REPORT and PICTURES by MANDEEP SINGH
Published: 10 November 2006
POLICE intervened yesterday to disperse more than 100 DHL employees for taking part in an “illegal” demonstration at the company’s headquarters in Muharraq.
They broke up what was scheduled to be a three-hour strike from 9am to noon, after about 90 minutes.
The protesters were ordered to disperse at around 10.30am by police officers, who said they did not have permission to protest in the high-security area.
Employees were protesting the sacking of DHL Employees Union president Abdullah Al Khawja, who they claimed was dismissed for standing up for workers’ rights.
REPORT and PICTURES by MANDEEP SINGH
Published: 10 November 2006
POLICE intervened yesterday to disperse more than 100 DHL employees for taking part in an “illegal” demonstration at the company’s headquarters in Muharraq.
They broke up what was scheduled to be a three-hour strike from 9am to noon, after about 90 minutes.
The protesters were ordered to disperse at around 10.30am by police officers, who said they did not have permission to protest in the high-security area.
Employees were protesting the sacking of DHL Employees Union president Abdullah Al Khawja, who they claimed was dismissed for standing up for workers’ rights.
The union now plans to intensify its campaign to press for the management to reinstate sacked employees.
Union vice-president Hussain Ghuloom said the indifferent attitude of the management of DHL Middle East had forced them to look at ‘other ways’ to make themselves heard.
“We will hold a meeting tomorrow and decide on a future course of action, which we shall reveal shortly,” he said.
“This is very unfair and the management’s attitude is unbecoming.
“This company thinks they are the government and they feel they are running a city within a city.”
Mr Ghuloom said the sackings were in direct violation of the orders of His Majesty King Hamad, which stipulates that all employees engaged in trade union activities could not be sacked.
He said the employees’ right to discuss the issue was also being ignored by the company.
One of the protesters, Masooma Haji, said the union will not rest until all those who had been sacked were reinstated.
“We know our rights and we will fight, the law is with us,” she said.
The protesting workers were later addressed by General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU) secretary-general Abdul Ghaffar Abdul Hussain, who assured them of the full backing of GFBTU.
Meanwhile, DHL Middle East head of human resources Matt Daniels said in a statement that the company was very disappointed by the employees’ action.
“While we respect the rights of workers to take industrial action where appropriate, in this case the strike was without doubt, illegal,” he said.
“As a responsible and professional company, DHL requires its employees to work according to certain criteria, policies and high standards.
“If these criteria are not met consistently, then we have no alternative but to take the necessary action in full compliance with Bahrain’s law.”
He said DHL welcomes the opportunity to continue an open relationship with the union.
“As far as DHL’s day-to-day operations are concerned, it is business as usual with no interruptions to our services,” said Mr Daniels. “However we feel this illegal strike is bad for Bahrain, investor and business confidence generally.”
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