From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: Proceso 532: Labor
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 21:10:09 GMT

/** reg.elsalvador: 134.0 **/
** Topic: Proceso 532: Labor **
** Written 12:12 pm  Oct 15, 1992 by cidai@huracan.cr in cdp:reg.elsalvador **
From: cidai@huracan.cr (Centro de Informacion Documentacion y Apoyo a la Invest. - UCAJSC)
Subject: Proceso 532: Labor

Center for Information, Documentation and Research Support (CIDAI)
Central American University (UCA)
San Salvador, El Salvador
 
PROCESO 532
September 30, 1992
 
LABOR:
The atmosphere of consensus-building
 
     Over the last several weeks, the popular movement has
denounced a number of attacks on its ranks. The organizations
belonging to the Intergremial labor coalition, which represents
labor in the Forum for Economic and Social Consensus-Building,
published a communique on September 23 in which they denounced the
cases of Blokitubos, Hotel El Salvador, and the Airport section of
the Port Authority, in which the Labor Ministry refuses to
recognize trade union locals in the process of formation. They also
complained of a fire set at the offices of the Federation of
Independent Associations and Trade Unions (FEASIES). The National
Union of Workers and Peasants (UNOC), reported on September 26 that
at least seven trade union members had been arrested, and that the
La Magdalena sugar refinery had been machine-gunned by the police.
     In the Blokitubos case, according to UNOC, the Labor Ministry
had already approved the establishment of a chapter of the Union of
Cement and Clay Workers, and had even awarded credentials to the
leaders of the local. However, when Blokitubos challenged the
government's resolution, the Ministry resolved in management's
favor and demanded that the union leaders return their credentials.
A number of workers were fired for joining the union, according to
FESINCONSTRANS in a denunciation published on September 14.
     In the case of the Hotel El Salvador, also according to the
UNOC, 100 workers were fired, including some union leaders. The
union local which had begun to organize in the hotel was also
outlawed. In this conflict, the government set riot police on the
workers, according to the Democratic Convergence.
     In the Airport section of the Port Authority (CEPA), the
Intergremial reports that the Labor Ministry is refusing to award
credentials to the leaders of the union local. This labor problem
goes back to last June, when the trade union representing Port
Authority workers complained that the Labor Ministry and the
president of CEPA had refused to recognize the Airport local, and
that the Organizational Secretary was fired, along with other
workers.
     The common thread running through these conflicts is the
government's attempt to block organizational progress on the part
of the trade union movement.
     UNOC has also denounced acts of repression, such as the arrest
of at least seven members of the Intergremial's Santa Ana chapter,
who belonged to the Association of Tourism Bureau Workers (ASTUR),
the Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives (FEDECOOPADES) (whose
offices in Santa Ana were illegally searched on August 1), the
union of Health Ministry workers (ANTMSPAS), the union of Treasury
Ministry employees (AGEMHA), the union of Postal Employees
(SUCEPES), the National Association of Agricultural Workers (ANTA),
and the union of Public Works Ministry workers (ANTMOP). In early
August, two members of the ANTMOP local in Santa Ana were murdered.
     The Intergremial also denounced an attack on Gerardo Moscoso,
Secretary General Adjunct of FESINCONSTRANS. The incident occurred
on September 17, when Moscoso was shot by unknown attackers.
[Moscoso had been involved in the Blokitubos case.] The next day,
the offices of FEASIES were machine-gunned from a moving vehicle.
     Another incident mentioned was the machine-gunning of the La
Magdalena sugar refinery on September 22. According to the sugar
workers' union SINA, the workers were pressuring for contract
negotiations, and had begun a struggle to get the government-owned
refinery turned over to the workers. According to SINA leaders,
ARENA is trying to hand the refineries back to their former owners
[sugar refineries were nationalized in 1980].
     On this issue, the Democratic Convergence reported on
September 15 that 320 workers at the La Magdalena refinery have
been fired in recent weeks. The party also denounced the firings of
600 workers at the National Sugar Institute, and another 320 at the
El Carmen sugar refinery.
     It is important to note that refinery workers and sugar cane-
producing cooperatives have joined efforts to demand that the
government privatize the 6 refineries it holds by turning them over
to joint ownership among workers, cooperatives and independent
producers. To this end they have formed CEPROTCANA, a negotiating
commission representing all three organized sectors.
     In all these cases, the government appears to carry the main
burden of responsibility. In particular, according to the
complaints, the Labor Ministry has maneuvered to block labor
organizations in formation and has favored management. This
government attitude has a negative effect on the process of
national consensus-building. Actions aimed at stifling the trade
union movement and/or hindering its growth will, in the long run,
only increase popular discontent.
     In conclusion, the situation does nothing to benefit the
consensus-building going on in the Forum. And if the government
maintains the attitude currently being denounced by the workers'
movement, it will be very difficult to institutionalize the
environment necessary for national consensus-building.
 

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