LAUNCHING OF THE TEXTILE AND CLOTHING WORKERS’ UNION (SOTA)

central america / caribbean | workplace struggles | other libertarian press Friday September 23, 2011 07:03 by Batay Ouvriye

After having submitted their documents to the labor ministry in order to receive legal recognition, the executive committee of the Textile and Clothing Workers’ Union (SOTA, in Creole) held a press conference with the Batay Ouvriye May First Union Federation (ESPM-BO, in Creole). This press conference was held in the offices of the Platform of Haitian organizations for human rights (POHDH).

With us were representatives of national human rights organizations, such as POHDH itself and the Haitian Platfom for an alternative development (PAPDA), as well as the cabinets of certain lawyers involved in the defense of workers’ rights (Defense of the opressesd – DOP, and the Office of international lawyers – BAI, in French). Also present were delegates of organizations in struggle, particularly the Democratic Popular Movement (MODEP).

There was also a delegate unionist of the National Confederation of Union Unity (CNUS) from the Dominican Republic, Dr. Antonio de Jesús Aquino, who is responsible in this federation of the workers’ demands and rights section, which is also in charge of defending Haitian workers in the neighboring country. The AFL-CIO’s Solidarity Center delegated Lauren Stewart, who is responsible of the Haiti-Dominican Republic program and Ose Pierre, permanent delegate in Haiti. Both, with Victor Baez, Secretary General of the Union Confederation of the Americas (CSA), affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

Each of the representatives gave their total support to this new union, pointing out that they will follow more closely the situation’s evolution since they know very well the repressive aspect characteristic prevalent in this branch of the capitalist industry in which the bosses, with the support of the State, fully disregard the workers’ rights, particularly the right to organize in unions. In this respect, Dr. Aquino read the articles 87 and 89 of the International Labor Organization’s convention, which highlights the rights all workers have to organize and obtain collective conventions in the factories where they work, an international convention that Haiti supposedly signed.

THE STRUGGLE HAS JUST BEGUN!