The Dockworkers Strike enters its thirteen day. The HKCTU appeals for more international support.
Solidarity march on 7 April. Source : HKCTU facebook
Dear Friends,
Hundred members of the Union of Hong Kong Dockers (UHKD) are striking to demand pay rise while their wages have not risen in the past fifteen years. Moreover they are also fighting for the collective bargaining right to negotiate with the management. We ask you to send protest letters to the Hong Kong International Terminals (HIT) as well as its parent companies Hutchison Port Holdings Trust (HPHT), Hutchison Whampoa Ltd (HWL) and the Hong Kong SAR government to support the dockers. For this purpose we attach a template which you can adapt and send, with a copy to the HKCTU ([email protected]).
On March 28, 2013, the Union of Hong Kong Dockers (UHKD), an affiliate of HKCTU staged a strike at Hong Kong Container Terminal No. 6 in Kwai Chung to demand an ovedue pay raise and an end to their over-exploitation. More than 400 are still on strike now demanding for hourly pay rise by HK$12.5 (USD1.61).
The wages of the dock workers, who are mostly hired by the sub-contractors, have not risen in the past fifteen years. They have been facing health and safety risks daily, working extremely long shifts, and not being given meals and toilet breaks. The terminal is owned by HIT,and it is subsidiary of HPHT and HWL. We urge HIT, HPHT and HWL to respect their demands and their right to strike, association and collective bargaining.
We thank you for your solidarity,
General Secretary
Lee Chuek-yan
Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions
Please send the protest letter to the following correspondences
Mr. Gerry Yim Lui Fai
Managing Director
Hong Kong International Terminals (HIT)
Terminal 4, Container Port Road South
Hong Kong
Email:[email protected]
Fax: (852) 2619 7315
Copied
Mr. Fok Kin Ning,
Chair, Hutchison Port Holdings Trust; (HPHT)
150 Beach Road,
17-03 Gateway West,
Singapore
Email:[email protected] (Investors’ Relation)
Fax: (65) 65361-1360 (Registered Office, 50 Raffles Place, 32-01 Singapore Land Tower)
Mr. Lee Ka Shing,
Chair, Hutchison Whampoa Limited (HWL)
22nd Floor
Hutchison House
10 Harcourt Road
Hong Kong
Email:[email protected]
Fax: (852) 2128 1705
Mr Matthew Cheung Kin Chung,
Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Hong Kong SAR Government
Email: [email protected]
Fax: (852) 2523 1973
Sample Letter:
Mr. Gerry Yim Lui Fai
Managing Director
Hong Kong International Terminals
Terminal 4, Container Port Road South
Hong Kong
Email:[email protected]
Fax: (852) 2619 7315
4 April 2013
Dear Mr. Yim,
Hong Kong Dockers' Strike for Pay Rise and Collective Bargaining Right
The (your union’s name) expresses our staunchest support to the dock workers and the Union of Hong Kong Dockers (UHKD), the affiliate of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU), who are on strike in the container berths owned by Hong Kong International Terminals (HIT), the subsidiary of Hutchison Port Holdings Trust (HPHT) and Hutchison Whampoa Limited (HWL).
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We could not imagine that dock workers employed at the berths you own and operate work in such hazardous conditions. It is unacceptable that these workers face health and safety risks daily, work extremely long shifts, and are not given meals and toilet breaks nor fair pay equivalent to their work. We find it surprising that dock workers in Hong Kong, one of the top container ports in the world, are employed in conditions so shamefully below international labour standards.
HIT, belonging to Hutchison Whampoa, has sought a temporary injunction, to be heard in the court for the granting of an official one on 5 April, to ban the striking workers and members of the union to enter HIT’s berths; and finally that this injunction is sought without negotiating for a settlement with UHKD that represents the majority of the workers. These are not practices the international community would expect from a responsible employer that owns and operates 320 berths in 26 countries.
The Hong Kong SAR government has ratified Convention No.87 on Freedom of Association and Convention No.98 on Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). These conventions protect the right of workers to organise and negotiate with the employers over their working conditions free from retaliation.
Observance to the international laws and the core labour standards is fundamental to protecting the well-being of the people in Hong Kong and the status of the territory in the international business and civil community. Your respect, and the respect of Hutchison Whampoa and HIT for these fundamental labour standards is not only a matter of importance to the dock workers and the trade unions in Hong Kong, but also of great concern to the international trade unions all over the world that represent workers where you and your companies operate. The international trade unions and the members are watching the development and expect to see a fair settlement over the strike under due procedure of ILO standards.
We hereby urge HIT, Hutchison Port Holdings Trust and Hutchison Whampoa Limited to respect the fundamental right of the dock workers to strike, and demand fair remuneration and decent working conditions. We also ask HIT to respect UHKD in representing their members for collective bargaining with the management.
We wish to see that HIT will negotiate in good faith with the striking workers and UHKD. Collective agreement should be signed between the union and HIT. No worker and member of the trade union will be punished for their participation in the strike.
Yours Sincerely,
CC:
Mr. Fok Kin Ning, Chair, Hutchison Port Holdings Trust;
Mr. Lee Ka Shing, Chair, Hutchison Whampoa Limited;
Mr Matthew Cheung Kin Chung, Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Hong Kong SAR Government