Sales at
Nestlé,
the world’s largest food company, last year topped 110 billion Swiss francs, leaving the competition in the shade. Sales keep growing, and profits with them. A leading moneymaker is the company's
Nespresso.
But for many Nestlé workers around the world, growing profits translate into growing
pressure
from management on their wages, conditions and rights. We call it
Nespressure
– squeezing workers, violating workplace rights.
May 10, 2012
IUF Congress to launch 'We are the 53!' campaign as next stage in global fight for justice for fired Nestlé Indonesia unionists
Nestlé, the world's largest food corporation (which just became bigger with the acquisition of Pfizer's infant nutrition division), has an advertisement for every product, a corporate social responsibility routine for every occasion, a presentation for every financial analyst and an answer to every question save one. Nestlé cannot explain how its professed commitment to human rights squares with the treatment inflicted on union members at its Nescafé factory in Panjang, Indonesia.
Nestlé Nicaragua - pressure on women workers, high rate of job-related injuries
Workers at Nestlé Nicaragua, most of whom are women, complain that continuous pressure on the workforce is producing a continuous rise in occupational illnesses and injuries.
'Continuous excellence' or more dubious claims in Nestlé's sustainability reporting?
Nestlé watchers on the company's mailing list may be puzzled by the fate of the message they received on April 12 entitled "Nestlé receives GRI A+ rating for Creating Shared Value report. The original article claimed that Nestlé had received an A+ rating from the Global Reporting Initiative for its 2011 'Creating Shared Value Report'." That claim is no longer made - apparently the communications folks at Nestlé were apprised that the GRI awards no ratings.
On Mayday Swiss unions demand to “Stop Nespressure!”
On Mayday in Switzerland, many union members showed their solidarity with the struggle of workers who are fighting for their rights at the factories of Swiss multinational company Nestle in Pakistan and Indonesia.
Mayday in Indonesia and Pakistan: Solidarity with Nestle workers growing
On the international worker' solidarity day, workers of the Nestle factories in Kabirwala, Pakistan and Panjang, Indonesia, staged another protest against the policies of their company, disregarding the rights of workers to permanent employment and to participate in union activities. These two plants are separated by thousands of kilometers, but in spite of this, workers are united in their demands addressed to the company: stop the pressure on workers, stop the pressure on the unions!
Committed to win! Workers continue to fight for their rights in Panjang
Workers continue fighting for their rights at Nestle Panjang plant. A new series of actions was organised by SBNIP to demand Nestle to reinstate the 53 dismissed union members.
April 19, 2012
Nestle, put people before profits - Stop Nerspressure!
On April 19, the day when Nestle shareholders gathered in Lausanne for their annual meeting, Nestle workers in Panjang continued their fight for reinstatement of the dismissed union activists in Panjang. Almost every day, supported by their families and workers from other plants, members of SBNIP union protest against unfair labour practices and violations of workers’ rights by one of the largest multinational companies.
Russia Kit Kat workers in solidarity with Indonesia and Pakistan Nestle workers
April 18, 2012 workers of Nestle Perm plant, which produce Kit Kat chocolate bars showed their solidarity with struggling workers in Indonesia and Pakistan. Earlier, the union wrote to Nestle global management, demanding the end to violations of union rights at Nescafe plant in Panjang and to give permanent jobs to the dairy plant workers in Kabirwala. The response of the company was far from satisfying and workers decided to go out and express their outrage over the company's irresponsible stand on labour relations.
April 14, 2012
Solidarity actions with Nestle workers spread around the world: leafleting in Liege
On April 14 members of FGTB Horval union distributed leaflets in front of the Nespresso boutique at the place de la Cathédrale in Liege, Belgium. The aim of the action was to show solidarity with Nestle workers in Pakistan and Indonesia and to attract attention to the outrageous behavior of Nestle managers in the long on-going labor disputes.
Arrest warrant issued for Nestlé Pakistan labour contractor as shareholders prepare to meet in Switzerland
As Nestlé shareholders prepare for the annual shareholder meeting on April 19 Nestlé watchers should note that on April 6 a court in Kabirwala, Pakistan issued an arrest warrant for a manager named Jahangir at the labour contractor which has been supplying hundreds of contract workers under abusive conditions to Nestlé's milk factory in the town.
STOP Nespressure: Moscow unions stand up for the rights of Nestle workers in Indonesia and Pakistan
Members of the Agro-Industrial Workers’ Union and the Confederation of Labour of Russia held a demonstration in front of the Nespresso boutique in the center of Moscow to demand a halt of all violations of the workers’ rights in Indonesia and Pakistan.
New York City hotel workers say 'Stop Nespressure!'
Members of New York City's Hotel and Motel Trades Council turned out in force for a spirited action at Nestlé's Nespressure boutique on Madison Avenue on Manhattan's trendy Upper East Side on March 30. Some 60 union members chanted, distributed hundreds of 'Stop Nespressure' leaflets and residents and tourists about Nestlé's violations of trade union rights in Indonesia and Pakistan.
Struggle continues with protest camp at Nestlé Pakistan
More than 300 workers took part in an all day protest camp on March 28 to highlight their determination to continue the struggle at Nestlé's Kabirwala milk factory until all contract workers who have claimed their employment rights are given permanent jobs.
