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For Thailand’s Woman WorkersTwelve Years of Struggle

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Jointly published byFriedrich-Ebert-Stiftung andWomen Workers’ Unity Groupon the occasion of 12 years ofsuccessful cooperation

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Twelve Years of StruggleFor Thailandhailand‘s Woman Workerss Woman Workers

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Jointly published by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftungand Women Workers' Unity Groupon the occasion of 12 years ofsuccessful cooperation

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5/37-41 ∂.√Õ߇¡◊Õß ´Õ¬ 5 ª∑ÿ¡«—π °√ÿ߇∑æœ 10330ISBN:

For Thailand’s Woman WorkersTwelve Years of Struggle

Edited and translated by:Chris Baker, Sakdina Chatrakul Na Ayudhya, Santi Isrowuthakul

Wassana Lamdee, Apimanee Rommayanont, Phan WannabriboonDesigner: Duangta PoomcharoenIllustration: Thai Labour MuseumPublisher: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

Thanapoom Tower, 23rd Floor 1550 New Petchburi Road, Makkasan, RatchathewiBangkok 10400, Thailand

Tel: +66 (0) 2652 7178 to 9 Fax: +66 (0) 2652 7180

Copyright C 2004 by Friedrich-Ebert-StiftungAll rights reserved.

Date of publication: September 2004Printing house: Srimuang Printing

5/37-41 Rongmuang Soi 5, Patumwan, Bangkok 10330

ISBN:

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ContentsForeword by 6

Dr. Stefan Chrobot

Wilaiwan Saetia

We have come a long way!: 7

- Woman workers hold up half the sky!

- Roots of struggle

- The turning point in 1992

- The birth of WWUG

- The vanguard

Three phases of development: 17

1: The formative years (1992-1996)

Arunee Srito

- Milestones

- 90-day maternity leave - a great

victory for motherhood.

- Reflections

2:Through the crisis (1997-2000)

Wanpen Premkaew

- Milestones

- Back to mother's breast- Preschool

childcare centers

- Reflections

3:Against the current of globalization

(2001-2004)

Wilaiwan Saetia

- Milestones

- The dream of an OHS Institute

- Reflections

Viewpoints 45

The next step 57

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§”π”

This booklet "For Thailand's Woman Workers" is published on the occasion of 12 years of cooperation betweenFriedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and the Women Workers' Unity Group.

In 1992, a group of women trade unionists in different industries in Thailand decided to form an independentnetwork committed to the cause of women workers. This network was later known as the Women Workers' UnityGroup. The first meetings were held in the office of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, and soon after the group startedits direct actions and campaigns for the benefit of women workers. Among these early activities, the extension ofpaid maternity leave for working women was one of the most significant success stories. The new networkbecame internationally known.

From the start, the close and cordial relations between our two organizations has been much more than just aproject of technical cooperation. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and the Women Workers' Unity Group share similar ideasand values on issues of workers' rights. It is very much a political cooperation and a close friendship in jointstruggles for social justice, gender equality, peace, and international understanding.

Both of us had the privilege of being part of this cooperation since its very beginning in 1992 in our respectivepositions in the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and as a founding committee member of the Women Workers' UnityGroup. With this booklet we would like to provide those interested in this very unique women workers movementof Thailand with a deeper inside view and better understanding of 12 years of action and campaigns. In thebooklet, we decided to focus on the rise, history, and overall impact of the movement rather than on our extensivebilateral cooperation.

In an era of intensified internationalization we consider it vital to provide this information not only to Thai readersbut also to the international community through the English language. We hope this will lead to more interna-tional exchange of experiences and more mutual cooperation with similar movements in other countries.

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Foreword

¥√.  ‡µø“𠂧√∫Õ∑ ºŸâÕ”π«¬°“√ ¡Ÿ≈π‘∏‘ø√’¥√‘§ ‡Õ·∫√å∑ «‘‰≈«√√≥ ·´à‡µ’¬ ª√–∏“π °≈ÿà¡∫Ÿ√≥“°“√·√ßß“π µ√’

Dr. Stefan ChrobotResident DirectorFriedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

Wilaiwan SaetiaPresident

Women Workers’ Unity Group

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We have come a long way!

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§√÷ËßÀπ÷ËߢÕß‚≈°π’È  √â“ß‚¥¬·√ßß“π µ√’

9

Workers are the force that creates the world, and we woman workers hold up half the sky.

In Thailand as in other countries, women's labour plays its part in rolling the wheel of history. But ourrole has been undervalued and restricted. Women are taught that they are meek, mild and passivecreatures. In Thai, women are sometimes called "the hind legs of the elephant".

But in fact women have been the backbone of Thai society and the foundation of the workforce sincetime immemorial.

Over 600 years ago, Chinese visitors to Siam noted in surprise that women did all the work. Over 300years ago, European visitors noted the same thing. Thai men were conscripted to fight in the armies,and work for the kings and lords. It was women who planted the rice in the fields; women who soldgoods in the local markets; and women who looked after their families. Thai history even has a fewwomen warriors.

Around 150 years ago, the country beganto be drawn into the capitalist system andcontact with the West. The old feudal

system declined. Conscription ended anda free labour market arose. Thailand

became a big exporter of rice, tin, andtimber.

More people were drawn awayfrom the villages to work in ricemills, saw mills, tin mines and theBangkok port.

Women continued to be a bigfactor in the workforce. They stillworked in the ricefields. Theymigrated to work in the city. Eversince statistics were collected, thenumber of women in the workforcehas been only a little less thanmen. In Thailand, women truly holdup half the sky.

At first, most workers who came to the city were badly exploited. There was no legislation, noprotection, and little organization. Women workers were the most exploited of all. There was lessspace for them in the schools. They were qualified only for menial jobs with low pay. They often hadto accept a lower wage because they could not escape their responsibility to support a family.

Woman workershold up half the sky!

