Rapid Response Network

Tag: Garment Workers

SOTA-BO Celebrates 6 Years!

September 15, 2017 marked the sixth anniversary of SOTA-BO – an independent textile union, based in Port Au Prince, Haiti and affiliated with the Batay Ouvriye (Workers Fight) movement!

Since their start in 2011, the union has grown in numbers and strength! Workers with this union were instrumental in leading the country-wide, three month fight for an increased minimum wage of 800 Gourdes. This fight continues, as well as struggles against corrupt wage taxes, as well as the general state of economic and political crisis in Haiti.

These workers face a serious battle, but their organization continues to strengthen and grow. Students, peasants, street vendors & the poor are joining this movement, led by workers.

To mark their six years, workers demonstrated in Port Au Prince, and distributed leaflets about their fight and their perspective on the state of affairs in Haiti.

SOTA’s Message:

LONG LIVE THE STRUGGLE OF THE SOTA-BO WORKERS!

LONG LIVE INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY!

THERE IS NO STOPPING, PROCEED UNTIL FINAL VICTORY!

Please read SOTA’s leaflet below, translated from Kreyol to English.

The RRN stands in solidarity with this growing movement of workers and people fighting for their rights!

SOTA-BO Members on the 6 Year Anniversary of SOTA.

TEXTILE AND APPAREL WORKERS UNION

(SOTA-BO)

September 15, 2011 – September 15, 2017

It’s been 6 years since the Textile and Apparel Workers Union (SOTA-BO) was founded!

SOTA-BO is one of the unions affiliated with the May First Union Federation/Batay Ouvriye. A union is a combative workers organization, fighting against the exploitation and domination of the capitalists on workers and also fight for democratic rights. In SOTA, we see clearly that Democracy is a tool for the capitalists to lean on and continue to exploit our labor power. We are aware that we must FIGHT TO CONQUER DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS IN THEIR DEMOCRACY, namely, the fight to force capitalists and their state to respect workers union rights in the factories. The center pole for the FIGHT for democratic rights is the FIGHT for WAGES. For the capitalists, the more they squeeze us, exploit us, the better for them. For us workers in SOTA, the more we FIGHT, the more we resist, the better for us. For SOTA, those 6 years are 6 years of STRUGGLE in which we empowered ourselves and at the same time achieved maturity against an enemy that, if we just blink, will destroy our gains. We learned it’s only through STRUGGLE will we grow up. It’s been 6 years of struggle in which we are building the road to the INDEPENDENT and AUTONOMOUS emancipation of our union.

After six years, where are we? We launched with 3 union locals. Today, we have more than 25 locals in different factories in Port-Au-Prince. We are working to expand our presence in all new Free Trade Zones to be established in the Metropolitan area. We are negotiating agreements for the recognition of the union in the factory and begin the process of getting a memorandum of agreement with the capitalists in the factories. We are going to continue to present our demands before the capitalists, before the Haitian state for our democratic rights in society, in the factories where we know, if the capitalists could, they would shut us up and put shackles on our feet so we could work without giving them any problems. They count well but calculate badly. So long as there is exploitation and domination, there will always be STRUGGLE AND RESISTANCE for better working and living conditions for workers. The task is difficult but this is what we are doing today.

However, we must point out that since the Moise-Lafontant government came to power, we witness an increase in anti union repression against workers both in the public and private sectors. Workers are under heavy attacks. It’s open warfare that this government is waging against workers and their unions. We lend our solidarity to all laborers being fired in institutions such as OAVCT, CNE, SUPERIOR COURT OF ACCOUNTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE DISPUTES, and all those fighting to return to work under new conditions. On our side, we will continue to fight to reinstate our comrades in H&H Textiles, Quality Sewing, SISA, PALM Apparel fired after the mobilizations for our demand for the 800 gourdes minimum wage. There are negotiations under way for our comrades to return to work. The government wants us to pay for their corruption and the moneys they stole for their personal gains. WE MUST SAY NO, WE’RE NOT OBEYING. WE WANT PUBLIC SERVICES WITH THE TAX MONEYS AND TARIFFS WE HAVE BEEN PAYING ALREADY. WE WILL NOT REMAIN QUIET ANYMORE ABOUT OUR MONEYS BEING WASTED.

The policies of this government, AND ALL THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENTS, are to systematically attack the interests and rights of workers in the country in the INTERESTS OF ALL THE CAPITALISTS. We saw how it responded when it added only 15 gourdes on the 35 gourdes adjustment the CSS recommended on the 300 gourdes for the minimum wage. Still, nothing is said about the social benefits promised. So, it’s all bluffing, lies and repression this government is all about when workers fight for better living conditions in DEMANDING OUR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS.