Stop Nespressure! Chain of solidarity actions at Nestlé plants in India
Nespressure actions in support of struggles in Pakistan and Indonesia were held by unions at the Nestlé Ponda and Nestlé Bicholim plants in Goa where major brands such as Kit Kat and Maggi are manufactured, and the Nescafe factory in Nanjangud in Southern India. The unions are members of the Federation of All India Nestlé Employees.
Leafleting in Moscow: Russian union activists support Nestlé workers struggle in Indonesia and Pakistan
News about Nestle workers campaign for trade union rights and secure employment is spreading around the world. On March 26, activists of IUF affiliated Agro Industrial Workers' Union were leafleting customers at the Nespresso boutique in Moscow. Earlier, following protest messages of Nestle workers from Perm and Timashevsk the union president Natalia Agapova has written to the company, demanding reinstatement of the dismissed union members in Panjang, Indonesia, and full employment for precarious dairy workers in Kabirwala, Pakistan.
March 26, 2012
SBNIP campaign continues: Nestlé, reinstate the 53!
Almost every day workers from various plants in Panjang come to support their brothers and sisters, which are demanding reinstatement of unfairly dismissed 53 union members at Nescafe plant.
Nestlé's 'New Reality' looks a lot like the old - squeezing workers to squeeze out cash
Nestlé's recently published Annual Report for 2011, introduced by the familiar 'Fellow Shareholder' letter, seeks to engage readers (who in any event will skip the hype and head for the hard figures) by alerting them up front to a 'New Reality'. For workers, however, the New Reality looks like more of the same, with rights under attack to generate cash for the investor payout.
South Korea: Nestlé workers demand “Stop Nespressure!”
On 20 March 2012, the Nestlé Korea Labour Union (NKLU) officers and delegates meeting issued a statement urging Nestlé Indonesia and Pakistan to stop putting pressure on the workers. The statement says that an attack against one Nestlé worker is an attack on all Nestlé workers around the world. NKLU furthermore urged Nestlé to reinstate all fired SBNIP members immediately, enter into negotiations and drop all charges against the Kabirwala contract workers and negotiate with the union concerning the employment status of these workers.
Turkish union shows solidarity with Nestle workers in Pakistan and Indonesia, calls to Stop Nespressure!
On March 16 members of the food workers’ union of Turkey, Tekgıda-Is, read out a press statement in front of the Nespresso boutique in Istanbul in solidarity with the workers and denouncing the unfair dismissal of workers by Nestlé management in Indonesia and Pakistan. At this symbolic international solidarity action, the union stated that the workers in Pakistan and Indonesia are not alone. Tekgida-Is called on Nestlé management to stop violating the rights of workers and unions and to end its anti-union and unlawful practices, emphasizing that Nestlé cannot operate its business in Pakistan and Indonesia as if colonialism still existed. On behalf of the union movement in Turkey, Tekgida-Is committed to continue its international solidarity actions and won’t be silent in the face of the violations against their sisters and brothers in Pakistan and Indonesia.
March 16, 2012
Deputies call on Geneva government to Stop Nespressure!
Nestlé’s violations of trade union rights invaded the normally placid proceedings of the Geneva cantonal government council on March 15, 2012 when deputies were called on to debate a resolution calling for action to support the union struggle in Indonesia and Pakistan.
Shop stewards at Nestlé's UK operations, frustrated by the lack of progress in resolving disputes involving major rights violations at Nestlé's Indonesian and Pakistan operations, have stepped up pressure for Nestlé to move decisively to resolve these situations.
Solidarity across borders: dairy industry workers in India demand Stop Nespressure!
On March 11, 2012, unions from eight major dairy producing states across India attending the national Dairy Employees Federation of India (DEFOI) conference held a protest action against union-busting and mass termination at Nestle Panjang, Indonesia, and the brutal treatment of contract workers at Nestle Kabirwala in Pakistan, Nestle's largest milk collection plant in the world. The unions pledged to continue "STOP Nespressure" protest actions in their states.
Women workers' day in Indonesia: anger against Nestle is growing, women workers demand to reinstate 53 union members in Panjang, solidarity actions in five cities
On International Women's Day, Indonesia was hit by demonstrations in solidarity with Nestle Panjang workers in five major cities. In Bandar Lampung (capital of Lampung Province, South Sumatera), Jakarta (capital of Indonesia), Bandung (capital of West Java), Yogyakarta (Special Region in Central Java), and in Denpasar (capital of Bali Province) hundreds of women workers participated in the events with one common demand: Stop Nespressure, Reinstate the 53!
International Womens Day in Pakistan features Nestle labour policy's negative impact on workers' families
The negative impact of Nestlé's irresponsible labour policies on workers' families was one of the main themes on March 8, 2012 at the international women's day event organised jointy by NGOs and trade unions in Karachi and at a seminar, led by the Women Workers’ Federation and NFFBTW in Multan. Both meetings called on Nestlé to end the discriminating practices against casual workers and union members at the enterprises of the corporation.
Australian seafarers, dockers say Stop Nespressure!
