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Within the framework of a government attack against union
wins and rights, Sirel discussed with Alejandro John,
general secretary of the Industrial Union of Soft Drink,
Beverage, Soda, Beer, Liquor and Similar Beverage Production
and Distribution Workers (SITRAFCOREBGASCELIS), who analyzed
the present situation and the results of the general strike
carried out on Tuesday 13.
-What is the scope of Law 30, which derogation you are
demanding?
-It is an already existing law which was recently amended by
the government. There are several aspects that we simply
reject: the first is referred to environmental protection
because Law 30 empowers the Executive Branch to decide
whether to perform or not a previous environmental impact
assessment study, without intervention of the civil society.
Secondly, the law amends the labor system with a clear union
destruction purpose. For instance, from now on, the union
fee will not be deducted from the workers' wages by
employers and delivered directly to unions. Instead, unions
must collect dues from each individual worker.
Thus, according to this amendment, any worker will belong to
the collective bargaining unit, regardless of his or her
union affiliation or fee payment. This
encourages workers to stop paying union dues and will
eventually lead to union disappearance.
Also, the ILO
Commission that studied the possibility of companies to
enter the plants when there is a strike formally declared,
did not make recommendations to Panama but
observations. We think this is questionable Our view is that
the democratic system establishes respect for the majority
decisions and minorities must abide by democratic decisions.
Now, this law amendment authorizes employers to enter the
premises. Also administrative staff and non-strikers may
enter the factories and management may appoint personnel to
supposedly carry out maintenance of productive equipment.
Before this amendment, maintenance personnel was selected by
common agreement of employers and workers.
-So this is a strike breaking system...
-Factories will continue with production because the fines
for breaking these agreements are absurdly low as compared
with the losses provoked by a plant being stopped. This
law amendment will prevent Collective Negotiation in Panama
for the next five years.
-Please tell us about the national strike carried out today.
-At the Coca
Cola plants it reached 100 percent and 95 percent in the
construction industry, while there were multiple partial
strikes throughout the country, since workers were called to
adhere through both types of union action.
-How is the relation between unions and Government?
-In Panama democracy
is in jeopardy. We are experiencing generalized
intimidation, threats and persecution. We have twelve union
leaders arrested. Banana workers from Bocas de Toro have
been subject to ruthless repression, with some dead and more
than 140 injured, many have lost one or both eyes as a
consequence of short distance pellet shots by the Police.
There is a second list of leaders who will supposedly be
arrested and both I and another union officer from
Coca Cola
Panamá
are included in that list.
The situation is really complex, this is why we call on all
sister organizations to be alert to this situation in our
country.
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