IWA Singapore Initiative

14/06/2023

Comrades from Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Pakistan and Thailand attended the 2nd Asia Pacific IWA Convergence in Jakarta 10/11 June. Presentations were given on a variety of topics; history of Naxalism in India, a report on the activities of the WSF, Pakistan section of the IWA, a presentation on the history of PPAS, Indonesian section of the IWA, the anti-monarchy movement in Thailand, Anarchism in Japan, a short history of anti-capitalist resistance in Korea, food co-ops in Myanmar, current anarchist activity in China and a history of IWA exile sections in Australia. There was a broader discussion about raising the awarenes of anarcho-syndicalism and building the IWA in Asia.

11/10/2021

Thank you to all who donated to the WSA-IWA 'Afghan Rescue' PayPal fund. A total of AUD 8957.63 was raised.

These funds are used to provide the food, medicine and accommodation needed while our comrades are having their applications for asylum in third countries processed.

Many thanks to those IWA sections around the world that have made separate donations in addition to the PayPal fundraiser.

Solidarity is our strength.

20/11/2020

10/10/2020

10/10/2020

The Sub-Secretariat of the Asia Pacific IWA is calling on all friends and supporters and those who believe in the rights of workers to support the IWA campaign for justice for 11 former Ansell Lanka workers unjustly sacked for attempting to unionise their workplace.

This group of workers included some who had worked for the company for 20 years and decided to unionise their workplace to combat the intimidation they were subject to and to protect their interests. On 13 October 2013, they were summarily dismissed. The workers launched a legal action in the courts in Sri Lanka but the case has dragged on for almost 7 years with the Ansell company instructing their legal team to appeal and delay as much as is possible to thwart the workers pursuit of justice.

An email protest was conducted on 26 August 2020. Ansell continues to claim it has done no wrong and is only abiding by local labour laws. Ansell fails to mention it has appealed against findings made in favour of the Ansell Lanka workers in the courts.

This is the statement made on 10 October 2020 by Ansell Lanka workers:

“We were surprised to see the e-mail you sent. ( Response by Ansell to the first email protest) Because we do not see the beautiful conditions you mentioned in the Ansell factory in Sri Lanka.

Your 2018 Human Rights report, published under employees representation, it is limited only to a report instead of being implemented in Sri Lanka.

Although stated the Ansell company acknowledges recognition of the union as an employee's bargaining agent, retaliation against from the union officials were taking place at the Ansell factory in Sri Lanka. The example of this is the unjust termination of the services of eleven officers, including the trade union branch president in 2013, without following any disciplinary procedure. It is clearly stated in the judgment of the Industrial court. Therefore, we propose you to read the industrial court judgment clearly.

Instead of enforcing that decision, you have challenged. This only prolongs the problem further.

Therefore, we request again you to reinstate the 11 employees and review and pay them the compensation ordered by the Industrial court of Sri Lanka.

After 2013, we strongly believe that there is nothing stopping you from doing it, looking at the way you have acted. We feel it is unnecessary to give the examples for it.

We hope you will do the right thing. We also emphasize that if you fail to do so, we will not hesitate to take strong protest action against your company.

We hope you think about your reputation and take that action."

We are calling for a second email protest to be sent to Ansell to the following email addresses on 11 October 2020 and right throughout the IWA International Week Against Unpaid Wages 12 October-18 October;

Magnus Nicolin
Managing Director and Chief Exceutive Officer,
Email : [email protected]

Catherine Stribley
Company secretary,
Email: [email protected]

Please let them know of your concern that workers have been sacked for nothing other than exercising their right to organise as workers into a union and pursue and protect their interests by collective bargaining.

The demands of the unjustly sacked Ansell Lanka workers are:

*Condemnation of violence perpetrated by the Ansell Corporation against workers organising unions to protect their interests.

* Condemnation of arbitrary termination of employment by the Ansell Corporation without due process of its workers for organising unions to protect their interests.

*Demand the full re-instatement of the workers.

*Demand full compensation for loss incurred due to unjust termination of employment.

27/08/2020

The Sub-Secretariat of the Asia Pacific IWA is calling on all friends and supporters and those who believe in the rights of workers to support the IWA campaign for justice for 11 former Ansell Lanka workers unjustly sacked for attempting to unionise their workplace.

This group of workers included some who had worked for the company for 20 years and decided to unionise their workplace to combat the intimidation they were subject to and to protect their interests. On 13 October 2013, they were summarily dismissed. The workers launched a legal action in the courts in Sri Lanka but the case has dragged on for almost 7 years with the Ansell company instructing their legal team to appeal and delay as much as is possible to thwart the workers pursuit of justice.

In July 2020, the sacked Ansell Lanka workers appealed directly to the Sub-Secretariat of the Asia Pacific IWA for assistance. As a first step, the Asia Pacific IWA is calling for a campaign of protest emails to be sent to the following executives of the Ansell Company;

Magnus Nicolin
Managing Director and Chief Exceutive Officer,

Email : [email protected]

Catherine Stribley
Company secretary,

Email: [email protected]

Please let them know of your concern that workers have been sacked for nothing other than exercising their right to organise as workers into a union and pursue and protect their interests by collective bargaining.

The demands of the unjustly sacked Ansell Lanka workers are:

*Condemnation of violence perpetrated by the Ansell Corporation against workers
organising unions to protect their interests.

* Condemnation of arbitrary termination of employment by the Ansell Corporation
without due process of its workers for organising unions to protect their interests.

*Demand the full re-instatement of the workers

*Demand full compensation for loss incurred due to unjust termination of
employment.

09/03/2020

ASF sends its fraternal greetings of solidarity to PPAS on the occasion of its 3rd Congress.

14/01/2020

Workers need to organise together to improve their wages conditions. Anarcho-syndicalism prepares for the future society.

13/01/2020

PPAS Singapore Initiative was formerly ASF Singapore Initiative. Long live the IWA!