The Maritime Union of Australia, representing seafarers, dockers and port workers, showed its solidarity with the struggles of Nestlé workers in Indonesia and Pakistan by adopting a strong support resolution at the organization's annual conference in Sydney on March 2.
Mass rallies in Panjang and Jakarta demand: Stop Nespressure! Reinstate the 53 workers at Panjang factory! Recognize and respect union rights!
The rallies of workers in Panjang and Jakarta continued on February 21, 2012. Each time more and more workers express their outrage by corporate irresponsibility of Nestlé and show solidarity with the unfairly dismissed union members at Nescafé plant. In Lampung more than 300 workers surrounded Nescafé Panjang Factory from 9 am to 4 pm. At the same time, other 300 workers gathered for a big manifestation in the centre of Jakarta City.
Workers surrround Nescafé factory in Panjang to demand reinstatment of 53 union members
Support for Nescafé workers is growing. On February 20, 2012, members of Umas Jaya, Kirin Miwon and Philip Food Workers' Union joined the protest action in front of the factory. All together more than 300 people surrounded the plant from 9 am to 2 pm. They convey a very firm and strong message to the company - the 53 workers and their families REFUSE TO SURRENDER! They are committed to speak out loud to defend their rights and dignity. The wives and children of unfairly dismissed workers came to join the protest and firmly demanded reinstatement of their husbands and parents.
Nestlé workers in Australia join the Stop Nespressure campaign to demand: Stop squeezing workers, suppressing rights!
Outraged by the violation of worker and trade union rights in Panjang, Indonesia, and Kabirwala, Pakistan, members of the IUF-affiliated National Union of Workers (NUW) working at Nestle's Uncle Toby's factory in Wahgunyah, Victoria, held a protest action on February 17, 2012. Union members held up a STOP NESPRESURE banner outside the factory, calling on Nestle to stop these rights violations, reinstate the unfairly dismissed union members in Indonesia, and negotiate with the unions in Indonesia and Pakistan.
February 16, 2012
Nestlé, it's time to listen: respect workers' rights!
200 workers responded to the call of FSPM (Hotel Union Federation) and SPMKB (Ketjap Bango Independent Union) and joined rally in support of Nestlé Panjang workers in Jakarta on February 15, 2012. The rally was held in front of Hotel Indonesia Circle at the heart of Jakarta, and continued in front of Nestlé Indonesia Head Office. The participants called Nestle to reinstate 53 union members, unfairly dismissed by the management of Nescafe plant.
New action in New York to support Indonesian and Pakistan Nestlé workers
Despite the cold weather, union activists continue solidarity actions with Indonesian and Pakistan Nestlé workers in front of Nespresso boutiques in New York. New action was organised by members of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union on February 15, 2012. RWDSU activists distributed leaflets to the customers and spoke to the Nespresso manager, requesting Nestlé to stop violation of union rights, reinstate unfairly dismissed union members in Indonesia and guarantee employment to the casual workers in Pakistan.
February 14, 2012
Nestlé Pakistan continues to flout the law - human resources boss in high court for serial violations of reinstatement orders!
The human resources manager at Nestlé's Kabirwala dairy factory has been ordered to appear before the Punjab High Court on February 15 for repeatedly showing contempt for court orders to reinstate the unfairly terminated President of the Nestlé Kabirwala Workers Action Committee, Ashfaq Butt. The HR manager's contempt citation is one in a long series of violations committed by Nestlé over the course of more than 2 years as part of management's brutal response to the contract workers' struggle for their rights.
Growing support for Kabirwala Nestle workers: women workers protest in Multan
Information about Nestle's ignorance and refusal to respect workers' demands spreading around the country and provokes more solidarity actions. On February 12, 2012 Mehek Butt, chairwoman of NFFBTWa lead the demonstration of Women Workers' Federation in Multan to support demands of Nestle Kabirwala workers.
February 11, 2012
Stop Nespressure: wave of actions in Khanewal
The wave of actions, launched by Nestle workers from Kabirwala dairy plant attracted attention of the local media and authorithies, when over 200 workers joined a rally in Khanewal on February 9. The rally was conducted with the cooperation of the police. The local authorities - including the labour commissioner, responsible for Kabirwala - came to talk to the Action Committee and NFFBTW about demands of permamnet employment for 246 contract workers, who works at the factory for a long time. The public support for this demand is growing within the local community and internationally. Join us, click here to send the message to Nestle!
International Transport Workers call on Nestlé to stop Nespressure!
The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), many of whose members are employed in transporting and delivering Nestlé products, has called on Nestlé to stop violating trade union rights in Indonesia and Pakistan. In a letter to Nestlé CEO Paul Bulcke of February 7, ITF General Secretary David Cockcroft expresses the organizations's deep concerns over the two conflicts.
On January 11, the SBNIP held a protest in front of the Nescafé Panjang factory calling for the reinstatement of the 53 workers brutally dismissed last October.
SBNIP members with protest banners in front of police paddy wagons positioned before the Nescafé factory gates.
January 16, 2012
Stop Nespressure! New action in Gujranwala
On January 14, 2012, members of the National Federation of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Workers of Pakistan (NFFBTW) went out on the streets of Gujranwala in support of the Nestle workers, demanding permanent contracts and the end of union rights vioilations.
