25,000 textile workers protest poor wages in Bangladesh

[struggle4progress]

Source: AFP

DHAKA (AFP) — At least 25,000 textile workers defied a ban on protests in emergency-ruled Bangladesh on Saturday to demand back-pay and bonuses in one of the country's biggest industrial zones, police said.

The workers walked off the job in the Tejgaon Industrial Area in Dhaka and held protests in the streets, forcing the shutdown of most factories in the area, assistant police commissioner Moshiur Rahman said.

Police used batons to break up protests after demonstrators smashed the windows of several factories, Rahman said, adding army personnel and the elite Rapid Action Battalion were deployed.

"The protests have calmed down," Rahman said. "We have told factory owners to sit with the workers to settle the wage dispute. Otherwise, it may flare up again." ...

Read more: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jDC4DNFzw_5Fqem0V3xkuLqGEFNw

[aquart]

1. Bless them all.

There are just days when enough is enough.

[sandnsea]

2. They need safe conditions too

9 story factory collapse.

The best thing workers could do in this country is demand better conditions for these workers. That's the only way to level the field for everybody.

I'm glad they're protesting. Wouldn't it be great if Moveon took a bit of their million dollars to show Americans the 'freedom' we're spreading around the world. Maybe people would get a clue why everybody hates us. This would go further to change foreign policy than any number of war protests would.

[Tian Zhuangzhuang]

3. Good for Them nt

[otherlander]

4. Kick

[otherlander]

5. .