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Support Hungarian chemical workers striking for rights

11 February, 2014IndustriALL Global Union is joining the call for international solidarity from Hungarian affiliate the Federation of Chemical Workers of Hungary (VDSZ).

The 100 employees of the United Chemical Works Company Ltd (EVM), in Hungarian capital city Budapest, took strike action from 3 February to demand payment of wages owed in arrears.

The employer has been unreachable, communicating with the workers only through lawyers and refusing attempts from the union for dialogue. This untenable situation created the concern amongst employees that EVM would relocate away from the site completely, without paying outstanding salaries.

For this reason the VDSZ members have conducted a permanent picket at the site in Budapest, to stop EVM removing valuable machinery from the plant. These workers need international support in their fight for the jobs and back pay.

Jyrki Raina, IndustriALL’s general secretary wrote to VDSZ President Tamás Székely, substitute member of the IndustriALL Executive Committee:

“We urge the management of EVM to pay in full the workers’ back wages and to sit down with you to negotiate a fair solution to the conflict… IndustriALL Global Union is prepared to further assist you to ensure that the management at EVM comes to the negotiating table rather than cowardly hide from you.”

VDSZ will organise a demonstration in Budapest tomorrow, 12 February, galvanising local support for the EVM workers. Join the international supporters by writing directly to VDSZ using the tool opposite.

Use the message sending mechanism on this page to write to the 100 striking chemical workers and express your support at this time of conflict for basic rights.