January 10, 2012
Stop Nespressure in Toronto
Trade union activists staged a demonstration in front of the Nespresso shop in a crowded underground mall area in Toronto on January 6.
January 01, 2012
Nestle workers bring demand to Stop Nespressure to the streets of Karachi
A day after the protest action by contract workers in Kabirwala, the National Federation of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Workers (NFFBTW) held a demonstration against Nespressure in Karachi, calling on Nestle to stop the repression of workers' rights in Pakistan and Indonesia and to end abusive of casual employment practices in the company's largest milk processing factory. The demonstration is the first in a series of nation-wide protests organized by NFFBTW.
December 29, 2011
Stop Nespressure in Pakistan! NFFBTW announced protest actions in seven cities
Members of the Nestle Workers Action Committee, fighting for their right to permanent jobs at Nestle's largest dairy factory in Kabirwala, held another protest action on December 28, 2011. Three days earlier, on December 25, a mass meeting of the Action Committee’s 245 members voted unanimously to continue the campaign for the right to permanent jobs and trade union rights, rejecting attempts by local management to treat the pending reinstatement of 85 illegally dismissed workers as a solution to the conflict. The workers will only be reinstated as contract workers and none will be appointed to permanent jobs.
Nestlé's end of year lottery - on the wrong shift? OK then "you're fired"
On December 25, a day that for many symbolizes the spirit of generous human kindness, the actions of the world’s biggest food company in 2011 were far from generous for many of its workers in Indonesia.
Nestlé workers at Panjang, having spent years trying to access their fundamental human rights at work, became the subject of arbitrary and vindictive action by the company. They became victims of a perverse lottery which if you lost out on meant you also lost your job and livelihood.
Action in Berlin: union and social activists demand to Stop Nespressure!
Union and social activists gathered December 21st in front of the Nespresso boutique in Berlin to express their solidarity with Nestlé workers in Indonesia and Pakistan. They distributed leaflets to customers and pedestrians and handed over a protest letter to the manager of the boutique.
December 15, 2011
Solidarity without borders: Occupy Nespresso Soho
Activists of IUF-affiliated Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union leafleted the Nespresso café in New York’s trendy Soho on December 13, 2011 to call attention to the anti-worker tactics of Nestle in Pakistan and Indonesia. RWDSU represents workers throughout much of the United States and Canada, by this solidarity action RWDSU declared it's support for international campaign to put pressure on Nestle to treat its workers fairly.
December 06, 2011
Nestlé tells Pakistan contract workers 'Give up your rights, now and forever!' Mass dismissals, jail, beatings and now blackmail
Management at Nestle's giant Kabirwala dariy factory in Pakistan is deepening its policy of punishing contract workers who demand their legal rights. Casual workers employed for nine months are entitled by law to direct, permanent employment status, but Nestlé has responded to their demands by dismissing over a hundred, fabricating legal charges against the workers and by recently offering 50 dismissed workers the possibility of returning to their precarious employment ('no work, no pay) on condition that they permanently renounce all current and future claims against the company! Nestlé management continues to pressure union president Mohammad Bhatti to drop his support for the contract workers, who face fabricated criminal charges for claiming their rights. In the course of their struggle, workers have been physically assaulted by a vengeful labour contractor and goons.
Nestlé's dairy factory in Kabirwala, Pakistan, depends on the daily labour of hundreds of precarious workers provided by contractors on a no work, no pay basis. When the union became engaged in assisting long-serving precarious workers to obtain direct, permanent employment status - as prescribed by law - management responded with mass dismissals, provocations, police charges and physical assault by the labour contractor and goons.
Stop Nespressure! Panjang independent unions solidarity rally in support of Nescafe workers
Four IUF-affiliated food workers unions joined the SBNIP in a march and rally through the provincial capital Lampung on November 30, 2011, along with other unions and supporters of trade union rights. More than 230 people took part in the action to demand reinstatement of the Nescafe workers. Broad support for the action showed growing awareness and understanding of the importance of the Panjang workers’ struggle for the future of independent trade unionism in Indonesia.
Nestlé workers will be familiar with what the company calls the "4 Nestlé behaviors", which are used in the evaluation process to which non-management personnel are increasingly being subjected. One of these is "practice what you preach". Two recent events at Nestlé Chile's Macul plant call into question management compliance with Nestlé's professed dedication to the safety and health of its "people" ("our most important asset") and the respect for the people, practices and laws of the countries in which it operates.
Special RadioLabour report on Nespressure in Pakistan and Indonesia
November 29 and 30th RadioLabour is broadcasting a special report on Nestlé’s mistreatment of workers in the developing world. November 29th programme Part One looks at how Nestlé keeps workers in precarious employment at a milk factory in Pakistan. In November 30th broadcast Part Two look at how Nestlé fights unions in Indonesia.To listen click here.
Kabirwala union members vow to continue the struggle for employment, trade union rights – in Pakistan and Indonesia
Members of the Nestle Employees Union Kabirwala held their general body meeting on November 24 and pledged to continue their struggle for justice in their factory and at the Nescafé factory in Panjang, Indonesia.
