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Last Updated: Aug 13, 2008 - 9:48:12 AM |
Savar, Dhaka area; thousands of garment workers came out on strike over
the weekend in a new outbreak of unrest. On Friday 8th Aug two workers
on the overnight 'graveyard' shift at Biswas Synthetics Limited were
caught sleeping by 'ansar men', who then assaulted them. (Ansars are a
civilian volunteer defence group, an auxiliary to the professional
security forces; they have had numerous clashes with garment workers in
recent years. Their disciplinary role in this workplace is an
indication of the high level of class struggle now occurring.)
Already unhappy with the ansar military presence in the factory, for
hundreds of workers arriving for the Saturday morning shift hearing of
the assault was the last straw; 400 mainly women workers had recently
been sacked with no warning and without receiving wages owed. The new
shift refused to begin work and demonstrated for payment of wage
arrears, punishment of the ansars, and removal of the factory manager.
The factory bosses failing to respond, at 9.30am a scuffle occurred
between demonstrators and ansars, who retreated to their camp in the
factory grounds. Workers then attacked the ansar camp with sticks,
stones and bricks. The ansars responded with rifle fire into the crowd,
injuring at least two workers with serious leg wounds.
Workers spent the next four hours vandalisng the factory until a huge
contingent of police and soldiers arrived and eventually brought the
situation under control by 2pm. The ansar camp has since been removed
from the factory.
Dhaka, the capital; on Sunday morning 300 workers of Polonia Garments
Ltd gathered in expectation of payment of owed wages, as promised by
management. Finding the factory gates locked, furious workers began
ransacking the factory. Events escalated when over 1,000 workers from
neighbouring factories - armed with bamboo sticks and stones - joined
Polonia workers and attacked other factories on the Dhaka-Tangail
highway. Highway traffic was blocked for two hours.
Workers spread the trouble throughout the area; 15 factories RMG
factories and four shopping centres were attacked as rioting continued
through the day. Strikes demanding pay rises occurred in at least three
other factories and 60 factories were closed in response to the
violence. Later, at around 8:30pm, roving workers set fire to an RMG
factory in Gazipur, damaging a huge quantity of fabrics and yarns.
Concessions won
As inflation continues to eat into workers wages and demonstrations and
strikes increase, the employers' organisation - Bangladesh Knitwear
Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) - has announced it will
open five 'fair price shops' to sell subsidised staple foods to its
workers. They have also hinted at an 'inflation allowance' (probably
20% of current wages) being paid.
Source:Ocnus.net 2008
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