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Brothers and Sisters,
Since Monday June 30, factory worker Alejandro Zarabia, together with former union leadership of the Manaco shoe factory, leaders of the Federation of Factory Workers of Cochabamba and leaders of the General Confederation of Factory Workers of Bolivia, has been on a hunger strike demanding respect for workers rights and to denounce the formal Manaco union and government Ministry of Work functionaries.
Alejandro Zarabia, who manned a leather cutting station, had worked for the factory for 27 years when he was unfairly fired. He asked his union for help but the leadership sided with management, showing their underlying interests to serve the bosses and not the workers. In addition, it was shown that the company has troubling contracts under which the worker is forced to relinquish his labor rights.
Today marks the strikers 7th day without food. They are physically weak but are strong in spirit because this action goes beyond just being about Zarabia’s restitution and better working conditions. For these men, it is a struggle much larger: the recuperation of the identity, dignity and unity of the worker movement.
For these reasons and more, we are asking for your solidarity.
Please send letters of support to mbecerramatias@gmail.com or cklopez@gmail.com
Or send a fax to the Federación de Trabajadores Fabriles de Cochabamba at: 591- 4- 4503530
It doesn’t matter if it’s in english or any other language. They will be enlivened by any message of support that arrives.
Many thanks.
This afternoon, the Council of Canadians sent a message to the Bata office in Toronto, Canada and to Manaco stating, “We read today that Alejandro Saravia, a 54-year-old worker at the Bata Footwear subsidiary Manaco in Bolivia, has been fired unjustly and without the advance notice required by Bolivian law. We also understand that a worker in the Manaco factory is paid less than $100 per month, whereas the supervisors there receive almost $3,000 a month. In response to these injustices, Alejandro Saravia, Oscar Olivera, and leaders from the Factory Workers of Cochabamba, the General Confederation of Factory Workers in Bolivia, as well as former leaders of the union at Manaco, have been on a hunger strike since June 30. Their demands are that Alejandro Saravia be reinstated, that workers rights be respected by Manaco, and that, in the words of Oscar Olivera, “dignity be returned” to their country’s factories. We trust that you will promptly take these appropriate steps and engage in a meaningful way with the Manaco factory workers to ensure that they have workplace with dignity. We will continue to follow this struggle and await your response.”
— Brent Patterson · Jul 7, 13:20 · #
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This afternoon, the Council of Canadians sent a message to the Bata office in Toronto, Canada and to Manaco stating, “We read today that Alejandro Saravia, a 54-year-old worker at the Bata Footwear subsidiary Manaco in Bolivia, has been fired unjustly and without the advance notice required by Bolivian law. We also understand that a worker in the Manaco factory is paid less than $100 per month, whereas the supervisors there receive almost $3,000 a month. In response to these injustices, Alejandro Saravia, Oscar Olivera, and leaders from the Factory Workers of Cochabamba, the General Confederation of Factory Workers in Bolivia, as well as former leaders of the union at Manaco, have been on a hunger strike since June 30. Their demands are that Alejandro Saravia be reinstated, that workers rights be respected by Manaco, and that, in the words of Oscar Olivera, “dignity be returned” to their country’s factories. We trust that you will promptly take these appropriate steps and engage in a meaningful way with the Manaco factory workers to ensure that they have workplace with dignity. We will continue to follow this struggle and await your response.”
— Brent Patterson · Jul 7, 13:20 · #