Banana Link 'Union to Union' speaker tour 28th November - 8th December 2012

Fatima Del Rosario Herrera Olea, SITAG (Agro-industrial Workers Union) – Peru

Photo: 'No to workplace discrimination'

Fatima will be visiting the UK in December as part of the Banana Link Union to Union programme and Make Fruit Fair campaign . The work of SITAG-Peru has this year been funded by the UNISON International Development Fund, UNISON West Midlands and the GMB International Solidarity Fund, as well as donations from other unions and their members; the visit will be an opportunity to develop these ongoing solidarity links. During her tour in the UK Fatima will be meeting trade unionists, participating in union meetings and education sessions and speaking at the and UNISON West Midlands International Forum and Latin America Conference 2012.

Fatima states “In Peru the current instability of the labour market wears the face of a woman; it is our responsibility to fight to improve our working conditions to ensure that we are employed with decency and dignity from this day and onwards. VIVA LA MUJER TRABAJADORA BANANERA! Long live women banana workers! VIVA LA MUJER SINDICALISTAS DEL MUNDO! Long live the women trade unionists of the world! ”

CONTACT - Please get in touch to host a meeting or event with Fatima during her UK visitAnna Cooper, Education and Solidarity Officer, Banana Linksolidarity@bananalink.org.uk

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Photos and worker testimoniesView photos of Peruvian banana workers and conditions picasaweb.google.com/103091521478995657563/SITAGPeru2012?authkey=Gv1sRgCNi-1dHQ8tGHmwE

Fatima, aged 20, is a young trade union activist and Women's Secretary of SITAG-Peru. She has been involved in the union's activities both in her local region of Piura and at national level. She was also a regional candidate in the last municipal elections and has just began a degree in Labour Law at her local university.

SITAG‐Peru is a young but rapidly growing union that represents over 4,000 workers involved in the production and export of organic and Fairtrade bananas, mainly from small farms. The union also has members in the mango, sugarcane, grape and avocado industries.

Peru is one the poorest countries in South America and tops the list of countries with the longest working hours. Other key labour rights violations experienced within the banana and other agro-industries include poverty wages, excessive production demands and severe discrimination and repression of trade unions. Gender discrimination within the workplace and on hiring is also a major issue and a key focus for Fatimas work as Women's Secretary.

Read testimonies from Peruvian banana workerswww.bananalink.org.uk/category/country-testimony/peru

Latest news from Peruwww.bananalink.org.uk/peru-newsAbout Banana LinkBanana Link works towards fair and sustainable tropical fruit trade and production in partnership with plantation worker unions and small farmer organisations in Latin America, the Caribbean, Ghana and Cameroon. www.bananalink.org.uk

The Banana Link Union to Union programme builds solidarity links between Latin American and West African trade unions at one end of international banana and pineapple supply chains, and British trade unionists at the other. www.bananalink.org.uk/u-2-u-programme

Banana Link is an active member of the multi-stakeholder initiative, the World Banana Forum www.fao.org/wbf/en/

About Banana Link's Make Fruit Fair campaignMake Fruit Fair is coordinated by Banana Link (UK), Peuples Solidaires (France), BanaFair (Germany) and Nazemi (Czech Republic) to mobilize support for fair and sustainable banana and pineapple supply chains. www.makefruitfair.org

About SITAG and the project ‘Defending the rights of agricultural workers in Peru’This year SITAG-Peru has receive generous funding from the UNISON International Development Fund, UNISON West Midlands and the GMB Solidarity Fund, but more support is needed to enable SITAG to fully implement their union activities this year and in following years.

To read more and donate to the Peru appeal please visit: www.bananalink.org.uk/partners-peru

- £133 would support 40 staff representatives to participate in a day long training session- £160 would employ a union staff member for one month to coordinate/deliver the education programme - £160 would employ a gender officer for one month to coordinate/deliver the education programme, with particular focus on gender awareness