10

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°“√‡Õ“√—¥‡Õ“‡ª√’¬∫µàÕ·√ßß“πÀ≠‘ß∑”„À⇰‘¥§«“¡§‘¥∑’Ë®–√«¡µ—«°—π®—¥µ—È߇ªìπÕߧå°√¢Õß·√ßß“π µ√’¢÷Èπ ´÷Ëߧ«“¡§‘¥π’È¡’¡“µ—Èß·µàªï 2475 ¥—ߪ√“°Ø‡ªìπÀ≈—°∞“π„πÀπ—ß ◊Õæ‘¡æåÀ≠‘߉∑¬ ©∫—∫«—π∑’Ë 19 µÿ≈“§¡ 2475 ·µà§«“¡æ¬“¬“¡π’È¡“ ”‡√Á®‡ªìπ®√‘ß„πªï 2494 ‡¡◊ËÕ¡’°“√®—¥µ—Èß ç Àæ—π∏å°√√¡°√À≠‘ßé ¢÷Èπ ´÷ËßµàÕ¡“‰¥â‡¢â“√à«¡°—∫¢∫«π°“√·√ßß“πº≈—°¥—π„Àâ√—∞µâÕßµ√“æ√–√“™∫—≠≠—µ‘·√ßß“π©∫—∫·√°ÕÕ°∫—ߧ—∫„™â„πªï 2499 ∑”„Àâ¡’∫∑∫—≠≠—µ‘«à“¥â«¬°“√§ÿ⡧√Õß·√ßß“πÀ≠‘ßÕ¬Ÿà¥â«¬ ·µà°ÆÀ¡“¬¥—ß°≈à“«∫—ߧ—∫„™â‰¥â‰¡àπ“π°Á∂Ÿ°¬°‡≈‘°‰ª¿“¬À≈—ß°“√√—∞ª√–À“√¢Õß ®Õ¡æ≈ ƒ…¥‘Ï ∏π–√—™µå „πªï 2501 ·≈– Àæ—π∏å°√√¡°√À≠‘ß∂Ÿ°¬ÿ∫æ√âÕ¡°—∫ À¿“æ·√ßß“πÕ◊Ëπ Ê

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π“¡‚√ßß“π “¡—§§’°√√¡°√ ·≈–µàÕ¡“∂Ÿ°ª√“∫ª√“¡Õ¬à“ß√ÿπ·√߇™àπ°—π„πªï 2519 ∑à“¡°≈“ß ∂“π°“√≥å°“√µàÕ ŸâÕ—π·À≈¡§¡„π™à«ßπ—Èπ ”√“≠ §”°≈—Ëπ §πß“πÀ≠‘ßµ—«‡≈Á° Ê ·Àà߬à“π°√–∑ÿà¡·∫π‰¥â∂Ÿ° —ßÀ“√¢≥–µàÕ Ÿâ§—¥§â“π°“√‡Õ“√—¥‡Õ“‡ª√’¬∫¢Õß𓬮â“ß ·¡â√—∞ª√–À“√‡¡◊ËÕ«—π∑’Ë 6 µÿ≈“§¡ 2519 ‰¥âæ—¥æ“∫√√¬“°“»ª√–™“∏‘ª‰µ¬„À⮓ßÀ“¬‰ª®“°·ºàπ¥‘π‰∑¬ ·µà°“√µàÕ Ÿâ¢Õß·√ßß“πÀ≠‘ߧߥ”‡π‘πÕ¬à“߉¡àÀ¬ÿ¥¬—Èß

¬âÕπµ”π“π°“√µàÕ Ÿâ¢Õß·√ßß“π µ√’‰∑¬

11

Thai woman workers faced the usualexploitation of workers, plus the extradiscrimination against women. For manygenerations, they have had to fight forrights, justice, and equality.

The first upsurge of labour struggles was inthe 1930s, after the country got its firstparliament in 1932. From the start, womanworkers were part of this struggle. InSeptember 1932, the Thonburi Textile Millworkers went on strike over wage cuts.

A historic strike was called by womanworkers at Chong Nongsi Oil Refinery nearthe Bangkok Port in 1951. Woman workersthrew themselves on the street to block oiltrucks from leaving the refinery.

Around this time, workers began to be better organized. Woman workers discussed forming theirown body. In 1951, the first Federation of Women Workers was established. It pressed government fora labour act with provisions for special protection of woman workers. In 1956, this was achieved.

But Thailand was falling deeper under military dictatorship.After a coup in 1958, all labour unions and organizations were immediately banned by militarydecree. The labour act was revoked. The Federation of Women Workers disappeared.

A student-led uprising in 1973 brought democracy back to Thailand. There was more space forfreedom of expression. Workers were again able to organize and demand their legitimate rights andbenefits. A new Labour Relations Act was passed. Woman workers were in the forefront of thestruggles of these years. But they still faced systematic and bloody suppression. Several lost theirlives.

At the Standard Garment plant in 1975, striking woman workers were assaulted and beaten by riotpolice and commando units. Many of them were seriously injured.

At the Hara garment factory in 1976, striking women took over the plant and ran theproduction themselves. Nothing similar had happened before. The plant was renamed as the Work-ers' Unity Factory. But riot police eventually stormed the seized factory. Militant workers wereruthlessly assaulted, arrested, and prosecuted wholesale.

At a ceramic tiles plant outside Bangkok in1976, one woman worker, Samran Khamklan,was shot and died fighting on the picket line.

This democratic period lasted only three years.In 1976, the army staged another coup. Stu-dents and activists were massacred. Repres-sive laws were again imposed.Even so, woman workers carried on theirstruggles over the years to come, until the nextmilestone in 1992.

Roots of struggle

12

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ª√–‡∑»‰∑¬ æ.». 2535

13

In the 1980s, the Thai economy shifted towards industry. In 1985-6, it began to boom with big inflowsof Japanese capital. Many more workers were needed. In five out of six years running, over a millionpeople a year quit farming and came to work in the towns and cities. This was one of the biggestsocial changes in modern Thai history.

Over half these new urban workers were women.

They were pushed by poverty because agriculture was in decline. They were pulled by the newindustries like textiles and electronics which often preferred women workers to men. These newindustries were the engine of Thailand's booming economy. And the moving parts of this engine weremostly woman workers.

But they faced enormous problems. They were still usually paid less than men.They had to manage their lives as wife and mother alongside their work. Theyfaced risks over health and accidents. Even though they were such a large partof the workforce, their special problems were not well looked after by thelabour movement.