We are denouncing the budget that parliament voted which will squeeze the living juice our of us in taxes and tariffs without services. THE BLUFF AND DEMOGUERY MUST STOP. THIS IMPUNITY MUST STOP. CAPITALISTS CAN’T BE JUMPING UP FOR JOY ON THE MISERLY WAGES THEY ARE GIVING US. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

SOTA-BO supports the strike the transport unions launched for Monday and we will be present in all street mobilizations against the retrograde, anti popular budget they want to push in our throats despite all the protests. We will support the strike in our autonomy and independence. We agree with this generalized resistance movement. However, we think more discussions and struggles must be waged for the unification of the movement and also to isolate the bad apples who may simply want to unseat Jovenel Moise. WE MUST DRAW THE LESSONS OF THE PREVIOUS SRUGGLES.

What is SOTA-BO’s perspective today?

THE STRUGGLE FOR WAGES AS THE ENGINE OF OUR FIGHT AND ALL OTHER DEMANDS BEFORE THE CAPITALISTS AND THE GOVERNMENT AND GAIN MORE DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS IN THE PROCESS OF THE STRUGGLE.

Therefore, THE 800 GOURDES SALARY AND THE SOCIAL BENEFITS PROMISED ARE STILL ON THE ORDER OF THE DAY, and:

We will continue to fight to rewrite the Labor Code equitably where the rights of all worker categories are protected.

We will fight for the MAST to stop condoning impunity because when inspectors are needed to intervene, none is available. MAST must separate social affairs tasks from that of labor issues. As far as Labor, we need a Ministry of Labor and Social Security exclusively. The mess, corruption and impunity in the ministry must end.

So, during the 6 years, we’ve grown and we continue to grow so SOTA-BO can become the COMBATIVE ORGANIZATION OF WORKERS IN THE WEST. To All workers, in textile and the local factories who are FIGHTING or are ready to FIGHT, join BATAY OUVRIYE TO BUILD A COMBATIVE AND VIGOROUS UNION MOVEMENT. We will continue to work so workers take the leadership of the fight of the union movement in their hands to bring their own orientation in general struggles of the popular masses.

LONG LIVE THE STRUGGLE OF THE SOTA-BO WORKERS! 6 YEARS ARE NOT 6 DAYS!

LONG LIVE INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY!

THERE IS NO STOPPING, PROCEED UNTIL FINAL VICTORY!

September 15, 2017

SOTA-BO

September 21, 2017
Port Au Prince: More Workers Get Organized

Thanks for your patience as we catch up on bringing you news and updates of Haitian garment workers’ struggles after Hurricane Irma. Most people in south Florida now have power restored, but Internet is another story.

September 2, 2017 – the RRN received news that workers at MGA Haiti, SA – a garment factory in Port Au Prince – formed a new chapter of SOTA-BO union!

SOTA-BO played a leading role in organizing the country-wide, three month long struggle for 800 Gourdes minimum wage. Union and non-union workers in Port Au Prince turned out in record numbers, unified in their demands. While workers did not achieve the 800 Gourdes, this is another positive result of those months of work. They are growing. They are more organized. They are determined.

MGA Haiti, SA was one of the factories that actively pressured the Haitian government to halt workers’ mobilizations and protests for 800 Gourdes. In response to workers unionizing, MGA management banned workers from wearing their union t-shirts to work. They did so anyway.

New SOTA-BO members from MGA factory

Haitian garment workers receive the lowest wage in the western hemisphere. Their wages are often consumed just by the transportation costs of getting to and from work. Most workers live in debt, and are often on the brink of hunger and homelessness.

Production quotas are often set impossibly high. Factory owners and management do not respect the law, and often do not pay the existing minimum wage. Union members and organizers are constantly harassed and arbitrarily fired for exercising their legal rights.

Currently, the corrupt Haitian government is also trying to extract a 13% wage tax from garment and other workers. They claim it is for social services provided. Meanwhile, access to electricity, clean water, decent roads, schools and hospitals does not exist.

Haiti is in a state of crisis. These workers face a serious battle, but their organization continues to grow and strengthen. Students, peasants, street vendors & the poor are joining this movement, led by workers.

The RRN stands in solidarity with this growing movement of workers and people fighting for their rights!

Stay up to date with these struggles by following the RRN on Facebook, Twitter, and via email.

#SolidarityForever <3

September 20, 2017
Ounaminthe: No Services? No Taxes!

In preparation for and in the wake of hurricane Irma, we’ve gotten behind in sharing updates with you.

Here’s an important update from garment workers of in the north of Haiti, in the town of Ounaminthe, who continue their fight against an unjust wage tax.

August 30 2017 – Garment workers took the streets to protest a wage tax that supposedly is for social services. In reality, there are no social services and the tax money is being used to line the pockets of corrupt politicians.

The workers in SOKOWA textile union at the CODEVI Free Trad Zone have led the fight against this taxation since the beginning of this year.

