Rong Chhun (L), Cambodia's Independent Teachers Association president, and Chea Mony (R), president of the Free Trade Union (Photo: Sralanh Khmer newspaper)Tuesday, August 1, 2006
By Yun Samean
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
The Free Trade Union and the Cambodian Independent Teachers' Association have agreed to join forces and form a "Cambodia Confederation Union" to bolster their bargaining power for higher salaries, officials said Monday.
FTU representatives from 130 factories met with CITA members in Phnom Penh on Sunday and agreed to form the new union, which would have a total of 78,000 members, said CITA President Rong Chhun.
"Our objective is to help each other. When the workers go on strike the teachers will also go on strike to help the workers," and vice versa, he said. "We unite the forces to have real power."
The confederation will meet on Aug 6 to elect its president, he said.
CITA has 8,000 members, while the FTU has 70,000.
Chhoun Mom Thol, president of the CPP-affiliated Cambodian Union Federation, said the new union would be unable to compete with his federation, which he said has 80,000 members. He also claimed that the FTU and CITA have exaggerated their own membership figures.
"They are like an ant, I am not afraid of them," said Chhoun Mom Thol, who is also an adviser to Minister of Interior Sar Kheng.
He also accused CITA and the FTU of being allied with the Sam Rainsy Party.
SRP leader Sam Rainsy said the new union alliance would serve the interests of factory laborers and teachers, though he said he was not involved in its establishment.
"The two forces share the same cause," he said.
Khieu Kanharith, government spokesman and minister of information, also accused the SRP of being behind the new union. He added that if Sam Rainsy controlled the government, he too would be unable to raise salaries of workers and teachers.
"It is an empty promise," Khieu Kanharith said.
FTU representatives from 130 factories met with CITA members in Phnom Penh on Sunday and agreed to form the new union, which would have a total of 78,000 members, said CITA President Rong Chhun.
"Our objective is to help each other. When the workers go on strike the teachers will also go on strike to help the workers," and vice versa, he said. "We unite the forces to have real power."
The confederation will meet on Aug 6 to elect its president, he said.
CITA has 8,000 members, while the FTU has 70,000.
Chhoun Mom Thol, president of the CPP-affiliated Cambodian Union Federation, said the new union would be unable to compete with his federation, which he said has 80,000 members. He also claimed that the FTU and CITA have exaggerated their own membership figures.
"They are like an ant, I am not afraid of them," said Chhoun Mom Thol, who is also an adviser to Minister of Interior Sar Kheng.
He also accused CITA and the FTU of being allied with the Sam Rainsy Party.
SRP leader Sam Rainsy said the new union alliance would serve the interests of factory laborers and teachers, though he said he was not involved in its establishment.
"The two forces share the same cause," he said.
Khieu Kanharith, government spokesman and minister of information, also accused the SRP of being behind the new union. He added that if Sam Rainsy controlled the government, he too would be unable to raise salaries of workers and teachers.
"It is an empty promise," Khieu Kanharith said.
No comments:
Post a Comment