INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CHINA:

GOONS ATTACK GOLD PEAK BATTERY WORKERS:

Last March Molly mentioned a solidarity campaign for workers at Gold Peak Battery in Huizhou China. Since then things have gone from bad to worse, and the latest incident involves the company hiring violent thugs to attack the workers. This is merely one incident out of many as workers in China are increasingly unwilling to accept poorly paid and dangerous sweat shop conditions. Here's the story in the form of a letter from the Good Electronics network.

CLCLCLCLCL
Violence used against protesting Gold Peak Battery workers in Huizhou, China‏
Dear Reader,

Earlier this year, you showed your support for the struggle of cadmium affected Gold Peak workers in China. Hundreds of protest letters were sent to Gold Peak. In response, the company sent a lame and noncommittal message, telling us to refrain from contacting GP’s customers as “facts show that GP is a responsible employer and our staff and workers are happy to stay with”. Globalization Monitor has continued working on this case. Today, I feel compelled to inform you about the most recent developments.


Since 16 August, ex-workers of Gold Peak Batteries who are suffering from excessive levels of cadmium are once again trying to engage the company into negotiations about compensation for their health problems. So far, GP has ignored the workers’ demands. On 24 August, over a hundred workers staged a protest outside Gold Peak's factory in Huizhou. Some hours into the demonstration, the protesting workers representatives were surrounded and beaten up by a large group of thugs. A number of workers were badly injured and needed hospitalisation. Shockingly, the thugs told that they were paid 50 dollars to beat up protesting workers. Reportedly, two GP security guards assisted in bringing in the thugs. Workers concerned point a finger at GP for staging this violent incident which is strongly condemned by civil society organisations in Hong Kong and elsewhere. Gold Peak however refuses to pay for the medical expenses. The workers raised fund among themselves in order to pay for the hospital bills.

In an open letter dated 25 August 2010, 200 workers express their shock and anger.


More information can be fund on the websites of the Hong Kong based labour rights group Globalization Monitor and GoodElectronics.
Sincerely,
Pauline Overeem
Network Coordinator
GoodElectronics
International Network on Human Rights & Sustainability in Electronics

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-CHINA:

SUPPORT GOLD PEAK BATTERY WORKERS:

The following story and appeal for solidarity comes from the Good Electonics Network, an international network for "human rights and sustainability in electronics".

CLCLCLCLCLCLCL
Chinese battery producer fails to be a decent employer

Chinese battery producer Gold Peak Industrial Holding Ltd is under fire by Chinese and international labour groups for failing to be a decent employer. Year-long struggles of (ex-) workers with cadmium related health problems have not yet resulted in an acceptable solution. Gold Peak unilateral decision to close down and relocate its Shenzhen-based Jet Power plant, completely disregarding workers interests, has caused distress. Recently, a strike erupted at Power Pack, another Gold Peak subsidiary in Huizhou, China, over wages and benefits. The management's response so far has been totally inadequate. Chinese labour groups have addressed Gold Peak via two open letters, dated 10 and 31 December 2009 respectively.
Gold Peak batteries are used in all types of toys and electronics products.

Support the Gold Peak workers and Chinese labour rights groups in their struggle for labour rights

On 28 April 2009, on the occasion of the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers, GoodElectronics reported about the ongoing struggle of Chinese cadmium poisoned workers, addressing their (former) employer Gold Peak Industrial Holding Ltd for compensation and redress. GoodElectronics called upon Gold Peak and its subsidiaries to listen to the concerns and demands of the affected workers and take appropriate steps to resolve the lingering conflicts. Moreover, GoodElectronics called upon electronic brand name companies sourcing from Gold Peak to look into the issues raised by Gold Peak workers and Chinese labour groups and to put their policies regarding supply chain responsibility in practice.

GoodElectronics appeals to Gold Peak to improve its record

Since then, Gold Peak has made some little steps towards its workers, but the overall picture is still rather grim. It is now time for Gold Peak to structurally improve its labour record. Gold Peak should ensure that the management of its respective subsidiaries engages upon meaningful negotiations with its workers and their representatives on the basis of equality and transparency, in order to resolve disputes over wages, benefits and compensation packages.
GoodElectronics will also address buyers of Gold Peak products.

Click here to join and send a letter to Gold Peak >

CLCLCLCLCLCLCL

The Letter:

Please go to the links above or to this link to send the following letter to Gold Peak management.

CLCLCLCLCLCLCL

Mr Victor Lo

Gold Peak Industries (Holdings) Co. Ltd.

Kwai Wing Road, Kwai Chung

New territories

Hong Kong
gp@goldpeak.com

Cc. info@goodelectronics.org

Dear Mr Lo,
Concerned by reports of Globalization Monitor Ltd. and other Chinese and international labour groups, I am calling upon Gold Peak to respect workers rights and to improve working conditions at your subsidiary Power Pack in Huizhou, China. I am especially concerned about the crippled right for compensation and redress of cadmium-affected (ex-) workers of Gold Peak Industries.

I am joining Globalization Monitor Ltd. and other labour groups in their call upon Gold Peak to ensure that the management of Gold Peak subsidiary Power Pack engages upon proper negotiations with its workers and their representatives on the basis of equality and transparency, in order to resolves disputes over wages and benefits.

I support Globalization Monitor Ltd. and other labour groups in stressing that the right to assembly is a basic right according to the Chinese constitution. Dismissing an employee as a punishment for being detained by the local police is unacceptable. I support the demand made to the Power Pack management to reinstate or fully compensate Ms Wang Fengping.

I also support Globalization Monitor Ltd. and the other labour groups in their demand that the Power Pack management looks into the violence used against striking workers by the company’s security guards in December 2009, and to pay the hospitalisation costs of the injured workers.