Take action to end the violence and inpunity in Guatemala

Violence against banana union leaders in Guatemala has been escalating since the murder of SITRABI union leader, Marco Tulio Ramirez in September 2007. In 2011 six members and ex-members of SITRABI were killed. Members of the Executive Committee of SITRABI continue to be the victims of intimidation and harassment. Guatemala is now reported to be the second most dangerous country in which to be a trade unionist.

Pressure must be put on the Guatemalan government to ensure the people responsible for these killings are brought to justice and that systematic violations of labour rights are put to a stop.

We are therefore asking the British government to lobby the Guatemalan government to fully investigate all of the SITRABI killings and to ensure those responsible are prosecuted. We are also asking for the General Secretary and members of the Executive Committee to receive protection in the face of persistent intimidation – read the full list of SITRABI’s  demands.

• Go to our urgent action page and send an email to William Hague, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
• Order action postcards for distribution to your networks.
• Watch an interview with SITRABI General Secretary, Noè Ramírez (coming soon). 
• Bloody Bananas - short USLEAP documentary on banana workers and labour rights in Guatemala.

Campaign outcomes and ongoing news

Thank you to everyone who has lobbied the British government so far. Read the most recent response from Ambassador Chappell.

You can also keep up to date with the work of the British Embassy in Guatemala by:

• visiting the British Embassy in Guatemala website
• becoming a fan of the British Embassy Facebook page
• subscribing to the British Ambassador in Guatemala’s blog

Latest News

The Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation has approved a report from its Committee on Freedom of Association examining a number of complaints from Guatemalan trade unions concerning violations of fundamental labour rights. Read more

Resources

Radio Labour - an interview with Banana Link’s International Coordinator about the situation in Guatemala (March 2012)

Read an interview with Noè Ramírez conducted by the IUF (2011)

ITUC Mission to Guatemala 2012 – report translated by Banana Link

Guatemala Report – Banana Link, August 2011

Statement from Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility and Workers Rights in the Guatemalan Banana Industry Report – translated by Banana Link, August 2011

www.usleap.org – regular reports on situation in Guatemala including progress on the complaint submitted by SITRABI and other unions under the CAFTA Agreement. See for example: Another Del Monte Banana Unionist Killed in Guatemala; 7th Murdered in 10 Months

Annual Survey of violations of trade union rights (ITUC 2011)

The extreme vulnerability of democratic institutions in Guatemala and the increased risk of attacks and threats against human rights defenders (Peace Brigrades International 2009)

Internationally recognised core labour standards in Guatemala (ITUC report for the WTO General council review of the trade policies of Guatemala, 2009)

Summary of the Situation in Guatemala (Banana Link, 2008)
 
ITUC 2008 Annual Survey on Violations of Trade Union Rights

Guatemala: trade unions at the heart of the fight against impunity (ITUC, March 2008)

General Alarm documents and Preliminary Report (Human Rights Protection Unit in Guatemala - UDEFEGUA)