Victory at Nicotex!

Show your support by sending a Valentine!

Posted Feb. 17, 2005

Five fired union leaders from the Nicotex factory in Sébaco, Nicaragua, which supplies Gildan Activewear, have reached an agreement with management and are set to be reinstated at the factory, starting Valentine's Day, February 14. The union's confederation in Nicaragua, the Confederation of Union Workers - José Benito Escobar, signed an agreement on February 7 with both Nicotex management and the Gildan representative in Nicaragua.

International attention on Gildan has greatly helped in reaching a resolution in this case. After Gildan cut and ran from its factory in Honduras, El Progreso, workers' rights activists have pressured Gildan to take steps towards remediation there, and have insisted Gildan also resolve this labor dispute in Nicaragua. Gildan Activewear was the sole buyer of Nicotex-made goods.

The agreement outlined a reinstatement plan, as well as compensation to the workers for their back-pay and for damages. The workers will terminate the judicial and administrative claims filed against the company, and the company has promised to treat the union and its confederation with respect. The three entities have agreed to participate in negotiations should any future problems arise.

THANKS FOR SHOWING YOUR SUPPORT!

CLR sent a Valentine's Solidarity Greeting to union officers Aurora Jaquelene Sevilla Gaitan, Eddy Salome Machado Gonzalez, Nora Mercedes Centeno Olivares, Yader Santiago Eugarrios, and Kenia del Carmen Urbina Gonzalez. All those that wrote us with your name were included in the agreement, showing how many of us are supporting them and are delighted with their victory.

For those of you who contributed money to support this campaign and the fired union officers, thank you greatly. This is an important victory! Any funds that have not yet been wired to the union will be contributed to a general fund for fired maquila workers in Nicaragua.

Background:

In August of 2004, workers at Nicotex formed the 18 th of August union and applied for union recognition, which was never given to them, despite having filed all the necessary papers. Beginning in November, Nicotex fired 6 of the union leaders, one of whom accepted severance pay, as well as 40 affiliates of the union.

It took a lot of hard work from the union leaders, the confederation, and international solidarity to achieve this victory. Though Gildan said it was communicating to Nicotex management that it needed to reinstate the union leaders and allow for freedom of association, management carried on a campaign to buy off the union leaders, offering money for them to give up the fight.

Thanks to their strength and persistence, the union leaders will be returned to their work and can continue to organize and raise the workers' voice in their work place!

For more background, see:

http://www.campaignforlaborrights.org/alerts/2004/dec13-gildan.htm#act2