ASIA

Court injunction for HK strikers

13 years ago

Turbo Top Limited, a subsidiary of Hutchinson Whampoa Limited, has applied to the Hong Kong High Court for an injunction against the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU) to prevent obstruction of Cheung Kong centre and its surrounding areas.

Unionists have been camping outside the Cheung Kong Centre since last week

Striking dock workers began camping outside the centre, which is home to the headquarters of Asia’s richest man, Li Ka-shing, last week.

In a statement released today, Hutchinson Whampoa, the parent company of Hutchsion Port Holdings and its subsidiary, HIT, said that the storming of the offices of Cheung Kong Holdings, was an intolerable nuisance and disruption.

Following this, Stanley Ho Wai-hong, secretary general of the Union of Hong Kong Dockers, said that the strikers actions may escalate further – which prompted Hutchison Whampoa to seek the injunction.

The judge is set to hear the case next Friday. In the meantime, its been agreed that demonstrators be restrained from unlawful entry into the Cheung Kong Centre.

Subcontracted workers have now been on strike at at Kwai Tsing Port for 28 days because of slow discussions over a pay rise, improved hygiene facilities and the need for longer breaks.

Members of the Union of Hong Kong Dockers have been picketing at Kwai Chung terminal in a bid to make Hong Kong International Terminals (HIT) management return to negotiations.

Despite the continuation of the strike, there have been several developments in the dispute. Global Stevedoring, a contractor of HIT, has announced it’s closing its operations, blaming the strike action.

An agreement has been also been reached with the HIT union and HIT management to award workers overtime compensation of 1.4 times the hourly rate. The ITF welcomes this but wants the agreement to be applied to the subcontracted workers, who still remain out on strike.