17 May, 2010The union organising workers at Acepar, where workers have been on strike since April 23, has denounced the company's use of intimidation and violence against the union, the illegal recruitment of personnel to replace striking workers and the detention of Hugo Gonzalez Chirico.
PARAGUAY: Company intimidation of union leaders has turned the strike of Acepar workers, which began on April 23, into a struggle to defend the trade union rights of Paraguayan workers.
The union (Sindicato de Trabajadores de Acepar - SITRAC) affirms that the striking workers have stiffened their resolve in the wake of violent repression by the security forces and denounces the company's decision to recruit personnel to replace the striking workers. Meanwhile, the government has ordered the detention of the trade union leaders Hugo González Chirico, Hugo Cardozo, Mariano Velázquez and Daniel Ibarrolla on charges of disturbing the peace.
"Chirico", general secretary of SITRAC was arrested on Monday May 10 when summoned to the public prosecutor's office in Villa Hayes. After six hours spent making a statement, he was arrested by judicial police and ordered to await a ruling by a judge. On Tuesday, May 11, González Chirico was taken to court, where he made a further statement to Judge Miguel Tadeo Fernández. The judge ordered his release on condition that he keeps away from Acepar, does not leave the country and reports to the court on a monthly basis.
Workers have reacted by insisting they will defend their labour rights more strongly and carry on the fight whatever the consequences in pursuit of their demands for company respect for the collective agreement, reinstatement of four dismissed trade union leaders and an end to the recent persecution of trade unions. The 811 workers on strike have stated on several occasions that they will not go back to work until the majority shareholders at Acepar agree to their demands.
Background to the dispute
The roots of the dispute go back to 1993 when the government privatised Acepar and the company's employees became shareholders. After various meetings and demonstrations in 1997, the government transferred the company to Cosipar (Consorcio Siderúrgico Paraguayo) with 66.6 per cent to Cerro Lorito S.A., and 33.3 per cent to Cootrapar Ltda., a social company created for SITRAC to allow workers to administer and protect their own interests.
Since then, there has been a series of disputes with the majority shareholders (the company is now in the hands of Argentinean owners), who want to rid the workers of their shareholding. Persecution, violation of labour rights and even psychological torture of SITRAC and COOTRAPAR members have increased in intensity in recent times. More than ten workers have been dismissed; more than 110 transferred to other workplaces; five workers have been suspended without pay for alleged misdemeanours; more than five workers with pension rights were relieved of their duties; and there has been a succession of threats and psychological torture of trade unionists.
The dispute has become even more acute as working conditions and health and safety have deteriorated and the company has failed to comply with the 1995 collective agreement.
The IMF supports the just and legitimate measures and actions taken by Paraguayan metalworkers and offers Acepar workers all the solidarity they request and need