WFTU condemns crackdown on Paraguayan harbor workers
The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) for the Southern Cone denounces the
severe violations suffered by the workers of the League of Maritime Workers of Paraguay
(LOMP) twelve of its members were arrested after claiming their labor and trade union
rights.
On November 12th, the harbor workers organized a blocking on the Paraguay River in
protest against the private harbors that are disrespecting the workers in the sector.
LOMP informed the private port of Caacupemí - administered by the San Francisco
company SA- fired unjustifiably about 200 longshoremen of which over a hundred were
rehired, but the others are still waiting for the outcome of tripartite meetings, which are
being boycotted by representatives of employers, denounces the League.
Moreover, LOMP reclaims the respect of labor laws and trade union rights by
entrepreneurs of private harbors, because some of them like in Caacupemí are prohibited
from hiring workers associated with the organization.
Workers also require the reactivation of the Harbor of Asuncion in defense of thousands
of jobs, the Nautical School reactivation of the National Merchant Marine and reject the
damage caused to the environment by private companies.
A day after the blocking, members of the Naval Prefecture, went on a patrol boat near the
small boats and a helicopter flew over the area, causing large waves endangering the lives
of the protesters, who were in small boats.
To suppress the protest twelve Paraguayans were arrested and may be imprisoned for six
years under Article 214 of the Paraguayan Penal Code who claims that the actions of the
union endangered the aquatic environment.
The World Federation of Trade Unions for the Southern Cone vehemently rejects this
attitude of the Horacio Cartes government that goes against the interests of the
Paraguayan working class, violatesitsrights and expresses its solidarity with the unionists
of the League of Maritime Workers of Paraguay.
Divanilton Pereira is the Coordinator for WFTU Southern Cone
