INTERNATIONAL ANARCHISM:

SOLIDARITY WITH INDONESIAN PUNKS:

In the countries where anarchism is a tradition the idea of "anarchist subcultures" is definitely a peripheral matter. Even in countries where anarchism is not a large tradition but where historical memory has been preserved anarchists are well into moving beyond subcultures. But in countries such as Indonesia (and many others) anarchism is being introduced via the "punk subculture". This may not be the optimal way to introduce the ideology, but it is the way in reality.

In Indonesia the area of Aceh has become a testing ground for the Indonesian state insofar as they hope to trade federal tolerance of vicious Sharia law (amongst other matters) for the unity of Indonesia. Thus the religious nutters of this part of Indonesia are allowed to run riot providing they refrain from attacks on the central government. One of their high handed attacks has been to attack the punk subculture present even in this remote Islamist outpost. Here is the call from Indonesian punks/anarchists in A-Infos for solidarity with their struggle.

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Indonesia, Worldwide Solidarity with Aceh (anarcho-)Punks

64 young people were arrested at a punk concert in Banda Aceh on Saturday December 11th. A few days later they were taken to a police training school, where their hair was ritually shaved, their clothes and possessions were taken from them, they were forced to pray, and the Acehnese authorities stated that they would be held for 10 days for 're-education'.

Actions in support of the punks have taken place across Indonesia but also around the world as punk communities have responded to the news, after mainstream media outlets broadcast pictures of the mass detention.

---What happened in Aceh?---

After years of war and the devastation of the 2004 tsunami, a peace process was started which resulted in considerable autonomy for Indonesia's northernmost province. Former GAM fighters won the elections. One of the changes they brought in was a form of Islamic Sharia law, which is not enforced in any other part of Indonesia. Currently Aceh is in the run-up to new elections and different candidates are pitching their image to the public.

In nearly all parts of Indonesia there is a large punk scene. Many young homeless kids are attracted by the music and the lifestyle and can support each other in many ways, forming a subcultural community. Indonesian punks often earn a living by busking on buses or at traffic lights, and travel the country for free, hitch-hiking on the back of trucks. But at concerts, which are usually free or cheap and organised according to DIY ethics, people from all backgrounds come along.

The concert on 10th December 2011 was a benefit gig to raise money for orphans. Apparently the event started at about 3pm and it was supposed to continue into the night. but at 21.30, police climbed onto the stage and demanded that the event should finish. The people there tried to negotiate for the gig to continue, but the cops didn't seem to care.

Reacting to the cops' behaviour, the punks started singing a popular resistance song, Darah Juang (blood of struggle), but as it happened, that song seemed to provoke the anger of the cops who then started beating people and arresting them. The arrested punks were taken to the Seulawah National Police School one hour from Banda Aceh city. That's where their hair was shaved off and they were forced into the lake.

Punks in Aceh who weren't arrested have found it difficult to get any communication with their friends, because it seems they are in isolation.

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Punks in Indonesia React

Jakarta 17th December:

"Reacting to the repression in Aceh where 64 punks were arrested by Sharhia police, various punk groups from around Jakarta came together for a solidarity action with one demand: Full freedom for the 64 detained Aceh punks. The target of the action was the Provincial Government of Nanggroe Aceh Darusalam representative's building, and then finally at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle. The action started from Ismail Marzuki Park in front of the Jakarta Institute for the Arts (IKJ). At the HI traffic circle, several people cut their hair into a mohawk as an act of solidarity and a protest at the state's coercive attitude in repressing the arrested. We proclaim our full solidarity and encourage everyone, whether a punk or a sympathiser to get out and show your own solidarity.

Let the people who are behind the iron bars know that they will never be alone.” (translated from negasi blog)

Jakarta

- 19th December

"Solidarity actions against the arbitrary arrest of 64 punks and their detention labelled as reeducation by Aceh's sharia'h police have taken place in Jakarta once again. This time the target was the Indonesian Police headquaters (Mabes Polri) located at 3 Jalan Trunojoyo, south Jakarta. Around 100 people from various places joined this action to “Save the Aceh Punks” (from negasi blog)

In Makassar, Sulawesi, about 100 punks gathered at an abandoned department store on Monday afternoon (19th December) to prepare for a demonstration which took place two days later.

Around the world: Moscow:

“On December the 15th a group of anonymous punks from Moscow decided to act upon receiving news of brutal state repression of Indonesian punk-scene. We consider ourselves anarcho-punks and these news offended us in the deepest sense. We wont tolerate any religion to hold sway over living being’s freedom, especially over our subculture. Thus on the same evening we gathered to express our rage. We chose the Indonesian embassy as our target. For us solidarity starts on subcultural level. We feel that modern Russian anarchists pay too little attention to subcultures of resistance. We wish the news of our action to reach Indonesian comrades. We hope they will have their spirits soar after hearing that in such far-away country there are folks who feel solidarity with their struggle.

Punk is not a crime.

Religion is fascism.

Fight for your looks.”(from act for freedom now)

In London there was a demonstration outside the Indonesian embassy with 25+ people showing up.

In the United States there have been actions at the consulates in San Fransisco and Los Angeles.

Even in China, punks are collecting mixtapes to send over to Aceh when the punks get out.

Video Links:

Moscow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9cXpVqjsCw

Los Angeles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scwDvvwaI-0

Jakarta: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jY7-plnceJ0&amp

London: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go2GTu9WxL8

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR INDONESIA:
NESTLE WORKERS STRUGGLE FOR THEIR RIGHTS:


The following struggle for union representation has been going on for three years now, and the Nestlé corporation is unbending in its determination to prevent its Indonesian workers from having independent representation. Here's the story from the international union federation the IUF.
ILILILILIL

No more Nestlies!
Stop Discrimination and Union-busting at Nestlé Indonesia!
Nestlé is determined to stop the SBNIP, the union representing workers at its Indonesian Nescafé factory, from negotiating a collective agreement which includes wages. In response to pressure from the IUF, Nestlé has conceded the union's right to negotiate wages, but now insists that the union must bargain jointly with a 'Communication Forum' (FKBNIP) which the company itself created and supports in an attempt to undermine the legitimacy and membership of the SBNIP. The SBNIP rightly rejects bargaining jointly with a management-sponsored organisation. In April, Nestlé again imposed a unilaterally-determined wage system with no negotiations.

