Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04TEGUCIGALPA1109
2004-05-13 23:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Cable title:  

50TH ANNIVERSARY OF HISTORIC BANANA STRIKE IN HONDURAS

Tags:  ELAB PHUM PGOV EAGR HO 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001109 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR DRL/IL, WHA/CEN, AND WHA/PPC

TAGS: ELAB PHUM PGOV EAGR HO
SUBJECT: 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF HISTORIC BANANA STRIKE IN HONDURAS

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001109

SIPDIS

STATE FOR DRL/IL, WHA/CEN, AND WHA/PPC

TAGS: ELAB PHUM PGOV EAGR HO
SUBJECT: 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF HISTORIC BANANA STRIKE IN HONDURAS


1. Summary: A series of events sponsored by the Ministry of Labor
and the International Labor Organization (ILO) took place from
May 3-5 in Tegucigalpa to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the
historic May 1954 banana strike in Honduras. President Ricardo
Maduro, President of the National Congress Pepe Lobo, Minister of
Labor German Leitzelar Vidaurreta, DCM, AID Director, and LabAtt
attended the opening commemoration, along with several 1954
banana strikers, as well as leaders from labor unions and the
private sector. End Summary.

--------------
Background
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2. The 1954 strike began at United Fruit Company (Tela Railroad
Company/Chiquita) and quickly spread to Standard Fruit Company
(Dole) and then across the country before being resolved in July

1954. It would mark the beginning of a labor union movement and
organized working class in Honduras. On May 1, 1954, workers
from United Fruit went on strike after demanding double pay for
working holidays. Two days later, 7,000 workers went on strike
at installations in El Progreso, Yoro. The strike continued
among banana companies, a tobacco plant, a mining company, and
some textile factories.


3. Rafael Alberty, a teacher who went to work for United Fruit as
office manager of the machinery department, became one of the
negotiators in the strike on behalf of workers. He and Ventura
Ramos, among others, had received orientation on strike movements
in Guatemala during the Jacobo Arbenz government and allegations
of outside influence were circulating. (Comment: A Guatemalan
group that entered Guatemala from Honduras overthrew the Arbenz
government in June 1954. End Comment.)


4. Before any mediation was able to take place, some 2,000
workers extended the movement to Cortes. Shortly thereafter, the
numbers of workers on strike reached 12,000. In response,
Standard Fruit, unlike United Fruit, negotiated with workers
under governmental arbitration. These negotiations would be the
first of its kind in Honduran history. After 67 days on strike,
the workers, the government, and United Fruit reached an
agreement that ended the strike in early July.


5. As a result of the banana strike, the Letter for Worker
Guarantees of 1955 established the application of the Labor Law,
the creation of the Ministry of Labor, the establishment of the
Honduran Institute for Social Security (IHSS),and the Agrarian
Reform Law. In addition, on August 28, 1954, the Tela Railroad
Company Workers Union (SITRATERCO) was formed, one of the most
powerful and influential unions of the past 50 years. Today, it
is down to approximately 2,000 members and is part of the United
Confederation of Honduran Workers (CUTH) led by Israel Salinas.

--------------
50th Anniversary Commemoration
--------------


6. On May 3, 2004, the commemoration began with opening remarks
from President Ricardo Maduro, Minister of Labor German
Leitzelar, a representative of ILO, as well as Honduran Workers
Federation (CTH) Secretary General Dinora Aceituno. Following
these remarks, recognition was awarded to several aging leaders
of the 1954 banana strike. A forum followed that mainly
addressed the need to reform certain aspects of Honduran labor
law. In addition to this forum, a number of conferences were
held during the week to address international norms, social
responsibility, child labor, and the U.S.-Central America Free
Trade Agreement (CAFTA).


7. During the forum, the Minister of Labor Leitzelar expounded
his views on modernizing Honduran labor law in certain areas.
Leitzelar also spoke of the need to effectively enforce existing
laws. Supreme Court Justice Lidia Cardona argued that instead of
using the courts to settle labor concerns, mediation should be
utilized as a mechanism for conciliation. President of the
Honduran Manufacturing Association (Honduran Maquila Association)
Jesus Canahuati and President of the National Congress Pepe Lobo
reiterated Leitzelar's concerns about the inefficiency of current
labor law. In response, workers complained about the constraints
to the effective freedom of association and collective
bargaining.

Pierce