In August 2020, the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union (C.CAWDU) called on Irish clothing retailer Dunnes Stores to stop union-busting in its supply chain in Cambodia and to ensure that four dismissed union leaders are reinstated to their original positions at Greenfield Industry.
This appeal comes after the attempt by Dunnes to bust a newly formed union. On 17 June 2020, eleven workers at Greenfield Industry held a meeting to form a factory level union of C.CAWDU and elected 11 union officials. Three days later, the human resources department summoned the 11 union officials and informed them that the company could not renew their employment contracts due to a lack of orders and poor performance by the workers.
The local union president, Kosal, disputed this, because the workers had been completing their tasks on time and receiving the daily bonus. The company threatened the union officials, telling them to resign from C.CAWDU or face repercussions.
The local union president, vice president, secretary and treasurer were dismissed, as they refused to sign the letter. Six union officials signed the letter and quit C.CAWDU under duress.
