Garment strike threatened

Photo by: Heng Chivoan

A woman walks past the June Textiles company in Phnom Penh’s Sen Sok district today.

via CAAI

Sunday, 13 February 2011 21:07 Mom Kunthear

More than 3,000 garment workers at the June Textile Company have threatened to go on strike next week if demands to fire two high-ranking factory managers are not met in a letter addressed to the company on Saturday.

Chea Vanneath, a representative of the workers, said today that employees had affixed their thumbprint to the letter, which was sent to the company and Chea Mony, president of the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

The letter accuses Meng Try, administrative director, and Ung Sokret Sothea, information technology manager, of firing workers without cause, altering workers’ union affiliations and creating forged documents to claim a percentage of workers’ salaries.

“If [the company doesn’t] fire the officials, we will have a big protest next Saturday,” Chea Vanneath said.

Chea Mony said today that he had urged the workers to suspend their protest in order to give the company time to find a solution.

“I have not set a date for a meeting with the company yet, because they are busy. The company should suggest a date, but if it ignores us, we will send another letter setting a meeting date,” Chea Mony said.

Meng Try and Ung Sokret Sothea could not be reached for comment today.