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26 March, 2007
On Saturday, 24 March, ICEM Peruvian affiliate Federación Nacional Unitaria de Los Trabajadores Petroleros, Energéticos y Conexos (FENUPETROL) conducted manifestations in the northern region of Talara against trade union abuses by multinational enterprises. The protests drew thousands of workers.
In a mobilisation statement, FENUPETROL said the provincial protests are against abuses of trade union freedom, and for fair collective bargaining and real corporate social responsibility. The union added that it wanted the world to know that it would not tolerate the “violations and laws that are not being respected by transnational companies in our sectors.”
It cited seven major companies and five contracting employers for the abuses: Petrotech, Peruana S.A., Petrobras, PlusPetrol, SAPET, Graña y Montero, and Mercantil, among major employers; and Skanska del Peru, Ini del Peru SAC, Petrex, Cosmos, and Energy Service, among service providers.
FENUPETROL said proof of corporate disregard for workers’ rights lies in the “denunciations” made in administrative and judicial proceedings of government.
FENUPETROL said such abuses occur in freedom of association, collective bargaining, punishment and disciplinary measures, non-payment for overtime work, working time issues, and arbitrary dismissals. “What may be the worse,” read the union’s statement, “is the very frequent use of contract work, which forces workers to accept inadequate conditions, and without receiving social benefits.”
The 24 March manifestation had the support of provincial Mayor Jose Vitonera Infante, who FENUPETROL describes as someone extremely “supportive of our struggle.” The union said Saturday’s protest follows the example set by union martyrs such as Alejandro Taboada, Martín Chomo, Sinforos Benites, and others.