This time was tumultuous not only for the economy but for politics. The militarydictators made a last bid to hold onto power by a coup in 1991. They againcracked down on the labour movement. But workers joined with other pro-democracy forces to drive out the dictators in May 1992. The dictators shot andbeat the demonstrators, but were still forced out of power.

After many workers took part in May 1992, the labour movement had a newlease of life. Some NGOs who also took part in the May 1992 movementbecame interested in labour and especially in the problems of woman workers.These included Napaporn Atiwanichayawong and Bundit Thanachaisethavut,researchers at the Arom Pongpangan Foundation, a labour foundation namedafter a former union activist; Jadej Chaowilai and Supawadee Petcharat,organizers with the Union for Civil Liberty; and the Friends of Women Founda-tion which conducted educational activities for woman workers.

Many committed academics were also drawn to the problems of womanworkers including Thiranart Karnjana-aksorn, Malee Pruekpongsawalee, NikomChandaravithun, Lae Dilokvithayarat, Sungsidh Piriyarangsan, and VoravidhCharoenloet. Among labour organizers, Somyot Pruksakasemsuk concentratedon the special issue of unorganized woman workers.

The Gender and Development Research Institute (GDRI) published researchshowing how much the country depended on the sweat and tears of women

workers and yet how badly they were rewarded. Some 80 per cent of the workers in the country'smajor export industries were women, and yet their wages and benefits were still below those of men.

International labour bodies also focused on the issue of woman workers, especially the ICFTU whichwas active in training projects for a new generation of woman trade unionists.

Against the background of the big changes in Thailand's economy, the political turmoil of 1992, andthe growing interest of NGOs, academics, researchers, and international bodies in issues of women'slabour, a group of woman workers came together to make their voice heard.

The turning pointin 1992

14

πÕ°®“° ¿“æ·«¥≈âÕ¡´÷Ë߇ªìπªí®®—¬¿“¬πÕ°¡’ à«π‡°◊ÈÕÀπÿπ°“√°àÕµ—«¢Õß°≈ÿà¡∫Ÿ√≥“°“√·√ßß“π µ√’·≈â« ¬—ß¡’ªí®®—¬¿“¬„π∑’ˇ°‘¥®“°§«“¡æ√âÕ¡¢Õßµ—«·√ßß“πÀ≠‘߇Õß ™à«ß‡«≈“¥—ß°≈à“« ºŸâπ”·√ßß“π µ√’À≈“¬§π°â“«¢÷Èπ¡“¡’∫∑∫“∑‡ªìπ·°ππ”¢ÕßÕߧå°√·√ßß“πÀ≈“¬√–¥—∫ Õ√ÿ≥’ »√’‚µ ¢÷Èπ¡“‡ªìπª√–∏“π Àæ—π∏å·√ßß“πÕÿµ “À°√√¡ ‘Ëß∑Õœ „πªï 2533¢≥–∑’Ë «—π‡æÁ≠ ‡ª√¡·°â«¢¬—∫¢÷Èπ‰ª°ÿ¡∫—߇À’¬π Àæ—π∏å·√ßß“π‚≈À–œ «‘‰≈«√√≥ ·´à‡µ’¬°â“«‡¢â“¡“¡’∫∑∫“∑π” Ÿß ÿ¥„π°≈ÿ࡬à“πÕâÕ¡πâÕ¬-ÕâÕ¡„À≠à

°“√‡§≈◊ËÕπ‰À«‡√’¬°√âÕß ‘∑∏‘≈“§≈Õ¥ 90 «—π‚¥¬‰¥â§à“®â“߇µÁ¡ ‡√‘Ë¡¡“µ—Èß·µàªï 2534 ‰¥â°≈“¬‡ªìπ°‘®°√√¡∑’ˇ™◊ËÕ¡√âÕ¬„À⺟âπ”·√ßß“π µ√’À≈“¬ à«π∑”ß“π√à«¡°—π¡“°¢÷Èπ ·≈–µ√–Àπ—°™—¥«à“°“√‡§≈◊ËÕπ‰À«ªí≠À“·√ßß“πÀ≠‘ß®– ”‡√Á®·≈–‡ªìπ®√‘߉¥â°ÁµàÕ‡¡◊ËÕ·√ßß“πÀ≠‘ß√«¡°—π·≈–π”°“√‡§≈◊ËÕπ‰À«‡∑à“π—Èπ

ºŸâ‡°’ˬ«¢âÕß°—∫°“√√‘‡√‘Ë¡°àÕµ—Èß°≈ÿà¡∫Ÿ√≥“°“√·√ßß“π µ√’∑ÿ°∑à“π‡ÀÁπ«à“ ºŸâ¡’ à«π√‘‡√‘Ë¡§«“¡§‘¥„π°“√µ—Èß°≈ÿà¡·√ßß“πÀ≠‘ߧ◊Õ  ‡µø“𠂧√∫Õ∑´÷Ë߇ªìπºŸâÕ”π«¬°“√¡Ÿ≈π‘∏‘ø√’¥√‘§ ‡Õ·∫√å∑ (FES)„π¢≥–π—Èπ·µà‡®â“µ—«°≈—∫„À⧫“¡‡ÀÁπ«à“ ç°“√°àÕµ—Èß°≈ÿà¡∫Ÿ√≥œ ‰¡à‰¥â‡°‘¥®“°§«“¡§‘¥·≈–·√ß∫—ߥ“≈„®¢Õß§π„¥§πÀπ÷Ëß ·µà‡°‘¥®“°°“√‡√’¬π√Ÿâ

·≈–∑”§«“¡‡¢â“„®√à«¡°—π µàÕ ∂“π°“√≥åªí≠À“¢Õß·√ßß“πÀ≠‘ß„π™à«ßπ—Èπ ‡°‘¥°“√æ—≤π“°√Õ∫§«“¡§‘¥·≈–ªØ‘∫—µ‘

