'Better Work' for Garment Workers: Which Side Are You On?

[Rich Garella]

Labor Notes

'Better Work' for Garment Workers: Which Side Are You On?

Jeff Ballinger  |  December 1, 2009

Excerpts:

With the best of intentions, the International Labor Organization has launched "Better Work" programs in several countries in hopes of easing harsh conditions for long-suffering garment workers.

In terms familiar to any veteran of joint labor-management schemes, the ILO-the special United Nations agency set up in 1919 to address workers' issues-predicts relief can be achieved by squeezing out conflict and putting everyone on the same team. ...

... As Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen consolidated power earlier this decade, violence against strikers became more common. The most aggressive and effective union leaders were gunned down in the street. One of them, Chea Vichea, gave an interview not long before his death in 2004, saying: "The idea from the ILO is that it doesn't like the workers to strike. It likes them to negotiate. But in Cambodia, if [employers] don't see the workers are strong they don't negotiate. It is the same everywhere."

Full article:

http://www.labornotes.org/2009/12/'better-work'-garment-workers-which-side-are-you

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