancelled, if their companies were involved in significant dispute between labor and management.

  3. To investigate the collusion between the diplomatic officials and the businessmen. The Ministry has to investigate the retired military officer who violated the principles of benefit avoidance because he became the manager of Nien-Hsing.

2000.12.22　TSNW visited GTM Textile Union to share the case of Chentex dispute and discuss with union representatives about the labor situation under globalization.

2000.12.25　TSNW visited Unitech Electronics Union to share the case of Chentex dispute and discuss with union representatives about the labor situation under globalization.

2001.01.02　TSNW together with a congressman held a public hearing about Nien-Hsing dispute in the parliament. We invited delegates from labor organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Council of Labor Affairs and Nien-Hsing company to join the discussion. And we had the conclusions as below:

  1. We request Council of Labor Affairs to pay close attention to the problem that the workers in Nien-Hsing Taiwan factories are not organized. If necessary, labor organizations are very pleased to assist organizing a trade union there.

  2. We demand the Labor Insurance Bureau to take the dispute as a condition when considering whether continue to invest on Nien-Hsing Stock or not, in case the Labor Retirement Fund would lose money.

  3. We demand Ministry of Foreign Affairs to concern the labor rights issues of Taiwanese investments in Nicaragua. It should stop its subsidy to Taiwanese businessmen abroad whenever the receiver violates the labor rights.

  4. We deeply request the Nien-Hsing company to reply the demands from the Nicaraguan workers before the end of Jan.

2001.04.16　TSNW went to Taiwan Textile Federation to raid the opening assembly of Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce in Central America with protest banners and slogans. (The chairman of Nien-Hsing is also the President of the Chamber of Commerce.)

2001.05.01 TSNW took part in the May Day labor march. When parading went pass the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building, we explained our demands to the joining crowds to reach the effect on publicizing the issue to the labor.

2001.05.10　The Nien-Hsing management eventually had an agreement with the union in Chentex factory. Some laid-off union leaders and members got back their jobs. Others could receive double lay-off pays and the wages during the dispute. The international solidarity led to the victory of this campaign. The Chentex union also promised that they would keep on strengthening the workers' organization in the workplace.

Home                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Contents