NationStates Jolt Archive


Unionization Efforts on Ascension Island Fail (MT, Open)

Tolvan
27-09-2008, 06:54
Commonwealth Press

www.commonwealthpress.tol

FREETOWN - The latest round of efforts to unionize some of Ascension Island's 1,257 plantations has failed. Workers at 419 plantations owned by General Foods Inc. went to the polls and voted 73% to 25% to reject the union charter offered by the United Farm Laborers Union. Organizers, including activist/singer Samuel Anderson, had committed considerable effort to promote the effort, much to the chagrin of General Foods management. Anderson was not available for a comment at the time CP contacted his office. UFLU Regional Vice President Willie Fish blamed the failure of the vote on "intimidation and misinformation" on the part of General Foods, as well as implying the possibility of vote tampering. General Foods released a statement praising the vote, saying "We at General Foods have always sought to ensure the best possible wages and working conditions for our employees and they have firmly stated that they do not need the services of corrupt union bosses to bargain for fair treatment."

The failure of this attempt is expected to drain momentum from similar UFLU unionization effort at 203 Commonwealth Coffee and Tea Co. plantations and 73 Tolvanic Sugar Corp. plantations. Both company's employees are slated to vote next week.

Jacob Ryan

OOC: Feel free to comment but any unreasonable posts (invasions, embargoes, etc.) will be ignored. This will be developed further in the days to come.
Tolvan
01-10-2008, 05:42
Commonwealth Press

www.commonwealthpress.tol

FREETOWN - As was widely expected given last weeks failed unionization vote by workers at 419 General Foods Inc. plantations, workers at 203 Commonwealth Coffee and Tea Co. plantations and 73 Tolvanic Sugar Corp. plantations also voted to reject efforts by the United Farm Laborers Union (UFLU). Voters at Commonwealth Tea and Coffee voted down the proposal 80% to 19%, while voters at Tolvanic Sugar voted 77% to 23%. UFLU organizers decried the votes as being tainted by intimidation, misinformation, bribery, and possible vote tampering by corporate management. The corporations, as well as observers from the Commonwealth Election Commission, dismiss these allegations as baseless.

Outspoken singer and labour rights activist Samuel Anderson has announced he plans to hold a rally alongside other union supporters to protest the votes and begin laying the groundwork for renewed unionization efforts. Commonwealth Tea and Coffee and Tolvanic Sugar had no comment regarding the planned rally.

Sam Brewer