The Indigenous And Rural Workers Trade Union Movement Of Guatemala (MSICG) reports that workers belonging to six trade unions affiliated to UNSITRAGUA and part of the MSICG movement, have been complaining for a long time now about the deterioration in working conditions on the nine plantations that work for the COBIGUA company, a subsidiary of the Chiquita fruit multinational, particularly with regard to the payment of the minimum wage.
The unionised workers from the nine plantations have decided to resist the violation of their labour rights by the company and exercise their trade union rights, as enshrined by the political constitution of the Republic of Guatemala, until COBIGUA and CHIQUITA comply with the law on labour and trade union rights.
Regrettably, in a flat refusal to comply with the laws of the country and the most fundamental workers’ rights, COBIGUA-CHIQUITA has insinuated that it will close down the plantations if its employees do not continue working, thereby totally violating their labour and trade union rights.
Since 5 April, when the workers began their action, anonymous death threats have been sent to brother LEONEL PEREZ LARA, a member of the UNSITRAGUA coordinators’ board and the MSICG Political Council.
The MSICG has approached the Government of the United States of America in order to lodge a complaint against the State of Guatemala within the framework of CAFTA for serious violations of trade union and labour rights on the COBIGUA-CHIQUITA banana plantations. The complaint is directed at the Del Monte company and national producers who supply fruit to the CHIQUITA, DEL MONTE and DOLE multinationals in Guatemala.
In a letter to President Álvaro Colom, copied to the fruit multinationals, the General Secretary of the ITUC Guy Ryder urges him to use his good offices to intercede with the national and multinational fruit companies “in order to table discussions between the employers and workers to negotiate a just solution for the workers, that fully respects trade union and labour rights and the fundamental ILO Conventions ratified by Guatemala”.
The ITUC represents 176 million workers in 155 countries and territories and has 312 national affiliates. http://www.youtube.com/ITUCCSI
For more information, please contact the ITUC Press Department on: +32 2 224 0204 or + 32 476 62 10 18
Photo: Mammal
The ITUC represents 176 million workers in 155 countries and territories and has 312 national affiliates. http://www.youtube.com/ITUCCSI
For more information, please contact the ITUC Press Department on: +32 2 224 0204 or + 32 476 62 10 18
