HSBC: global action day against the bank

In Amsterdam, the international branch of the Federation of Netherlands Unions and Allies (FNV Bondgenoten) supported this action day and demonstrated in front of HSBC’s headquarters. To commemorate the demonstration of cleaning agents, violently repressed by the police in Los Angeles on June 15, 1990, an international fairness day is organized every year on June 15th for janitors. Justice for Janitors (J4J), created in 1985, gathers 225,000 employees from 29 Canadian and American cities. It is organized  by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU – over 2 million members). A similar movement, Justice for Cleaners, is organized in the UK. Every year, from now on, targeted action will be organized against a large company that doesn’t treat its janitors well, even if their contract is with a subcontractor. HSBC, the world’s largest bank and 8th Forbes group, is criticized for refusing a “global agreement” with international unions for a collective agreement that would have ensured minimum working conditions to all its employees in 88 countries and clearly proscribed intimidatory measures to oust union members (the bank fired unionists in Colombia). Unite the Union and UNI Global Union campaigned, on May 28th, during the general meeting of HSBC’s shareholders in London, for a global agreement for the bank’s employees.