µ“¡§«“¡§‘¥¢Õß·√ßß“πÀ≠‘߇Õß  ‘Ëß∑’Ë FES ∑”°Á§◊Õ ¥Ÿ·≈ π—∫ πÿπ„Àâ°≈ÿà¡·√ßß“πÀ≠‘ß∑”ß“π√à«¡°—πÕ¬à“߇ªìπÕ‘ √–  “¡“√∂æ—≤𓧫“¡§‘¥ ·≈–

∑”ß“π¿“¬„µâ°√Õ∫§«“¡§‘¥¢Õß°≈ÿࡇÕßé

°“√ª√–™ÿ¡§√—Èß·√°¢Õߧ≥–°àÕ°“√Õ—πª√–°Õ∫¥â«¬  ÿ‡æÁ≠»√’ æ÷Ëß‚§° Ÿß ºŸâπ”·√ßß“π µ√’ºŸâ§«Ë”À«Õ¥„π«ß°“√·√ßß“π ¢≥–π—Èπ∑”ß“π∫√‘…—∑øî≈‘ª å‡´¡‘§Õπ¥—§‡µÕ√å (‰∑¬·≈π¥å) ®”°—¥ Õ√ÿ≥’ »√’‚µ ª√–∏“π Àæ—π∏å·√ßß“πÕÿµ “À°√√¡ ‘Ëß∑Õœ ·≈–«—π‡æÁ≠ ‡ª√¡·°â« ª√–∏“π Àæ—π∏å·√ßß“π‚≈À–œ ‡°‘¥¢÷Èπ„π‡¥◊Õπ°—𬓬πªï 2535 ®“°°“√ª√– “πß“π¢ÕßÕ“√’¬å À√Ÿ»√’¬°ÿ≈ ‡®â“Àπâ“∑’Ë‚§√ß°“√¢Õß FES ‚¥¬Õ“»—¬ ”π—°ß“π¢Õß¡Ÿ≈π‘∏‘œ ‡ªìπ∑’˪√–™ÿ¡ °“√ª√–™ÿ¡§√—Èßπ—Èπ𔉪 Ÿà°“√ª√–™ÿ¡Õ’°À≈“¬§√—Èß ·≈–¢¬“¬«ß‰ª Ÿà§πß“πÀ≠‘ß à«πÕ◊Ëπ Ê ‡™àπ √—∞«‘ “À°‘® Õ—π𔉪 Ÿà°“√µ—¥ ‘π„®µ—Èß°≈ÿà¡∫Ÿ√≥“°“√·√ßß“π µ√’¢÷Èπ

π—°«‘™“°“√∑à“πÀπ÷Ëß∑’Ë¡’∫∑∫“∑Õ¬à“ß ”§—≠„π∞“π–∑’˪√÷°…“°≈ÿࡵ—Èß·µà·√°§◊Õ Õ“®“√¬∏’√π“∂ °“≠®πÕ—°…√®“°§≥–‡»√…∞»“ µ√å ®ÿÓ≈ß°√≥å¡À“«‘∑¬“≈—¬

«—µ∂ÿª√– ß§å„π°“√∑”ß“π‡¡◊ËÕ·√°µ—Èß°≈ÿࡧ◊Õ ‡æ◊ËÕ‡ªìπ»Ÿπ¬å√«¡·≈– ◊ËÕ°≈“ß „π°“√»÷°…“ ‡º¬·æ√à ·≈°‡ª≈’ˬπ¢âÕ¡Ÿ≈ ·≈–ª√– ∫°“√≥å„πª√–‡¥Áπ∑’ˇ°’ˬ«°—∫·√ßß“πÀ≠‘ß  à߇ √‘¡∫∑∫“∑¢Õß·√ßß“πÀ≠‘ß„Àâ¡’ à«π√à«¡„π¢∫«π°“√·√ßß“π „À⧔ª√÷°…“·≈–√à«¡‡§≈◊ËÕπ‰À«‡√’¬°√âÕ߇æ◊ËÕª°ªÑÕß ‘∑∏‘·≈–º≈ª√–‚¬™πå¢Õß·√ßß“πÀ≠‘ß„π “¢“Õ“™’æµà“ß Êª√– “π°—∫Àπ૬ߓπ/Õߧå°√µà“ß Ê „π°“√·°â‰¢ªí≠À“ ‡™àπ º≈—°¥—π„Àâª√—∫ª√ÿß°ÆÀ¡“¬ ÕÕ°°ÆÀ¡“¬ ¢âÕ∫—ߧ—∫∑’ˇ°’ˬ«¢âÕß°—∫ ‘∑∏‘·≈–º≈ª√–‚¬™πå¢Õß·√ßß“πÀ≠‘ß

°”‡π‘¥°≈ÿà¡∫Ÿ√≥“°“√·√ßß“π µ√’

15

In 1991, some women workers began a campaign for 90-day maternity leave with pay. This campaignbecame a focal point to mobilize workers and public support.

In 1992, a group of woman trade unionists decided to form a group committed to the cause ofwoman workers. The first meeting was held in September 1992. Later this group came to be known asthe Women Workers' Unity Group or WWUG.

The core of WWUG came from woman trade unionists in different industries.Arunee Srito had been President of the Federation of Textile Labour Unionsin 1990. Wanpen Premkaew was a leader of the Federation of MetalWorkers' Unions. Wilaiwan Saetia had organized a coalition of workergroups in the Omnoi-Omyai industrial area on the Bangkok outskirts.Supensri Puengkoksoong was an experienced organizer in the electronicsindustries.

Many civic groups and NGOs who came together in the pro-democ-racy movement lent support to the women workers' aspirations. TheFriedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) office in Bangkok contributed a greatdeal of experience and insight on international labour developmentand some specific labour issues. The first historic meeting was heldin the FES office. But the idea for the group came from the womenworkers themselves. FES gave the support and encouragement,then and ever since.

The initial aim of the Group was to serve as a focal point, a resource centre, and a forum for sharingideas and experiences, disseminating data and information, providing advice to woman workers,groups and organizations. The idea was to empower woman workers and their organizations so they

could contribute more to the labourmovement, to democratization, and tonational development. The Group alsoaimed to mobilize woman workers todemand better welfare and benefits,and to work with other organizationsand agencies to press for changes inlegislation.