The struggle for basic trade union rights at Nestlé Panjang continues, and the SBNIP needs your support.
ILILILILIL
THE LETTER:
Please go to this link to send the following letter to Nestlé management.
ILILILILIL
To Paul Bulcke, CEO
Frits van Dijk, Executive Vice President, Zone AOA

CC Jean-Marc Duvoisin, Executive Vice President, Human Resources
Nigel Isherwood, Assistant Vice President, Human Resources, Zone AOA
Enrique Rueda, Corporate Employee Relations Manager
Arshad Chaudhry, Managing Director, Nestlé Indonesia

Dear Sirs,

Management at the Nescafé factory in Panjang, Indonesia, still denies the right of the SBNIP to negotiate wages through collective bargaining. SBNIP members face discrimination and pressure. I call upon Nestlé to fully respect trade union rights, stop fighting the SBNIP, stop promoting the company union and immediately engage in good faith collective bargaining negotiations with the SBNIP as the representative of the Panjang workers for collective bargaining.

Yours sincerely,

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-INDONESIA:

LUXURY BRANDS AND HORRIBLE CONDITIONS:

The following call for solidarity is from the international Clean Clothes Campaign. It's about conditions in an Indonesian factory where luxury clothes are made for fashion giants Polo Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger.

ILILILILILILIL

Luxury fashion brands leave Indonesian workers in the cold:
Polo Ralph Lauren, the upmarket US-based fashion giant, continues to ignore union repression and bad working conditions at one of its suppliers in Indonesia, the Mulia Knitting Factory near to Jakarta. The fashion house simply refuses to respond to the plight of workers who produce its garments.

Tommy Hilfiger, another buyer at the same clothing factory, has claimed that they have discussed the problems with the supplier, but the company has yet to take decisive action.

Following the establishment of the factory union SBGTS-GSBI in May 2007, the management of the Mulia Knitting Factory (MKF) organised a campaign to destroy the union by forcing all of its founding members to resign from the union or be removed from the factory. Unsafe and bad working conditions in the factory make the issue of workers' representation all the more urgent.

Although the national umbrella organisation GSBI has now managed to open up a direct dialogue with the MKF management, the latter remains unwilling to discuss matters related to freedom of association.

Support these Indonesian workers in their struggle. Send letters to Polo Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger today and forward this message to your friends. Your actions will make a difference! Take action now!

ILILILILILILIL
BACKGROUND

The CCC and its allies in Indonesia and in the US have undertaken intensive efforts to set up constructive dialogues with MKF's foreign buyers to support a solution to the problems at the clothing factory. Indonesian law, international labour standards and the fashion brands’ own codes of conduct protect the workers’ rights to form and join a union. But Polo Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger have done nothing to demonstrate that there is substance behind the claims in their codes.

Despite seven letters from the CCC and our allies and repeated phone calls, Polo Ralph Lauren's corporate social responsibility manager has refused to discuss the problems at MKF. Unfortunately, this is common practise for the designer of lavish lifestyle(this is a total aside- but I've always hated this word from the first time I heard it-Molly) products.

Although Polo Ralph Lauren actively promotes charities and philanthropic programmes, it refuses to mainstream ethical trade principles in its day-to-day operations. The company has been the defendant in a number of court cases involving discrimination and violations of labour rights.

After dragging its feet, Tommy Hilfiger now says it is committed to solving the problems in its supply chain. However, after more then six months, its efforts have not yielded any concrete results. This raises serious questions about Tommy Hilfiger's commitment to uphold the values laid down in their corporate Code of Conduct.

Support these Indonesian workers in their struggle. Send letters to Polo Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger today and forward this message to your friends. Your actions will make a difference!
LLLLLLLLLLLLLL
THE LETTERS:

Please go to THIS LINK to send the following letters to Polo Ralph lauren and Tommy Hilfiger.

LLLLLLLLLLLLLL
To Polo Ralph Lauren's CEO and its Senior Director of Global Compliance.

Dear Sir,

I have learned that workers at one of your suppliers, PT Mulia Knitting Factory (MKF) in Indonesia, have been denied their right to freedom of association. Founders and members of the SBGTS-GSBI workers' union, established at the factory in May 2007, have been forced to resign from the union or be removed from the factory.

Unsafe and bad working conditions in the factory make the issue of workers' representation all the more urgent.

As you know, with today's globalised production patterns, manufacturers and retailers who order their goods from suppliers worldwide are increasingly aware of their overall supply-chain responsibilities.

In this framework, I urge you to make sure that Polo Ralph Lauren does everything in its power to address the problems at your Indonesian supplier.

Specifically I urge you to use your influence and assure that MKF:

1 - offers immediate reinstatement to all workers who were wrongfully dismissed or transferred because of their refusal to disassociate themselves from SBGTS-GSBI. The reinstatement should include compensation for salary arrears since the date of their dismissal or transfer. The workers should be reemployed at their previous positions in the factory with no loss of seniority and no reduction in salary;

2 - respects the right of their workers to Freedom of Association, and issues a statement to the work force, verbally and in writing,stating that the factory will respect the rights of workers join any organisation of their choosing, be it an NGO or a labour union, and that no worker will be fired, demoted, transferred or the subject of retaliation of any other kind for the decision that he or she makes. In that statement, the MKF management must clarify that the legally registered SBGTS-GSBI union is considered a legitimate entity.

Rather than denying the CCC any chance at communication, I further urge you to see the Campaign as a possible partner, that has specific expertise in matters relating to worker rights and working conditions in the global textiles supply chains. Fashion companies that show a real willingness to respect the rights of the individuals who produce their clothes can count on the support and collaboration of the CCC in designing and implementing pragmatic solutions.

