The first measure to be taken by Weimer Wilfrido Reyes Castillo, the new mayor of Guanagazapa in the department of Escuintla, on taking office, was to dismiss the 250 workers belonging to the newly-formed union. Following the dismissal, the workers were forced to sign letters renouncing their union membership.

In Coatepeque, in the department of Quetzaltenango, Mayor Emilio Maldonado has launched a campaign of intimidation, changed the working conditions and has already dismissed over fifty workers.

"This situation is absolutely intolerable," said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow. "President Otto Pérez Molina’s government must assume its responsibilities and take every action necessary to change the dire situation in which workers find themselves."

In a letter to the Guatemalan authorities, the ITUC joined with its affiliated organisations in urging President Pérez Molina, his administration and the new mayors to respect and ensure respect for the labour legislation and to bring an immediate end to the human, labour and trade union rights violations in Guatemala.