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ILO backs calls for justice for murdered trade unionist
14 December 2006
 |  | | Gilberto Soto who was murdered in El Salvador two years ago | |
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has recommended that the government of El Salvador bring the murderers of a US-based trade unionist to justice. Gilberto Soto, a Teamsters activist was murdered in El Salvador two years ago during a visit to the country to make contact with truck drivers.
The ITF, along with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) (formerly the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions) and the ITF-affiliated Teamsters union, expressed concerns that Soto’s death might have been linked to his trade union activities. As a result, the ITF and the ITUC supported a complaint to the ILO’s Committee on Freedom of Association regarding the case.
Last month, the ILO committee released a report in which the matter was examined. It stated: “the Committee emphasizes that it is essential to bring the guilty parties to justice and requests the Government, as a matter of urgency, to keep it informed of the criminal proceedings currently underway.”
Two years ago, ITF representatives were among a delegation to El Salvador demanding that a proper investigation into Soto’s death be carried out. ITF General Secretary, David Cockroft also wrote to the US government to press the Salvadorean authorities to set up an investigation.
Following the publication of the ILO report, the Teamsters union established a petition demanding that the killers of Soto be brought to justice. Sign the petition at: http://www.teamsterstakeaction.org/campaign/soto
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