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“Where trade union works together with management, H&S accidents are lower and the workplace cleaner and more pleasant. Such partnership reflects the role of trade union representatives in that process and that team work should be prevalent” - Doug Russell, USDAW National H&S Officer



Following from the visit of John Hannett, General Secretary of USDAW UK to Tesco Lotus in Thailand and Malaysia in August 2011, the Tesco Lotus Thailand Union and UNI Apro on February 23 and 24, 2012, conducted a visit to evaulate the workplace health and safety procedures in the three distribution centres.



The UNI Apro delegation composed of UNI Apro Regional Secretary Christopher NG, Regional Director for Commerce, Alice Chang and UNIDOC Thailand Director Somboon Subsarn. Supported by USDAW's National Health and Safety Officer, Doug Russell, UNI Apro, the local union and the management jointly surveyed one of distribution centres in Ayuthaya Province and interviewed to make a fair and constructive H&S assessment.



The Tesco Lotus Management warmly received the delegation's visit and expressed their appreciation of the union delegation's cooperation and partnership approach to improve the workplace so that everyone can work in a safe and healthy environment. The management also appreciated the workers' commitment to Tesco as manifested by their contributions during the time of flood late last year and urged them to continue working closely with the management.



“Where trade union works together with management, H&S accidents are lower and the workplace is cleaner and pleasant. Such partnership reflects the role of trade union representatives in that process and that team work should be prevalent”said Doug Russell, further adding that good and clear policies are important but need to ensure that the implementation at the floor level are implemented all the time by all levels.



The follow up action plan is to develop a manual for the trade union OHS representatives to train H&S officers in Tesco and to recommend H&S Tesco management to jointly participate.



Christopher Ng, UNI Apro Regional Secretary, expresses his thanks to the Tesco Lotus Management for their invitation to visit the distribution centre and reiterates the Tesco Lotus Union's commitment to work in partnership with the Management to overcome OHS and other challenges together. UNI Apro is also thankful to the solidarity support extended by USDAW in providing the technical assistance and sharing of experiences with the union.



(for a full report of the UNI Apro mission trip, click on related files above)

Tesco-Lotus Management and Union UNI Apro delegation with Tesco-Lotus Union