26729: Esser (news): Batay Ouvriye's Yannick Etienne on CODEVI organizing (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From D. Esser <torx@joimail.com>


IFCTU - International Conferderation of Free Trade Unions
<http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Index=991223116>

November 2005


"The workers' demands have been constantly backed by international solidarity"
Interview by Laurent Duvillier

A pioneer of the trade union struggle in Haiti, Yannick explains how
the complex strategy combining local action and international
mobilisation was organised. As one of the key players in the birth of
Haiti's first collective bargaining agreement, she charts the lines
of action which need to be taken in Haiti and the Dominican Republic
to tackle the Caribbean manufacturing giant, Grupo M.

A collective agreement in a garment export processing zone in Haiti?

Until recently, the very notion would have been considered a vain
fancy. Today, the Haitian workers making jeans for Levi Strauss and
T-shirts for Sara Lee are on the verge of making it a reality. After
two years of trade union repression, these Haitian workers have
managed to earn greater respect, partly thanks to international
solidarity campaigns in which the labour movement played an active
role. Caution, however, remains warranted, as the collective
bargaining process initiated in September is far from over.

Interview with Yannick Etienne, spokeswoman of the workers'
federation, Premier Mai – Batay Ouvriye
<http://www.batayouvriye.org/English/Welcome.html> (E.S.P.M. BO), to
which the local union Sendika Ouvriye Kodevi Wanament (SOKOWA) is
affiliated.


Laurent Duvillier: Over the last two years, the CODEVI EPZ factory
workers have had to cope with a long succession of anti-union
practices and demeaning treatment: forced overtime, mass dismissals
targeting unionised workers, armed intimidation and even beatings.
Have you seen any improvements in the working conditions since the
signing of the memorandum of understanding with the management in
February 2005?

Yannick Etienne: The industrial disputes are undoubtedly being better
managed. A week after the memorandum was signed, we secured the
reinstatement of the trade union leaders. And over the last few
months, virtually all of the dismissed workers have gradually
regained their posts. There are just a few still waiting. A joint
committee has also been set up, comprising three members of the
management and three union members. But the principal breakthrough
the workers tell us they have achieved is the management's respect.
Previously, no exchanges or discussions were possible. Now, as soon
as any kind of conflict arises, the workers call on the trade union
representative to assist them. CODEVI's managers are making an effort
not only to respect the memorandum of understanding, but also the
right to freedom of association.

Before, security officers – Dominican soldiers – would intervene in
the disputes, maltreating Haitian workers on Haitian soil. It was
unacceptable. Now CODEVI employs Haitian security officers. We do not
see Dominican soldiers inside the factory anymore… although we know
they are still not far away. In spite of these gains, we are still
working hard to resolve several problems that still remain: the heat
in the factories, access to drinking water, difficult access to the
zone owing to the state of the road, and, above all, the wages. The
workers are constantly having to turn out more work, but the salaries
are not following suit.


Laurent Duvillier: The memorandum of understanding between the
management and the union did not fall from the sky. What are the key
factors that contributed to the opening of social dialogue? Local
mobilisation? International pressure on Grupo M, which owns the zone?

Yannick Etienne: Firstly, the workers continued to mobilise in spite
of all the difficulties. They came to the meetings, took part,
discussed and made decisions. All the violations committed were
rigorously documented, which gave us a very solid case. Secondly,
CODEVI's managers were amazed at the international support for the
workers. They never expected that. They never thought that anyone
would be interested in this lost corner of Haiti. Thirdly, they made
very serious cultural errors, not being familiar with Haitian culture
and the historic problems between the two countries [Haiti and
Dominican Republic]. Moreover, they were on territory that is highly
sensitive to Dominco-Haitian tensions. The management of CODEVI was
not prepared for dealing with all that. They had to do something to
calm things down.

"What was amazing was the massive mailing campaign. Letters of
support flooded in from everywhere, especially the United States and
Europe. CODEVI's managers didn't know what to do."


Laurent Duvillier: What shape did international solidarity take
during the months of struggle when the workers were out of work? A
difficult balance had to be struck between applying sufficient
pressure to break the deadlock but not too much, to ensure that
CODEVI's clients would not cancel their orders…

Yannick Etienne: Absolutely. What was amazing was the massive mailing
campaign. Letters of support flooded in from everywhere, especially
the United States and Europe. CODEVI's managers didn't know what to
do. They complained that they were still receiving letters even
though the negotiations had started. Honestly, mailing campaigns are
really very important. At least three European countries, Belgium,
France and the UK, contribute to it through organisations such as the
Clean Clothes Campaign (Belgium), Réseau-Solidarité (France) and the
Haiti Support Group (United Kingdom).

In the United States, organisations from the labour movement such as
the Solidarity Center and the Workers' Rights Consortium were in
contact with the companies like Levi's and exerted important pressure
on the World Bank, which is financing the project, to prevent orders
from being withdrawn. The support of North America students
associations such as United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) and
the Haitian community abroad should also be mentioned.


• To download the Trade Union World Briefing "EPZs in Haiti and the
Dominican Republic: Taking on Grupo M" (8 pages):
<http://tinyurl.com/d82bj>

• To view the video portrait entitled "Georges' Hope", the account of
a worker who sews the hems of Levi jeans for just 15 euros a week and
his appeal to consumers around the world: <http://tinyurl.com/b64lb>


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