Employees
at the Lebanese branches of the supermarket chain Spinneys are being
fired from work, physically assaulted, and psychologically terrorized
for daring to set up a legally sanctioned independent union, the
first such union in Lebanon in decades.
Spinneys
British CEO Michael Wright, in cahoots with Lebanon’s powerful
elites, has unleashed a vicious campaign to stop the newly-formed
union from operating in a safe and conducive environment.
The latest escalation by management comes ahead of the union's first
general election later this month. Wright and the Spinneys management
are also relentlessly trying to silence activists, journalists and
anyone else supporting the workers.
Activists
are calling on all international media outlets, labour unions, and
human rights activists to draw attention to the plight of the workers
and to their resilient struggle for their right to dignified work and
fair compensation in light of their contribution to the company’s
growth and success. The actions of the company are a clear violation
of international labour law and basic rights of workers.
Spinneys
must not be allowed to persist in its extra-legal bullying campaign
with impunity. Exposing the company’s practices on the world stage
is crucial to protecting the workers from further harm.
Lebanon has yet to ratify the International Labour Organization (ILO)
Convention no. 87 that guarantees the freedom of association and the
right to union organizing. Pushing for its ratification is one step
towards building a strong and vibrant union movement in the country.
Last
August, the ILO issued a strongly-worded letter protesting the
company’s appalling treatment of its employees. But the letter
appears to have fallen on deaf ears. The company has recently
escalated its campaign of intimidation ahead of the union’s first
general elections scheduled for November 18, 2012. To
show the workers they are not alone, a solidarity rally will be held
in front of one of the company’s branches in Beirut’s Achrafiyeh
neighbourhood next Monday November 12, 2012 at 5 pm.
To
read more about the struggle of Spinneys workers and their working
conditions, check:
http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/7799/unionizing-in-lebanon_the-struggle-is-elsewhere
Media
Contact:
Friends
of Spinneys Workers
Email:
dianakallas@gmail.com
Tel:
(+961) 76 124244
