Francisco Smith and Gilberto Guerra were arrested days after reportedly reaching an agreement with government officials to end the strike that led Chiquita to lay off 6,500 workers
US-based organisation Global Labor Justice has called on multinational fruit company Chiquita to join Latin American trade union coalition Colsiba in condemning the arrests of Francisco Smith and Gilberto Guerra, leaders of Panama farm workers union Sitraibana.
They were arrested just under a week ago after they organised a six-week strike in Changuinola, in the northwestern province of Bocas del Toro.
The strike brought the region’s banana industry to a halt and prompted Chiquita to lay off all its 6,500 workers in the country.
The pair face charges of crimes against public safety, damaging transportation infrastructure, and disrupting public order.
“We denounce the government’s use of excessive force, including the deployment of 1,300 police officers to silence the protests of thousands of workers who had been on strike since the end of April, demanding the protection of their retirement pensions, freedom of association, and other fundamental rights,” said a spokesperson for Global Labor Justice.
According to the group, the arrests came just days after Smith and Guerra apparently met with government officials and reportedly reached a good-faith agreement on 11 June to end the strike.
“Instead of respecting this agreement, the government arrested the leaders in violation of their right to freedom of association,” the organisation said.
“We call on the government to immediately release the trade unionists without charges and call on Chiquita to join in the demand for their release.”
It also renewed its call for the multinational to engage in good faith dialogue with the union to reach a mutual agreement and reinstate all fired workers.
“Chiquita should do everything in its power to reverse the repression, prevent any violence against striking workers, and promote a safe and peaceful environment for good faith negotiations.
“We demand that the fundamental labour and human rights of Francisco Smith and Gilberto Guerra, and of all workers, be respected under ILO Conventions 87 and 98, which protect the right to freedom of association and the right to collective action, including the right to strike.”