The birth of WWUG

16

ª√–∏“π §ÿ≥Õ√ÿ≥’ »√’‚µ‡≈¢“πÿ°“√ §ÿ≥«‘∑¬“°√ §”¿Ÿ

ΩÉ“¬°“√»÷°…“À—«Àπâ“ΩÉ“¬ §ÿ≥«‘«√√≥ ®—π∑–

§ÿ≥«‘‰≈«√√≥ ·´à‡µ’¬§ÿ≥§¡§“¬ ¡’∑ÕßÀ≈“ߧÿ≥°ƒ…≥“¿√≥å ∑Õß∫ÿ≠≈◊Õ§ÿ≥Õÿ∫≈ √à¡‚æ∏‘Ï∑Õߧÿ≥√ÿàßπ¿“ ™âÕ¬™¡â“¬§ÿ≥ ß«π ¢ÿπ∑√ߧÿ≥®“√ÿ«√√≥ Õπÿ π

ΩÉ“¬ª√–™“ —¡æ—π∏å ·≈–°‘®°√√¡À—«Àπâ“ΩÉ“¬ §ÿ≥«—π‡æÁ≠ ‡ª√¡·°â«

§ÿ≥ ÿπ∑√ ‡º◊ËÕπæß»å§ÿ≥ “¬À¬ÿ¥ ¬–«ß…å§ÿ≥«“ π“ ∫ÿµµ–§ÿ≥∑‘欫√√≥ ·°â«· ß®—π∑√å§ÿ≥»√’π«≈ √Õ¥‡√◊Õß√ÿàߧÿ≥®‘∫ ‚µª√–‡∑»§ÿ≥‡æàßæ‘» «ß‡«’¬π§ÿ≥≈Ÿ°Õ‘π∑√å «—π¥’

ΩÉ“¬‡À√—≠≠‘°À—«Àπâ“ΩÉ“¬ §ÿ≥©≈«¬ µ√‘¬“ ÿ¢

§ÿ≥™—™Æ“¿√≥å ‡∑æπ‘°√§ÿ≥À∑—¬«√√≥ Õ‘π∑√ Ÿµ

∑’˪√÷°…“ Õ“®“√¬å∏’√π“∂ °“≠®πÕ—°…√§≥–‡»√…∞»“ µ√å ®ÿÓ≈ß°√≥å¡À“«‘∑¬“≈—¬§ÿ≥Õ“√’¬å À√Ÿ»√’¬°ÿ≈‡®â“Àπâ“∑’Ë¡Ÿ≈π‘∏‘ø√’¥√‘§ ‡Õ·∫√å∑ (FES)§ÿ≥Õÿ…“  ÿ«√√≥∑—µÀ—«Àπâ“ΩÉ“¬ µ√’  ¡“æ—π∏å·√ßß“π√—∞«‘ “À°‘® —¡æ—π∏å§ÿ≥ ¡»—°¥‘Ï ‚°»—¬ ÿ¢‡≈¢“∏‘°“√  ¡“æ—π∏å·√ßß“π√—∞«‘ “À°‘® —¡æ—π∏å§ÿ≥ ÿ‡æÁ≠»√’ æ÷Ëß‚§° ŸßΩÉ“¬·√ßß“πÀ≠‘ß„π¿“§Õÿµ “À°√√¡°“√º≈‘µ¡Ÿ≈π‘∏‘‡æ◊ËÕπÀ≠‘ß

‚©¡Àπâ“°√√¡°“√™ÿ¥°àÕ°“√

Chairperson Arunee SritoSecretary Witayakorn Khampoo

Education Section Wiwan ChanthaWilaiwan Saetia

Khomkhai Meethonglang

Krisnaporn Thongboonlue

Ubon Romphothong

Roongnapa Choichamai

Sa-nguan Khunsong

Jaruwan Anuson

PR & Activity Section Wanpen PremkaewSunthorn Puernpong

Saiyud Yawong

Wassana Butta

Thipawan Kaewsaengchan

Srinual Rodrerngroong

Jib Tohprathet

Pengpit Wongwien

Loog-in Wandee

Treasurer & AssistantsChaluey Triyasook

Chatchadaporn Thepnikorn

Hathaiwan Indarasoot

Advisors Thiranart Karnjana-aksorn,Economics Faculty,Chulalongkorn UniversityAree Hrusriyakul,

FES-BangkokUsa Suwanathat,

Head of Women Section,State Enterprise Workers‘Relations ConfederationSomsak Kosaisook,

Secretary-General,State Enterprise Workers‘Relations ConfederationSupensri Puengkoksoong,

Woman Worker inManufacturing Sector Section,Friends of Women Foundation.

The vanguardWomen Workers' Unity Group

The first Organizing Committee,1992

17

 “¡¬ÿ§ “¡ ¡—¬°—∫12 ªï ∑’ËøíπΩÉ“

Three phases of development

18

Õ√ÿ≥’ »√’‚µ ‡°‘¥‡¡◊ËÕ«—π∑’Ë 2 ¡°√“§¡ 2496 „π§√Õ∫§√—«™“«π“™“« «π®—ßÀ«—¥ππ∑∫ÿ√’ ‡∏Õ‡ªìπ≈Ÿ° “«§π‡¥’¬«·≈–‡ªìπ§π°≈“ߢÕßæ’ËπâÕß®”π«π 5 §π ¡’‚Õ°“ »÷°…“„π√–∫∫‚√߇√’¬π‡æ’¬ß™—Èπª√–∂¡ ’Ë πÕ°π—Èπ‡ªìπ°“√‡√’¬π‡æ‘Ë¡‡µ‘¡„π√–∫∫°“√»÷°…“πÕ°‚√߇√’¬π¿“¬À≈—ß®“°∑’ˉ¥â‡¢â“∑”ß“π·≈â«

ªï 2514 ‡√‘Ë¡Õ“™’懪ìπ “«‚√ßß“π∑’Ë‚√ßß“π ‘Ëß∑Õ‰∑¬‡°√’¬ß¥â«¬«—¬ 17 ªï ®“°°“√¡’ à«π√à«¡„π‡Àµÿ°“√≥å 14µÿ≈“§¡ 2516 ∑”„Àâ‡∏Õµ√–Àπ—°·≈–‡™◊ËÕ¡—Ëπ„πæ≈—ߢÕߪ√–™“™π À≈—߇Àµÿ°“√≥å 14 µÿ≈“œ