Hoping for your cooperation in bringing these matters to a swift resolution,

Yours sincerely,

LLLLLLLLLLLLLL
To Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Social responsibility managers in Europe and the US

Dear Madam, Sir,

I understand from information provided by the Clean Clothes Campaign that Tommy Hilfiger has dragged its feet rather than decisively acting on reports of serious labour-rights violations at one of your suppliers, PT Mulia Knitting Factory (MKF) in Indonesia.

Despite months of communications with the CCC, and despite Tommy Hilfiger's stated commitment to solving the problems at their supplier, your apparent efforts has not lead to any concrete results in the factory.

I have learned that workers at the factory have been denied their right to Freedom of Association. Founders and members of the SBGTS-GSBI workers' union, established at the factory in May 2007, have been forced to resign from the union or be removed from the factory.

Unsafe and bad working conditions in the factory make the issue of workers' representation all the more urgent.

As you know, with today's globalised production patterns, manufacturers and retailers who order their goods from suppliers worldwide are increasingly aware of their overall supply-chain responsibilities.

In this framework, I urge you to make sure that Tommy Hilfiger does everything in its power to address the problems at your Indonesian supplier.

Specifically I urge you to use your influence and assure that MKF:

1 - offers immediate reinstatement to all workers who were wrongfully dismissed or transferred because of their refusal to disassociate themselves from SBGTS-GSBI. The reinstatement should include compensation for salary arrears since the date of their dismissal or transfer. The workers should be reemployed at their previous positions in the factory with no loss of seniority and no reduction in salary;

2 - respects the right of their workers to Freedom of Association, and issues a statement to the work force, verbally and in writing,stating that the factory will respect the rights of workers join any organisation of their choosing, be it an NGO or a labour union, and that no worker will be fired, demoted, transferred or the subject of retaliation of any other kind for the decision that he or she makes. In that statement, the MKF management must clarify that the legally registered SBGTS-GSBI union is considered a legitimate entity.

Hoping for your cooperation in bringing these matters to a swift resolution,

Yours sincerely,

ILILILILILILIL

A LITTLE MOLLY ADDENDUM:

I doubt that I have ever entered any of the stores mentioned above. If I have seen them it is probable that I walked or drove faster to get past them. This, however, brings up the question of what happens to the "remainders" from the manufacturers who via slave labour supply these so-called quality luxury clothes. Quite frankly I wouldn't be surprised if the left-overs ended up at dollar stores throughout the world (Winnipeg is the world's capital of such outlets). The same stuff at 1/50th the price. It would be amusing to find out if this was true. For all I know I'm walking around with a "Tommy Lauren" set of undergitch as we speak. Bow down before my fashion sense.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-INDONESIA:

SOLIDARITY WITH INDONESIAN NESTLE WORKERS:

The following item is from the international union confederation, the IUF. There have been other items about Nestlé on this blog, both about labour matters and about food safety. As a worldwide corporation it is only appropriate that Nestlé poor behavior is also worldwide. In this case it is Indonesia.

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Urgent Action Nestlé Indonesia - Two Years and Nescafé Workers Still Waiting for the Right to Negotiate Wages!:
Since 2007, the union at Nestlé's Nescafé factory in Panjang, Indonesia has been struggling to negotiate two basic improvements to their contract. The union wants: wages to be negotiated through collective bargaining, and is asking for the wage scale to be included in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Nestlé management refuses, saying it is not company policy to negotiate wages and that wage scales are "confidential"! Rather than negotiate, Nestlé has attempted to undermine the union's legitimacy by intimidating members and leaders, attempting to establish a rival organization and pressuring workers to join it.

For two years, workers and their union have been standing up to company pressure - you can support them by sending a message to Nestlé, the world's largest food company, telling it to stop pressuring and start negotiating!
http://www.iuf.org/cgi-bin/campaigns/show_campaign.cgi?c=410

The situation at Nestlé Panjang is not unique. For growing numbers of Nestlé workers around the world, it's "Good Food - Good Life - Goodbye to Union Rights in the Workplace"
To learn more about Nestlé, Nespressure and the fight back, visit
http://www.iuf.org/nespressure/en/

LLLLLLLLLLLL

THE LETTER:

Please go to the campaign site link above to send the following letter to Nestlé management.

LLLLLLLLLLLL

To: Paul Bulcke, CEO

Frits van Dijk, Executive Vice President, Zone AOA
CC: Jean-Marc Duvoisin, Senior Vice President, Human Resources

Nigel Isherwood, Assistant Vice President, Human Resources, Zone AOA

Peter Vogt, Managing Director, Nestlé Indonesia
I am outraged to learn that management at the Nescafé factory in Panjang, Indonesia, refuses to respond constructively to proposals put forth by the union SBNIP to negotiate wages and to include the wage scale in the collective agreement. These are basic trade union rights set out in ILO Conventions, which Nestlé claims to uphold as part of the Corporate Business Principles.

Rather than negotiate, management has, over the course of almost 2 years, attempted to undermine the union's legitimacy by intimidating members and leaders and by promoting a rival organisation. Rather than negotiate, management has now sought to impose a settlement through the industrial court. This is precisely the kind of behaviour which has repeatedly involved Nestlé in action at the OECD for violation of its Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises.

It's past time for Nestlé to stop fighting the union, to fully respect its right to represent Panjang employees and immediately engage in good faith collective bargaining negotiations. I will continue to watch closely for signs of progress.
Yours sincerely,

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-INDONESIA:

SOLIDARITY WITH THE FARMERS OF PATI, JAVA:

The following is a news story from the Asian Anarchist Network. It concerns the struggle of local farmers in Pati Indonesia against the construction of a cement plant that would contaminate their water supply. the following has been slightly edited for English grammar.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Fight The Law: Solidarity!‏:
From: super samin

supersamin_inc@yahoo.com

Fight The Law: Solidarity!

SOLIDARITY: FREE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL FIGHTER FARMERS!

Once again we have to face another obstacle in stopping the corporations from destroying our environment, culture and economy. Together with the plan to built the cement factory in Pati, Central Java that caused lots of conflicts and problems among local people because the factory will be built on the North Kendeng Mountain where are most rivers and lakes are located, the authorities has arrested nine farmers and activists that joined the protest.

