TITLE: Haitian Labor Rights Violations in WB/IMF-Pressured Privatization Schemes

AUTHOR: Neil Watkins

PUB:

DATE: Febraury 2, 2001

In its final months, the government of President Rene Preval of Haiti began exerting intense pressure on labor organizers. Using the excuse of compliance with IMF and World Bank orders to privatize public utilities, the government embarked on a process of parcelling out the electric company to favored politicians. With the inauguration of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide on February 7, there is an opportunity to urge him to step back from violations of labor rights and irrational privatization plans. We ask you to write to the officials listed below. In January, staff members of the 50 Years Is Enough Network met with labor organizers in Haiti. We learned about the case of some 500 union members at the Electricty Company of Haiti (Ed'H) who were fired on the flimsiest of pretexts back in 1996. They have been fighting to recover their jobs ever since. The fight has recently heated up as the government makes moves to break up the company. Threats have been issued against leaders of the Ed'H workers' union as well as against leaders of the telephone company workers' union (which is being subjected to similar sell-off plans). Please join us in calling on the Government of Haiti to take all necessary steps to investigate this serious situation. Labor rights must not be sacrificed to please international financial institutions. Join us in standing in solidarity with Haitian workers in their struggle for labor rights! Below you will find a sample letter, and below that more information about the Electricity Workers' situation. Please send letters to all the Haitian leaders listed below. Feel free to copy and paste, or to alter according to your needs. For more information, contact Melinda Miles at Haiti Reborn/Quixote Center, (301)699-0042 - haiti@quixote.org; or Soren Ambrose at the 50 Years Is Enough Network - soren@afgj.org.   Address letters to: * President Jean-Bertrand Aristide fax: 223-7323; email: fonaris@haitiworld.com * Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis fax: 245-1624 * Minister of Justice, Camille Leblanc fax: 245-0474 For all three above, mailing address: Presidential Palace, Port-au-Prince, Haiti * Yvon Neptune, President of the Senate fax: 222-8541 (this is also phone, so won't automatically pick up) Senate Bureau, Port-au-Prince, Haiti * Florence Elie, Co-Director, Office of Citizen Protection fax: 244-3066 (this is also a phone, so won't automatically pick up) 80 Bois Patate prolongee, Port-au-Prince, Haiti   Dear President Aristide: In the months before your inauguration, the Government of Haiti took steps to further the privatization of Electricte d'Haiti (Ed'H ). According to the representatives of the Federation of Electricity Workers' Unions of Haiti (FESTREd'H), conditions for the workers and technicians of Ed'H are quickly deteriorating. More disturbing however, are reports of surveillance and threats directed at organizers of the Ed'H labor union. I have also heard similar reports about threats against the leadership of the union representating workers at the telephone company. In 1996, Ed'H laid off over 400 workers, all of whom were members of the labor union. Only fifty union members remain in the employment of Ed'H. Since 1996, workers have been fighting to get their jobs back. According to reports, some union leaders have been imprisoned. The stated reasons for the massive lay-off in 1996 - administrative limitations and sabotage - appear to be a cover for an attempt to eradicate the union. I understand that policies of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank demand the privatization of state-owned industries, but doing so at the expense of labor rights is unacceptable and must not be tolerated. I am also deeply concerned that the current plans for the electric company may further endanger its viability as a supplier of power. The Electricity Workers' Union held a press conference during the first week of January 2001 to denounce the recent intimidation and oppression they are experiencing at the hands of the management of Ed'H. They have also protested the Government of Haiti's initiative to re-structure the company. In the days following the press conference, union leaders experienced increased pressure, and some have been forced by threats against their lives to leave their homes and go into hiding. President Aristide, your inauguration represents new hope for Haiti. I implore you to investigate this matter immediately and thoroughly. These events represent severe violations of the basic human rights of workers in Haiti. I urge you to inquire about the conditions of workers at Ed'H as well as to protect their right to organize a union to represent their interests. I also urge you to take all steps necessary to ensure that if the privatization and restructuring of Ed'H continue it is not at the expense of the good of either its employees or its clientele. Please take all steps necessary to insure the protection of labor rights, the security of labor leaders, and the preservation and improvement of public services for Haitians. I appreciate any attention you can give to this matter immediately. I will continue to follow the situation of the union members and leaders whose lives and safety are in danger and I hope to see the situation peacefully resolved as soon as possible. Sincerely,   Background on the Electricity Workers' Situation In 1996 a systematic violation of workers' rights began at the Electricity Company of Haiti (Ed'H). It was recognized that international investors would only invest if unions were removed, so leaders were targeted, even to the point where they were locked in their offices and arrested there. In all, over 450 workers were fired. All leaders, members and sympathizers of the union were fired, and some people were fired simply for talking about having a union. According to the management of Ed'H, workers were dismissed because of administrative reasons and for allegations of sabotage, but no accusation or legal procedure was ever taken against those who were fired. The Federation of Electricity Workers' Unions of Haiti (FESTREd'H) recognized that dialogue with the management was impossible. Therefore, the Union attempted various solutions at the national level. They approached these departments: Management of Work, Department of Social Affairs, Tripartite Commission of Consultation and Arbitration, Department of Public Works, Transport and Communication. All of these attempts failed. In addition to violations of the most basic workers' rights, armed attempts were made on the lives of union leaders, including Mr. Vibrun Laguerre, who eventually retired. Unionists were also arbitrarily arrested and held without charge. In August of 1998, a long line of negotiation meetings came to an end with a meeting attended by the President of the Federation Workers of Quebec (FTQ), Mr. Clement Godbout. It was recognized at this point by all parties that the situation needed to be corrected, but since that time all union efforts to re-launch a dialogue with the management of Ed'H have met ends which were not accepting. Now, as the term of President Rene Preval reaches its end, it appears that his government is trying to move forward with plans to privatize the Electricity Company of Haiti. The Union has denounced both the "reign of terror" instigated by the current management and the moves of the Preval government to restructure the company. During the first week of January, 2001, the Union held a press conference and circulated a bulletin among Ed'H employees. These actions, and in particular the bulletin, incensed management. In the ensuing days, Harry Clervau, Secretary of FESTREd'H, has had his life threatened. His home has been subjected to intimidating visits and surveillance and he has now gone into hiding for his own protection. The Union believes the break up of the company being pushed forward by the Preval government is a way to escalate the effort to eradicate the Union, and that repression of workers' rights will increase. Clervau has suggested that organizations working in solidarity mount a press campaign, pressure the Haitian government to respond, and circulate information among interested groups. FESTREd'H believes that the workers and their organization should be able to express their displeasure with regard to economic and social questions which effect the interests of their members. The systematic refusal of any dialogue and the brutal repression orchestrated by the management constitutes violations of the principles that are the most fundamental liberties of the union. The information in this report comes from several sources including: Harry Clervau, statements, July 1999; FESTREd'H letter to the ILO, April 1999; Harry Clervau statements, January 2001. END top