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República Dominicana

 

Millions for Nestle managers, while workers are denied their rights

 

      

Once again Nestle is news as a consequence of attacking workers’ basic rights. When Nestle ice-cream factory of Santo Domingo suddenly closed its doors, 200 workers became unemployed, now a new fact is added:  the refusal to pay an annual bonus which has been paid to workers for 38 years. Imperiousness and hypocrisy are again the feature of Nestle relations with its workers. The Union of Nestle Workers of San Francisco (SINTRANESTLESF) held a protest action yesterday, Tuesday 19, at the Nestle plant. Workers’ family members were present in the demonstrations, and also supportive delegations from various unions. Sirel dialogued with some of them during the demonstration.

 

Elvis Duarte

SINTRANESTLEF General Secretary

  

“We are in front of the Nestle plant of San Francisco de Macorís, formerly, CODAL. For this peaceful demonstration, projected with the participation of family members, also community social organizations, unions of building workers, nurses and other organizations of the civil society have come to support our demand to be paid our annual bonus by Nestle.

 

We also have the support of the IUF through Bernabel Matos who is here with us, as usual.

 

Nestle forgets this is San Francisco de Macorís.  The company has violated all the procedures, including those of the Labor Code which provide that if workers are not in agreement with the benefits, the company must provide the corresponding reports to exhibit their losses or benefits before the closing date of the fiscal year. Instead, Nestlé has only published a communication stating that only 35 per cent of the bonus will be paid.

 

We will go on fighting and the establishment of a forum in San Francisco for the discussion of this problem is being decided now.”

 

Samuel Santana

SINTRANESTLESF Organizing Secretary

 

“We are at a permanent demonstration in front of the factory because the company has refused to pay the full annual bonus as it has done for 38 years. So far we have only got paid 35 per cent.

 

We, workers are willing to fight for our rights to be respected and to defend our interests. We devote full time to the company, we have demonstrated that we want the business to grow, but this cannot be done based on the sacrifices of those in hardship.

 

We are the working class, and under the circumstances of this country it is very difficult for all of us that the company does not want to honor their debt. Given this situation, we raise our voice and we have here the supportive presence of the Food Workers Federation (CNUS), main central union of the country, the local council members and the people of San Francisco are all present. We have had several contacts with the company, but they are still reluctant to pay attention to our demands.”

 

Agustín Vargas

CNUS First  Vice President

 

“Our brothers and sisters at Nestle, together with CNUS, have prepared a plan for our fight so that this transnational will honor the workers' rights because the company has stolen 65 per cent of their bonus. However, Nestle managers have distributed million-dollar productivity bonuses among themselves based on corporate earnings. This is why we are here.

 

At this moment there are approximately 500 people taking part in this demonstration. We have held protest actions at lunch time, and we have instructed a group of lawyers to act at the court level, so we act in the two possible fields.”

 

César Trinidad

President of the Peasant Federation Mamá -Tingó

 

“Our Federation, which is a regional peasant organization, is here with our brothers and sisters of Nestle because it is our understanding that there is only one struggle for all workers. This struggle is also that of agricultural workers and peasants. We are not indifferent to the exploitation and the abuse of the powerful against the weak.

 

We all, rural workers and urban workers, need to march together for a different life, for a different world, and we will maintain our solidarity with the workers of Nestle.”

 

Olga Cáceres

Leader of the National Union of Nurses SINATRAE

 

“The representatives of the nurses union are here to demand a positive response of Nestle to our brothers and sisters and we will stay together until this happens. Unity and solidarity come first for workers when we are dealing with the defense of our rights and achievements.

 

The spirits are very high in this demonstration, we are sharing with our families and many San Francisco community members because this factory is very important for the economy of this area.”

 

Víctor Batista

Leader of the Dominican Union of Teachers

 

“There is here a large delegation of teachers in active and militant support of the just struggle of our friends, brothers and sisters of Nestle. They have achieved the support of different sectors of the San Francisco community, social organizations and the civil society who have come to express our solidarity and support.

 

These workers, with their effort, have made of Nestle the sales leader of the area, that is why Nestle cannot claim losses or deny a bonus to which workers are entitled, and which they have earned with their work and sacrifice.”

 

Rafael Serrano

SINTRANESTLESF former General Secretary

 

“This mobilization is to demand the complete payment of bonus which has been complied with by the company since the previous company, CODAL, took control. This bonus is stipulated by Dominican law, but Nestle has decided to cut it, which is a very difficult situation for all workers.

 

We are here in the street to demand that Nestle complies with its duties, in the same way we are all supposed to act, and even more when we go to work every day. The company knows this conflict will only be solved when the whole bones is paid, so that we all go on working in peace and harmony to develop the business, but certain that the growth of Nestle will not be obtained on the basis of poverty of workers, or taking away what belongs to workers.

 

Local and international solidarity of the IUF, which has always been where the struggle of workers is, is being felt.  We know this begins here, with us, but tomorrow it will happen to the rest of workers because companies want to change the Labor Code, re-make the rules so that they are favorable only to companies."

  

   

19| 5 | 2009 - San Francisco |  República Dominicana 

 
 

Carlos Amorín

Rel-UITA

May 20, 2009

 

 

 

Fotos: Bernabel Matos

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