Tell Uniqlo and G2000 to Stop Using Violence Against Workers in Artigas Factory

19 December 2014

On 18 December 2014, hundreds of police stormed into the Hong Kong owned Artigas Clothing & Leatherware Company in Shenzhen. China to disperse workers who have been on strike for nine days to demand their mandatory social insurance and housing provident fund premiums. Instead of answering the strikers’ request for a negotiation with the employer on 18 December, police were called in to clear the way for the factory management to ship the finished clothing to Uniqlo. 31 leading strikers were arrested and 1 of them was hospitalized for serious injuries in the head, many other workers were injured. Others, including pregnant women workers were beaten up by the police. Under custody, the detained workers were pressed by the police to quit the strike. Their colleagues in the factory were intimidated by the management to return to work, and elect the hand-picked persons as bargaining representatives. The striking workers managed to stand together and forced to sign a “Waive rights Declaration” , All striking workers rejected to sign the declaration, and all the workers were released before midnight after more than 12 hours’ detention.

The Retail, Commerce and Clothing Industries General Union of Hong Kong (RCCIGU) and the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU) are calling your support to tell the Shenzhen Municipal government and the Japanese and Hong Kong buyers of Artigas, Uniqlo and G2000 the following :

• Stop using violence and other punishments against workers in Artigas. Police force, unfair dismissals and other punishments cannot solve labour conflicts.

• Enter into fair collective negotiation with the striking workers and the representatives they elected as soon as possible.

Contact Person : Loy WONG (+852 6377 5505)

Initiated by :
Retail, Commerce and Clothing Industries General Union
Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions

Supported by :
Catering and Hotels Industries Employees General Union
CGAS Geneva (The Geneva Unions Confederation)
Coach Drivers Union
Community Care and Nursing Home Workers General Union
Construction Site Workers General Union
Cleaning Service Industry Workers Union
Concrete Industry Workers Union
CUHK Employees General Union
Chinese Working Women Network
Federation of Bus Drivers Unions
Federation of Hong Kong Transport Worker Organizations
Globalization Monitor
Hong Kong Domestic Workers General Union
Hong Kong & Kowloon Life Guards Union
Hong Kong Women Workers’ Association
Labour Education and Service Network
Left 21
Neighbourhood and Worker’s Service Centre
Personal and Community Services Workers General Union
Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehaviour
Swire Beverages ( Hong Kong) Employees General Union
Union of Hong Kong Dockers
Workers’ Empowerment

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蔡泳詩 Wing Sze, Choi
統籌幹事 Project Coordinator
香港職工會聯盟 Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions

電話Tel : +852 2770 8668
傳真Fax : +852 2770 7388
直線Direct : +852 3758 5156
手提 Mobile : +852 6026 7816
網頁Website : www.hkctu.org.hk
Facebook Page : 職工盟(HKCTU)

地址 Address :

19/F Wing Wong Commercial Building, 557-559 Nathan Road, Yaumatei, Kowloon