This rejection of the cement factory not only comes from Sukolilo's farmers but also the Sedulur Sikep community or as it used to be called Wong Samin, the local community being known in Javanese society as very wise and humble environment fighters.

But this effort now facing an obstacle related with the arrests of nine farmers and environment activists during their protest to close this cement factory.

The chronology of the events started Thursday morning, 22 January 2009 when the people tried to have a dialog with their village authority about the news of the selling of their land to the Semen Gresik, one day after they made posters with the statement that Our Land Belongs To Us because of zero response from their village authority regarding this news. Because the authorities seemed to refuse to meet them, they decide to block and close the road to the four survey cars from Semen Gresik that arrived that day. But then when the night came and there is was no news from the authorities about having that dialog with them, those people just sat and wait patiently without making any violence acts at all.

The situation got intense when 250 Brimob and Samapta suddenly moved towards the people that sat around the Semen Gresik's cars. They screamed and swore at the people while trying to make them move away from those cars violently. They kicked, hit, stepped on and threw woman and men that insisted on staying. Women and children screamed in panic. Then people started to fight back. Children, women, men and even elders throwing rocks towards those officers while the sound of gunshots filled the air. Thirteen police officers were wounded and three Semen Gresik's cars destroyed. Many people, men and women, being victims of those police's brutality. Video camera and digital camera belonging to our friends were also heavily damaged. Without having strong evidence the police then arrested those nine people. They are under arrest with accusation of violence, persuasion and doing unpleasant activities(Molly can only imagine the contents of this charge. Sorta like "disturbing the peace I guess). Among those nine people that being arrested there were Kamsi (65 yrs), Sunarto (52 yrs), Sudarto (48 yrs), Sukarman (26 yrs),Sutikno (26 yrs), Gunarto (25 yrs), Purwanto (22 yrs), Mualim (21 yrs) and Zainul (20 yrs).

These police brutality actions are still continuing after the arrest by physical and mental torture, by hitting those nine farmers on their heads, eyes and other parts of their bodies.

At present, those nine farmers are still under arrest at the Semarang Police Station, in central Java, waiting for their further trial. Therefore, in the name of our land and people's fight against those tyrants, we are calling out all of our friends out there to be actively involved on this solidarity effort.

Release our nine brothers from prison as soon as possible!

Stop the Semen Gresik project at Central Java right away!

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-INDONESIA:

OPPOSE BLACKLISTING AT ADIDAS SUPPLIERS IN INDONESIA:

The following story and appeal is from the Clean Clothes Campaign, and it concerns blacklisting of union activists at suppliers for Adidas in Indonesia.

.............................

New jobs for unfairly dismissed union leaders in Indonesia!‏:
Call on Adidas not to discriminate against union leaders and tore-employ union officials from the PT Spotec and PT Panarub suppliers.

Support the union leaders today and write to Adidas today!

Take action now at:

http://www.cleanclothes.org/urgent/09-02-11.htm#action

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Indonesian union members are desperately looking for new jobs as they appear to have been blacklisted at Adidas suppliers due to their labour rights activism. Since the closure of the PT Spotec and PT Dong Joe factories in November 2006, seven SBGTS union leaders have unsuccessfully been searching for permanent employment at the new Adidas supplier Ching Luh. And 33 SBGTS (earlier Perbupas) union members are still without jobs after being unfairly dismissed from the PT Panarub supplier in October 2005 in response to a strike.

In its code of conduct, Adidas ensures freedom of association. In reality, however, union members frequently face discrimination at Adidas suppliers; they increasingly report difficulties finding employment with Adidas. The CCC, therefore, asks Adidas to protect union members from discrimination and to assist the SBGTS union members to find employment.We call on Adidas to ensure freedom of association and to implement the Sector Wide Solutions for the sports shoe and apparel industry in Indonesia put forward by the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) and Oxfam Australia.

Since the shut-down of the Adidas suppliers PT Spotec and PT Dong Joe in November 2006, thousands of workers have been looking for decent work. After receiving more than 3000 letters from CCC activists across Europe and Australia, Adidas has made an effort to re-employ former workers at other suppliers. Of the 10.500 workers, 1285 have found jobs with Ching Luh, which took over production at the former PT Spotec factory. Although this is promising news, about 900 workers are still waiting for their applications to be processed. This includes the seven SBGTS union leaders who filed their applications in time. They are forced to take on precarious jobs despite years of experience making shoes for Adidas.Thus, Adidas suppliers appear to be discriminating against union leaders in an attempt to stop labour organising at their factories.

Similarly, about 30 union members formerly employed at the Adidas supplier PT Panarub have been seeking re-employment after being unfairly dismissed in October 2005. They had gone on strike to ask for higher wages and better working conditions, a right according to international labour standards and the Adidas code of conduct. International campaigning by the CCC and others resulted in a reasonable severance pay-out. However, the union members have not been able to find permanent employment despite repeated attempts with Adidas suppliers. -------------------------------------------------------------

Take Action!

Please write a mail to Adidas and urge them to

* actively engage for the SBGTS union members’ re-employment;
* ensure the right to organise and freedom of association at their
suppliers;
* implement the Sector-Wide Solutions for the sports shoe and apparel
industry in Indonesia.

Take action now at:

http://www.cleanclothes.org/urgent/09-02-11.htm#action

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THE LETTER:

Please go to the link above to send the following letter to Adidas management.

.............................

Frank Henke

Global Director of Social and Environmental Affairs

Adidas-Salomone-mail:

frank.henke@adidas.de


Dear Mr. Henke,
I am writing to express my concern regarding the ongoing discrimination against union officials and labour activists in Adidas supplier factories in Indonesia. Through the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) I learned that SBGTS union members have not been re-employed after the close-down of the PT Spotec factory in November 2006 and after being unfairly dismissed from the PT Panarub factory in October 2005.

