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 Over 70% of the workforce on Latin American banana plantations are under the age of 29. These young workers face appalling working conditions, including wages well below the cost of living and exposure to toxic chemicals. Workers who try to join unions face repression - from daily psychological pressure to outright violence. In Ecuador, for example, less than 2% of banana workers are members of an independent trade union.
Our Latin American partners are working to organise and train young workers to enable and empower them to fully exercise their legal and political rights and put a stop to workplace exploitation. This work is supported through the Banana Link Union to Union programme, building solidarity between young members at either end of the banana supply chain. This has involved youth delegation visits to both Costa Rica and Ecuador, complimented by visits to the UK by young Latin America union activists.
Fundraising Appeal
Two young members from our Costa Rican union partner, SITRAP have been offered a one month scholarship by a college in the UK to study English. They are keen to accept the scholarship as this will enable SITRAP’s future leaders to develop more direct links with trade unionists in other countries, as well as helping them to develop the language skills needed to engage in advocacy work and dialogue with employers, companies and retailers, whose actions are directly impacting workers on Costa Rican plantations.
To be able to accept this scholarship, Banana Link is raising funds for their travel and accommodation - please click here for more information and if you would like to support this appeal.
Northern TUC Young Members braving the North Sea on Boxing Day to raise funds for SITRAP (2004).
Other Ways to Get Involved:
1) Join the Banana Link Young Member Action Network to receive updates and information on events, projects, fundraising and other ways to get involved in young member international solidarity
2) Join the Banana Action mailing list to receive Urgent Action requests and the Union to Union bulletin – which has a regular centre page spread on young member solidarity, and distribute these within your branch, workplace and Young Member Networks.
3) Raise awareness on the issues faced by workers in the banana industry at trade union meetings and events, within your workplace, community and other networks – contact Banana Link for educational resources
4) Get your union branch or region to become Banana Link Trade Union Supporters
5) Submit a motion at your union conference to support the work of Latin American banana workers unions through the Union to Union programme.
6) Support our Campaigns:
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Dole campaign – demanding that the world’s largest fruit company respects labour rights on their plantations
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Tescopoly campaign – control supermarket buyer power to reduce the exploitation of farmers and workers worldwide
Further Reading & Information
Banana Link Young Member leaflet - find out more about how you can get involved in international solidarity actions
Click here to read a report of the 2006 Banana Link delegation visit to unions in Costa Rica and Ecuador
Summary of the FENACLE Young Members Project. Full report available on request from Banana Link.
Fenacle (in Spanish only)
COLSIBA (the Regional Coordination of Latin American Banana Worker’s Unions) in Spanish only.
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