On May 16th 2002, our colleague Jan Nimmo witnessed the violence unleashed by armed men against unarmed banana plantation workers at the Los Alamos plantation in Ecuador's Guayas province. The workers, fed up with years of mistreatment and exploitation at the hands of the Noboa Corporation, had formed a trade union and gone on strike when their demands were ignored.

It was a miracle that nobody lost their lives that day, but several workers were injured for life. The film that Jan was able to take of the events that day was the only evidence of the violent response to peaceful action by the plantation workers. The people responsible have never been brought to task in the courts, despite promises made by the Ecuadorian government to the International Labour Organisation's committee on Freedom of Association.

 

At the root of these sad events five years ago, was the belief of many plantation owners in Ecuador that workers organising to try and negotiate improvements in their working conditions were somehow a threat….a corporate fear that remains today. But good labour relations, decent work and living wages are a goal to which not just the workers – but all of the banana companies who employ them - should aspire to.

 

Banana Link salutes the courage of the Los Alamos workers and the many others in Ecuador who have stood up for their rights in the last five years, often in the knowledge that they'll be sacked for doing so. Banana Link also salutes the recent moves by some banana companies towards taking their social responsibilities seriously.

 

The current piloting of a social label by the Banana Exporters' Association is a sign of hope. But, at the heart of social responsibility, is the freedom of workers to exercise their constitutional right to organise independently. Free trade unions should be seen as an asset, not a threat. A social label without trade union freedom would be meaningless. Let's hope that promises by the Noboa Corporation and other companies to implement real changes for workers on the ground will lead – sooner rather than later – to dignity and respect for all the men and women employed in the plantations of Ecuador, the world’s biggest banana exporting country.

 

 

 Guayaquil, 16th May 2007

 

"For us Ecuadorians remembering the five years of struggle by the workers at Los Alamos has allowed us to raise issues at a national level which had been taboo. Issues like child labour, the labour sub-contractors, disrespect for workers' rights, the abuse of agrochemicals and the decision by workers to organise in trade unions to demand their rights have all become topical issues of debate and have entered the national political arena with the current government.
As FENACLE, and on behalf of the Los Alamos workers, we want to thank you and all the other organisations for the support given to the agricultural workers of this country. Without it, these issues woulod have continued to be taboo. But, thanks to our collective efforts, the world knows about the inhumane conditions in which bananas are produced."
Guillermo Touma, President of FENACLE, former banana worker.