Feed items

Miller, who was part of the 'Magnificent Seven' team that captured gold at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, offered her own advice to the embattled organization.

Thai Unions Coordinate, Collaborate for Success

Julian Hadden

After working several years at an auto parts factory outside Bangkok, Prasit Prasopsuk compared conditions at his workplace with those of a friend employed at a similar plant—and realized his wages were lower and working conditions worse because there was no union representation.

The conversation spurred Prasopsuk to action, and he went on to organize a union in 2007, starting with 200 co-workers whose numbers grew to 1,700 in two years. Now, a 16-year veteran at the factory, where he makes ball bearings, Prasopsuk is treasurer of the 40,000-member Federation of Thailand Auto Workers Union (TAW) and vice president of Thailand Autoparts and Metal Workers Union (TAM), a TAW affiliate. Both unions are part of the Thai Confederation of Electronic, Electrical Appliances, Auto and Metal Workers (TEAM).

Despite his success, Prasopsuk says it is “very difficult” to get workers to form unions in Thailand. Employers dismiss workers they suspect of organizing a union—even though it is against the law—and wield a gamut of other tactics, including forming company...

Ethan and Aiden Dvash-Banks are twins who share almost everything — except U.S. citizenship.

State of the Union 2018: Watch President Donald Trump deliver his first State of the Union address on Tuesday, Jan 30 at 9pm ET