... We have been working with this factory for over 25 years... We visit the factory one or two times each year and we are impressed by the atmosphere on the factory floor and the working conditions of the employees. These strikes have occurred since our last visit so we contacted the management for their perspective on the troubles and I enclose their response:

...From our side, we have made an Tripartite agreement on 7^th February 2019 with the federation alongside with BGMEA, Department of Labor representative on how to resolve and proceed with the payment structure of the workers who are outside the factory. Then , we fixed dates and booths for workers  and each of them were paid and signed that they have received the money and that they are officially released from the factory. All workers have been given (except for very few who were outside the city or at their village ). About the union also we have made agreement and the union we cannot remove or don’t have the right but , they have come to an agreement on how they will work...

...Over all, we have made proper plan on how to deal with this and discussed and made agreements before taking any steps... All due salary was paid in full. All benefits as per agreement have been paid in full and signed and closed... we are focusing on developing better communication with the workers and training our staffs to create better work environment... Instead of saying how union and illegal acts since 2012 or the amount of loss has generated for us and specially to the buyers, suddenly when we decide to take action that is when we are bad people. I can assure you, we have not done anything unethical. Situation have been as such that unless we take that step the very business was on the verge of collapsing...