Click here for info on the basics and back story on this issue.

Read the press release below for a current update.

Thank you for staying informed about this important issue. Workers may call on us for support in the future.

PLASIT-BO Press Conference

Press Conference PLASIT-BO, August 31, 2017

Greetings to the members of the press, print and television, that are covering the press conference of PLASIT-BO is having today. PLASIST-BO is the Platform of Textile and Apparel Factory Union/Batay Ouvriye. PLASIT-BO consists of 3 unions active in the 3 largest industrial parks in the country, namely, the Textile and Apparel Workers Union (SOTA-BO), CODEVI Ouanaminthe Workers Union (SOKOWA), and the S&H Militant Workers Union (SOVASHG) in Caracol. PLASIT was part of the organization of the large mobilization on the minimum wage launched in the month of May. On the minimum wage question, we continue to disagree with the decision of the Moise/Lafontant government took to add only 15 Gourdes ($0.23) to the 335 Gourdes ($5.23) the fake Supreme Salary Council (CSS) recommended. All of our demands stand. One of them is the question of IRI (Tax on Income) the state wants workers to pay on the measly salary they just set for us.

Today many are screaming bloody murder about the legislation on the 2017-2018 Budget, in particular on the increase of taxes and the imposition of a 10,000 Gourdes ($156.25) forfeiture tax. PLASIT-BO condemns this approach of the government, which tends to squeeze the poorest, those who have the least income in this budget. When we were demanding 800 Gourdes ($12.50) at the least as minimum wage, the capitalists and their allies in the government, told us we were exaggerating. Today, after the hike in gas prices, increase in the cost of living, we, the workers, do not agree that taxes and tariffs keep increasing and we get neither service nor investment in quality public schools for our children, decent public housing so we don’t have to live in sub-human shacks. This is why we are calling on the Senate to reject this whole budget.

In our demands, we demanded that the government increase the income bracket from 60,000 Gourdes ($937.50) to set it at 150,000 Gourdes ($2,343.75) to facilitate the day workers just as the factory workers to pay less Tax on Income (IRI). However, we notice they keep the same income ceiling and add another 10,000 Gourdes ($156.25) as forfeiture tax. They are squeezing more taxes and tariffs from the people every year while many large enterprises are getting fiscal and duty exemptions for a period of 15 years approximately. In addition, in that budget, nowhere do we see any moneys toward the purchase of the buses for the transportation of workers, food subsidies in the industrial park and manufactures and public housing as was promised.

They have to reshuffle the card deck completely in the reduction of moneys allocated to the presidency, the prime minister and parliament, tax luxury articles and poisons to the health of people and the environment of the country to achieve a realignment that would allow the state to have additional resources to better public services and remove the allocations in the category “Other Public Interventions”, which represents a blind alley in the budget. To top it all, they must take drastic measures to combat corruption, stealing in the state, make sure such institutions as the Superior Court of Accounts and Administrative Litigation, UCREF, and the Courts of Justice to play their roles against all the culprits, the BIG EATERS, the big and small time corrupters, the mafia network in the state and the private sector etc. There is no justification for additional taxes and tariffs if there are no services and a fight against corruption and waste.

We are calling on all workers in the factories to open up their eyes on the budget question. The fight for social benefits we raised in various debates on the minimum wage, must be reflected in the budget for them to become reality. And in this climate of corruption, stealing and all types of waste in the state, we must say we do not accept the 2017-2018 Budget legislation on the tax and tariff hikes, they are squeezing them out of us. With the large amounts of money allocated to the parliament and the executive while there is not enough money for public services and long-term investments, the state of misery is worsening in the country. We must fight to force the parliament to realign the budget for more hospitals, schools, universities, better roads, electricity, public transportation, technical and financial assistance to the small agricultural producers. Therefore, we must do our utmost to make sure this budget doesn’t see light of day. Our immediate interests as workers and laborers are not reflected in it. Only the interests of the big wigs are defended. LET’S RAISE OUR VOICES AGAINST IT! Let’s use the example of the CODEVI workers who stood up, marched against paying the taxes on income (IRI) without getting services in Ouanaminthe and against this criminal budget. THE FIGHT WILL CONTINUE WITH MORE FURY! THANKS!

PLASIT-BO – August 31, 2017

Telemarque PIERRE/3239-4583    Peguy Jn Francois JONEL/3674-4394      Pierrenard REMY/4325-0900
We demand:

1)   The Senate reject the whole budget

2)   Send it back to the government with the changes that take into account the interests of the masses, and the social benefits promised.

3)   The people to remain vigilant so this criminal budget is not forced down our throats by mobilizing;

And we will organize sit-ins in front of SONAPI to say ‘no’ to this budget and demand the increase of the income ceiling for tax on income they’re forcing us to pay to 150,000 gourdes.

September 16, 2017