Garment Workers Walk over T-Shirt

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More than 3,000 garment workers in Bangkok staged a factory walk-out in support of their fired union president at the end of July. The striking workers stated that they refused to return to work at the Body Fashion Thailand Ltd. Factory until their union leader was reinstated.

Body Fashion Thailand (BFT), a subsidiary of Triumph International, a large underwear manufacturer, removed the union president, Jitra Kotshadej, for wearing a controversial T-shirt. The shirt was printed with the quote “Those who do not stand are not criminals. Thinking differently is not a crime,” which supports the right to not stand while the royal anthem is played in Thailand.

Kotshadej wore the shirt during her appearance on a Thai television program where she spoke about abortion rights.

Although she was not appearing on behalf of the factory or her union, BFT sued Kotshadej for defamation in labor court and she was fired from her job without being present at her own hearing. Her co-workers went on strike soon after.

The Triumph International Labor Union presented a petition to the company with more than 2,500 signatures demanding that Kotshadej be reinstated, but the company is ignoring them.

Join the striking workers in demanding Kotshadej’s reinstatement by writing to Leonardo Innocenzi, Triumph International, Global Head of Supply Chain; email leonardo.innocenzi@triumph.com or Triumph International (Thailand) Ltd., G.P.O. Box 1678, Bangkok 10500, Thailand.