KFC Thailand Union Activists Reinstated

The 3 union leaders at Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) Thailand fired for their union activism earlier this year were reinstated on December 8 in compliance with a court order which the company, however, is appealing.

Apantree Charoensak, Krit Suang-aranan and Siwaporn Somjit were unfairly dismissed after establishing and legally registering the Cuisine and Services Thailand Workers Union and submitting a proposal for negotiations to improve wages and working conditions signed by 200 workers at KFC.

Following reinstatement of the 3, the two unions representing KFC workers signed a joint letter to Yum! Thailand, subsidiary of global parent Yum! Brands (KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell) welcoming the decision to comply with the law and requesting the company to “Provide a written guarantee that all Yum! Thailand workers who are eligible to join a union under Thai law are free to join a union without fear, discrimination, harassment or dismissal. We further request that this guarantee be made available to employees in the workplace.

“Such a guarantee”, the letter continues, “would reaffirm the existing obligations of Yum! Brands/KFC under the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the newly-adopted United Nations Guiding Principles on business and Human Rights and move us forward towards a better, safer and more respectful working environment.”