Unions Trade Barbs Over Violent Factory Strike

Two rival workers unions continued to trade barbs Thursday, each blaming the other for a violent clash between striking garment workers and police at a factory in Kompong Speu province on Monday that saw eight people arrested. The Free Trade Union (FTU) has led strikes for higher pay at Sabrina (Cambodia) Garment MFG Corp.—which produces clothes for U.S. sports giant Nike—in Samraong Tong district since May 21. On Monday, eight people linked to the FTU were arrested and charged after workers stormed the factory’s compound. The Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers (CCAWDU)- of which the majority are members, but which has not backed the strike- held a news conference yesterday to reject claims it had instigated violence. … For their part GMAC [Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia] called for zero tolerance from the government toward violent strikes. …

http://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/unions-trade-barbs-over-violent-factory-strike-29833/