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6 May, 2001A company bus slams into striking workers at a bicycle factory in Chile, leaving one dead and two gravely injured.
CHILE: The IMF was deeply concerned to learn that, on May 3, as striking workers were picketing at the front entrance of the Fabisa bicycle factory in Santiago, a bus carrying company management and personnel forced its way through the workers, killing one and seriously injuring two. The workers and their trade union, Constramet, are demanding an increase in pay.
On behalf of the IMF, the regional representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, Roberto Pereira, has written strong letters of protest to the top management of the company as well as to Chile's labour minister condemning this deadly act. He demanded a prompt and rigorous investigation of what happened and that those responsible for it be brought to justice.
Pereira said it is totally unacceptable that workers and their trade union representatives are not assured the necessary conditions to exercise their legal right to strike and to bargain collectively, guarantees which are incorporated in Chilean law as well as in the Conventions of the International Labour Organisation. He called for urgent measures to be taken to prevent the continued violation of democratic and trade union rights and expressed the IMF's total support for the legitimate demands of the 300 striking workers and their trade union.
On behalf of the IMF, the regional representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, Roberto Pereira, has written strong letters of protest to the top management of the company as well as to Chile's labour minister condemning this deadly act. He demanded a prompt and rigorous investigation of what happened and that those responsible for it be brought to justice.
Pereira said it is totally unacceptable that workers and their trade union representatives are not assured the necessary conditions to exercise their legal right to strike and to bargain collectively, guarantees which are incorporated in Chilean law as well as in the Conventions of the International Labour Organisation. He called for urgent measures to be taken to prevent the continued violation of democratic and trade union rights and expressed the IMF's total support for the legitimate demands of the 300 striking workers and their trade union.