Management at the Saida biscuit factory in Tunisia continues its anti-union aggression as their response to a deadlock in collective bargaining negotiations. After the general secretary of the local union was dismissed earlier this summer for having called a meeting of his members, now the deputy general secretary has been suspended.
The factory is part of the Société Tunisienne de Biscuits (SOTUBI), 49% owned by US-based transnational Kraft Foods. The Saida factory produces Kraft branded products like TUC biscuits.
Deputy general secretary, Karim Amdoumi, was suspended following an altercation provoked by the warehouse manager on August 13. He remains on suspension despite the fact that the warehouse manager has since withdrawn his complaint! Management has indicated to the union they would reinstate him if the entire union board resigns from their elected positions.
Act now! - send a message to Kraft (whose international snacks operations will be newly packaged as Mondelez on October 1) calling for the immediate reinstatement of the dismissed and suspended union representatives and a return to good faith negotiations! Go to:
http://www.iuf.org/cgi-bin/campaigns/show_campaign.cgi?c=699
Letter
Mr. Lawrence Macdougall, President, Kraft MEA
Mr. Stephan Klein - Human Resources CEEMEA
CC Mr. Ismain Mabrouk, CEO, SOTUBI
Dear Sirs,
I write concerning attacks by management at the Tunisian biscuit manufacturer SOTUBI in which Kraft owns 49%. Following the arbitrary and punitive dismissal of the union’s general secretary Zed Naloufi union deputy general secretary Karim Amdoumi has now been suspended and remains on suspension despite the fact that the management complaint against him has been withdrawn. These actions are a direct attack on worker rights and on internationally recognized labour relations standards.
Kraft cannot deny responsibility for human rights abuses at SOTUBI on the grounds that it only owns 49%! I call on you to act to ensure that management at the SAIDA factory immediately reinstates Zed Naloufi and Karim Amdoumi and resumes good faith bargaining with the local union.
Yours sincerely,