Jail, bail, dismissals - criminalizing the struggle for decent work at Nestlé Pakistan
Contract workers claiming their rights at Nestlé's dairy factory in Kabirwala, Pakistan have been punished with the loss of their jobs and jailed by the score on fabricated charges as management seeks to criminalize the union's struggle in support of permanent jobs for contract workers
Poland: Solidarność shop stewards say "Stop Nespressure"
At an IUF workshop on organizing in Warsaw, on 16-18 November, Solidarność union delegates from Nestlé, Coca-Cola, Mars, PepsiCo, Smithfield, SAB Miller and other companies showed their support for Nestlé workers in Indonesia and Pakistan, calling on Nestlé management to stop the Nespressure!
November 17, 2011
Unleashing aggression at Nestlé
A capacity for aggression at Nestlé, the world's largest food company, is not limited to the aggressive pursuit of market share and aggressive cash flow management, qualities praised by investors and envied by competitors. It applies equally to industrial relations, where it receives considerably less attention. Violations of worker rights predictably make less headline noise than the latest quarterly results, a hefty dividend increase or the successful launch of a new product.
On 13 November 2011, the National Federation of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Workers (NFFBTW), at its governing body meeting, endorsed the “stop nespressure” campaign. As part of the campaign, the federation will organize a number of protest activities in different cities in Pakistan. The federation strongly condemned the dismissal of Nestlé workers at the Panjang plant and extended full support to Indonesian workers. The meeting also denounced the actions of Nestlé Kabirwala management in dismissing hundreds of contract workers, faking police charges and taking unfair measures against the union president. The meeting denounced the intention of Nestlé Pakistan management to dismiss union president Muhammad Hussain Bhatti as unacceptable. The NFFBTW demanded the immediate reinstatement of workers in the Panjang and Kabirwala plants and the withdrawal of all fake and fabricated charges against the Nestlé Kabirwala union president.
November 10, 2011
Nestlé European Trade Unions Demand "Stop Nespressure" in Indonesia and in Pakistan!
At the November 8, 2011 meeting of the Nestlé European Works Council in Geneva, Switzerland, representatives of twenty Nestlé unions from across Europe collectively called on the company to immediately halt attacks on trade union rights in Indonesia and in Pakistan. The unions insisted that Nestlé reinstate the dismissed trade union members in Indonesia and ensure their livelihoods and halt all harassment of trade unionists in Pakistan.
Jail, bail, threats and dismissals as Nestlé Pakistan dairy workers fight for their rights
Management at Nestle's giant Kabirwala dairy factory in Pakistan - a state-of-the art facility with a feudal industrial relations system - is criminalizing the union's fight for the rights of hundreds of contract workers at the plant.
Dismissed Nestlé Indonesia workers rally for justice, protest mass firings of union members
The union rally gathered all of the dismissed workers, who picketed the gate from morning until afternoon to demand the reinstatement of all members dismissed following the strike. They have returned to the gates every day to show their determination. Local and national support actions involving other unions are planned.
Nespressure returns with mass dismissal of union members in Indonesia
Management at the Nescafé factory in Panjang has fired 53 of the 87 members of our affiliate SBNIP (technically they were handed "resignation letters"!) after the union took industrial action in support of their collective bargaining demands. The strike was the predictable result of five years of deep frustration.
No sooner had Nestlé expanded its plant in Kabirwala, Pakistan in 2007 to become the company's largest milk reception factory in the world, than management set about trying to undermine the union and attacking its energetic and effective president, Mohammad Hussein Bhatti, who was suspended in June 2007 for resisting management interference in union elections (see Pakistan: Management interferes in union elections, dismisses elected union president and violates court orders). Nestlé was forced to back down and Bhatti was reinstated.
But pressure on the union continued and has again come to a head, stimulated by the union's decision to open its membership to the numerous contract workers at the plant and to assist 250 contract workers to become permanent employees - in accordance with the law - by filing legal cases at the Labour Court. Bhatti and the IUF-affiliated National Federation of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Workers gave important support to the Casual-T struggle at the Unilever Lipton tea factory in nearby Khanewal - and it would appear that Nestlé's local management has determined to resist similar demands for an end to abuses of precarious employment arrangements.
Nestlé fined in the UK for health and safety violations
Nestlé Purina UK has been fined GBP 50,000 after five workers suffered severe burns when a steam pressure system malfunctioned. The accident occurred on 4 August 2006. The five workers were doing maintenance on a hydrostat, a high-pressure food-processing machine, when they were hit by an uncontrolled release of steam and boiling water at the Nestlé Purina plant in Wisbech.
Russian unions picket at newly open Nespresso boutique in Moscow
December 08, 2010
New York RWDSU Solidarity with Nestle Workers Across the Globe (video)
December 05, 2010
New York RWDSU Solidarity with Nestle Workers Across the Globe
RWDSU activists leafleted the Nespresso café in New York’s trendy Soho on December 2, 2010, to call attention to the anti-worker tactics of Nestle around the world. The show of global solidarity is part of a multinational effort coordinated by the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Association (IUF) to put pressure on Nestle to treat its workers fairly.
