The businessmen have been refusing to negotiate for 16 months, and that’s why around 400 workers have halted production in three banana fields.

The workers on strike consider their labor rights are being seriously violated, and they demand better working conditions. They denounce 12-hour working days, no vacations or time to eat while working, and that they are not paid for additional working hours. They also denounce that their social security benefits are not being paid.
Del Monte is the main pineapple and banana exporter in Costa Rica.

The fruit transnational company is questioned by some sectors due to their serious violations to environmental and labor rules. Several Costa Rican social, environmentalist and unionist organizations have made reference to the serious impacts of the expansion of pineapple and banana monoculture plantations and the lack of legal provisions around this economic activity.

The workers on strike, most of them Guaymi indigenous people are outside Del Monte packing facilities waiting for their demands to be heard, while representatives of the Public and Private Workers Union are negotiating with authorities of the company and the government.

On November 12, Real World Radio’s correspondent in Costa Rica, Henry Picado (member of COECOCEIBA – Friends of the Earth Costa Rica) had the opportunity to talk to two members of the Union, Marta Martines and Froilan Hjuker, after an assembly outside the offices of the transnational corporation.

Hjuker said that he expects positive results from the meeting between the union representatives and Del Monte, and said that the accusations by the transnational company saying that the workers have destroyed its property are false. Meanwhile, Martines said that the strike is supported by other unions of the country.

Photo: Sent by our correspondent in Costa Rica, Henry Picado.