18 March, 2016American multinational packaging company, Crown Holding Inc, has ordered the eviction of workers from its plant in Agadir, Morocco.
Police began forcibly evicting workers from the company site in Agadir on 15 March, according to the Union Marocaine du Travail (UMT). Workers have been on strike at both Crown Packaging Maroc factories in Casablanca and Agadir since 2 March.
The strike was launched after a series of announcements made by the management in absence of negotiations and consultations with workers’ representatives.
Workers are particularly concerned about the lack of meaningful dialogue with the management, removals of equipment from the factories without prior negotiations, and non-application of a previous agreement signed in November 2014.
Other concerns include 60 dismissals announced without prior consultation with the union, pressure against workers forcing them to work more than 10 hours a day, and a limitation of workers’ access to social benefits.
In the letter to the Crown Holding Inc. leadership in Philadelphia, USA, Jyrki Raina, IndustriALL general secretary aligns with workers’ demands and says:
“It is imperative that Crown Packaging Maroc address the legitimate demands of the Moroccan Labour Union. Crown must engage meaningfully in social dialogue with the union, and respect the fundamental rights of workers to freedom of association and collective bargaining.”