I urge Adidas to re-employ the unfairly dismissed union leaders still looking for work. In accordance with the Adidas code of conduct, I urgently ask you to protect union members from discrimination and to ensure freedom of association at Adidas supplier factories. I urge Adidas to implement the Sector-Wide Solutions for the sports shoe and apparel industry in Indonesia put forward by the CCC and Oxfam Australia.

Since the shutdown of the PT Spotec factory in November 2006 seven SBGTS union leaders have been looking for jobs. In December 2007 they applied at the Adidas supplier Ching Luh taking over the production from PT Spotec. Despite their great work experience, they have not been given job interviews. I am concerned that they have been blacklisted. I urgently ask Adidas to ensure that their applications will be processed in a fair, transparent and speedy manner.

Similarly, about 30 union members formerly employed at the Adidas supplier PT Panarub have been waiting to be re-employed after being unfairly dismissed in October 2005. They had gone on strike to ask for higher wages and better working conditions which is their right according to international labour standards and the Adidas code of conduct. Despite various attempts with Adidas suppliers, they have not been able to find employment. Once again, I worry that they have been blacklisted. I therefore ask Adidas to assist the Panarub union leaders to find new jobs and, thus, protect union members from discrimination.

I very much hope to see Adidas take action, ensure freedom of association at its suppliers in Indonesia and implement the Sector-Wide Solutions for the sports shoe and apparel industry in Indonesia put forward by the CCC and Oxfam Australia.
Sincerely,

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR:

WORKERS VERSUS NESTLÉ ACROSS THE WORLD:

The recent struggle for trade union rights amongst Polish employees of Nestlé (see previous item here at Molly's Blog) is hardly the only one occurring across the globe, as the corporation's behavior is pretty well the same the world over. Here's a story from the IUF about some current struggles that their affiliates are waging against Nestlé in several countries.

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Indonesia, Peru, Brazil: Nestlé Workers Worldwide Demand Decent Work, Respect for Union Rights:

Share this article.

Union action is growing at Nestlé operations around the world as workers seek compensation for eroded purchasing power, a halt to growing casualization and respect for trade union rights, including the basic union right to collective bargaining with the world's largest food company.

On November 8, the IUF-affiliated Nestle Indonesia Workers Union - Panjang (SBNI-P) held another mass demonstration to raise public awareness of their struggle, this time in the heart of Lampung, Sumatra. The union has been struggling to negotiate a new collective agreement since late 2007. Management's response has been harassment, intimidation, forced transfers and threats against union officers. As they attempted in Perm, Russia, where international union pressure eventually forced management to back down, Nestlé is insisting that it cannot disclose (let alone negotiate!) the wage scale with the union for reasons of "commercial secrecy."

The IUF has submitted a complaint concerning Nestle Indonesia's consistently aggressive anti-union actions over the past year to the OECD National Contact Point in Nestlé's home country of Switzerland, since these practices breach the OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises.

In Peru, Nestlé management has also entered into conflict with the IUF's affiliate SUNTRANEP, which has been seeking to re-negotiate the collective agreement covering its membership at the Lima factory and the Chiclayo distribution centre since February of this year. The company has rejected the union's demand for a wage increase to cover inflation and intends to introduce new wage categories without negotiation, indicating that this has been imposed by Nestlé headquarters in Switzerland. In September, management attempted to entirely short-circuit the collective bargaining process by writing to the workers at home, urging them to accept the company's offer! Following numerous negotiating sessions, conciliation meetings and meetings under the auspices of the Ministry of Labour, a deadlock has been reached and the union is on strike.

In Brazil, IUF affiliated unions are mobilizing in support of their demand for a state-level agreement with Nestlé covering nine sites in the state of São Paulo. Hard hit by the rising cost of food and other necessities, the union demands include: a 40-hour workweek in all units: an end to contract and agency labour, with equal pay and conditions for all workers; and a real wage increase of 10%, with full compensation for losses due to inflation.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-INDONESIA:

HELP INDONESIA WORKERS FIRED FOR ORGANIZING AGAINST SEX DISCRIMINATION:

The following appeal is from the Clean Clothes Campaign, an international alliance for the improvement of working conditions in the garment industry.

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Polo Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger Supplier Sacks 19 Workers for Organising Against Sex Discrimination:

Join the Indonesian workers in their struggle to change the garment industry in Indonesia, and give them your support in this case.

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Over a year ago, 26 workers at the PT Mulia Knitting Factory in Jakarta, Indonesia formed a union to fight the factory's violation of their rights. The factory reportedly refused to pay female workers their pregnancy and miscarriage leave and failed to offer transportation for female workers after the night shift. In addition, the factory had failed to pay mandatory health and pension benefits, often did not provide adequate safety equipment and kept workers on precarious, temporary contracts.

As soon as the union leaders announced the formation of the SBGTS union to the factory management, the union president was suspended and three other union officials dismissed. Fifteen other union officials and members were called into the office, and given the choice between renouncing the union or being transferred to another factory, PT Spindo Mills, located 60 kilometers away. Although all workers kept reporting to the factory gates of PT Mulia Knitting Factory in the mornings, they were dismissed for not showing up at PT Spindo Mills. At the same time, the factory filed cases against the union for using the address of the factory in the union's letterhead (a common practice in Indonesia) and tried to make the Labour Ministry revoke the SBGTS official register number.

Since then, the union has been fighting for reinstatement and filed cases with the Labour Ministry and the Indonesian National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) to defend the right to freedom of association. On April 7, 2008 the Commission issued its recommendations after having met with both the union and PT MKF management, concluding that the union rights of the 19 workers who were dismissed after joining SBGTS had been violated. But when the union called on the local labour department to follow up on this recommendation, the local authorities, who are notoriously corrupt, disregarded the Commission's ruling and ruled in favour of the company. See also http://www.workersrights.org/ for the detailed Worker Rights Consortium's report of the violations at PT MKF.

Since the negative outcome of the local labour department's mediation, the situation remains in a deadlock. The company refuses to meet with the union and instead has sent its lawyers firm to deal with the severance payment for all the nineteen dismissed workers.

