On May 4, workers organized under the Industrial Union of Soft Drink, Beverage, Soda, Beer, Liquor and Similar Beverage Production and Distribution Workers (SITRAFCOREBGASCELIS) were informed that they were being let go from their jobs at Cervecería Nacional, a local company owned by the transnational corporation SABMiller, which tried to pass their dismissal off as the result of a mutual agreement.

Sirel spoke with union president Alejandro John, who reported that SABMiller’s intention was to fire only those workers who were members of the union.

“This is a clear attack on our union and it is prompted by the demands we are making against the wage cuts suffered by distribution workers,” the union leader said.

“These workers -John continued- saw their salaries reduced when the company unilaterally decided to change the commission system. As this can be legally challenged, the union is demanding that the company pay the difference, but the company has found it more convenient and easier to fire the unionized workers than pay what they are entitled to.”

According to John, this measure adopted by SABMiller is completely illegal.

“A mass layoff is illegal because the workers are protected by union privileges. Moreover, keeping workers at the plant against their will is a criminal offense and as such it will be reported,” he stressed.

The union will bring a criminal action against the managers who prevented the workers from leaving the plant, and it will also report the company to the Labor Ministry. These actions have not been taken yet because Monday, May 7, was a national holiday in Panama.

Asked what other measures the union may take in addition to the legal action, the union representative said that, “Today, May 8, union members nationwide will stage a work stoppage and we will hold a press conference to publicly denounce this company’s antiunion and inhuman attitude.”

“Also, we will be discussing the drafting of a document to report the repeated attacks on workers, to be presented to the Inter-American Commission on Humans Rights (IACHR), as this kind of behavior violates the fundamental rights of Panamanian workers,” John concluded.

In the distribution area alone, Cervecería Nacional (SABMiller) employs some 750 workers, around 450 of whom are members of SITRAFCOREBGASCELIS.