Nestle workers locked out of Kabirwala factory for months

Workers at a Nestle factory in Kabirwala, Pakistan are engaged in a months-long struggle with factory management and the multinational corporation.  South Asia Labor Watch is planning to participate in solidarity actions in the Washington, DC area in coming days.

Organizers of the Nestle Workers Action Committee, are demanding regularization of contract workers, an end to a lockout of about 800 workers, an end to anti-union activities including allegedly fraudulent anti-terror cases, and the implementation of an agreement negotiated by the union.

According to solidarity activists, workers face hunger and potential starvation due to the lockout.  Anti-union activities include a series of reportedly fraudulent “anti-terror” cases brought against union leader Muhammad Hussain Bhatti, who spent two months in jail leading up to his January 6 release on bail.

The workers’ supporters are requesting statements of solidarity and international protests of Nestle.  The NWAC has requested statements of solidarity to: Nestle Workers Action Committee at imranbari80@gmail.com; Pakistan National Trade Union Federation at pntufcenter@gmail.com; and copies to cwi@worldsoc.co.uk.

It is calling for statements of condemnation to Nestle’s global headquarters (below), Nestle’s Pakistan office  at NAATA@pk.nestle.com, and international offices of Nestle in your home country.  They are also seeking pickets and protests of Nestle sites around the world.

Nestle head office in Switzerland contact information:

Nestlé S.A. Avenue Nestlé 55, 1800 Vevey, Switzerland
General enquiries +41 21 924 1111
Media +41 21 924 2200
mediarelations@nestle.com

Update:

The union president a day before his arrest describing the lockout:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr1pC–jAZE

The head of the workers committee describing the situation:

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