True to its reputation as one of the worst antiunion companies in the world, SABMiller has launched in Panama a personal persecution against the worker Gregorio Rodríguez, member of the Governing Committee of the Industrial Union of Soft Drink, Beverage, Soda, Beer, Liquor and Similar Beverage Production and Distribution Workers (SITRAFCOREBGASCELIS). Gregorio says he’ll “resist,” but that his case must be made known so that SABMiller’s behavior will be revealed to the world. Sirel spoke with him.

-How would you describe what is happening there right now?

-We are enduring a very harsh and sad situation. SABMiller bought the Cervecería Nacional franchise a year ago. Right from that moment it started firing the workers with the most seniority, while at the same time deteriorating the working conditions of the workers who remained.

It has lowered our wages, refuses to provide us with uniforms, and denies us minimally human working conditions. In my case in particular, they removed me from my regular post and they put me inside the plant, where they have me sitting down on a chair with no specific task.

When managers pass through my sector, they come up to harass and threaten me, telling me I have to give up my union privileges or else the company will keep me in the relegated situation I’m in now and I’ll never be able to do any union work.

-Why are they being so harsh on you?

-Our union also represents workers from other companies in the beverage industry, and I’m the only SABMiller worker who’s a member of the Governing Committee, occupying the post of Assistant Secretary of International Affairs, that’s why I have union privileges. That’s the only thing that has stopped them from firing me.

-How are the union’s activities conducted?

Union work is difficult in this situation, but nevertheless we are doing pretty well; we’ve already signed up 200 members, and we’re trying to expand to the rest of the country. In total there are 825 SABMiller workers in Panama. They are harassing me to make me leave because they don’t want any kind of labor union in their plants.

-And what are working conditions like?

-Very harsh. We have drawn up a List of Violations of Panama’s Labor Laws and we filed it with the Ministry of Labor, but the Ministry turns a blind eye to our reports, acting in complicity with the company.

Luckily, our fellow workers in Coca Cola are supporting us with legal counseling and personnel training towards the signing of a Collective Bargaining Agreement.

-How is this harassment affecting you in your daily life?

-It’s very hard on me and it has meant a great loss in salary. I used to earn 800 dollars a month, and now, in my new post I barely make 283 dollars a month. This has had specific consequences, for example, I’ve had to stop paying my mortgage as well as installments for furniture and other house wares. My children are not going to school because I can’t pay their tuitions. Frankly, things at home are extremely hard. I’m resisting, but it’s looking really bleak.

What we need is to make this situation known to the world, we must let the labor and social movements know what an antiunion monster SABMiller is.

Carlos Amorín Rel-UITA February 13, 2008