Justice for Nescafe Workers! Polish "Solidarność" Joined Campaign to Stop Nespressure
On November 26, 2010, in solidarity with Indonesian SBNIP union, group of workers' activists from food division of "Solidarność" distributed 500 leaflets in front of one of the supermarkets in Krakow, Poland. Customers of supermarket center LIDL, which sells and promote Nescafe, were informed about conflict at Nescafe plant in Indonesia, where Nestle management almost for three years have been denying the SBNIP union the right to collective bargaining.
November 22, 2010
Russian unions picket at newly open Nespresso boutique in Moscow
IUF-affiliated locals of the Agro Industrial Workers Union and Confederation of Labour of Russia visited the brand new Nespresso boutique in Moscow. With the picket, they expressed their support for Indonesian Nestlé workers united in the SBNIP union, and their demand to fully recognise SBNIP collective bargaining rights at the Nescafé plant in Panjang, Indonesia. During the one-hour picket, the activists collected signatures for a petition which was then handed in to the manager of the boutique.
Unions Bring Indonesian Coffee Protest to the Streets of London
UK trade unionists were protesting outside the Nespresso Café in London's Knightsbridge on 13 October, 2010. The demonstration is part of a global campaign, revolved around widespread concerns over the treatment of Indonesian workers at Nestlé's Nescafé factory in Panjang. General Secretary of Trades Union Congress Brendan Barber commented: "Multinational companies need to respond to consumer pressure to treat their workers decently. British coffee drinkers will be alarmed when they realise the conditions under which their cuppa is produced. Nestlé needs to stop harassing unions."
October 13, 2010
New York Hotel Workers Demand Full Recognition of SBNIP Bargaining Rights: No Justice - No Peace!
Members of the Hotel Trades Council, the union that represents 30,000 hotel and restaurant workers in New York, rallied at the Nespresso café boutique on 5th Avenue in solidarity with Nestlé workers in Indonesia. October 5, 2010.
October 11, 2010
UNIA Geneva: Decent Work for Nestle Workers Worldwide!
On October 7th - the World Day fo Decent Work, a group of trade union activists and supporters from UNIA, Switzerland's largest inter-professional union, put up banners and handed out leaflets in front of the Nespresso shop in Geneva in support of the Nestlé Panjang workers’ struggle for trade union rights.
On October 7, 2010, over 200 workers and their families – wearing caps from their Swiss sister union UNIA - rallied outside the Nescafe factory in Panjang, Indonesia, to denounce the corporate social irresponsibility of the world’s largest food company.
Stop Nespressure! New York Hotel Workers Demand Full Recognition of SBNIP Bargaining Rights
In support of Indonesian Nestle workers, members of UNITE HERE union hold a solidarity picket at one of the Nespresso boutiques in New York City on October 5, 2010. The conflict over collective bargaining rights in Panjang continues for more than three years, and as long as the company refuses to bargain in good faith, International solidarity spreads around the world.
October 05, 2010
Nestlé's Merchandisers March in Johannesburg for Dignity and Decent Pay
Nestlé’s merchandisers marched through the city of Johannesburg on October 5th, 2010, demanding that the company ban the use of contract and agency labour. Day in day out, hundreds of sales workers ensure growth of the company's sales and profits in South Africa, but are paid poverty wages and denied the right to join the union. It was the most recent in a series of actions, organised by FAWU to press Nestlé into accepting the responsibility for sub-standard working conditions and low pay. The march started at the Mandela Bridge and went on to the provincial offices of the Department of Labour in Braamfontein.
September 02, 2010
South Africa: Nestlé Shopstewards in Solidarity With Nescafe Panjang Workers
August 29, at the gates of Nestlé's Longmeadow Distribution Centre in Johannesburg. Trade union leaders from South African Nestlé plants, organised by Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU) expressed their support and solidarity with Nescafe workers in Indonesia, which are fighting for fair treatment and full recognition of the union rights.
August 31, 2010
Australian Unions Protest Nestlé’s Suppression of Union Rights at Nescafé Indonesia/Protest shuts Sydney Nespresso shop
Australian unions in the state of New South Wales led by Unions NSW (formerly the Labour Council) held a demonstration on August 30 in front of the Nestlé-owned Nespresso shop in Sydney’s city center. The action, which resulted in the temporary closure by management of the Nespresso shop, was taken in support of the IUF-affiliated SBNIP representing workers at the Nescafé factory in Panjang, Indonesia.
(Read more)
July 22, 2010
Nestlé Defends Anti-Union Practices in Indonesia with…Nestlies
How many times can a company lie in the course of attempting to undermine a union? It is difficult to say if Nestlé, the world's largest food company, holds the record (the competition is stiff), but it is certainly an over-achiever…
Nespressure in South Africa: March for the Rights of Sales Workers!
Over 200 members of Food and Allied Workers’ Union (FAWU) marched to the Nestlé head office in Randburg on July 12, 2010, demanding decent jobs for merchandisers who are handling Nestle products in major supermarkets in South Africa.
Nestlé Waters Russia Bows to Pressure, Union Vice-Chair Reinstated
Management of Nestlé Waters Russia has declined to appeal the court-ordered reinstatement of Sergei Strykov, Vice-Chair of the union formed last year who was fired on January 27, 2010. Strykov has also been compensated for wages lost from January through May, while the union was fighting his illegal dismissal.
