A-Infos (en) Nicaragua Labor Alert: Urgent

["Shawn Ewald" <shawn@wilshire.net>]

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     A - I N F O S  N E W S  S E R V I C E
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Nicaragua Maquila Organizing Hangs in Balance
February 6, 1998
 
[Information provided by the Nicaragua Network: (202) 544-9355,
<nicanet@igc.org>]
 
The future of trade union organizing in the Free Trade Zone in Managua,
Nicaragua, appears to hang in the balance today as workers await word on
whether the Nicaraguan Labor Ministry will recognize the recently organized
union in the Taiwanese-owned Chentex Garment Factory, which employs 2,000
workers. The factory has sewn garments for JC Penney, Wal-Mart, and Kmart,
and most recently, Bugle Boy pants.  According to organizers of the
Federation of Textile, Garment, Leather and Shoe Workers (CST), if the
Chentex union is recognized, that recognition - when added to the
recognition in the Fortex and Jem III factories - will go a long way toward
paving the way for the unionization of the entire Free Trade Zone.  At the
same time, denial of recognition will mean continuation of what has been an
uphill struggle for Central American union organizers in a sector understood
globally to be hostile to unionization.
 
On February 5, the Inspector General of the Nicaraguan Ministry of Labor,
Dr. Emilio Noguera, visited the Chentex factory.  He met with management and
officials of the factory's recently formed trade union, telling them that
under no circumstances was the Labor Ministry going to permit the
legalization of that union. He also stated that the Ministry of Labor would
allow massive firings if the workers carried out another strike.  The visit
came one day before the Labor Ministry was obliged by law either to legally
recognize the Chentex union or to explain why requirements had not been met.    
 
Union organizers accuse Chentex management of threatening workers who are
union leaders within the factory and otherwise violating the agreement
reached last week when 1,800 workers held a day-long work stoppage.
Virtually the entire workforce had gone on strike on January 26 protesting
the firing of 21 of the 90 workers who had signed up for the union.  The
firings took place the day after papers seeking legal recognition for the
union had been filed with the Labor Ministry, amid accusations that the
Labor Ministry had turned the workers names over to factory management.
 
ACTION NEEDED:

[Note from Campaign for Labor Rights: Many people do not have access to a
fax machine. Also, many labor rights violations are crises requiring an
immediate reaction. To find out how to subscribe to the Labor Defense
Network (which will send faxes in your name in response to violations of
workers' rights in Mexico and Central America), contact (202) 544-9355 or
<ern@igc.apc.org>.]
 
At this crucial moment for garment assembly plant organizing in Central
America, send a fax to the Nicaraguan Minister of Labor asking for legal
recognition of the union in the Chentex Garment Factory.  A sample letter
follows:
 
The Honorable Wilfredo Navarro
Minister of Labor
Managua, Nicaragua
Fax: 011-505-228-2103
 
Dear Mr. Navarro:  
 
I am writing to express my concern about the situation in one of the
factories of the Las Mercedes Industrial Free Trade Zone in Managua.  
 
Workers at the Chentex Garment Factory have organized a union and filed the
required papers seeking legal recognition for that union.  The deadline for
the Labor Ministry to give legal recognition to the union is February 6.  I
urge you to recognize the union with a minimum of delay.  
 
I am also disturbed about threats made by Labor Ministry Inspector General
Dr. Emilio Noguera to workers who are union leaders at the Chentex Garment
Factory.  According to reports, he stated that the Ministry of Labor was not
going to permit the legalization of any union in the Chentex factory.  He
evidently also stated that the Labor Ministry would allow massive firings if
the workers carried out another strike.  I urge you to disavow these threats
made by Dr. Noguera and ensure that Chentex factory management abide by the
agreement signed together with the workers on January 26.
 
Sincerely,


Labor Alerts: a service of Campaign for Labor Rights
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