Stephen Mahony of the Irish Mexico Group recently returned from a two week fact-finding visit to Cowpen, Belize, scene of a bitter dispute between Irish multinational, Fyffes and the workers on the banana plantations. This is his report.
" Green Gold !" an immigrant worker cries as I entered the Banana plantations of Cowpen, southern Belize, "acres of it!"
The banana workers of Belize, a small country on the Mexican Caribbean coast, have been locked in a battle with Fyffes and other banana growers for the last 4 years for recognition of the UBBWU (United Banners Banana Workers Union).
The situation at present sees the BGA (Banana Growers Association ) refusing to talk to union representatives. Marciana Funez, union organiser, has been told repeatedly by the local Labour Commissioner that Fyffes and the BGA are just not interested...This despite the recent Department of Labour document stating that a pole for the union may be held in those farms where support is strongest ( as opposed to the BGA's previous stance, that the poll must be held in all 24 farms in the region.).
Recently, a Fyffes representative in Dublin said that Marchiana Funez and the Union must produce evidence of 40% support for the union in any one farm in order to ensure a poll. The union however has experienced difficulties in collecting the necessary documentation from workers to satisfy this demand from Fyffes. Apart from the workers fear that they will be fired if their sympathies with the union become known, the union faces the problem of lack of funds, resources and experience. Over 800 workers have given in their names to the union for the process, but assembling the appropriate documentation has proved difficult.
Fears of the Union have led Fyffes to set up a Solidarismo scheme. This company-run yellow union offers no protection for the workers and is a cynical ploy to undermine the growing power of the UBBWU. Pressure to join Solidarismo is very strong with the workers fearing for their jobs. Then, when you join, membership of any other union is forbidden. Sackings of suspected UBBWU members or supporters is ongoing. Workers are let go without explanation and bus-loads of immigrant labour are brought in to replace them. And to make matters worse, some sacked workers are not receiving the full back-pay due to them.
The latest blow to workers morale has been the imminent disbandment of their football team Indendence. Fyffes believed their matches was a rallying point for the union, so set up their own team. Fear of been sacked has left the Independence team without a squad.
Meanwhile, harassment of Union officials, especially Marciana Funez, has increased. Company reps constantly call to her house, her friends' houses, or even her daughters' boyfriends houses' (!) enquiring about the Union leaders' deeds.
A Fyffes executive in Belize said that if Funez insisted on criticising Fyffes abroad and in Belize, then they had a "right" to follow her...
On the 30 August, women workers on in a packing shed complained about a hole in the roof, letting in the rain, and worse, the hot sun. The shed manager told them that if they didn't like it they could leave. These women work from 7am to 7pm and receive $80 US dollars for a six day week. Belize is as expensive to live in as Ireland. They have 2 breaks during the day totalling 55 minutes. When they asked for another 10-minute break, the answer was the same- find a new job.
The everyday treatment of the workers is clearly appalling. They are subject to constant harassment and the threat of sacking is everpresent. The need for a recognised, independent union to protect banana workers rights is paramount. Fyffes and the BGA must enter into talks with the UBBWU. If progress is not made, the situation has got the potential to get much worse.
A banana worker expressed his despair saying "I can't understand why some peoples' greed is allowed to force other people to live like dogs"