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CIS
Boulevard Universitario #4
Colonia El Roble
San Salvador, El Salvador
Centroamérica
Tel/FAX: +503 226-2623
cis_elsalvador@yahoo.com
REPRISAL AGAINST STSEL - PRIVATIZATION, FREE TRADE AND PLAN PUEBLA PANAMA IN HIGH GEAR
August
2002
On August 1st, 3 STSEL members, two at-large members and one board member, were fired without any just cause. These firings are latest tactics used by the central government in order to try to break the union thus paving the way to privatization. The largest and most powerful corporations of El Salvador met last month at their annual encounter (ENADE) to present their platform for the nation. The priorities set out at the enoucnter are the privatizations of the electrical sector, the Salvadoran health care system, and the Salvadoran ports (among others). The privatizations besides being an immediate profit for the national and international elite coincide with Plan Puebla-Panama (a regional infrastructural project that would turn the region into a large free trade zone for private benefit at the public's cost) and the Central American Free Trade Agreement with the United States. Apparently, the business leaders/ARENA party are eager to concretize such plans before the next elections in El Salvador thus they must erradicate the obstacle: public sector unions.
At the same time there is a loan, being promoted by the ruling party, from the Inter-American Development Bank in the Legislative Assembly for the interconnection of electricity at a Central American level (SIEPAC). This loan for US $40.4 million dollars would make reality the electrical "super highway", which is part of Plan Puebla-Panama (PPP). The project would facilitate the commericalization of electricity between large electrical companies from the North to the South. Once again, the private sector, who will administer the electrical super highway, will benefit while further indebting the public. In addition, the project has been exclusively negociated, opions from unions, environmental groups and the public in general have not been heard. Furthermore, at the present there are no previsions to thwart the sure increase in cost for the consumer. The debt will increase, the government will lose another capacity to collect revenue and the final consumer will see their family economy further destroyed by increased prices. This is a project being exclusively negoicated without taking into consideration the long term economical, social and environmental affects.
STSEL has been on the forefront of the struggle for workers’ rights and against the neoliberal policies, which has cost them the “attention” from the central government. Afterwhich, the union made the decision that they cannot passively support the “impunity” of the government STSEL has a public educational campaign around SIEPAC and they have also placed a formal request in the Legislative Assembly outlining their concerns and demands regarding the project. Furthermore, the union carried out a march on August 15th, rejecting privatization, SIEPAC, and demanding the reinstallment of their workers.
STSEL has asked for international solidarity to accompany their struggle. Specifically, they are asking people to write the President of El Salvador and the President of CEL asking that they: reinstall the workers; permit the union to participate in any discussions regarding any regional or national electrical plans; and halt the privatization process. STSEL is also making a call to U.S. citizens to contact their congressional representatives to: 1) denounce the continuous labor violations in El Salvador; 2) request the creation of a congressional commission to investigate labor violations in El Salvador; and 3) demand that the free trade negotiations with the United States stop because of such labor violations and the exclusive manner in which the agreement is being negociated.
· Guillermo Sol Bang, President of CEL – email: rmorenof@cel.gob.sv; fax: 011-503-211-6232
· Francisco Flores, President of El Salvador, fax: 011-503-271-0950
· Captial Switchboard (to find the contact info. for your congressional representatives) 202 224-3121
Sample letter to Salvadoran authorities (including English translation) and to congressional representative follow.
ACT AGAINST PRIVATIZATIONS, PLAN PUEBLA PANAMA, FREE TRADE FOR THE RICH – BE PART OF THE GLOBALIZATION FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE!
Estimado (Presidente Flores/Ing. Sol Bang),
A través de esta carta reciba mis saludos. Le escribo con preocupación sobre los recientes despidos de los trabajadores pertinentes de STSEL. Entiendo que estos despidos se llevaron a cabo en el contexto de la prevista privatización del sector eléctrico así como SIEPAC, tal proyecto formando parte del Plan Puebla-Panamá. Le pido que reinstale a todos los trabajadores destituidos sin causal. También le pido que permita la incorporación del sindicato en cualquier discusión sobre los planes nacionales y/o regionales que tienen que ver con el sector eléctrico, en este caso SIEPAC, y que cesen los planes para privatizar tal servicio publico. Es mi intención contactar con mi representante dentro del Congreso estadounidense para informarle sobre de esta situación y para pedirle que se forme una comisión para investigar violaciones de derechos laborales en El Salvador. Tal situación laboral no se presta para la firma de un tratado de libre comercio con los Estados Unidos. Dejar a los trabajadores organizados un lugar en la mesa de negociación forma parte de la democracia, tal como esta establecido por los Acuerdos de Paz.
Atentamente,
_________________________________
English Translation:
Dear (President Flores/President Ing. Sol Bang),
I write to you today to express my concern regarding the recent firings of the STSEL workers. These union members were fired without any just cause and therefore constitute a violation of labor rights. I understand these firings take place within the context of the intended privatization of the electrical sector as well as SIEPAC, part of Plan Puebla-Panama. I ask that you resinstall all the workers unjustly fired. I also ask you to permit that the union take part in any discussions regarding national or regional electrical plans, specifically SIEPAC, and to halt the privatizations plans for this public service. I plan to contact my congressional representative to inform them of this situation and ask that they form a commission to investigate labor violations in El Salvador. Such labor situation is in no way amenable to the signing of a fre trade agrement with the United States. Part of democracy is allowing organized labor to sit at the negotiation table regarding economic policy, as set out by the Peace Accords.
Sincerely,
___________________________________