06-05-2009 International Metalworkers Federation: Rights abuses escalate at Toshiba Indonesia

Excerpt from the IMF website:

Workers on strike for recognition of their collective bargaining agreement face police attacks and mass terminations.

INDONESIA: The situation for more than 700 members of IMF-affiliate Federasi Serikat Pekerja Metal Indonesia (FSPMI), on strike at PT Toshiba Consumer Products Indonesia, intensified yesterday as police and 30 hired thugs attacked strikers outside the company gates.

FSPMI members have been on strike since April 16 after the company refused to recognize the collective labour agreement signed both by the union and management. Toshiba Indonesia also fired 15 elected trade union leaders at the plant despite stern recommendations from the Indonesian government to withdraw threats of employment termination.

On April 24, the company sent a letter to all employees saying that those who take part in the strike action will be terminated. Since that time the company has shut down production and stopped health insurance coverage to all strike participants.