Seatech International Inc., a Van Camp's tuna processing and canning company, proudly displays its Cartagena plant’s ISO certification, brags about its Full Production Maintenance program and boasts compliance with Codex Alimentarius requirements. But consumers must also know that the company is a leader in antiunion policies, that it disregards the national Constitution and breaches the international conventions on freedom of association and labor rights that have been ratified by Colombia.

When temporary becomes permanent

According to its own website, “Seatech cares about preserving the environment and marine species such as the dolphin, to give society a healthy environment together with sustainable development.” Protecting dolphins is indeed a laudable thing. The problem with Seatech is that it treats the men and women employed at its plant like work mules.

Of the 1,500 workers at Seatech International Inc.’s plant in Cartagena, Colombia, only 13 have permanent contracts, the rest are engaged through employment agencies or temporary staff agencies.

Under Colombian labor laws, temporary staffing is only permissible when there are increases in production or to cover the annual leave of the regular staff, and then only for a term of six months, extendable for an additional term of six months and no more. Hiring workers under temporary schemes for an extended period of time is strictly prohibited.

At Seatech, the majority of workers are temps, but they perform permanent tasks, and some have been employed for 20 years under this contracting scheme. That’s a “healthy environment with sustainable development” made in Seatech.

Antiunionism à la Colombiana

The company dismantled two trade unions formed in the last two years. Last August, the plant’s workers formed a new organization. So, what happened then? Below is a day-by-day account of how this union-crushing machine called Seatech addressed the situation:

Saturday, August 7

-More than 100 workers form the Food Industry Workers’ Union (USTRIAL).

Monday, August 9

-8 a.m.: The workers notify the company that they have formed a union.

-3 p.m.: The company announces the first layoffs of union members and of the majority of the union’s governing committee.

Tuesday, August 10

-The number of laid off workers totals 26.

Thursday, August 12

-The company shuts down the plant until August 23 “for maintenance” reasons.

Friday, August 13

-Fredis Marrugo Velásquez, president of USTRIAL - one of the few workers with a direct contract at Seatech - is informed that he must take a leave of absence until further notice.

Monday, August 23

-The company reopens. Forty-nine workers from the gutting sector and 12 women workers from another section are denied entry into the plant. The number of workers laid off now has risen to 87.

But let’s not forget what’s “really important” here: Seatech International cares about dolphins…