Achievements — GATWU

Our record

Building worker power through collective action

Milestones from GATWU's organizing, collective bargaining, legal challenges and campaigns for garment workers in Karnataka.

2007

Tripartite agreement with Texport Overseas and GAP

GATWU achieved an initial tripartite Agreement between Texport Overseas management, GATWU, and GAP.

2007

Agreement with Bombay Rayon Fashion Ltd.

GATWU achieved an informal Agreement with Bombay Rayon Fashion Ltd.

2010

Dearness Allowance implementation

GATWU worked with the Workers Rights Consortium to successfully win full implementation of the Dearness Allowance for garment workers in Bangalore.

2010–2013

Karnataka High Court wage challenge

GATWU moved the Karnataka High Court against arbitrary change by government of their 2009 wage notification. The High Court struck down the change of notification in January 2013.

2011

Arvind Lifestyle warehouse workers, Ramanagara

GATWU successfully organized Arvind Lifestyle Brand Ltd warehouse workers in Ramanagara to force the company to rectify a number of Labour Law violations.

Since 2012

Minimum Wage Advisory Board

GATWU demanded and was accepted as union member of the tripartite Minimum Wage Advisory Board for Karnataka. The union continues on the Board.

2013

Dearness Allowance at Gokaldas Exports

GATWU used international pressure to force Gokaldas Exports to join other major manufacturers in Bangalore in paying Dearness Allowance to all their workers.

Ongoing

Closure compensation

GATWU continues to fight for, negotiate and win closure compensation and was successful in cases such as Durga Garments (Texport Industries), BanuGartex, Embee Apparels, etc.

Minimum Wages

Legal challenge and wage revision

2013 High Court decision

In February 2013, the Karnataka High Court upheld the legal challenge by GATWU against the Government revising downward the notified Minimum Wage in the garments sector in March 2010, and ordered the Government to immediately set up a tripartite negotiation with GATWU and representatives of garment manufacturers.

March 2014 notification

The negotiation resulted in the new Minimum Wage notification of March 2014. The notification resulted in substantial wage increase, with minimum wage for unskilled workers in Zone 1 increased from Rs 193.52 to Rs 252.53 per day.

Expansion of organizing

As garment production shifted from the city to surrounding rural areas and small towns, GATWU focused new organizing efforts in Ramanagara, Mandya, Maddur, Mysore, Tumkur and Shivamoga. The union gained membership and won important success in the right to form a union at Shahi Exports factory at Maddur and Arvind Lifestyle factory in Ramanagara. Union membership outside Bangalore grew by nearly a thousand new members.