The ILWU Coast Longshore Division is committed to making sure that the democratically elected leaders of the Costa Rican dockworkers union SINTRAJAP are reinstated to their positions as the legitimate representatives of the workers at Puerto Limón y Puerto Moín, so they can participate in the modernization of the ports and the protection of public services in their communities. To this end, we’ve published this ad and others in several nationwide newspapers in Costa Rica:
Message of support from 25,000 U.S. longshore workers to the people of Costa Rica, and Limón and Moín:
For some time, workers in the SINTRAJAP port workers union have been under an unfair, illegal attack by the Costa Rican government. They have offered SINTRAJAP leaders huge payouts to give up their union. But SINTRAJAP refuses to betray their community. They are holding firm because they are concerned not only how this attack will affect their own families, but also their neighbors and paisanos. You have a right to know what’s at stake before it’s too late:
Democracy must be protected from underhanded attacks
If the Costa Rican government gets away with illegally replacing the workers’ elected leaders on the docks, they could do it anywhere. SINTRAJAP’s democratically elected General Secretary, Ronaldo Blear, was replaced in a sham election forced by the Costa Rican government, by a vote of only 345 of 1500 members. That is not a majority! Workers voted to reaffirm him soon thereafter, but the government remains in defiance of international labor law. They have taken away the union’s access to its bank accounts and started shutting down their union office. This attack on democracy is not something a Nobel Prize-winning president should allow. If it happens to SINTRAJAP, it can happen to anyone!
JAPDEVA funding for schools and services should continue to benefit everybody
In Limón and Moín, many people rely on JAPDEVA funds to build good schools and important services for local families. There’s no reason to change the way things have worked for local communities for this long. SINTRAJAP is fighting to protect JAPDEVA funding for everyone.
We thank you for your attention and ask for your support for democracy and the workers of SINTRAJAP.
Robert McEllrath, International President
Ray Familathe, International Vice-President
Ray Ortiz, Jr., Coast Committeeman
Leal Sundet, Coast Committeeman