Burmese migrant shrimp workers fight back and win

The shrimp and seafood processing industry in Thailand employs many thousands of migrant Burmese workers. The industry has a reputation for being anti union with low pay and bad working conditions. But workers in the industry are fighting back.  Last Sunday, thousands of workers staged a snap strike to demand the reinstatement of 160 of their fellow workers and an end to the use of subcontracted labour. Following the snap action, CP Foods, a branch of a Thai global maufacturing conglomerate, agreed to the workers’ demands.

The shrimp and seafood processing industry in Thailand employs many thousands of migrant Burmese workers. The industry has a reputation for being anti union with low pay and bad working conditions. But workers in the industry are fighting back.  Last Sunday, thousands of workers staged a snap strike to demand the reinstatement of 160 of their fellow workers and an end to the use of subcontracted labour. Following the snap action, CP Foods, a branch of a Thai global maufacturing conglomerate, agreed to the workers’ demands.