Violence Against Ecuadorian Banana Workers Striking for their Rights

Posted to the IUF website 21-May-2002

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Armed company thug waits to fire on workers (photo courtesy of SiD)

Ecuador's banana workers have come under violent attack as they fight for basic rights. Early on the morning of May 16, between 3-400 hooded men � some of them armed �assaulted workers on strike on the Los Alamos plantations which produce for the Ecuadorian company Noboa, which owns the Bonita brand. According to reports, some one dozen workers were wounded, including gunshot wounds. The workers' homes were looted and women were abused. Reports identified a company vehicle as having accompanied the attackers. The workers fought back and detained some 40 of the attackers until police eventually arrived. The strike continues.


Wounded banana worker was rushed to local hospital.(photo courtesy of SiD)


The attack followed earlier threats by private "security guards" against banana workers on strike for union recognition at the Danish-owned Rio Culebra plantation, which produces for the transnational Dole. On May 15, thugs told the workers to abandon their struggle or face assault by a larger "security" contingent the next night.

These violent attacks come in response to the largest upsurge in union activity in decades in Ecuador's banana plantations, where past repression has virtually eliminated unions. In February, over 1,400 workers at seven plantations producing for Noboa struck in support of their demands for overtime pay, health care benefits and centers, decent wages, and union recognition, specifically the right to affiliate to FENACLE, the union federation seeking to organize the plantations.

In response to the strike, 124 union supporters were fired and hundreds of workers on short-term contracts were not called back to work. The unions' registration application was initially denied � on the spurious grounds that the workers are not directly employed by Noboa � but on April 26 recognition was granted when the unions reapplied for registration as working for the three companies that manage the Alamos plantations and sell to Noboa.

Recognition, however, has not led to negotiations. Harassment of unionists, transfers, and the firing of three union leaders led the workers to embark on their current strike on May 6. Reinstatement of the 124 workers fired in February, together with other activists, is one of the union's key demands, along with the initial demands for negotiations on wages, working conditions and access to health care.

The Los Alamos struggle has inspired other plantation workers to take action. On April 1, 500 workers struck for similar demands at another Noboa plantation, Hacienda Julia. And workers at Rio Culebra walked off the job in mid-April, where they are also seeking union recognition, decent wages and working conditions, and health care.

Decades of anti-union repression in Ecuador have enabled Noboa and the transnationals producing in Ecuador (principally Dole and Del Monte) to profit from that repression by producing low-cost bananas under appalling conditions which depress standards throughout the industry. Human Rights Watch, the respected monitor of human rights around the world, has recently produced a report that exposes conditions in the banana fields of Ecuador. The report highlights consistent and blatant denials of workers' rights, significant exploitation of the worse forms of child labour, appalling occupational health and safety conditions and destructive environmental practices, including the irresponsible use of chemicals and reckless aerial spraying, in some cases directly onto the heads of children working in the fields.

Ecuador's banana workers, through their action, are now launching the most determined challenge in decades to the companies' exploitation and repression. They are fighting for banana workers everywhere, seeking to halt the race to the bottom and lift standards throughout the industry. Your support is urgently needed now.

What you can do

Write to the company. The following may serve as a sample letter:

Sr. Alvaro Noboa, Corporaci�n Noboa
Fax: +593 42 444 093
Correo Electr�nico: [email protected]

Estimado Sr. Noboa,

Nos han informado que 300 a 400 hombres encapuchados atacaron violentamente a los trabajadores bananeros en huelga de las plantaciones en Los Alamos en Ecuador, en la ma�ana del 16 de Mayo del a�o en curso. De acuerdo a las informaciones, algunos de ellos estaban armados. Al menos una docena de trabajadores � m�s resultaron heridos en el atentado, algunos de ellos recibieron impactos de balas. Los hogares de los trabajadores fueron saqueados, y las mujeres maltratadas. Las informaciones indican que un veh�culo de la compa��a Noboa acompa�aba a los atacantes.

Los trabajadores bananeros han logrado registrar legalmente a su sindicato, y las demandas de los trabajadores son enteramente justificadas. Ellos est�n buscando que sus compa�eros despedidos sean reintegrados, salarios y condiciones de trabajo decentes y asistencia y prestaciones m�dicas. Yo apoyo estas demandas.

As� mismo, le urjo a repudiar p�blicamente la violencia contra estos trabajadores, a reconocer a los sindicatos de trabajadores y a entrar en negociaciones de buena fe, a reintegrar a todos los trabajadores que han sido despedidos y a cesar toda forma de acoso en contra del sindicato.
Continuar� observando de cerca el desarrollo de las operaciones de su compa��a, incluyendo las plantaciones a qui�nes Ud. compra bananas.

