Update on Seafood Workers Justice Campaign

Jan. 24, 2008--Thank you to everyone who sent emails and letters to the Mexican government officials and labor board on our January 9 day of action!  During the workers’ hearing at the labor board on January 11, the labor board officials and attorneys for Hanjin Mexico both expressed concern about the international pressure from supporters like you.  SINTTIM was also able to gain much media coverage in Baja California Sur and the support of a number of state legislators. (Click here for a statement of support, in Spanish, by a BCS legislative deputy.)

Unfortunately, the labor board continues its long delays.  At the hearing, the officials said they had just learned that Hanjin USA and Hanjin Korea, the parent companies of Hanjin Mexico, had not been notified of the hearing, and therefore the hearing had to be re-scheduled to provide time to give them notice.  The new hearing date is now October 3, 2008.

We know that we cannot rely on Mexico’s labor board to fairly and quickly resolve the case of the 92 illegally fired Hanjin Mexico workers.  Nor can or will we depend on the labor board to support the workers organizing for a collective bargaining agreement with SINTTIM as their union.  We need to organize international pressure on the corporations in this industry, such as Hanjin, Brumar, and Longing.  Please stay tuned for more action alerts!

In the meantime, please make a donation to this campaign as SINTTIM and the workers are in dire need of funds to continue this struggle. SINTTIM is an all-volunteer union. Because of a lack of funds, only 2 of the workers were able to make the 9-hour bus trip from Santa Rosalia to La Paz, where the labor board is located, for the hearing. 

You can send a check to our Portland office at 320 SW Stark #427, Portland, OR 97204, or donate online at www.enlaceintl.org. Please be sure to write in the memo line of your check or email us at after you donate online so we know that your contribution is for the Seafood Workers Justice Campaign.

The generous support of our allies like you has helped us carry on the campaign forward!  We very much appreciate any contribution that you can give!