22534: Clewer: RE: 22457: anonymous: RE: 22373: Vilaire: Re: 22358: Harvey Re: 22352: Vilaire: On t he Grupo M Debacle (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Lorraine Clewer <Lorraine.Clewer@workersrights.org>

Clarification:

In an anonymous post of June 24, the following statement was made regarding recent events at the Grupo M facility in Ouanaminthe:

"another observer team that included a representative of the Workers Rights Consortium (which many universities rely on to monitor and enforce labor standards) reported on union-management tensions, but found no evidence of flagrant abuse or mistreatment".

I should like to inform your readers that:

- the Worker Rights Consortium represents 125 colleges and universities.  The organization investigates allegations of worker rights violations at facilities managed or owned by companies producing for colleges and universities, and works with stakeholders on remdiation projects where violations are found to have occurred.
- the Worker Rights Consortium carried out an emergency investigation into alleged violations of worker rights at Codevi in March 2004.  A public report of the findings of the investigation is forthcoming.
- the Worker Rights Consortium insisted upon the presence of credible observeration at Codevi after our investigation found significant violations of workers' rights to have ocurred.
- Serious violations of workers' rights have continued at Codevi.  Grupo M has not yet recognized its legal obligation to respect workers' associational rights, as reflected in the firing of approximately half the workforce four days after a lawful strike.

Thank you,

Lorraine Clewer

Lorraine Clewer
Field Director / Latin America and Caribbean
Worker Rights Consortium
5th Floor, 5 Thomas Circle, NW
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: (202) 387-4884
Fax: (202) 387-3292