Negotiation in the banana sector
Public announcement
The National Union of Agriculture Industry Workers (SINTRAINAGRO)
addresses its member workers, labor organizations at large
and the national and international public in general to
inform them of the state of negotiations of the list of
demands presented to the union of banana workers on February
27, 2009, for which a labor-employer bargaining table was
established on March 24 to determine the rights of the
Bargaining Committee.
After 20 days of negotiating in the direct resolution stage,
the parties failed to reach an agreement that would allow
them to move forward on the main issues under consideration:
the forthcoming discussion of new tasks in the
agricultural-technical commission, regulatory concerns and
labor union rights, social funds, social security and wage
increases.
The employers rejected the workers’ request to extend the
direct resolution stage, thus forcing the union to organize
a strike in the region of Urabá, as pursuant to labor
legislation that is the only option available after the
failure of this stage.
We would like to state for the record that it is not the
policy of the union to promote a strike, and that we have
always been willing to work towards a settlement through
dialogue and agreement.
We consider that current economic conditions are favorable
for the sector’s companies, as banana productivity levels
throughout 2008 were the highest ever in the history of
Colombia’s banana industry, and this was achieved thanks to
union support and the effort of the workers.
The Government’s subsidies were aimed at maintaining the
dollar’s exchange rate and the sector’s jobs, as was
publicly acknowledged by employers themselves.
Lastly, the US dollar has risen steadily through late 2008
and early 2009, and that should make employers more willing
to bargain.
For this reason we are calling on labor organizations
throughout the country and abroad to secure their solidarity
with the struggle of Colombia’s banana workers from
the Urabá banana region, in the Department of
Antioquia. And we appeal to the National Government to
intervene. For just as it granted subsidies to help banana
companies in the past, it can now demand that they respect
the labor and social rights of their workers.
In addition we call on the bargaining committee that
represents the banana sector to work responsibly towards
finding mechanisms to reach an agreement and avoid a labor
conflict in Urabá.
We appeal to the members of our labor organization and to
the population in general to be on the alert and support any
actions planned by the union’s Governing Committee under the
strike.
Fraternally,