§πß“π‰∑¬‡°√’¬ß‰¥â≈ÿ°¢÷ÈπµàÕ Ÿâ‡æ◊ËÕ∑«ß ‘∑∏‘·≈–§«“¡‡ªìπ∏√√¡À≈“¬§√—Èß¿“¬„µâ°“√π”¢Õߧπß“π™“¬ Õ√ÿ≥’‰¥â‡√’¬π√Ÿâ·≈– —Ëß ¡ª√– ∫°“√≥宓°°“√µàÕ Ÿâ‡À≈à“π—Èπ „πªï

2520 ·≈–2521 Õ√ÿ≥’°—∫‡æ◊ËÕπ§πß“πÀ≠‘ß°Á‰¥âπ”°“√ ‰µ√姧—¥§â“ππ‚¬∫“¬‡≈◊Õ°ªØ‘∫—µ‘¢Õß𓬮â“ß ´÷Ëߪ√– ∫™—¬™π–Õ¬à“ßߥߓ¡ ·≈–„πªï 2523 ‰¥â√à«¡‡ªìπ

·°ππ”°àÕµ—Èß À¿“æ·√ßß“π ‘Ëß∑Õ‰∑¬‡°√’¬ß¢÷Èπ °“√∑”ß“π¢Õß À¿“懵Á¡‰ª¥â«¬Õÿª √√§¢«“°Àπ“¡ ºŸâπ”§π·≈⫧π‡≈à“∂Ÿ°‡≈‘°®â“ß ®π

‰¡à¡’„§√°≈â“∑’Ë®–‡¢â“·∫°√—∫¿“√–¢Õß À¿“æ „π∑’Ë ÿ¥ªï 2526Õ√ÿ≥’‰¥â√—∫§«“¡‰«â«“ß„®®“°‡æ◊ËÕπ§πß“π„Àâ°â“«¢÷Èπ

‡ªìπª√–∏“πÀ≠‘ߧπ·√°¢Õß À¿“æ·√ßß“π·Ààßπ’È ‡∏Õ‰¥â∑ÿࡇ∑∑”ß“π„Àâ°—∫ À¿“æÕ¬à“߉¡à√Ÿâ®—°‡ÀπÁ¥‡Àπ◊ËÕ¬ ‡æ◊ËÕ≈∫§«“¡‡™◊ËÕ‡°à“Ê∑’Ë¡Õß«à“ ºŸâÀ≠‘ßÕàÕπ·Õ ‰¡à°≈â“

µ—¥ ‘π„® æ÷ËߺŸâÕ◊Ëπ·≈–‡À¡“–°—∫ß“π∫â“π

¥â«¬∫ÿ§≈‘°¿“æ∑’Ë‚¥¥‡¥àπ °“√∑ÿࡇ∑∑”ß“π¥â«¬§«“¡¡ÿàß¡—Ëπ·≈–‡ ’¬ ≈– ∑”„ÀâÕ√ÿ≥’°â“«‡¢â“ Ÿàµ”·Àπàß ”§—≠„πÕߧå°√·√ßß“π√–¥—∫™“µ‘ ‡∏Õ‰¥â√—∫‡≈◊Õ°‡ªìπ√Õߪ√–∏“π Àæ—π∏å·√ßß“πÕÿµ “À°√√¡ ‘Ëß∑Õœ„πªï 2527-2528 ‡ªìπÀ≠‘ߧπ·√°∑’Ë°â“« Ÿàµ”·Àπàߪ√–∏“π Àæ—π∏å·√ßß“πÕÿµ “À°√√¡ ‘Ëß∑Õœ ªï 2533-2536 ‡ªìπÀ—«Àπâ“ΩÉ“¬ µ√’§π·√°¢Õß ¿“Õߧ尓√≈Ÿ°®â“ß ¡“æ—π∏å·√ßß“π·Ààߪ√–‡∑»‰∑¬„πªï2529-2531 ‡ªìπ√Õߪ√–∏“π ¿“Õߧ尓√≈Ÿ°®â“ß ¿“·√ßß“π·Ààߪ√–‡∑»‰∑¬„πªï 2538-2539 ‡§¬∑”Àπâ“∑’ˇªìπºŸâæ‘æ“°…“ ¡∑∫ΩÉ“¬≈Ÿ°®â“ß„π»“≈·√ßß“π√–À«à“ߪï 2536-2540 ·≈–‡ªìπª√–∏“π§π·√°°≈ÿà¡∫Ÿ√≥“°“√·√ßß“π µ√’™à«ßªï 2536-2539

¬ÿ§Àπ÷Ëß °àÕ√à“ß √â“ßµ—« 2535 - 2539

Õ√ÿ≥’ »√’‚µ

19

Phase 1: The formative years(1992-1996)

1Arunee Srito was born on 2 January 1953 in Nonthaburi province, just north of Bangkok. She was thethird child and only daughter in a family of five children.

She started working at the Thai Krieng Textile mill when she was 17 years old. She took part in thestudent-led uprising of 14 October 1973, and in the labour struggles in the years following. In 1977-8,workers at Thai Krieng Textile mill went on strike to oppose management policy, and won victory.In 1980, Arunee was a founder member of the Thai Krieng Textile Labour Union.

The union faced fierce opposition from management. Many of its officers were laid off, to the pointothers were afraid to take the posts. In 1983, Arunee was elected the first woman president of theunion. She was determined to do away with the stereotyped image of Thai women as unable tobecome leaders and take decisions. She devoted fourteen years to being a union organizer, and roseto be president of the Federation of Textile Labour Unions from 1990 to 1993. Under her leadership,woman workers fought hard to gain more gender equality in wages and promotions. One victory wasover bonuses. Before, women workers' bonuses were only 20 per cent of the men's. Arunee got thisraised to 90 per cent.

Arunee was unfairly dismissed from Thai Krieng Textile in a mass lay-off in 1993when the company wanted to install new machinery. Arunee and her colleaguesfought back and even seized the factory. Eventually they were reinstated, andalso won an amendment to the labour law on lay-offs.

