Guatemala Banana Workers Devastated by Storm; Urgent Appeal Issued

A volcanic eruption, gale force winds, and a major rainstorm has caused significant devastation across Guatemala.   Reports are tricking in as we go to press but hundreds of people have died or are missing.  Banana plantations have been hard hit, with (non-union) plantations on the Pacific coast damaged by winds and volcanic ash while tropical storm Agatha has flooded Del Monte’s unionized plantations on the Atlantic side.   

The Coordination of Latin American Banana Unions (COLSIBA) has put out an urgent plea for immediate assistance for the Guatemala Del Monte union SITRABI, many of whose members and families have lost their personal possessions and urgently need funds to help provide the most basic of needs - shelter, clothing and food.  The union bought emergency food for affected families, but funds quickly ran out.  

USLEAP has joined partner organizations in Europe to collect donations that will be forwarded to the workers via the union.  Please consider making a donation to Del Monte banana workers who are in great need.

Noé Ramirez, General Secretary of SITRABI, said earlier this week, "We're very worried about our future, because Tropical Storm Agatha has caused the River Motagua to burst its banks and nine communities and large swathes of the Bandegua (Del Monte) banana plantations have been completely flooded. At the moment total chaos reigns as workers and their families were unable to take any of their belongings with them and have lost everything. There are also food shortages and the government is in no position to deal with all those affected because the crisis is right across the country. The water is beginning to go down, but there were still workers on the roofs of their houses this morning [May 31, 2010]. The company has contracted a rescue helicopter. We are still not sure what will happen to our jobs in the plantations."

Of longer term concern are company plans to rehabilitate the damaged plantations.   USLEAP is seeking assurances from the company that it will maintain full production and employment and that it will negotiate with the union any measures temporarily impacting employment.  

Chiquita and Dole also operate plantations in the affected areas but reports have not yet come in from their unions.