15 Jan 2007 URGENT UPDATE: The ITF has expressed outrage over the murder of Guatemalan trade unionist, Pedro Zamora, General Secretary of the Dockers' union STEPQ. Zamora was brutally attacked yesterday in Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, while driving his two children from the port hospital. The murder appears to be linked to the union's role in protesting against privatisation. 15 Jan: The conflict appeared over at this time; the government had backed down and the situation is slowly coming back to normality. During the conflict, some workers were dismissed and the Union was been campaigning for them to be allowed to come back to work. Most had returned but seven workers still remained, although their cases are hopeful. The ITF thanked supporters once again for their solidarity which was crucial.

11 Oct 2006
Guatemalan Dockworkers Under Attack As Police Invade Port

ITF-affiliated port workers in Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala were driven out of their jobs by armed riot police and several were dismissed for taking "illegal" strike action on the morning of 9th October. The ITF is supporting the union and is asking for protest messages to be sent the President.

The attack comes after the Puerto Quetzal Dockers' Union announced industrial action on September 11th. The authorities have carried out a campaign of harassment and intimidation against the union, whose leaders have been followed by armed agents in recent months.

View archived Protest Letter

The ITF has written to the President of Guatemala protesting at an impending crisis in the port of Quetzal, which was occupied by 300 armed riot police on 9th October.  ITF affiliated union, the Puerto Quetzal Dockers’ Union (STEPQ) reported that police have been looking for the union leaders.

Workers of Puerto Quetzal have suffered constant repression by the Port Company for some time. This persecution has been persistent, to the extent that workers and trade union leaders have been forced to resign. On a number of occasions policemen have harassed union leaders, especially the General Secretary, who has been followed and pursued by armed agents. Guatemala is the second most dangerous country in Latin America after Colombia for trade unionists, with many being murdered each year.

Even though the union has consistently tried to establish a dialogue, the company has refused to cooperate. Having exhausted this route, the union initiated industrial action on September 11th. They stopped work for one hour on the first week and then increased it by one hour per week.

At 4 o’clock in the morning of 9th October the government sent the police in. A meeting had been scheduled between the union and the Communications Minister, but he cancelled it. Seven people have so far been arrested for taking part in ‘an illegal strike’. The Company has been dismissing workers for some time and have sent armed policemen to look for the union leaders in the past, but the workers have protected them.

The Puerto Quetzal Dockers’ Union has notified the ILO and the Guatemalan national human rights office of the police occupation and the arrests.

Affiliates are asked to demonstrate solidarity with the Puerto Quetzal Dockers’ Union by any legal means available to them and to write to the Guatemalan government demanding the following:

a)    that the armed personnel leave the port facility;
b)    that all harassment is brought to an end and that the dockworkers be allowed to continue working;
c)    that unfair dismissals which have been taking place for the past 2 years stop, and that unfairly dismissed workers be reinstated;
d)    that negotiations be initiated to resolve the problems of repression and harassment of workers; and
e)    that the security and integrity of trade union leaders be guaranteed.

The protest letter from ITF General Secretary, David Cockroft is available to download below.

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