Nestlé                   

Rafael Serrano and Juan Ramón Durán together add up 51 years of service at the Nestle plant in San Francisco. Local manager, Karl Brodbeck, has taken a strange "crusade" to secure the dismissal of these two workers and trade unionists. The case is in the hands of the Labor Court which is to take a decision this week. Sirel discussed the case with Jose "Pepe" Abreu, president of the National Union Confederation (CNUS), mobilized by the conflict in support of Nestlé Workers' Union of San Francisco de Macoris (SITRANESTLÉSF).

-What is the reason for your presence in San Francisco de Macoris?

-We are here with the secretary general of the Confederation, José de los Santos, conducting a press conference, an action of solidarity with our brothers and sisters of the Nestlé union of San Francisco.

We want to warn the company that a measure like that is not confined to Duran and Serrano, but an attack on freedom of association in general, it is an action that seeks to destroy the SITRANESTLESF

Considering the background of this union and the workers themselves involved in this conflict, we can not remain indifferent at the national level. The attitude of the company deserves that we exert pressure to repeal this measure. So we are preparing to take action at the company gates in Santo Domingo, in addition to those already being taken in San Francisco.

-What are the arguments of Nestlé?

-The company has placed these two colleagues in the hands of judges due to a routine discussion with a manager who has methods and a management style that seeks to subjugate, provoke, and harass workers.

It is no coincidence that the day after this provocation a major meeting with top management of Nestlé in the country was scheduled to discuss strategic corporate and labor issues, and it was suspended.

It's a very strange coincidence that these brothers get such a rude provocation at this time. Still, the reaction of the workers was measured but an incident was made to suspend the meeting and by the way challenging the jobs of two leaders. The meeting was suspended anyway.

-What is the background of this complaint?

-This manager is a spearhead aimed at provoking a confrontation. The union has been smart because it has sought mediation. The Archbishop, the Governor of the province, the national Vice President personally called the company and requested that a negotiated solution is sought.  But Nestlé has made no proposal; just accept the dismissal of two colleagues.

Judges have in hand a very important decision, because how this country measures respect for freedom of association now depends on them.

-What is the union claiming at this time?

-We are proposing that the labor peace returns to San Francisco de Macoris and the country, reinstating our brothers in their proper positions by a judgment that makes sense, because both employees together have 51 years of work –Serrano, 25 years and Duran, 26-. No one can imagine that if they were bad workers had lasted so long with Nestle, a demanding company in terms of efficiency standards for personnel.

They are technically trained workers to perform their job and with vast experience in industrial relations to make a mistake as big as they are accused of. This is why we expect the Court to rule unanimously by preserving industrial peace.

-When would the Court decide?

-A five-day term began to run from Monday 15. We have been very flexible and open for a dialogue with the company, but the corporate preference was to corner the judges in this decision without any counter-proposal.

-Why do you say that judges were cornered?

-Because this is a manager who says: “It’s them or me”. A manager who wants to have the social leadership in the plant, obviously this will go against the union that has its natural leaders recognized and respected by workers But even this competition in this case did not arise in a sound manner, but maligning colleagues, saying that they are troublemakers, stone-throwers, virtually accusing them of terrorism, when the entire community of San Francisco recognizes SITRANESTLESF as one of its symbols.

The union has demonstrated a high strength, because it never dissociated itself from its roots and its history. An attack on SITRANESTLESF, is also against the entire Dominican union movement.

-Could this be part of a strategy to close the plant?

-The conditions of this factory were never as good as now. We ourselves took part in steps that were taken with the national government to solve some problems of competitiveness raised by Nestlé The company consolidated a leading position in the market and is currently operating at full capacity. It can’t even cope with all the demand. 

This means that in this union there is not only a combative attitude to defend the rights of workers, but also a behavior of identification with the business. The alternative to close this plant could not even be used as a threat.