SAN FRANCISCO, CA (April 29, 2010) — This morning, Costa Rica’s docks in Limón erupted in chaos involving police, union members and a reported 10,000 civilians, following a campaign by the Oscar Arias-led Costa Rican government to usurp the workers’ democratically elected leadership and eliminate the SINTRAJAP longshore union.

Twenty-five members of the U.S. Congress today sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to “express great concern about the current labor right situation in Costa Rica” and to say that “Costa Rica needs to comply with its obligations to the U.S. and the International Labour Organization (ILO).” The letter was finalized yesterday and sent today.  Last week, ILWU International President Robert McEllrath sent a detailed letter to President Barack Obama that can be read at this link. 

The full text of the Congressional letter to Secretary Clinton follows. [You may also download a formatted pdf copy in English or in Spanish.]

April 28, 2010

The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
United States Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary of State Clinton,

As members of the International Workers Rights Caucus we would like to take this opportunity to express great concern about the current labor rights situation in Costa Rica.  We respectfully request your assessment of the apparently deliberate destruction of SINTRAJAP, a legitimate port workers’ union in Costa Rica.  It is our understanding that SINTRAJAP is ostensibly being illegally and unconstitutionally targeted by the country’s government, which seems determined to break the union in order to speed through the privatization of the ports of Puerto Limon and Puerto Moin.

JAPDEVA, the state-owned agency that administers the ports of Costa Rica, seized control of the union by removing the democratically elected leadership and replacing them with government-backed directors. Further, we understand that the new directors have been working to transform SINTRAJAP into an undemocratic, employer-run trade union. The government of Costa Rica has reportedly frozen SINTRAJAP’s bank accounts, funnelled current membership dues away from the legitimate union, and has made attempts to oust SINTRAJAP from their wholly owned building by threatening to withhold essential services like gas and electricity. In a worrisome sign of escalation, we understand that the Costa Rican government has now stationed visibly armed police on the docks in what appears to be a measure of intimidation. These are extremely troubling signs.

We are troubled by the reports of these recent steps taken by the Costa Rican government and ask that you express these concerns immediately to your counterparts in Costa Rica.  These actions are leading to a serious climate of repression and alarming human rights situation. This type of government intervention in the SINTRAJAP Port Workers’ Union appears to be unlawful and inconsistent with Costa Rica’s historic commitment to democracy and human rights.

As members of the International Workers Rights Caucus we find the reports of these continuing labor rights abuses and the lack of corrective action on part of the Costa Rican government to be very troubling. Costa Rica needs to comply with its obligations to the U.S. and the International Labour Organization (ILO). We need to see serious and sustained political will by the Costa Rican government, which so far seems not to be forthcoming.

Sincerely,

Phil Hare, Member of Congress
Linda T. Sanchez, Member of Congress
Lynn Woolsey, Member of Congress
Janice Schakowsky, Member of Congress
James P. McGovern, Member of Congress
Bob Filner, Member of Congress
Michael H. Michaud, Member of Congress
Gene Green, Member of Congress
Stephen F. Lynch, Member of Congress
Bobby L. Rush, Member of Congress
Grace F. Napolitano, Member of Congress
Raul M. Grijalva, Member of Congress
Pete Stark, Member of Congress
John Conyers, Jr., Member of Congress
Tammy Baldwin, Member of Congress
Jesse L. Jackson, Jr., Member of Congress
Dale E. Kildee, Member of Congress
Dennis Kucinich, Member of Congress
Jerrold Nadler, Member of Congress
Loretta Sanchez, Member of Congress
Betty Sutton, Member of Congress
Yvette Clarke, Member of Congress
Barbara Lee, Member of Congress
Henry C. Johnson, Member of Congress
Danny K. Davis, Member of Congress

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