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Local unions support SEIU global day of action on KKR



Netherlands: FNV Bondgenoten joins dozens of other unions around the globe to demand a fair deal from private equity

On Thursday 17 July, Dutch union FNV Bondgenoten was one of many unions around the world who took part in SEIU’s international day of action which was focused on private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR).



Henk van der Kolk, the Chairman of FNV Bondgenoten, took part in the action at the Amsterdam headquarters of Maxeda, where the union delivered 25 kilograms of golden chocolare coins to Sjaak Kranendonk, Human Resources Director for the group.



"Companies like KKR have but one purpose: to enrich the owners," says Van der Kolk. "They have created high levels of debt, evade taxes and either fire workers or undermine their working conditions. It is time that KKR acknowledges their social responsibility to contribute to a sustainable world."



FNV Bondgenoten called on the Dutch government to take action to force private equity to behave more responsibly, to give workers a say in decisions that affect them and to require consultantion with other stakeholders during mergers and acquisitions.

KKR headquarters Hong Kong:

On 17th July, a petition was delivered on behalf of SEIU and Clothing Industry, Clerical and Retail Trade Employees General Union (CCRTEGU ) to the KKR headquarters in the AIG Tower in central Hong Kong. The petition calls for KKR to act as a responsible investor and adopt principles respecting labour laws and tax contributions.

The office manager of KKR Hong Kong received the petition, stating that the CEO of KKR was presently out of town.



The Chinese wordings on the placards:-SEIU - Clothing Industry, Clerical and Retail Trade Employees General Union

KKR & Co.-Implement Corporate Social Responsibility-Protect Workers' Employment Rights

Photo: General Secretary of CCRTEGU, Cheung Laiha submitted the petition to KKR office manager.

Other participants were EC members of CCRTEGU and UNIDOC HK.





UNI LCJ and IUF-JJC gather in Tokyo to discuss private equity and its affect on the community:

Members of Japanese unions leafleted outside the KKR Tokyo office in support of the SEIU day of action against KKR on 17^th July. Following the protest, union officials gathered at a seminar to discuss private equity’s influence on labour issues in Japan. The group included academics and union officials with direct exposure to the problems associated with private equity portfolio companies, particularly in Japanese manufacturing.