Home > Campaigns > International Campaigns

 

International Action

 

The Legal Line's specialist lawyers, Thompsons Solicitors, are actively involved in helping working people, not just in the UK but internationally.  See below a leaflet published by Thompsons (in text and pdf format) for further information about this work:

Thompsons

Our reputation in the personal injury arena has been earned over 85 years. We fight hard to ensure the maximum compensation in the minimum time. We are committed to working with unions, pushing the boundaries of employment rights and achieving justice.

A Global Commitment

Our commitment to working people has a global focus. We use our experience in this country to support and help workers in other countries around the world. Thompsons’ strong affiliation with Unions here in the UK has been key to much of the work that we now do internationally.

Colombia

Being a trade union member in Colombia can mean putting yourself in serious danger. Many have been killed, forcibly ‘disappeared’ or imprisoned for long periods without trial by the Colombian army and paramilitary death squads. Thompsons have been working to support FENSUAGRO, the Colombian agricultural workers union, with the establishment of a new legal unit for the Union which will assist in two key areas:

• Providing legal defence to members unfairly imprisoned for their union activities

• Strengthening the capacity of the union to document and disseminate information about human rights abuses against members

Thompsons staff were part of a legal delegation who saw first hand the repression of trade unionists in Colombia. Karen Mitchell comments “We met many brave people in Colombia with whom we have developed links, in particular members of FENSUAGRO who have been the victims of hundreds of human rights abuses since the union’s foundation. It was a real shock to discover the abuses and even more surprising to learn that our government sends military aid to such a regime. We should be sending humanitarian not military aid.”

Cuba

Thompsons support and sponsor activities in Cuba. We work with the Cuba Solidarity Campaign to help defend the Cuban peoples’ right to self-determination and national sovereignty. We believe that the people of Cuba, like any other nation, should be free to decide their own internal affairs without outside interference.

Venezuela

We’ve been involved with the Venezuela Information Centre, a broad-based UK campaign launched by the unions in May 2005. This supports the rights of the Venezuelan people to determine their future. Its aim – to provide accurate, objective information about trade union and political movements in the country.

South Africa

Using our expertise and our financial backing, a landmark £35 million settlement was secured for South African asbestos miners and their families. We reinvested all profits back into local projects, including backing for a further case that secured another £10 million compensation. Using funds from the successful cases, we helped to establish a law firm, Sunil Narian & Associates. Sunil Narian & Associates has the same guiding principles as Thompsons. In addition to processing claims to the trust funds set up as a result of the successful asbestos case, they continue to fight for justice for working people in South Africa.

China

The conditions for workers in Chinese mines have been well documented in the media. Knowing only-too-well the inherent dangers of mining and the devastating effects it can have on workers’ health, we’ve been working to improve Health and Training standards in mines. Thompsons support the joint TUC/International Miners Association initiative in achieving these aims.

War on Want

We have an active relationship in sponsorship and support for War on Want. Their commitment to fighting global poverty and campaigning for workers rights is one that mirrors the beliefs at the heart of our firm.

To find out more about our international work, please contact: lelr@thompsons.law.co.uk.

Follow the link to see the pdf version of this page.