The CCC has contacted the buyers of the factory and requested their joint action in support of the freedom of association. While one of the buyers, Phillips van Heusen, has pushed for reinstatement of the 19 workers, and tried to get the other buyers on board, Tommy Hilfiger and Polo Rauph Lauren have sat idly by while the 19 workers struggle to feed their families. Polo Ralph Lauren has never responded to CCC. Tommy Hilfiger informed the CCC that it had conducted an audit in January 2008, but it refrained from speaking to the workers involved and instead only consulted the management-backed union, SPSI. Tommy Hilfiger refused to take any follow-up action to date.

Unfortunately this case stands not on his own, and time and again, urgent cases of labour violations in Indonesia reveal the abuse of short-term labour contracts and the pervasive infringement on workers' freedom of association, their right to organize and bargain collectively. The Clean Clothes Campaign and Oxfam Australia call on all brands sourcing from Indonesia, and in particular Tommy Hilfiger and Polo Ralph Lauren, to implement sector-wide solutions to ensure that workers in Indonesia are guaranteed their rights and are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. See "Sector-Wide Solutions for the Sports Shoe and Apparel Industry in Indonesia."

Join the Indonesian workers in their struggle to change the garment industry in Indonesia, and give them your support in this case by writing to Tommy Hilfiger and Polo Ralph Lauren to ensure that their supplier:
***Immediately reinstates the 19 workers at their previous positions (including rights and length of service) with payment of the outstanding wages and social premiums since the date of dismissal/suspension/transfer.
***Respects the right to freedom of association and recognizes SBGTS-GSBI as one of the unions at PT MKF, including respecting the rights of SBGTS-GSBI to organize members within the factory. Intimidation and criminalisation of PT MKF workers who are willing to join the SBGTS-GSBI union should be ceased immediately.
***Proactively adopts and posts a "Freedom of Association Policy" for all their facilities, which includes the statement that management will not use transfers/ demotions/ or promotions as a means to deter a worker from affiliating and/or participating in the union of their choice.
***Meets in person with SBGTS-GSBI to resolve the outstanding labour issues
***Pays wages to the 19 dismissed workers while the legal process runs its course.
Sample letter

Please go to THIS LINK to send the following letter to the corporate executives named below...
Polo Ralph Lauren

David Uricoli , Senior Director of Global Compliance

E-mail: duricoli@poloralphlauren.com
Tommy Hilfiger

Anouk von Meyenfeldt , VP/General Counsel

Email: compliance@tommy.com
Dear
I want to express my deep concern about the dismissal of 19 union members at your supplier PT Mulia Knitting Factory in May 2007. The Clean Clothes Campaign has informed me that those workers were suspended, transferred and dismissed immediately after they announced the formation of their union. This infringement of their right to Freedom of Association is not only a clear violation of the Indonesian labour law, but also of your company's code of conduct and ILO labour standards.I therefore urge you to immediately call upon your supplier, and ensure:
***the immediate reinstatement of the 19 union members with payment of the outstanding wages since the date of dismissal, suspension and or transfer ;
***full compliance with the workers' right to freedom of association and recognition of the union SBGTS, including a public statement that PT MKF will not use transfers/ demotions/ or promotions as a means to deter a worker from affiliating and/or participating in the union of their choice.
***a meeting in person with SBGTS to resolve outstanding labour issues. payment of wages to the 19 dismissed workers while the legal process runs its course.

Sincerely yours,

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-INDONESIA/SPAIN:

SOLIDARITY WITH INDONESIAN HOTEL WORKERS:

Molly has mentioned this campaign before, but there has been a renewed call for solidarity with workers employed at the Jakarta Gran Melia Hotel in Indonesia, owned by the Spanish hotel chain Gran Melia. The IUF is a worldwide union confederation united people employed in service industries in many countries. Here is their appeal.

..................................

Stop Repression of Workers Rights at Jakarta Hotel Gran Melia! :
Major Spanish-based hotel chain Sol Melia has moved to squash workers' rights in their flagship Indonesian hotel, the Jakarta Gran Melia. In 2005 the hotel signed a collective agreement with the IUF-affiliated SPM Gran Melia, but management has systematically refused to implement what they've signed and agreed to. Management has targeted union members, officers and activists for dismissal, withheld money owed the union from the dues checkoff and service charge, barred union representatives from the premises and installed invasive and humiliating surveillance equipment in order to intimidate the union and its members. You can support the union's ongoing struggle by writing to Sol Melia CEO Gabriel Escarrer, using the form below.

THE LETTER:

PLEASE GO TO THIS LINK TO SEND THE FOLLOWING LETTER IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH:

Señor Director:

Me dirijo a usted para expresarle mi profunda preocupación por los atropellos a los derechos de los trabajadores/as y del sindicato en el Gran Meliá de Yakarta. En el año 2005, el hotel suscribió un convenio con la organización sindical SPM Gran Meliá, pero ese convenio negociado no ha sido respetado. Los miembros y dirigentes sindicales han sido víctimas de despidos discriminatorios y la gerencia ha retenido el Fondo de Asistencia Social y las cuotas sindicales deducidas por el empleador. En lugar de negociar, la gerencia instaló una vigilancia sistemática mediante videos de los miembros y de las actividades del sindicato, en un evidente intento de intimidar al sindicato e impedir que funcione libremente.

Le recomiendo encarecidamente que usted actúe de inmediato para asegurarse que la gerencia del Gran Meliá de Yakarta suspenda todas las medidas represivas y entable negociaciones inmediatas de buena fe con el sindicato, a los efectos de resolver todos los asuntos pendientes. De no hacerlo así, habrá de perjudicar inevitablemente la imagen y reputación del Gran Meliá de Yakarta y de todas las marcas de Sol Meliá.

Atentamente,

.............................

Dear Sir

I write to express my deep concern over abuses of worker and trade union rights at the Jakarta Gran Melia. In 2005 hotel management signed an agreement with the SPM Gran Melia union, but that negotiated agreement has not been respected. Union members and officers have been the victims of discriminatory dismissals, and management has withheld the Welfare Fund and dues checkoff. Rather than negotiating, management has installed systematic video surveillance of the union's members and activities in a clear effort to intimidate the union and prevent it from functioning freely.

