ITF Redoubles Costa Rica Protests

ITF Redoubles Costa Rica Protests

The ITF today redoubled its protests to the Costa Rican government over the apparent attempted deliberate destruction of a legitimate port workers’ union, called on its trade union members to prepare solidarity action, and approached shipping companies who use the country’s major ports, Puerto Limon and Puerto Moin.

The ITF has moved to defend the SINTRAJAP union, which appears to be being illegally and unconstitutionally targeted by the country’s government, which seems determined to break the union in order to speed through the privatisation of the ports.

Earlier this month the ITF warned that the state-owned JAPDEVA agency that administers the ports had unilaterally called a ‘workers’ assembly’. When its proposals were massively rejected it called a second meeting attended by only 20 per cent of the workforce. At that meeting JAPDEVA tried to impose a new, pro-government board and attempted to establish an undemocratic, employer-run trade union. In apparent contravention of Costa Rican law and ILO Conventions 87 and 98, to which Costa Rica is a signatory, cash payments were also offered to SINTRAJAP members to leave their union.

Now SINTRAJAP has been even more ruthlessly targeted. Antonio Fritz, ITF Americas Regional Secretary, reported: “The Costa Rican government is doing its best to dissolve the union, privatise the port and sack the workers. President Arias himself has boasted as much. There is a very real danger that without international help a lawful trade union will be crushed for short term political gain and to facilitate the making of a fast buck.”

He added: “This week the danger has increased even further. In the last few days we have received reports that the fake union executive, backed by police officers, tried to take over SINTRAJAP. A hundred and forty workers blocked their way, the rest were at work, where they’ve been holding constant work stoppages in defence of the union. So far a full blown strike has not been called for fear that it would open the way to the police to occupy the port and eject the dockworkers.”

The ITF has contacted its 741 affiliated unions with the following appeal:

“It is with the greatest concern that we note the information received from our affiliate SINTRAJAP about the troubles within Costa Rica.

SINTRAJAP has been involved in an ongoing struggle with the government who is trying to privatise the ports of Puerto Limon and Puerto Moin. This would have a detrimental effect on the workers and SINTRAJAP has tirelessly opposed the government’s plans.

In its latest move, it seems that the Costa Rican government has removed the democratically elected leadership of the union and replaced them with people who are in favour of the privatisation. This is appalling and nothing less than a violation of ILO core labour standards and the human rights of the workers.

This move, with the apparent collaboration of the state enterprise JAPDEVA, appears both illegal and is unacceptable. Even more so from a president who won the Nobel peace prize for his Central American peace plan.

We cannot sit quietly and watch this happen. The cost of doing nothing is too high.

We must ensure that our brothers and sisters in Costa Rica know that our dockers worldwide are behind them in their struggle and are ready to support them in any way they can.

SINTRAJAP has appealed to the ITF and its affiliates. In order to support their struggle we are calling upon our affiliates to organise lawful solidarity actions within each of your countries.

How you can help:

• Send letters to President Oscar Arias and his Government and to the Embassy of Costa Rica in your country denouncing their apparently unashamed interference in the internal affairs of the union and violation of the freedom of association.

You can also contact the President via:
Email: info@casapres.go.cr , recepcion@casapres.go.cr
Telephone: + (506) 2207-9100
Fax: + (506) 2253-9078

• Take any lawful action that will send out a clear message opposing the government’s actions.

• Call your local Maersk, CMA CGM and Dole agents, all of whom do frequent business with Costa Rica.

• Send letters of solidarity to our Brothers and Sisters in Costa Rica. Let them know that they are not alone and have the support of a worldwide family.

• Spread the news to your local and national channels.”

The ITF is today also writing to companies using Puerto Limon and Puerto Moin saying:

“On behalf of the International Transport Workers' Federation we would like to inform you that we consider that the Costa Rican government is violating the human rights of the members of the SINTRAJAP port workers’ union in Puerto Limon and Puerto Moin, and that it is trying to impose a fake (unelected) leadership on the union in order to privatise the ports and sack the workers.

SINTRAJAP has appealed to the ITF and its affiliates to support their struggle, and in response the ITF is calling upon its affiliated trade unions to organise lawful solidarity action within each of their countries.

The actions will be focused on vessels calling at Costa Rican Ports from the 26th of February onwards.

Wherever possible we therefore ask you to avoid loading cargo bound for Costa Rica and to avoid calling at Puerto Limon and Puerto Moin, Costa Rica after the 26th of February.

We hope that the Costa Rican Labour Minister will respect the legal and human rights of SINTRAJAP’s members and that the independence of the union will be respected, in line with the international conventions laid down by the International Labour Organization, to which Costa Rica is a signatory.”

For more information please see www.itfglobal.org/solidarity/sintrajap.cfm

ENDS

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