Cierran la planta de Cobra en Tailandia por huelga!

[El Charly]

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/12/04/national/national_30090153.php
Cobra closes up plant after wage dispute
By The Nation
Published on December 4, 2008

Leading water sports gear maker Cobra (Thailand) has shut down its operation in Chon Buri, leaving security officers to advise 2,000 workers this morning of the closure.


The shut down reportedly followed a request from the 2,000 workers last month for a bonus of Bt20,000 per head and awage hike of 6 per cent. The company replied it could pay only Bt5,000-bonus per worker and a wage hike of 4 per cent- a response which prompted the workers to plan strike action.

Chon Buri deputy governor Pisit Boonchaung said he had been told of the factory's closure and talked with the Labour Ministry to negotiate with workers and the company.

Danu Chotikapanich, chief executive officer of Cobra International, told The Nation the disagreement was the result of amisunderstanding. He declined to say more.

Following negotiations with Cobra, labour union president Nawin Simaphan said the workers proposed the firm pay the bonus of Bt20,000 per head, an across-the-board wage hike of 8 per cent, work incentive of Bt1,200 per month, living cost allowance of Bt1,200 per month, risk allowance of Bt20 per day, a parent funeral allowance at Bt6,000, with a day off every other Saturday, and medical treatment allowance of Bt3,000 per year. The firm's representatives said they would consult with the executives and give an answer on December 4, he said.

A worker, who asked not to be named, said she worked with the firm since its opening 28 years ago. She said the bonus was lowered eventually from Bt40,000 to Bt30,000, to Bt20,000 and finally to Bt5,000, and so the workers ran out of patience. What angered them most, she said, was that they heard the firm lent Bt95 million to its subsidiary to extend business and then told the workers it had no money to pay for their wage requests, she said.

 

[jaume]

http://business.transworld.net/2008/12/03/cobra-international-co-ltd-announces-factory-lockout-effective-december-4/

Cobra International Co., Ltd. is a major manufacturer of surfboards, kiteboards, and wakeboards based in Chonburi, Thailand. It is also the leading manufacturer of windsurf equipment, with more than 50-percent market share.

On December 3, Cobra Int. sent out a letter to many of its partners in the surfboard market to alert them that due to failed negotiations with the Cobra Labor Union brought on by rising manufacturing costs, the 55,000 square-meter factory will be shut down for at least five days.

Due to the sheer volume of surfboards produced in Cobra’s factory this could have an unfortunate impact on many people in the global surf market. The letter says this will affect all shipments currently in place and urges vendors to contact their customer service representative about specific PO’s that should take top priority.

Here’s The Letter from Cobra International, Ltd.

The current political and world economic climate makes it is necessary for Cobra International to control rising manufacturing costs. After the failure of 5 weeks of negotiations between the two parties and after the Cobra Labour Union did not accept Cobra Internationals final offer the Union deemed the negotiations a failure.

The management regrets that the current situation could not be resolved thru mediation and hopes to resolve this situation as soon as possible.

To ensure the safety for the non Cobra Labour Union affiliated staff and to avoid any intentional damage to the companies plant the Cobra Management called for a Special Paid Holiday effective December 3, 2008, and have no other choice but to announce a lockout effective 8 am December 4, 2008.
Cobra International will welcome Employee’s who wish to work back into the factory as early as Monday, December 8, 2008.

Unfortunately this issue will affect all shipment plans currently in place. As soon as physically possible we will supply you with a current finished goods list and revised production output plans.

Please inform your Customer Service person of any specific PO’s in your shipment plan that should take first priority, so that we can work with you to lower the impact on your business.

After receiving your priorities and/or partial shipment instructions we will get back to you ASAP with revised shipment plans.

 

[superguai]

ala que cierren de una puñetera vez cobra........el listillo de starboard ya nos a jodido bastante el bolsillo.....todos al custom que es mejor y mas barato.......viva el custom

superguai

 

[raffig]

Sí, y acabaremos navegando en troncos como cierren Cobra. ¿Custom mejor? Quizá en algunos casos...el pan artesano de pueblo también es mejor, pero no pueden abastecer a todo el mercado. Los años dorados del custom me temo que ya pasaron…
Rafa

 

[jaume]

Parece que la cosa está lejos de solucionarse y hay disturbios ... no se si es exagerado lo que dicen pero parece que no es una broma. Dicen que será dificil llegar a un acuerdo antes de navidad y que el retraso en la producción será considerable.

Just seen a very worrying communication, People are fighting outside the factory and there are fears they might even burn it down or simply close it for good.
Apparently even if they start to produce again they'll have lost a months production,all the brands are affected and quite a few racer contracts are having to be cancelled until further notice, there are serious worries for larger companies with big overheads relying on early production, its actually getting a bit beyond a worrying joke..