Arunee played a leading role in the 1991-3 campaign which successfullydemanded 90 days of paid maternity leave. She fronted collective bargaining onbehalf of thousands of workers. She became an advisor to several unions andworker groups.

Arunee Srito

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Õ√ÿ≥’∂Ÿ°‡≈‘°®â“ßÕ¬à“߉¡à‡ªìπ∏√√¡§√—Èß·√°„π‡¥◊Õπ°√°Æ“§¡ 2536 ¢≥–°”≈—ß¡’∫∑∫“∑ Ÿß‡¥àπ„π∞“π–ºŸâπ”°“√µàÕ Ÿâ„πÀ≈“¬ª√–‡¥Áπ ‡∏Õ‰¥â≈ÿ°¢÷ÈπµàÕ Ÿâ°—∫𓬮â“ß‚¥¬‰¥â√—∫°“√ π—∫ πÿπÕ¬à“ß°«â“ߢ«“ß®“°‡æ◊ËÕπ√à«¡¢∫«π°“√·√ßß“π·≈–æ—π∏¡‘µ√ °“√µàÕ Ÿâ§√—Èßπ—Èπ‡ªìπ‰ªÕ¬à“ߥÿ‡¥◊Õ¥∂÷ߢ—Èπ¬÷¥‚√ßß“π º≈¢Õß°“√µàÕ Ÿâ πÕ°®“°®–∑”„Àâ‡∏Õ·≈–‡æ◊ËÕπ Ê “¡“√∂°≈—∫‡¢â“∑”ß“π‰¥âÕ’°§√—Èß·≈â« ¬—ß∑”„Àâ¡’°“√·°â‰¢°ÆÀ¡“¬§ÿ⡧√Õß·√ßß“π„πª√–‡¥Áπ°“√‡≈‘°®â“ß∑’ˉ¡à‡ªìπ∏√√¡Õ’°¥â«¬ ´÷Ë߇ªìπÀπ÷Ëß„πº≈ß“π°“√µàÕ Ÿâ∑’ˇ∏Õ¿“§¿Ÿ¡‘„®

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Arunee also became a distinguished figure in the labour movement at the national level. She becamethe first-ever Head of Women Affairs for the Thai Trade Union Congress in 1996-8, Vice President of theLabour Congress of Thailand in 1995-6, and an Associate Judge of the Central Labour Court in 1993-7.And from 1993 to 1996, Arunee was president of the Women Workers' Unity Group.

In 1993, her great contribution was recognized. Arunee was named the Outstanding Woman in LabourAffairs by the Office of the National Commission on Women's Affairs, and the Distinguished Womanin Labour Affairs by the Gender and Development Research Institute (GDRI).

Arunee was also a leading figure in the democratic movement. She served in the PollWatch networkwhich monitored national elections. She worked on several advisory bodies for government and non-government agencies on women'saffairs. She was concerned thatlabour had no true voice in theparliament. Many colleagues urgedher to enter politics to serve thecause of labour. Some politicalparties tried to recruit her. But the1997 constitution dashed thesehopes. It requires members ofparliament to have a tertiary degree.Arunee, along with the vast majorityof workers and the poor, areexcluded by this rule.

In 2000, Arunee was laid off again.But she still campaigns on behalf ofunemployed workers, especially toamend the Social Security Act whichtreats unemployed workers unfairly.And she continues to serve as anadviser to WWUG.

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The WWUG was formed in a period of political ferment. Through the mid 1990s, the Group found theissues to highlight, and the ways to campaign:

1993- participated in the mass mobilization and successfully demanded a fully paid 90-day maternity

leave.- initiated the first annual celebration of International Women's Day in Thailand.- campaigned in Hong Kong demanding for effective protection of migrant workers, especially

Thai house maids.- jointly chaired the taskforce to press for compensation for the woman workers who died or were

injured in the tragic fire at the Kader toy factory.- campaigned for amendments to the Social Security Act 1990 to improve workers' benefits.- demanded proper benefits for 376 workers laid off at Thai Krieng Textile mill, leading to the

eventual Ministerial Announcement on Labour Protection for Laid-off Workers.

Milestones

1994- collaborated with other labour organizations

for reform of the Occupational Health andSafety system

- worked with FES and the Thai Labour Museumto organize a forum on "The roles of womanworkers in the Thai labour movement".

1995- represented Thai woman workers at the World Women's Summit in Beijing.- celebrated the International Women's Day with a demand for "Safety at Workplaces", calling on

government to declare May 10 as the National Occupational Health and Safety Day.- travelled to Germany to study the Occupational Health and Safety system

1996- proposed to government that May 10 be declared a national holiday as Occupational Health and

Safety Day- participated in a protracted sit-in on low wages at the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare

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The movement for 90-day maternity leave began in late 1991 after the Cabinet appointed by themilitary coup group granted 90 days of fully paid maternity leave to women civil servants. At thattime, private sector workers were entitled to only 60 days of maternity leave, paid only for the first 30days. Most women workers in fact took only 30 days.

This decision sparked a campaign to give all working women the right to 90 days of maternity leave.A worker interviewed by a daily newspaper said: "The 30-day maternity leave is inhumane. Mostmothers have to return to work before fully regaining their health. Some suffer bleeding because ofhard work. They do not have to time to tend their newborn. A 90-day maternity leave is crucial. Allmothers are human beings and mothers in the same way."

Some foundations had already been laid. The NGO, Friends of Women Foundation, had made acomparative study on rights to maternity leave and benefits in Thailand and other Asian countries.The Committee for Asian Women had become involved in the studies.

In 1992, NGOs, human rights organizations, labour federations, and labour networks formed acoordinating committee to demand 90 days of maternity leave. Arunee Srito was one its leadingfigures.

The committee collected data and began to educate the public on the maternity leave issue. In 1992,maternity leave was made the main issue on International Women's Day.

After WWUG was formed, it took a leading role in the campaign. On 7 March 1993, a mass rallyproceeded to the house of the democratically elected prime minister, Chuan Leekpai, and presentedhim with a letter.

