DHAKA: Grameen Phone Employees Union (GPEU) won the UNI Global Union ‘Freedom from Fear Award’ for 2013.

In a letter, UNI General Secretary Philip J. Jennings, said, “This Award is in recognition of the fact that, following GP’s unilateral announcement of 250 job cuts in May 2012, GPEU launched a campaign, “Break the silence, get organised and form a union.”

Philip J. Jennings also added: “In the face of numerous threats and challenges to protect the rights of jobs of workers and particularly those of GPEU leadership, your union succeeded in organising 1,600 employees and formed the GPEU, for which recognition is pending.

We congratulate you that the GPEU has been free from fear in negotiating the workers’ agenda with management and achieved a great breakthrough in reaching an agreement with management on 5% profit sharing.”

Philip J. Jennings invited GPEU General Secretary Mia M Shafiqur Rahaman Masud to receive the award at the forthcoming meeting of the UNI World Executive Board, in Dublin, Ireland, on 12-13 November.

BDST: 1226 HRS, OCT 22, 2013
AKA/JCK