Monday 25th February saw the first major strike action by Ecuadorian banana workers in over 20 years. If the registration of the new union they have formed is approved by the Labour Minister, this will be the first independent banana workers' union since the 1970s.

The struggle is being watched carefully by banana unions throughout Latin America, whose wages and benefits are threatened by the dominance of non-union, low-wage banana exports, from Ecuador, the world's biggest banana exporting country.

On 25th February, more than 1400 workers at seven plantations producing for the Noboa Corporation (Alamos Division) went on strike in support of their basic labour rights. These are all rights established under Ecuadorian law. The owner of the Noboa Corporation is Alvaro Noboa, candidate to the Presidency and the richest man in Latin America. Noboa is the fourth biggest banana company in the world (after Chiquita, Dole and Del Monte).

Specifically, the workers are demanding that they are paid overtime, inscribed in the Social Security system, provided with healthcare facilities, fair wages and job security. They are fed up with what they describe as the inhuman treatment to which they have been subjected and so are demanding the recognition of a new union they have formed, called General Union of Plantation Workers of Haciendas* Yanayacu 1 and 2, Rey Rancho 1 and 2, La Nueva, Zapotal and La Teresa.

Management responded to the strike action by firing eight union leaders. After legal advice, the workers went back to work since their wildcat strike was technically illegal. Union supporters subsequently began signing up hundreds of members and filed an application for legal registration of the union. In the first week, 500 workers signed up for the union. The company is now under an injunction that would make any further firings illegal and make any new strike legal.

The union has prepared a list of demands for negotiations with management, with meetings scheduled this week. According to the union, the fincas are divided into seven separate businesses that rotate workers from one to another in order to avoid legal obligations and benefits enjoyed by permanent workers. The union believes that the plantations are owned by Noboa and are requesting that the company and government divulge the true ownership of the plantations. Regardless of who actually owns the plantations, they produce bananas for Noboa.

The union has also submitted an application for the legal registration of the union to the Minister of Labour.

FENACLE, Banana Link's Ecuadorian partner, is requesting letters in support of these workers' rights, denouncing the sackings and encouraging the Minister of Labour to protect the basic right of the workers:

Please send letters to the Minister of Labour & Human Resources, Ab.Martin Insua Chag urging him to act to protect the basic rights of the workers on the following fax: 00-593-2-256-3469 or 00-593-2-250-3122 or by e-mail to mintrab@accessinter.net