Trade Union Delegation 2004

The 2004 delegation was part of our ongoing work of strengthening solidarity between Nicaraguan unions and their counterparts in the UK. Representatives of CWU, RMT and UNISON took part, as did the NSCAG worker in the UK and the NSC worker in Managua, Nicaragua.

This delegation  enabled participants to see at first hand the effects of these policies on workers and trade unions and to meet those involved both in resisting the neo liberal agenda and in creating real alternatives.. It also provided the opportunity for UK trade unionists to meet their Nicaraguan counterparts and exchange experiences, ideas and strategies for their common struggle to oppose privatisation and defend public services.

For an interview with CWU's Bernard Roome and photos from the delegation to Nicaragua go to >>

For a copy of Bernard's delegation report click here and the pdf should open! >>

For a briefing on Nicaraguan trade unions click here  >>

Go to Supporting Nicaraguan Trade Unions >> for what your organisation can do. This includes how to join NSCAG >>

For details of other study tours to Nicaragua go to Tours >>

Background Information

"The main goal of the Nicaraguan government is to set up conditions favourable for foreign business: in terms of labour rights this means a race to the bottom” Domingo Perez, Nicaraguan public service union (UNE)

Since the electoral defeat of the Sandinistas in 1990 successive right wing governments, under pressure from the IMF and World Bank, have implemented programmes of privatisation and budget cuts. The consequence are user fees for schools, increased costs of medicine and health care, and lower wages, conditions and employment across the public sector. In a country where 70% of the population live in poverty and salaries only cover a third of the cost of basic needs such policies have had a dramatic effect on living standards.