Unions expect violence, but forum to go on

6 March 2014
The Phnom Penh Post
Garments and textiles / Government / Industries / Labor / Labor policy and administration / Ministries and other national bodies / Unions
Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions / CATU / CCAWDU / Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union / Collective Union of Movement of Workers / Dave Welsh / Freedom Park / Ith Sam Heng / Keat Chhon / Long Dimanche / Minister of Labor / Pav Sina / Phnom Penh City Hall / Solidarity Center / Yang Sophorn

Despite anticipating violence between unionists and authorities, labour union heads yesterday said they will go ahead with a public forum at Freedom Park on Saturday morning. ... Phnom Penh City Hall on Tuesday denied a request by 18 union federations to hold a public forum at Freedom Park on Saturday, an event that would coincide with International Women’s Day. The union groups are continuing to demand the minimum garment wage be increased to $160 per month and 21 jailed activists and workers be freed from prison. City Hall spokesman Long Dimanche on Tuesday declared Freedom Park off-limits, saying that the 30,000 people union federations expect could pose a threat to security. ... The forum is the second step leading to a stay-at-home garment industry strike scheduled to begin next Wednesday and last until at least March 19. ...

 Sean Teehan and Mom Kunthear
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/unions-expect-violence-forum-go