VICTORY IN THE HISTORY
VICTORY IN THE HISTORY OF THE FREE TRADE ZONES
For the first time for the Trade Union Movement in Sri Lanka Polytex Ekamuthu Sevaka Sangamaya (Polytex United Workers Union) a Trade Union in the EPZ Koggala affiliated to the NWC won a resounding victory with 82% of the workforce voting in favour at the Referendum which was held at Polytex Garments Industry Ltd., to determine the membership of the Union and to decide on the eligibility of the Union to represent the workers of this Establishment. The Referandum was conducted by the Commissioner of Labour –Galle District in accordance with the Industrial Disputes Amendment Act of 1999.
Step by step, slowly but surely the National Workers Congress approached the workers and commenced to organize by winning confidence of the workers by solving worker related problems and empowering them on all Labour Related Issues. Subsequently, in the Year 2002 this Polytex Ekamuthu Sangamaya (Polytex United Workers Union) was given legal identity and was registered with the Registrar of Trade Unions Sri Lanka. The request of the NWC to the Management to recognize the Union as the bargaining agent of the workers in the workplace was totally rejected.
Step by step, slowly but surely the National Workers Congress approached the workers and commenced to organize by winning confidence of the workers by solving worker related problems and empowering them on all Labour Related Issues. Subsequently, in the Year 2002 this Polytex Ekamuthu Sangamaya (Polytex United Workers Union) was given legal identity and was registered with the Registrar of Trade Unions Sri Lanka. The request of the NWC to the Management to recognize the Union as the bargaining agent of the workers in the workplace was totally rejected.
After the NWC made representations to the Minister of Employment and Labour and to the Commissioner General of Labour to conduct a Referandum at the work place, the matters took a turn for the worst. Overtime of the members were refused, the officials of the Union was threatened, and the workers were told that there would be a closure of the factory than dealing with the Trade Union. Also, the parents of the workers were threatened by saying that if their children vote for the Union, the factory will be shut down.
All these challenges were met head-on and the NWC expressed strong solidarity with the workers which gave the workers much needed confidence. Continuously, the Union made representations to the Minister of Employment and Labour and the Commissioner General of Labour, and finally this request was fulfilled and the Referandum was held on the 29th of July 2003 which made history in the Trade Union Movement in Sri Lanka.
All these challenges were met head-on and the NWC expressed strong solidarity with the workers which gave the workers much needed confidence. Continuously, the Union made representations to the Minister of Employment and Labour and the Commissioner General of Labour, and finally this request was fulfilled and the Referandum was held on the 29th of July 2003 which made history in the Trade Union Movement in Sri Lanka.