The Thai Industrial Gases Labour Union (TIGLU), part of ICEM affiliate Petroleum and Chemicals Workers’ Federation of Thailand (PCFT), continues efforts to cement trade union rights for workers who supply industrial gases to the manufacturing and food sectors. The ICEM continues to provide support to what is a courageous and uphill struggle against intransigent employers.

The union is currently engaged on two fronts with multinational companies: German-based Linde and French-based Air Liquide. At both, the union is fighting for reinstatement of workers who have been fired for exhibiting trade union activism.

At Linde, TIGLU is approaching the expiration of a 21-month collective agreement at a plant in Saraburi province. That contract’s expiry is in a week’s time, on 21 March. Although the two sides are negotiating, proposals by the union relate to information demands, hiring agency workers into full-time jobs, and retuning union activist Wasan Ruengloikham to his rightful job. Linde Thailand seeks to eliminate union involvement clauses that were successfully won in 2008.

TIGLU wants managers to utilise Linde’s “Golden Rule” corporate responsibility language to address the sacking of Wasan Ruengloikham in common dialogue with the union. Ruengloikham was sacked on23 September 2010.

The union is also demanding paternity leave, and full-time employment for agency workers and three-year tank-truck drivers Pornpitsanu Puenpha and Surachai Singpasta.

Upon receiving the union’s proposals, managers at the Talan plant submitted their own contract-gutting demands. Linde Thailand seeks to cancel a clause that allows union participation in disciplinary actions, and it seeks to void contract language that allows for company facilitation of six hours per year of education on workers’ rights for all staff.

At Air Liquide’s Nong-kae plant, also in Saraburi province, one month ago five trade union leaders were given the sack over hideous “causing disturbance” allegations. The matter was due for a hearing at the provincial Labour Ministry on 11 March, at the request of Air Liquide’s Nong-kae managers. But just minutes before the session was to begin, management sent a fax stating they would not attend and the five would remain discharged.

The ICEM takes deep exception to this conduct. On 15 February, ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda personally intervened with local managers, calling them out for violating Air Liquide’s global values. Specifically, the ICEM cited Air Liquide social responsibility code that its enterprises “commit to encouraging and respecting social dialogue” and the “respect for human rights and enforce respect for the dignity of their employees.” Review the full letter here.

The ICEM will continue to monitor the negotiations at Linde, as well as work to rectify Air Liquide’s harmful social conduct in eastern Thailand.