Atentamente,

(English translation)
Mr. Alvaro Noboa, Noboa Corporation
Fax: +593 42 444 093
E-mail [email protected]

Dear Mr. Noboa,

I have learned that 300-400 hooded men violently attacked striking banana workers on the Los Alamos plantations in Ecuador on the morning of May 16. According to reports, some of the men were armed. A dozen or more workers were injured in the assault, some of them with gunshot wounds. The workers' homes were looted, and women were abused. Reports indicate that a Noboa company vehicle accompanied the attackers.

The banana workers have won legal registration for their union, and the workers' demands are entirely justified. They are seeking the reinstatement of dismissed workers, decent wages and working conditions, and health care facilities and treatment. I support these demands.

I accordingly urge you to publicly repudiate the violence against these workers, to recognize the workers' unions and enter into good faith negotiations, to reinstate all workers who have been dismissed and to cease all forms of anti-union harassment.

I shall continue to closely watch developments in your company's operations, including plantations from which you buy.

Sincerely,

Write to the government of Ecuador

Ministro de Trabajo y de Recursos humanos
Ab. Mart�n Insua
Fax: + 593 2 256 3469/+593 2 250 3122
Correo electr�nico: [email protected]
Cc: President of Ecuador Dr. Gustavo Noboa
Fax: + 593 22 580 710/+ 593 22 580 753

Estimado Sr. Ministro,

Nos han informado que 300 a 400 hombres encapuchados atacaron violentamente a los trabajadores bananeros en huelga de las plantaciones en Los Alamos en Ecuador, en la ma�ana del 16 de Mayo del a�o en curso. De acuerdo a las informaciones, algunos de ellos estaban armados. Al menos una docena de trabajadores � m�s resultaron heridos en el atentado, algunos de ellos recibieron impactos de balas. Los hogares de los trabajadores fueron saqueados, y las mujeres maltratadas. Las informaciones indican que un veh�culo de la compa��a Noboa acompa�aba a los atacantes.

Los trabajadores bananeros han logrado registrar legalmente a su sindicato, y las demandas de los trabajadores son enteramente justificadas. Ellos est�n buscando que sus compa�eros despedidos sean reintegrados, salarios y condiciones de trabajo decentes y asistencia y prestaciones m�dicas. Yo apoyo estas demandas.

Es inaceptable que inmediatamente despu�s del registro legal de su sindicato, los trabajadores de estas plantaciones sean objeto de despidos, acoso, intimidaci�n y ahora asaltos a mano armada. En consecuencia, le urjo hacer uso de sus buenos oficios a fin de asegurar que aquellos quienes organizaron y llevaron a cabo este atentado sean identificados y llevados ante la justicia, que todos los trabajadores despedidos a causa de su apoyo � afiliaci�n al sindicato sean reintegrados a sus puestos de trabajo, y que la compa��a entre inmediatamente en negociaciones de buena fe con los sindicatos que representan a los trabajadores de Los Alamos y tras plantaciones que producen para Noboa.

Al respecto, continuar� observando de cerca el desarrollo de los eventos.
Atentamente,

(English translation)
Minister of Labour and Human Resources Ab. Martin Insua
Fax: + 593 2 256 3469/+593 2 250 3122
E-mail [email protected]

Dear Mr. Minister,

I have learned that 300-400 hooded men violently attacked striking banana workers on the Los Alamos plantations in Ecuador on the morning of May 16. According to reports, some of the men were armed. A dozen or more workers were injured in the assault, some of them with gunshot wounds. The workers' homes were looted, and women were abused. Reports indicate that a Noboa company vehicle accompanied the attackers.

The banana workers have won legal registration for their union, and the workers' demands are entirely justified. They are seeking the reinstatement of dismissed workers, decent wages and working conditions, and health care facilities and treatment. I support these demands.

It is unacceptable that, following the legal registration of their union, workers on these plantations should be subjected to firings, harassment, intimidation and now armed assault. I accordingly urge you to use your good offices to ensure that those who organized and carried out this assault are identified and brought to justice, that all workers dismissed for their union support or membership are reinstated at their jobs, and that the company immediately enter into good faith negotiations with the unions representing the workers at Los Alamos and other plantations producing for Noboa.

I will continue to closely follow developments in this regard.

Yours sincerely,

Kindly send copies of your messages to the IUF secretariat. We thank you in advance for your solidarity and support.