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Letter from Thai Labour Campaign to
Allies in Gratitude for Support for Almond Campaign
December 14th, 2001
Dear Friends,
On behalf of Thai Labour Campaign and the
Almond Labour Union, I am delighted to inform you that the
yearlong dispute between Almond Labour Union and management
has reached a settlement! After a long and difficult struggle,
Almond workers can finally claim justice and victory. 
I would like to thank you for your solidarity
and support of the Almond workers' struggle over the last
six months. As you most likely have heard, on December 2nd,
the Almond Labour Union and management reached an agreement
providing for the reinstatement of 40 fired unionists, the
dropping of all lawsuits brought by the company against
the union and other organizations, and, importantly, the
recognition by the company of the collective bargaining
rights of the union. Within three days of the union submitting
demands for collective bargaining, the company has pledged
to negotiate in good faith.
While Almond workers are excited and relieved
to be returning to work after a year of struggling to make
ends meet, the effects of this victory will spread beyond
Almond. Almond unionists can continue their active role
in the Thai labour movement. The withdrawal of the $1 million
lawsuit against the union and the $1.25 million lawsuit
against Thai Labour Campaign for damages due to the international
campaign is extremely important because it reaffirms Thai
Labour Campaign and the union's right to report on and publicize
the truth about repression in Thai factories. While it does
not guarantee that we will not be victim to future lawsuits,
for the time being, employers have received a message about
what awaits them if they violate these basic freedoms.
The success of the Almond campaign is owed
to the strong fight that Almond workers braved against a
repressive management and the pressure generated on Almond
and its buyers by our international allies. This agreement
was reached through strong and effective negotiation by
Fred Higgs, general secretary of the International Federation
of Chemical, Mine, Energy and General Worker's Union, of
which Almond is a member. The negotiations would not have
been successful without the tremendous role that ICEM, US
GLEP, Solidarity Center Thailand, the Campaign for Labour
Rights, New York City labor and religious groups and the
AFL-CIO played in generating pressure on Almond's buyers.
Additionally, we must recognize the impact of the thousands
of individuals who wrote postcards, made phone calls and
leafleted to call for justice for Almond workers.
Upon the implementation of the agreements
made by Almond's management, Thai Labour Campaign will end
its campaign on behalf of Almond workers and will make no
further appeals for action on this particular dispute. I
am tremendously proud to have collaborated together on this
campaign. We have transcended many borders to come together
in an effective struggle for justice and worker's rights.
In solidarity and Season's Greetings,
Junya Yimprasert
Coordinator
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