Youth Unionists project
2007 / 2008

* Over £2,500 donated by branches and regions to the Hurricane Felix disaster in 2007

* A 10 person delegation to observe the 2006 Nicaraguan elections >>

* Support from UK trade union affiliates when Nicaraguan unions need it most, for example, the FETSALUD national strike, attacks on CST-JBE members the Free-Trade Zones, mass sackings of local council workers in San Juan del Sur.


November 2006. NSCAG PRESENTS HARD HATS TO NICARAGUAN UNIONISTS

In November NSCAG sent a delegation to observe the Nicaraguan elections (for more details see >> )
The delegation members also made contact with representatives of Nicaraguan trade unions and delivered a donation of 15 hard hats and ear protectors. These came from the Greater London Region UNISON Europe and International Committee, but were sourced from one of UNISON's utilities branches. They were redundant stock from a re-branding exercise.
The hats and ear protectors were presented by George Grimes of Lambeth UNISON Branch on behalf of the Region, to workers at the GECSA power plant. George was also able to pass on a £200 donation to the struggle at San Rafael del Sur. 

April 2006. NICARAGUAN HEALTH WORKERS WIN SIGNIFICANT VICTORY!
This is a copy of a letter sent to associated branches and regions in April 2006

Dear Friends,
I am writing to inform you of the struggle of 23,000 Nicaraguan Health Workers who recently achieved important improvements to salaries and public health spending after engaging in a five month national strike to demand higher salaries, better conditions and higher investment in the public health service. As you know we sent a message of solidarity and support to the health workers in January of this year.
The deal signed in April lead to significant increases of health workers salaries (16.75% more than the original pay deal offered), the cancellation of private contracts within the health service, the promotion of cheaper medicines and an increase in health spending of over US$1 million.

Background
Whilst the right to free health care is enshrined in the Nicaraguan constitution, in reality the system is in chaos as health spending continues to be cut. Public sector hospitals suffer from a lack of equipment, medicine shortages and no clothing or bedding. Although the government claims it does not intend to privatise the service in reality most non medical services (cleaning etc) within hospitals are now under private control. Whilst access to a doctor is still free, the cost of buying medicine, supplying bedding and providing food to the patient has meant adequate health care is no longer accessible for the majority of the population. The pay and conditions for health workers are extremely low – the average wage for a health worker stands at US$50 per month, whilst the basic cost of living in Nicaragua stands at around $200 per month.

The Strike
In November 2005 the government debated and passed the national budget for 2006. The budget included a rise of only 8-10% in health workers wages, an increase that barely covered the rate of inflation. As a result FETSALUD declared a national strike to demand a 48% increase in wages as well as an increase of US$3.5 million into spending on medicine and equipment in public hospitals and the elimination of charges for public health services and hospitals.
The government claimed they were unable to offer an increase more than 15% because the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had prohibited the Nicaraguan government from raising public sector workers' salaries above the rate of inflation. Any greater increase could potentially threaten Nicaragua’s inclusion in the Highly Indebted Poor Country Initiative (HIPC).
Between January and March 2006 FETSALUD organised a series of protests and civil disobedience including blockades of the Pan American Highway and protests outside the IMF and presidential offices. In March the government retaliated by ordering the police force into hospitals to guarantee public access to the emergency rooms (which had been kept open), an action which was condemned by both human right groups and the union as an intimidation strategy.

The deal
On April 6th, FETSALUD and the government finally reached an agreement and the strike ended. The agreement included a 30% pay rise for low paid health workers (who do not currently earn at least US$1176 per year) and an extra US$1.76 million for medicines at public health centres and hospitals. The Ministry of Health also committed itself to cancelling all contracts with private companies currently providing services within the public health sector and to working towards cheaper medicine by promoting the sale of generic drugs.
Whilst not all the demands of the union were met the strike has achieved genuine improvements in public spending and goes someway to defending the public health service.


March 2005. VICTORY AT NICOTEX AS UNION LEADERS REINSTATED

Five fired union leaders from the Nicotex factory in Sébaco, Nicaragua, a supplier of Gildan Activewear (t-shirts etc) have been reinstated at the factory following strong union action and an international campaign which followed their sackings in November 2004. NSCAG took part in this campaign.

The Confederation of Union Workers - José Benito Escobar (CST-JBE) to which the factory union belonged, signed an agreement on February 7 with both Nicotex management and the Gildan representative in Nicaragua. The agreement outlined a reinstatement plan for the five workers which included compensation covering lost pay and other damages. The workers will terminate the judicial and administrative claims filed against Nicotex, while the company has committed to respecting the rights of the union. Nicotex, Gilden and CST-JBE have now agreed to deal with any future problems through negotiations.

Background
In August 2004, workers at Nicotex formed the union and applied for union recognition from the Ministry of Labour. This recognition was never given, despite the union filing all the necessary papers. In November, Nicotex fired six union leaders - one of whom accepted severance pay -and 40 union members. Gildan Activewear was the sole buyer of Nicotex-made goods.

Although Gildan said it that it had told Nicotex management to reinstate the union leaders and allow for freedom of association, management continued to intimidate and buy off the union leaders.

It took a lot of hard work from the union leaders, the confederation, and international solidarity to achieve this victory. Thanks to their strength and persistence, the union leaders can now return to work and can continue to organize and raise the workers' voice in their work place.

Gildan has come under strong international pressure to improve conditions in its supplier factories over the last six months. After violations of labour rights were found in two of its suppliers, El Progresso in Honduras and Nicotex in Nicaragua, international campaigns were launched in the US and throughout Europe. This pressure, along with the action taken by the workers involved and their unions, has led to Gildan taking steps towards remediation in both factories.

Many thanks to individuals, branches and regions who took part in this campaign.

For more information contact us at NSCAG, 86, Durham Rd, London N7 7DT
tel: 020 7561 4836  or nscag@nicaraguasc.org.uk

To find out how to join NSCAG click here >>