I urge you to act immediately to ensure that Jakarta Gran Melia management ceases all anti-union measures and enters into immediate, good faith negotiations with the union to resolve all outstanding issues. Failure to do so will inevitable damage the image and reputation of the Gran Melia Jakarta and all Sol Melia brands.

Sincerely

.............................

To participate in other IUF campaigns, please click here: http://www.iuf.org/cgi-bin/campaigns/currentcampaigns.pl

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-INDONESIA/SPAIN:

SOLIDARITY WITH INDONESIAN HOTEL WORKERS:

The following appeal is from the IUF, an international union representing workers in services industries in many countries of the world.

............................

Is the sun setting on workers' rights at Sol Melia Indonesia?

Share this article.

The major Spanish-based hotel chain Sol Melia has moved to squash workers' rights in their flagship Indonesian hotel, the Jakarta Gran Melia.

In 2005 the hotel signed a collective agreement with the IUF-affiliated SPM Gran Melia, but management has systematically refused to implement key parts of the agreement they signed. Harsh dismissals, attacks on union rights

When the union sought to secure implementation of the agreement (for example the negotiated health and pension plans), the company responded with discriminatory dismissals targeting union members, officers and activists. Twelve union members, however, have refused to accept their forced dismissal from the company and have chosen to fight for their rights. Management's response has been to bar union representatives from the premises and to withhold from the union dues collected through the checkoff system.

Surveillance of union activities and officers

The company has also installed many CCTV surveillance cameras aimed at the union and its representatives. These measures are clearly designed to intimidate the union and its members - a pattern of repression of basic rights going back to 2005.

How you can help!

Sol Melia is a highly visible global brand in the global tourism market. The Sol Melia Group operates over 300 hotels in 27 countries, mostly in Spain, Latin America and the Caribbean. The flagship brands are Meliá, Sol and Tryp Hotels, followed by Paradisus Resorts, Sol Meliá Vacation Club, and Luxury Hotel.

Tell Sol Melia how you feel about their treatment of workers at the Gran Melia in Jakarta. Tell them to respect the collective agreement their hotel management has signed. Management must allow the union to function freely, reinstate the twelve unfairly dismissed union members and stop harassing the union through surveillance and other measures.

Click here to send a message to Sol Melia's CEO and join our campaign in support of these courageous Indonesian hotel workers. Copies of your messages will be automatically sent to the IUF.

Use the link above or go HERE to send the following letter to the management of Sol Melia.

THE LETTER:

Señor Director:
Me dirijo a usted para expresarle mi profunda preocupación por los atropellos a los derechos de los trabajadores/as y del sindicato en el Gran Meliá de Yakarta. En el año 2005, el hotel suscribió un convenio con la organización sindical SPM Gran Meliá, pero ese convenio negociado no ha sido respetado. Los miembros y dirigentes sindicales han sido víctimas de despidos discriminatorios y la gerencia ha retenido el Fondo de Asistencia Social y las cuotas sindicales deducidas por el empleador. En lugar de negociar, la gerencia instaló una vigilancia sistemática mediante videos de los miembros y de las actividades del sindicato, en un evidente intento de intimidar al sindicato e impedir que funcione libremente.

Le recomiendo encarecidamente que usted actúe de inmediato para asegurarse que la gerencia del Gran Meliá de Yakarta suspenda todas las medidas represivas y entable negociaciones inmediatas de buena fe con el sindicato, a los efectos de resolver todos los asuntos pendientes. De no hacerlo así, habrá de perjudicar inevitablemente la imagen y reputación del Gran Meliá de Yakarta y de todas las marcas de Sol Meliá.
Atentamente,

Dear Sir
I write to express my deep concern over abuses of worker and trade union rights at the Jakarta Gran Melia. In 2005 hotel management signed an agreement with the SPM Gran Melia union, but that negotiated agreement has not been respected. Union members and officers have been the victims of discriminatory dismissals, and management has withheld the Welfare Fund and dues checkoff. Rather than negotiating, management has installed systematic video surveillance of the union's members and activities in a clear effort to intimidate the union and prevent it from functioning freely.

I urge you to act immediately to ensure that Jakarta Gran Melia management ceases all anti-union measures and enters into immediate, good faith negotiations with the union to resolve all outstanding issues. Failure to do so will inevitable damage the image and reputation of the Gran Melia Jakarta and all Sol Melia brands.
Sincerely

INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-INDONESIA:

'THE PLATFORM' TRANSLATED INTO INDONESIAN:

Word is out on the "anarcho-net", from the Asian Anarchist Network, to A-Infos to Anarkismo, that 'The Organizational Platform of the General Union of Anarchists' has now been translated into Indonesian. To Molly's knowledge (I might be wrong) this means that the translation will also be "generally" comprehensible to people in Malaysia as well. The translator can be reached at yerry.nikholas@gmail.com , and the translation itself can be seen and downloaded at:

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddx6xxb4_108hhmzpwgt and

http://www.anarkismo.net/newswire.php?story_id=9309

Molly has reported on the recent development of an anarchist movement in Indonesia earlier this year (see 'Anarchist Activity in Indonesia'-March 9,2008; 'Arrests of Anarchists at Mayday Parade in Jakarta'-May 5, 2008 and 'Mayday in Jakarta'- May 11, 2008). It's hard to overestimate the importance of developments such as this. First of all, the growing geographic spread of anarchists ideas. In its classic phase anarchism did indeed have strong movements outside of the Romance language world (Russia, Bulgaria, Japan, China, Korea and even Germany, amongst others), but its world influence was very much geographically restricted. Today new groups keep popping up both in areas that have an anarchist history and in others where the idea falls upon "virgin ground". This is a healthy development, not just for the "number counters", but also for those who realize the importance of cross-cultural exchange in the deepening of the anarchist idea. The anarchist project is hardly a closed book where everything of any importance has already been written.

