Solidarismo, rooted in Coca Cola INCASA management, unwillingness to bargain in good faith, unjustified suspensions, all unchanged in Retalhuleu, Guatemala. Sirel interviewed Morales, general secretary of the Food Workers’ Federation (FESTRAS), about the systematic violation of union rights in Coca Cola.

- What is the present situation in Coca Cola Retalhuleu?

- Management's behavior continues unchanged, there is no variation or signals that the situation is going to improve. At present, seven workers are suspended and two were transferred to lower ranking positions.

There was an agreement with The Coca Cola Company to keep joint minutes of meetings, but this has not meant any change, the employer keeps behaving as judge and jury. Besides, there are no conflict resolution mechanisms between the Union and the management.

- Have there been any changes after signing the official document between the IUF and the Coca Cola Company?

-Not at all. So far, there has been no progress and no signals of reaching solutions. On the contrary, hostility of solidarismo has increased and also repression of union members.

We know these changes will not occur overnight, every negotiation process implies a gradual progress which we cannot notice at all.  I insist, we are attentive, but we do not see any agreement platform on overtime, productivity bonus, etc. On the contrary, management encourages solidarismo, which was strengthened on April 2, with the action day of Coca Cola workers around the world. On that same day, the Solidarismo movement also organized an action, which evidences the lack of respect of this Coca Cola bottler towards the union movement. 

What I want to emphasize is that nothing has changed in spite of the negotiation process held by our International with the Coca Cola Company. This bottler has not stopped the activities against unionized workers or approached the union to find a solution to conflict, instead it openly encourages solidarismo. None other than May 1st, the bottler sent a circular letter inviting all workers favorable to the company to a day at the seaside. On other occasions workers are invited to recreational activities, including visits to Mexico.

- What actions will the union take in the face the situation?

- We, both the union and the federation, mean to widely report the behavior of Coca Cola. This is why we have planned local and national actions jointly with the Workers' Union of Embotelladora Central (STECSA) This week we have a meeting to organize demonstrations, as well as denunciation and reporting activities.

Gerardo Iglesias and Amalia Antúnez

© Rel-UITA

May 29, 2007