14 March, 2018Eight workers at the Sae A Tecnotex textile factory in Nicaragua have been fired illegally, and the union FESITEX is claiming a serious breach of freedom of association.
The eight workers are members of the joint health and safety committee at Sae a Tecnotex, located in the free trade zone in Tipitapa, Managua. They were unfairly dismissed in February even though their mandate runs until May.
On 1 March, the factory union, affiliated to FESITEX, which is affiliated to IndustriALL Global Union, protested outside the Ministry of Labour claiming anti-union harassment and denial of the right of freedom of association.
The union filed a labour demand seeking special legal protection for the layoffs, and other fundamental rights violation. A hearing is scheduled for 22 March.
The dismissed workers also handed a letter to the director of the Directorate General for Health and Safety, denouncing a violation of the health and safety law, and other offenses committed by the Sae a Tecnotex. The letter argues that the dismissals were unjustified as the company failed to inform the labour authorities as required by law.
The union says that since May 2016, the company has refused to meet with union representatives to discuss important issues such as production targets, and has refused to begin negotiations with a view to renewing the collective agreement.
IndustriALL regional secretary Marino Vani, says:
Sae A Tecnotex continues to violate workers’ rights and to engage in anti-union practices. We fully support our affiliate FESITEX and urge the company to engage in dialogue with the union and reinstate the fired workers.