Germany: NGG calls for bona fide negotiations with SBNIP
Participants in the Nestlé Germany Works Council Conference, organised by the German Food Workers Union NGG on 23-24 June 2010, put their signatures on an open letter addressed to Nestlé CEO Paul Bulcke, in which they expressed their concern over events in Indonesia and the damage the company's actions were doing to the Nestlé brand.
Brazil: Ministry of Labor fines Nestlé for imposing long working hours
It doesn’t come as a surprise to see Nestlé breaching its own agreements. The transnational corporation has become a typical example of corporate cynicism. What’s truly surprising is that this time Brazil’s Labor Ministry has levied a fine of US$ 320,000 on Nestlé for violating an agreement with its workers. In what constitutes a very positive sign, the company has agreed to pay the fines through donations to various health institutions.
(Read more)
June 07, 2010
Stop Nespressure! New Rally at Nescafé Panjang Factory
On June 3, the Nestle Panjang Workers Union (SBNIP) organized a peaceful rally outside the Panjang factory demanding that Nestle management stop supporting the yellow union and start bargaining with SBNIP now.
Nestlé European Unions Demand Halt to Trade Union Rights Violations at Nescafé Indonesia
At the June 1 meeting of the Nestlé European Works Council in Geneva, Switzerland, representatives of twenty Nestlé unions from across Europe collectively called on the company to immediately halt all attempts to weaken the IUF's affiliate at the Nescafé factory in Panjang, Indonesia. The unions insisted that Nestlé enter into the wage bargaining talks the union has been demanding for 3 years.
South African Food Workers' Union Express Solidarity with Nestle Workers
National Executive Committee of Food and Allied Workers' Union (FAWU) of South Africa expressed solidarity with Nestle workers worldwide and declared support to the campaign to Stop Nespressure. Members of the committee signed postcards to Nestle' CEO Paul Bulcke, demanding full recognition of SBNIP union at Nescafe Indonesia plant. FAWU is 120.000 members strong and is the largest food workers union in South Africa. Cape Town, May 12, 2010.
May 11, 2010
IUF Downgrades Nestlé CSR Rating from B+ to Junk
We never bought it, so we can't change the recommendation to sell - but we have taken a closer look at the rating put on Nestlé's Creating Shared Value Report 2009 in order to investigate the reporting criteria - and whether they've been met.
May Day International Solidarity with Nestle Workers
On International Labour Day, 1 May 2010, solidarity pickets and marches in Russia, Hungary and the Dominican Republic highlighted the growing anger of the workers' movement as they called on one of the world most powerful corporations to respect union rights. Photo: May Day rally in Moscow, Russia.
Dominican Republic: “No más Nespresión”, Justice for Nestle Workers!
On April 30, 2010 Dominican Republic Nestle workers (Nestle Workers Union – San Francisco, SITRANESTLESF) gathered in front of Nestlé ice cream shop to express their support to Nespressure campaign. Place: San Francisco de Macorís, Dominican Republic.
April 28, 2010
Nestle and 'Zero Accidents': Can be Hazardous to Your Health!
Unions around the world will be mobilizing again on April 28, each in its way highlighting the 360,000 annual workplace fatalities and 2 million deaths from occupational diseases. On April 28, as on every other day, some 960,000 workers will be injured in an accident at work, and some 5,300 workers will die of work-related diseases.
Nescafe's suppression of trade union rights in Indonesia
April 20, 2010
Nestlé Indonesia Continues to Deny Wage Bargaining Rights!
Panjang, 19 March: SBNIP members meet outside the Nescafé factory gate. President Eko Sumaryono reads out the statement presented to Nestlé management at a meeting earlier that day. In response to management's demand that SBNIP undergo a new verification process, the union clarified that, "the SBNIP is the only trade union at Nestlé Panjang".
Nestlé, the world's largest food corporation, is rolling in money. The 2009 results recently announced show sales topping USD 102 billion (94.6 billion in the core food and beverages division), operating profits of 14.85 billion (up on the previous year), margins (much beloved of financial analysts) hitting an enviable 14.6%, and a breathtaking 67% increase in cash flow, up from USD 6.81 billion in 2008 to 16.93 billion in 2009.
Workers' Rights are Universal! Stop Nespressure Action in St.Petersburg, Russia
Nestle representatives refused to talk with worker activists waiting at the entrance to the Nestle regional office in St. Petersburg, Russia. The activists' solidarity action with workers in Russia and Indonesia was organized by the Center for Workers' Coordinated Action and supported by the Trade Union of Automobile Industry Workers, which is known for its successful strike at the Ford factory in St. Petersburg in 2007. Once again, Nestle refused to talk - the campaign Stop Nespressure will roll on throughout the world.
March 14, 2010
Global Dairy Workers Conference pledges support to Nestle workers, demands: Stop Nespressure!
Representatives of dairy workers' unions from 22 countries gathered for their second global conference on March 9-12, 2010 in Buenos Aires and Sunchales, Argentina. In sharing the information, delegates continually cited Nestle as a company where the abuse of trade union rights is common practice in various countries. In conclusion, the conference declared support to all Nestle workers currently facing pressure, and in particular to the union at Nestle Waters in Russia and its campaign for the reinstatement of fired union leader, Sergey Strykov.
