Four female workers, unfairly fired and victims of workplace abuse, have caged themselves and sewn their lips shut as they launch a hunger strike and one threatens to burn herself alive in a dramatic protest against the multinational corporation Samsung. We ask all organizations to declare their demands through the sending of communiqués!

(http://en.maquilasolidarity.org/node/954)

On August 16, 2010, thugs entered a plant owned by Johnson Controls in Puebla, Mexico, and assaulted them, according to reports, "with sticks and stones, leaving many injured."  Two of the members of the Executive Committee of the newly formed union at the plant, Cándido Barreucos and Vigilio Melendez, were beaten in a company office and forced to sign letters of resignation, reportedly at gunpoint.  They are currently in a hospital with severe injuries. 

Hanka Heumakers and Franny Parren from TIE-Netherlands participated in the Women Workers’ Summit 2009 that took place from 9-10 December in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Summit was organized by the Committee of Asian Women (CAW) and brought together women from more than 15 Asian countries. The objective was to discuss the impact of the economic crisis on women workers and to explore strategies of women at the frontline of sustainable solutions. TIE-Netherlands together with TIE-Asia facilitated the participation of three Mexican colleagues from CJM (Coalición pro Justicia en las Maquiladoras).

Three hundred thousand workers marched in Mexico City to condemn the Mexican President’s decision to close the public energy plant Luz y Fuerza and to support the Mexican Electrical Workers Union.