sitag-peru u2u funding appeal
TRANSCRIPT
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8/7/2019 SITAG-Peru U2U Funding Appeal
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SITAG - Union of Agricultural Workers, Peru
UNIONTO UNIONFUNDINGAPPEAL 2011
SITAGPeruwasfoundedonOctober202006.Sincethentheunionhasbeenakey
partnerinBananaLinksUniontoUnionprogramme,whichbuildssolidaritylinks
betweenLatinAmericabananaandpineappleworkersunionsatoneendofthesupply
chain,andUKtradeunions,attheother.
Introduction
SITAGPeru,ayoungbutrapidlygrowingunion,representsworkersinvolvedintheproductionandexportationof
organicandFairtradebananas,mainlyfromsmallfarms.Theunionalsohasmembersinthemango,sugarcane,
grapesandavocadoindustries.
Theorganisationwasfoundedinresponsetolabourrightsviolationsinthebananasectorbythesubcontracting
companySeragroSAC,whichservicestheUSfruitmultinationalDole.PeruisonethepoorestcountriesinSouth
Americaandtopsthelistofcountrieswiththelongestworkinghours;50.9%ofallworkershaveaverageworking
weeksofover48hours.Otherkeylabourrightsviolationsexperiencedwithinthebananaindustryincludegender
discriminationwithintheworkplaceandonhiring,povertywages,excessiveproductiondemandsandsevere
discriminationandrepressionoftradeunions.
PerusuppliesawiderangeoftropicalfruitstotheBritishmarket.Thisfundingappealisanopportunitytodirectly
supporttheabilityofanewuniontoorganiseandeducatetheincreasingnumbersofworkersareemployed and
exploited intheseexportindustries.
Fundingforasustainablefuture?
SITAGPeruhasalreadysucceededinorganisingapproximately5,000membersacrosstheagroindustrialindustries
inwhichtheywork.Theunionhasstartedtolevyanaffiliationfeeinordertoworktowardsfinancialautonomybut
because
of
poverty
wages
many
of
their
members
are
currently
unable
to
pay
this
fee.
It
is
hoped
that
as
union
membershipandwagelevelsincreaseSITAGPeruwillbecomemoresustainableinthelongterm.Inthemeantime
BananaLinkisfundraisingtoensurethatSITAGPeruisabletocontinuetheircrucialworkdefendingtherightsof
agriculturalworkersacrossPeru.
SITAGPeruhasalsorequestedsupporttoincreasetheircapacitytodevelopsolidaritylinkswithtradeunionsand
labourrightsorganisationsoverseas.BananaLinksUniontoUnionprogrammeiscurrentlytheironlysourceof
internationalsolidarity.
ThisfundingappealdetailstheactivitiesthatSITAGPeruwouldliketodeliverintheforthcomingfinancialyearand
theassociatedcosts.ThisfundingappealisbeingwidelycirculatedthroughouttheBritishtradeunionmovement
SITAGPerusaimin2011/2012:ForPeruvianbananaworkers,especiallywomenandyouth,tobeempoweredto
exercisetheirrightstowardssafe,secureanddecentworkingconditionsfreefromdiscriminationandexploitation.
KeyactivitiesfromApril2011toMarch2012:
increasemembershipthroughincreasedorganisingofindependentandcasualworkersandworkersfrom
producerassociations
worktowardsexpandingthevoluntarypaymentofworkeraffiliation fees(initiallywithafocusonworker
associationfees)
delivertrainingworkshopsonlabourrightsandgenderequalityforworkersandunionorganisers
empowernewunionleaders,especiallywomenandyoungworkers,throughthetrainingofunionmembers
and
organisers
in
negotiation
and
leadership
skills.
strengthen legaldefenceworktowardstheincreasedresolutionofrightsviolationsandworkerdenunciations.
strengthentheorganisational capacityofSITAGbyenhancingitsoperationalandaccountabilitysystemand
strengtheningitsgenderandyouthsecretariat
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8/7/2019 SITAG-Peru U2U Funding Appeal
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promoteandenhancenegotiations,advocacyandpoliticaldialoguewithprivatecompaniesandgovernment
institutions
strengthen existingallianceswithothertradeunions,governmental andnon governmental organisations, and
civilsocietyorganisationstoassistincombatingunionrepressionatplantationandnationalpolicylevel
engagewithexistingalliancestolobbytoreducethelegislativeobstaclestotradeunionorganisationthrough
theabolishment oftheexistingLawforthePromotionofAgriculture (Law27360)
strengthen international solidarityrelationships, particularlythosebetweenSITAGPeruandUKtradeunions
aspartoftheBananaLinkUniontoUnionprogramme
BudgetforactivitiesfromApril2010toMarch2011:
ThetotalcostofSITAGPerusactivitiesforthisperiodare13,600.
WearelookingforanycontributiontowardstheseannualcoststoassistSITAGPerusinachievingtheiraimsforthe
nextyear.Thiscould,forexample,include:
167tosupporttheeducationandtrainingofunionmembersfor1month
300tosupporttheworkofatradeunionorganiserfor3months
798tosupporttheunionslegaldefenceworkfor6months
FormoreinformationontheworkofSITAGPeruandhowyourunioncansupportthis,bothfinancially
andpoliticallythroughBananaLink'sUniontoUnionProgramme,pleasecontactJacquiMackayon
GeneralBudgetApr2011Mar2012: Permonth PeryearUSD GBP GBP
OperativecostsCoordinator 300 200 2,400.00Educationofficer 250 167 2,000.00Tradeunionorganiser 150 100 1,200.00Legaldefenceofficer 200 133 1,600.00AdmincostsAdministrator 200 133 1,600.00Financemanager
50
33
400.00
CommunicationOfficematerial 70 47 560.00Telephoneandinternet 100 67 800.00Rent/buildingmaintenanceOfficerent 150 100 1,200.00Buildingmaintenance 50 33 400.00UtilityServices 80 53 640.00TransportTransportandbusfare 100 67 800.00TOTAL 1700 1133 13,600.00Exchangerate:USD1.5=GBP1
GeneralBudgetApr2011Mar2012: Permonth PeryearUSD GBP GBP
OperativecostsCoordinator 300 200 2,400.00Educationofficer 250 167 2,000.00Tradeunionorganiser 150 100 1,200.00Legaldefenceofficer 200 133 1,600.00AdmincostsAdministrator 200 133 1,600.00Financemanager
50
33
400.00
CommunicationOfficematerial 70 47 560.00Telephoneandinternet 100 67 800.00Rent/buildingmaintenanceOfficerent 150 100 1,200.00Buildingmaintenance 50 33 400.00UtilityServices 80 53 640.00TransportTransportandbusfare 100 67 800.00TOTAL 1700 1133 13,600.00Exchangerate:USD1.5=GBP1