March 12, 2010
Nestlé European Works Council Steering Committee denounces Nespressure in Indonesia, Tunisia, Russia, the UK, Hungary and Spain
While the union at Nestlé Indonesia in Panjang, SBNIP, continues to be denied the opportunity to exercise its right to negotiate wages and the Nestlé Tunisia Workers Union is struggling to obtain full implementation of an agreement which was signed by the company and the government labour authorities in January to end an industrial dispute, unions in Europe are experiencing pressure when exercising basic rights such as forming unions and defending the interests of their membership.
Uruguay Nestle Workers demand respect of union rights in Russia and Indonesia
Nestle workers picketed the gates of the factory in Montevideo on February 19, 2010 to demand recognition of union rights and fair treatment for Nestle employees in Indonesia and Russia.
January 06, 2010
Nestlé Workers in Tunisia Continue Industrial Action After Secret Sale of Ice Cream Factory
Workers, their union and the Federation of Food and Tourism Workers of Tunisia (FGAT) are demanding to know the facts behind Nestlé's secret sale of an ice cream factory. Click here to tell Nestlé, "Be fair to your Tunisian workers!"
The Nestlé workers union in Timisoara/Romania (part of the IUF-affiliated food workers federation SINDALIMENTA) organised a rally in front of their factory on Monday 14 December "in solidarity with Nestlé workers throughout the world fighting for respect of universal labour rights including the right to negotiate wages as part of CBA negotiations".
December 05, 2009
Strike at Nestlé Tunisia after secret sale of ice cream factory
On 17 November 2009, workers at the Nestlé ice cream factory in Carthage were informed by a bulletin board notice that their factory had been sold to a consortium of local companies active in the food industry. "In conformity with its policy of social responsibility," the notice read, "Nestlé has expended all efforts to preserve jobs, the rights of the workers concerned, and maintain the production site."
Hungarian Meatworkers Union says Stop Nespressure!
The Congress of the Hungarian Meatworkers’ Union (HDSZ), which met in
Budapest November 29, pledged full support for the struggle of the Nestlé
Indonesia Panjang workers.
November 09, 2009
Nespressure in Tunisia: Harassment and attacks on trade union rights
What happens when a new union committee is elected and its general secretary calls for a meeting with management to discuss pressing issues? Nestlé retaliates by transferring the union general secretary with immediate effect to a lower level job.
Eko Sumaryono, president of SBNIP, the union at the Nescafé factory in Panjang in Indonesia, met fellow trade unionists from the union UNIA in the towns of Orbe and Bern on 15-16 October 2009 while in Switzerland to attend an ILO event.
From October 12-15, the ILO's Bureau for Workers' Activities organized a symposium around the theme "Celebration of the 60th anniversary of Convention No. 98. The right to organize and collective bargaining in the twenty-first century." ILO Convention 98 (Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining), adopted in 1949, is one of the ILO's Core Conventions, i.e. fundamental treaties which are regarded as binding on all ILO member states whether they have been specifically ratified or not by governments. The Convention establishes in international law the rights of workers to organize trade unions and to bargain collectively with employers through these unions. Indonesia ratified Convention 98 in 1957.
For over two-and-a-half years the SBNIP, the IUF's affiliate at the Nescafé factory in Panjang, Indonesia, has been attempting to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement which would include wages, and would include the wage scale in the agreement. Nestlé has rejected this demand, claiming that wages are a commercial secret and telling the union that it is Nestlé policy to exclude wages from collective bargaining.
Nespressure Mounts at Nescafé Indonesia - Act Now to Defend Trade Union Rights!
Nestlé's Corporate Business Principles "respect the right of employees to form representative organisations and to join – or not to join – trade unions, provided this right is freely exercised, and establish a constructive dialogue with these unions." Should employees need some guidance on this issue management is there to help. Business is good at the Nescafé factory in Panjang, Indonesia. Three-quarters of the output is exported to developed countries. The company is hiring. New hires are given two documents when they enter employment: the employment contract, and an application to join an organization called FKBNI, created and nurtured by the company to destroy the SBNIP, the union formed by workers.
Norwegian Unions Call on Government to Review State Pension Fund Investment at Nestlé
Fellesforbundet and the NNN, the IUF's Norwegian affiliates with membership in the food sector, together with the national trade union center LO, have publicly called on the Finance Ministry to conduct an evaluation to determine whether the State Pension Fund's investment in Nestlé is compatible with the Fund's ethical investment guidelines.
Copy and paste the following line of code to your web page:
<a href="http://nespressure.org/" ><img
border="0" src="http://www.iuf.org/
nespressure/en/nespressure _banner.gif" width="150" height="150"
alt="nespressure.org"></a>
NESPRESSURE: VIDEO
Stop Nespressure! campaign hits Berlin: rally in solidarity with Nestle workers in Indonesia and Pakistan
New York Hotel Workers Demand Full Recognition of SBNIP Bargaining Rights
Nescafe's suppression of trade union rights in Indonesia
