Nestl stands accused of rights violations in connection with possible sell-off in Korea

Reposted from www.iuf.org
The IUF wrote to Nestlé corporate management, pointing out that while the company may react with silence or with the standard ‘we do not respond to rumours’ when dealing with the media, it has the duty to respond with openness and respect when approached by their employees and their union. The IUF reminded Nestlé that the refusal to provide the union with the information they seek and the failure to give reasonable notice of changes in operations constitutes a violation of principles set out in the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. Furthermore, Nestlé’s own Corporate Business Principles speaks of the principle of ‘staff relations based on trust, integrity and honesty’.

What followed was an admission that there was truth to the media reports but continued refusal to provide details and to enter into negotiations with the union over the implications for the workforce. This lead to growing frustration and anger among the union’s 300 members.

The NKLU has formed a 50-member strike committee and launched mass membership meetings, daily protest actions at the Nestle factory and protests at the headquarters of Nestle Korea in Seoul.

Mass membership meeting at the factory

The IUF filed a complaint against Nestlé on 19 March under the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, citing the refusal to provide information and the failure to provide reasonable notice of changes in their operations which would have major effects upon the livelihood of their employees (Art. IV 6) as breaches of the Guidelines.

This is not the first time Nestlé Korea management faces a complaint under the OECD Guidelines. In 2003 a bitter conflict over negotiating rights led to a 145-day strike and lockout. Nestlé management threatened to shift production out of the country in blatant violation of the OECD Guidelines