The translation of a document such as 'The Platform' is also an important matter. Not that I think it is such a great document. Not that I am a "platformist" either. Not that I think it describes the state of modern "neo-platformism" without so many caveats, hedges and "not-withstanding-clauses" as to be totally non-descriptive of what modern platformism is all about. What is important is that it presents the adult ideas of anarchism to a huge audience, in contrast to the juvenile rantings (mostly centred in the USA) of such things as "primitivism", "post-left anarchism" or "post-anarchism". However much I may disagree with platformism I have to recognize it as an intellectual current with "substance" rather than half-baked slogans. It's important not only that the name of anarchism spreads but also that the substance of what anarchism has always been about spreads as well. This translation is to be greatly welcomed as the beginning of a long discussion amongst our Indonesian comrades.

Want to keep up with this ? Events from Indonesia are regularly reported on the Asian Anarchist Network. Despite the language difficulties the Jakarta Indymedia (a real anarchist Indymedia in contrast to many others) and the Pustaka Otonomis website are well worth visiting. The latter quite impressed me even though I couldn't read more than the "international words" on the site. It shows a very high level of sophistication, both technically and theoretically. Many good wishes to the comrades.

INDONESIA:

MAYDAY IN JAKARTA:

Back on May 5 Molly passed on a notice from the Asian Anarchist Network about anarchist May Day demonstrations and arrests in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. Photos were promised. Here are a couple of them. You can view them all at http://jakarta.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=1799 . Once more very satisfying to see anarchism popping up in places where it doesn't have a long tradition.

INDONESIA:

ARRESTS OF ANARCHISTS AT MAYDAY PARADE IN JAKARTA:

A correspondent for the Asian Anarchist Network reports that "hundreds of anarchists, punks and anti-authoritarians were arrested on the May Day parade in Jakarta". A visiting Polish anarchist was also reportedly arrested and deported. Further details and photos will follow on the AAN.

INDONESIA:

CLEAN CLOTHES CAMPAIGN:

CALL ON ADIDAS TO IMPROVE ITS PERFORMANCE IN INDONESIA:

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Call on Adidas to Improve its Performance in Indonesia‏
URGENT ACTION NEEDED

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Call on Adidas to Improve its Performance in Indonesia, Re-Employ Mistreated Workers

In its glossy and well-designed publications, Adidas expresses its commitment to improving its social and environmental performance,acknowledging its responsibility to "take action and encourage others in our supply chain to take action if we are to make a difference and become a sustainable business." Now is the time for Adidas to take action in Indonesia, where systemic violations of international labour standards--like those at Adidas suppliers PT Spotec and PT DongJoe--profoundly affect the lives and well-being of workers.

Take action now at: http://www.cleanclothes.org/urgent/08-04-09.htm#action

Time and again, urgent cases of labour violations in Indonesia reveal the abuse of short-term labour contracts; irresponsible and illegal treatment of workers during factory closures; and the pervasive infringement on workers’ freedom of association, their right to organize and bargain collectively. The Clean Clothes Campaign and Oxfam Australia call on Adidas to implement sector-wide solutions to ensure that workers in Indonesia are guaranteed their rights and are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. (See "Sector-Wide Solutions for the Sports Shoe and Apparel Industry in Indonesia":http://www.cleanclothes.org/ftp/080320_Sector-Wide_Solutions_in_Indonesia.pdf)

As a first step toward improving its performance in Indonesia, Adidas must make amends for the serious mistreatment of workers at its former suppliers, PT Dong Joe and PT Spotec. In November 2006, 10,500 workers at PT Dong Joe and PT Spotec suddenly found themselves out of a job when the factories abruptly closed. To make matters worse, workers did not receive their severance and other entitlements for many months, leaving them with nothing. Full entitlements have still not been paid to all workers.

Now, with Adidas guaranteeing a placement of orders, the PT Spotec factory will re-open under new ownership as Ching Luh. Adidas must uphold its commitment to a fair and transparent process that gives priority hiring to the workers whose wages were stolen and whose rights were so egregiously denied.

Send a letter to Adidas demanding fair treatment for former PT Dong Joe and PT Spotec workers and implementation of "Sector-Wide Solutions in Indonesia," detailed by the CCC and Oxfam-Australia. Go tohttp://www.cleanclothes.org/urgent/08-04-09.htm#action or use this Sample letter:

Frank Henke Global Director of Social and Environmental Affairs

Adidas-Salomon

e-mail: frank.henke@adidas.de

Dear Mr. Henke,

I am writing to ask you to address fundamental problems in Indonesian working conditions by implementing the "Sector-Wide Solutions" put forward by Oxfam Australia, the Clean Clothes Campaign and an international network of labour rights and consumer groups.

Although workers in Indonesia have witnessed relative gains in labour standards during the past decade, systemic violations of international labour standards have become obvious. Time and again, urgent cases of labour violations in Indonesia reveal the abuse of short-term labour contracts; irresponsible and illegal treatment of workers during factory closures; and the pervasive infringement on workers’ freedom of association, their right to organize and bargain collectively.

Adidas’ implementation of the Sector-Wide Solutions will help guarantee that Indonesian workers are free to exercise their fundamental rights and are treated in accordance to Indonesian law and international labour standards.

As a first step towards taking responsibility for workers in your supply chain, Adidas must make amends for the unlawful and unethical treatment of workers at its suppliers PT Dong Joe and PT Spotec. In November 2006, both factories abruptly closed and 10,500 workers were laid off. To make matters worse, workers did not receive their severance and other entitlements for many months, leaving them with nothing. Full entitlements have still not been paid to all workers.

Adidas and the management of PT Spotec and PT Dong Joe should ensure that workers receive their full legal entitlements. Now that the PT Spotec factory is set to re-open as Ching Luh, Adidas has the chance to make amends for the injustice done to workers who make its products.Adidas should uphold its commitment to a fair and transparent process that gives former workers of PT Spotec and PT Dong Joe priority in hiring.

I look forward to your response and hope that you will take concrete measures to "improve your performance" in Indonesia.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME