News

Amunai, Newly elected president of the PPFT



Amunai is President of the Kimberly Clark Union in Thailand and one of the members of the Steering Committee of the Global Work Group established around this multinational. VIttaya was key to the struggle that his union –SIG-Combibloc- waged against the dismissal of its General Secretary, Bro. Thaneth Chanluichai, with the decided support of UNI G and its affiliated unions.



The new Executive Committee met to discuss its main priorities and analyze its work program. “We must continue building networks at the local, regional and global levels, because only this way will we be efficient in defending the workers of our country,” stated Amunai. The new President of the Federation began her union activities in 1983, and was elected President of the Kimberly Clark Union in Thailand in 2006. “I did not feel ready, Amunai told us, but the workers wanted a change and I decided I had to take on that responsibility.” “Now I hope to be able to build strong unity among the unions around the Federation, so as to be stronger and better able to defend the workers.”



The Executive Committee did an in depth analysis of the need to retain as well as win over more members in the unions that are already affiliated to the Federation without leaving aside new affiliations and the establishment of new unions. “We young people want to build a strong and respected Federation; we want to leave our differences behind us, since some of them belong to the past…we were still children when some of these problems arose,” emphasized Vittaya who has undertaken the task of reopening fruitful dialogue to strengthen union unity.



The Committee highlighted the fact that a new era is dawning, that the actions of the Federation have to be characterized by transparency, team work, the defense of worker interests, internal democracy and solidarity among members.





Meeting with Unions of SIG, AMCOR, ALCAN and Kimberly Clark



UNI Graphical met with the unions of the abovementioned multinationals to discuss an action plan to be implemented between 2008 and 2009.

Three action lines were established:

Training for the Executive Committees of the unions mentioned to improve collective bargaining capacity and team work.

Consolidation of the relationship with members of the union through training and social activities.

Communication; work on ample communication to win over more members.



“This is not about organizing a hundred seminars and bringing more and more experts. This is about developing our own capacity to interpret problems and find solutions for them. You as workers have the sum of all experiences, and all together we have to learn how to transmit them,” expressed Leif Mettavainio from Grafiska, Sweden who, along with Adriana Rosenzvaig, UNI Graphical, was present at the meetings.



Active Participation in the Discussions



Preparations for the Conference on Multinationals in the Packaging sector to be held in Vietnam



The unions named above have been proposing this conference for about two years and were greatly pleased to hear the news that it was going to be held. “We hope that Thailand will be well represented at this conference,” said Adriana Rosenzvaig. “Unions throughout the world have been carefully following the campaign to defend our colleague Thaneth, the election of Amunai on the Kimberly Clark Steering Committee, and the many other times the Federation has participated at the regional and global level.”



The AMCOR, SIG, K-C and ALCAN unions will send specific proposals to UNI G for the agenda of this event that expects to continue strengthening already existing networks.



Meetings End with a Party!



It was another anniversary of the ALCAN Union and for the occasion they organized a party for affiliates and family members. In a room filled with people, workers, joined by UNI Graphical, had the opportunity to share moments of joy. Imbued with feelings of confraternity, everyone wished the best for the strengthening of the union and unity among its members.



For more information, Adriana.rosenzvaig@uniglobalunion.org



Leif and Adriana at the ALCAN Union Party