VIOLENCE AND CONTROVERSY PLAGUE SALVADORAN UNION

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 002442

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DRL, USDOL FOR ILAB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PGOV ES
SUBJECT: VIOLENCE AND CONTROVERSY PLAGUE SALVADORAN UNION
ELECTION


1. (U) Summary: Elections to name a new board of directors
for the Salvadoran Institute of Social Security Workers Union
(STISSS) ended in violence and controversy with both sides
declaring victory on December 16. Police ended the violence,
and the Ministry of Labor declared that the current secretary
general, Ricardo Monge, won the election for a seventh term.
His opponent, Javier Ayala was disqualified by the Ministry
when Monge presented information claiming that Ayala had been
expelled from the union. On December 20 media sources
reported that one of the ballot boxes had been stolen and the
election committee had invalidated the stolen ballots.
According to media reports, this would result in a victory
for Ayala. End Summary.


2. (U) On December 16, members of the Salvadoran Institute
of Social Security Workers Union held annual elections to
determine a new board of directors. As the final votes were
being counted, violence erupted between followers of Ricardo
Monge, leader of the Unity Movement, and Javier Ayala, leader
of a rival group within the union. Police subdued the
violence and held several union members, including Monge, for
less than an hour. Reports also stated that police
confiscated a gun from Ayala. No serious injuries were
reported and no arrests were made. This is the second STISSS
election to end in violence, and the current board of
directors, led by Monge, has been accused of corruption and
financial improprieties.


3. (U) In accordance with union registration requirements,
Monge presented his credentials Ministry of Labor on December

17. Monge also presented information to the Ministry that
claimed Ayala and several of his supporters had been expelled
from STISSS in July 2007. Ayala was also expected to present
his credentials to the Ministry, but did not appear. He
continues to dispute claims of his expulsion to the press.


4. (U) On December 20, media sources reported that one of the
ballot boxes had been stolen and that the 10 of the 15
members of the STISSS internal election commission had agreed
to invalidate the votes from the stolen box. Of the
remaining votes, the commission reported that Monge received
107 votes and Ayala received 181 votes.


5. (U) Comment: Although the Ministry of Labor continues to
stand by its determination that Monge won the election, Ayala
received a significant boost from the commission's decision
to invalidate the missing votes. Even before the missing
ballot box became public, Ayala had called for investigations
by the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman and the ILO.
Once the government reopens in January, Ayala and the press
will likely continue to press for an independent
investigation.


6. (U) On a side note, immediately after the initial fracas,
Monge approached the press with allegations that Ayala had
received support from the FMLN and was attempting to
politicize the election; however the Ministry sought to
downplay these claims. Monge also claimed that the violence
was initiated by FMLN operatives who were not union members.
Neither the police nor the Salvadoran Social Security
Institute would confirm these allegations. End comment.
Glazer