Subject: call for solidarity Date: Wed, 06 Jan 1999 12:28:34 +0530 From: GEFONT <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Call for solidarity and protests Friends/ Brothers & sisters Warm greetings from GEFONT-Nepal As in past, we feel an urgent need of your solidarity messages & protest letters in connection with Annarula Pvt. Ltd., which has victimized its workers in a conspiratorial & inhumane manner. The Annarula Pvt. Ltd. was established in Kathmandu 14 years ago. The owners were two princesses – Helen Shah & Jayanti Shah – as well as Sahadev Samsher Rana & Kapil Rana. But the responsibility of management was given to the Delhi-based Nirullas Corner House Pvt. Ltd. and specifically managed by Deepak Nirulla, an Indian citizen. Three tourist standard good restaurants in Kathmandu & Pokhara were under operation. The company actually needed 150 workers, but it had employed only 60 workers and used them to the maximum limit. The workers were working under the worst conditions of highly exploitative, inhumane & harassment as well as frequent corporal punishment. In 1994, the workers tried to be organized and registered their union in Dept. of Labor. As it was affiliated to Nepal Independent Hotel Workers Union (National Federation under GEFONT umbrella), the federation has been doing collective bargaining & negotiations with the management – two times in the past years. But the management was intentionally not implementing the agreements & negotiations. This time in June1998, the union forwarded its charter of demand under the provisions of the labor law. But the manager, during the tripartite talks in labor office, empasized that the company was going to establish 12 restaurants in different parts of Nepal and that the demand couldn't be fulfilled this year. Workers took a liberal attitude. Finally, in cordial environment, the agreement was signed, the major points were: i. Withdrawing the charter of demand ii. Demands to be presented after a year in June 1999 iii. Nothing to be curtailed what the workers are getting at present Surprisingly, the management issued notice to the workers that the dress will not be given this year and working hours without overtime payment will be increased for the betterment of the company. The workers protested and the management called on police by accusing the workers of destruction & damage. Police found no sign of destruction & damage and returned after warning the management not to call again on such false grounds. Suddenly the same night, an illegal lockout was done and the manager and his group fled to Delhi. Then the owners came in the forefront and in table talk with workers was organized in the presence of labor office officials. The illegal lockout was put to an end on 26th of September 1998. However, it was a conspiracy and again on 30 Sept. 1998, the owners locked out illegally. Workers and the union filed application in labor office against the action. After investigation, the labor office declared the lockout illegal and issued the order on 28 October 1998 to reopen the company at once. However, after lingering for a long period and ignoring the order, management has decided to liquidate the company. Workers are now in picketing and have been launching the program of struggle. We urge and request to all our colleagues and like-minded organizations to send solidarity messages to the struggling union via GEFONT-DFA and protest letters to the company and the Ministry of Labor. Thank you very much for your continuous cooperation. in solidarity Umesh Upadhyaya Chief, GEFONT-DFA Addresses for the protest letters: Annarula Pvt.Ltd Darbar marga, Kathmandu Fax: 977-1-225236 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Labour Ministry Tridevi Marga, Kathmandu Fax: 977-1-419251 Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html The Year 2000 Bug - An Urgent Sustainability Issue http://www.peg.apc.org/~psutton/grin-y2k.htm