Protest letter condemning interference in Costa Rican trade union affairs 08 February, 2010 Mr Oscar Arias Sánchez President of the Republic of Costa Rica Casa Presidencial – Zapote San José COSTA RICA Re: Government interference in Trade Union Affairs Dear Mr. President On behalf of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), which represents two million workers and strong supporters of democratic rights, I am writing to condemn in the strongest possible terms at the attempts by the Government and the management of the JAPDEVA port authority to undermine the leadership of the SINTRAJAP trade union, which has been campaigning against the privatisation of the Limón ports in the Caribbean. According to SINTRAJAP, the Government has decided to privatise the Limón ports, and has shown complete disregard for the human, labour and trade union rights of the port workers’ union, violating the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) conventions 87 and 98. To achieve this objective, a parallel general assembly was convened on 15 January, ignoring the leadership of the existing trade union, and packing the meeting with workers close to the Government. This “assembly” was organised by the JAPDEVA management in a company storeroom, in violation of legal provisions and the union statutes, and in violation of the principle of trade union autonomy enshrined in Convention 87. This assembly, composed of a small group of people, approved the removal of the legitimate leaders of SINTRAJAP and proceeded to appoint a new union executive which supported the government’s proposal to sell the port company. Mr. President, the ACTU agrees with the ITUC and the whole of the Costa Rican trade union movement that it is essential to support the SINTRAJAP in this dispute in order to prevent the attack on and violation of fundamental workers’ rights. We urge you and your Government to accept the trade unionists’ petition, to withdraw recognition of the illegally elected trade union executive and to restore dialogue with the company in order to reach an agreement that is beneficial for all, fully respecting workers’ fundamental rights. I urge you to take urgent steps to resolve this blatant violation of the fundamental ILO Conventions ratified by Costa Rica. Yours sincerely Sharan Burrow PRESIDENT