On 25 April 1993, the biggest of the rallies was attended by many NGOs and civic groups. The rallyproceeded to Government House and submitted another letter. Two days later, Arunee Srito went asthe movement's representative to negotiate with government. On the same day, the Cabinet con-ceded. Women workers by right could take 90 days of leave with 45 days fully paid. The order waspassed on 28 April 1993 for implementation from 1 May 1993.

The victory was a victory for all womenworkers, and for the power of grassrootsstruggle. It was also a victory for WWUG andthe other organizations which had cooper-ated in the campaign. For the first time,women workers had shown their ability towin something of such importance to somany women.

90-day maternity leaveA great victory for motherhood

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The 90-day maternity leave campaign showed the strength of women workers and their networks.The campaign for a 90-day maternity leave served as a platform for woman workers to gain theirconfidence in organizing and mobilizing for a just cause. It was truly a milestone.

In 1993, 188 workers were killed in a fire at the Kader toy factory. 171 of them were woman workers.This tragic incident highlighted how poorly many workers were protected at the workplace. Somedied because the exits were locked, others because the factory was badly built and collapsed quickly.

WWUG took up the issue. It campaigned for proper compensation for those who had died or sufferedinjuries. It also campaigned more widely for reforms on occupational health and safety. Most impor-tantly, WWUG demanded that workers should participate in any process leading to change in thelaws and institutions relating to occupational health and safety.

In 1996, WWUG also campaigned for more and better equipped childcare centres in industrial areas.

One thing that made this such a creative period was the political atmosphere. The felling of thedictatorial military government in May 1992 brought many activist groups together, and sparkedhopes for real change. But it was the success of WWUG and the women workers to take advantage ofthis favourable atmosphere to make real and important gains for women workers. Woman tradeunionists were publicly recognized for their outstanding role in demanding positive changes. Theyproved they were capable of working with other allies to win major victories.

Reflections

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«—π‡æÁ≠¡’∫∑∫“∑„π°“√‡§≈◊ËÕπ‰À«∑’Ë ”§—≠ ‡™àπ °“√‡√’¬°√âÕß≈“§≈Õ¥ 90«—πº≈—°¥—π„Àâ√—∞∫“≈®—¥µ—Èß ∂“π§ÿ⡧√Õß ÿ¢¿“槫“¡ª≈Õ¥¿—¬œ „Àâ√—∞∫“≈‡√àߪ√–°“»„™âæ.√.∫. ª√–°—π —ߧ¡°√≥’ ß‡§√“–Àå∫ÿµ√ ™√“¿“æ·≈–ª√–°—π°“√«à“ßß“π ·≈–‡§¬‡ªìπºŸâæ‘æ“°…“ ¡∑∫ΩÉ“¬≈Ÿ°®â“ß„π»“≈·√ßß“π°≈“ß 3  ¡—¬ §◊Õ √ÿàπ∑’Ë 11 (æ.». 2533-2535) √ÿàπ∑’Ë 13 (æ.».2535-2537) √ÿàπ∑’Ë 16 (æ.». 2539) ‰¥â√—∫√“ß«—≈ µ√’¥’‡¥àπ  “¢“·√ßß“π·≈–ºŸâÀ≠‘߇°àß  “¢“·√ßß“π ®“° ”π—°ß“π§≥–°√√¡°“√ à߇ √‘¡·≈–ª√– “πß“π µ√’·Ààß™“µ‘ (°  .) ·≈– ∂“∫—π«‘®—¬∫∑∫“∑À≠‘ß™“¬·≈–°“√æ—≤π“ „πªï 2538

ªí®®ÿ∫—π «—π‡æÁ≠∑”ß“πµ”·Àπàßæπ—°ß“π·ºπ°∫ÿ§§≈¢Õß∫√‘…—∑Õ“‚Õ¬“¡à“‰∑¬ ®”°—¥ ·≈–‡ªìπ∑’˪√÷°…“°≈ÿà¡∫Ÿ√≥“°“√·√ßß“π µ√’

¬ÿ§ Õß ΩÉ“«‘°ƒµ‘ 2540-2543

«—π‡æÁ≠ ‡ª√¡·°â«

29

Phase 2: Through the crisis(1997-2000)

2Wanpen Premkaew

Wanpen Premkaew was born on 27 February 1955 in Samut Prakan, just outside Bangkok. She wasthe second of two children. She studied up to junior high school, but had to leave school when herfather passed away. She was 16 years old when she went to work in Aoyama Thai Company, an autoparts maker.

She became involved with labour union activities in 1981, when she first joined the Metal WorkersUnion. Since then, she has devoted herself to the cause of labour.

She was first entrusted with the task of defending rights, welfare and benefits of the rank-and-filemembers. She negotiated for fair wages and wage increases as part of collective bargaining. Despiteher limited education, she was always keen to study more in order to understand complex issues. In1995, she had the chance to go to Germany to study the German OHS system at first hand. She wasalso chosen to represent her organization at training sessions, seminars, and workshops on labourlaws, labour organizing, union management, collective bargaining, and similar topics.

Wanpen was specially successful in overcoming the difficulties of working side-by-side with othertrade unionists, mostly men. She said: "What made male trade unionists accept us was that we didour job well. We gave our best efforts to achieve our objectives, regardless of what position held inthe union. We had to prove to everybody that a few women trade unionists could really make adifference in organizing and strengthening the union."

Wanpen was active in the 90-day maternity leave campaign, the movement to found an OHS Insti-tute, and campaigns to press government to extend the social security system.

In 1992, Wanpen became President of the Thailand Metal Workers' Federation, the first womanpresident of this predominantly male organization. She held the position longer than any of herpredecessors. She also worked with the National Women Council of Thailand, the deputy minister oflabour (Pavena Hongsakula), and the Thai Labour Museum Foundation. In 1990-6, she was appointedan Associate Judge of the Central Labour Court for three consecutive terms. She received awards forher outstanding performance from the National Commission on Women's Affairs, and the Genderand Development Research Institute.

From 1997 to 2000, Wanpen was President of the WWUG.

Wanpen is married with one child. She works in the personnel department of the Aoyama ThaiCompany, and also serves as an advisor to the WWUG.

30

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