Nespressure stalks Pakistan
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.
Click here to send a message to Nestlé!
While the court has issued 'stay orders' enjoining management from changing the contract workers' status until the cases are decided, management has terminated many workers' contracts and organized a calculated provocation by inviting new contract workers for a factory 'visit' - creating the impression that they will replace those fighting for permanent positions after years of precarious employment.
Rather than meeting the union's demand to negotiate the employment status of precarious workers at this 'world class' facility, management has tried to mobilize local opinion against the union and its president and fomented a series of incidents and provocations involving false criminal charges (subsequently thrown out by the court) and inciting extremist religious organizations to attack the union. On October 10, union president Bhatti was stopped by security at the factory entrance and informed that he was suspended for four days, then repeatedly suspended for four-day periods since.
Stop Nespressure!
Click here to send a message to Nestlé! Pakistan management must rescind the suspension of union president Bhatti, stop provoking, intimidating and dismissing union members and officers and enter into good faith negotiations with the Kabirwala union.