Goodyear Accused of Union Busting in Thailand

ICEM (the International Federation of Chemical, Energy Mining and General Workers’ Unions) has accused Goodyear of ‘union busting’ in Thailand. In a statement published on the union’s web site ICEM said it was “sharply critical” of labour practices being carried out by Goodyear Thailand Ltd, a subsidiary of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.

According to the union, the local management of the company’s 600-worker factory in Bangkok has systematically denied basic trade union rights to members and officers of the ICEM affiliated Petroleum and Chemical Workers’ Federation of Thailand (PCFT) union. On top of this, the union alleges that there are unfair contract procedures; wage disparities for workers performing similar tasks; and that union representatives have been unfairly dismissed for speaking out against management decisions. The union has taken its case before a Thai labour court. Further hearings are due to occur in late July.

“In March, managers fired the chairman of the Goodyear Thailand branch of the PCFT, Anan Pol-ung, for merely carrying out his lawful responsibilities in attempting to achieve social benefits for workers in the factory’s rubber stock division. Many of these employees have worked at the plant for over ten years, but are employed under one-year, fixed-term contracts that deny them the same benefits as permanent employees,” the ICEM statement read.

“We call on the company to immediately reinstate Brother Anan,” stated ICEM general secretary Fred Higgs. “His dismissal by local managers was a blatant attempt to remove an effective voice for workers.”

The 40-year-old Bangkok factory produces tyres for cars, light trucks and larger vehicles, including heavy trucks and construction equipment, and can manufacture up to 6,500 units per day.