Dear GMAC

“All of us have the same issue: illegal strikes. We have seen that the government doesn’t have the will or want to enforce the law. We are fed up about this situation. So, I think to be realistic, we have to fight for ourselves, we have to find our own solution. Instead of giving money under the table to bad unions to settle disputes, give the money to the workers.”

GMAC executive committee member Van Porphin

“You think workers will not fight [unions]? They will kill to keep from losing their bonuses.”

GMAC executive committee chairman Van Sou Ieng

Well, your lashing out at the government and bad unions is most understandable. It is very frustrating not to be able to exploit your workers the way you used to. It is fair enough that you are going to try something different.

Here are some ideas that may relieve your frustrations.

1.    Join the demonstrations that call for Hun Sen to step down. You may just be the last straw that breaks the camel’s back.

2.    If the first option seems overreacting, then replace all your current Angel employees with a fresh better group, perhaps with more under-the-table money (UTM).

3.    Stop paying the bad unions, pay the good ones. There must be some around.

4.    Ensure your proposed bonuses in exchange for the non-strike condition will at least be equivalent to the living wage of $150 per month so that the workers and the good unions will, in own words, kill for them; remember they know how to do the sum as well as you do.

5.    If the new sum of UTM incentives and wage increase reduces your super profit, sign a Mutual of Understanding with Anti-Corruption Unit, just like the Coca-Cola Company did, to eliminate corruption.

6.    Pack up and leave, if all else fail. The grass on the other side is always greener. Your shareholders will tell you to stop kidding yourselves: their factories are here to make maximum profits, not to give workers a decent livelihood.

UBA

17xii13