From: Michael Hoover <hoov-AT-freenet.tlh.fl.us>
Subject: M-I: Nicaragua: 420 textile workers unpaid by private bank (fwd)
Date: Sun, 7 Sep 97 12:24:42 18000


Forwarded message:
> Date: 03 Sep 1997 06:26:56
> From: socappeal-AT-easynet.co.uk
> Subject: Nicaragua: 420 textile workers unpaid by private bank
> To: Recipients of conference <labr.party-AT-conf.igc.apc.org>
> 
> Managua, August 28, 1997
> 
> ALERT FROM THE FREE TRADE ZONE
> To the International Community
> >From 420 former workers of Velcas International in the Free Trade Zone
> 
> Background
> 
> The company Velcas International started operations in the Free Trade 
> Zone in 1991 with national capital, producing blue jeans and exporting 
> them to the US, creating 500 jobs. Since 1993, the company started to 
> accumulate debts with the Private Bank INTERBANK.
> 
> After taking the former owners of the company to court, the judge ruled 
> the company to be intervened by INTERBANK as a result of the debts of the 
> company with this bank. On June 1997, the judge ruled again in favour of 
> the bank. We want to stress that during the three years that the bank was 
> in control of the company this was working, producing on the basis of 
> contracts reached by INTERBANK with US buyers.
> 
> On June 1997 INTERBANK, following a court decission uctioned the assets 
> of Velcas company, but there were no buyers. On August 26 INTERBANK 
> rented (with option to buy) the assests of the Velcas company to the US 
> investor SAMUEL MILLER. On the same day, the workers found the gates shut 
> and were sent back home. Then a workers committe was formed to go and 
> talk to the Labour Ministry and the bank. A compromise was reached that 
> the new owner would hire all workers again.
> 
> But on wednesday, August 27, 20 women workers were refused by the new 
> company, all of them leaders of the movement to force INTERBANK to pay 
> the workers the indemnisations they are entitled to by law. Also workers 
> over 40 years of age were refused making it very difficult for them to 
> find any other jobs in the free trade zone. Four pregnant women workers 
> were also denied jobs.
> 
> THEREFORE WE DEMAND INTERBANK:
> The payement of indemnisations according to article 45 of Nicaragua's 
> Labour Code
> The payement of holidays and the 13th monthly pay as established by law
> The recognition that the workers were working for the bank
> 
> AND TO THE NEW INVESTOR:
> 
> The recognition that he was aware of the situation in the company as he 
> was buying the production. If he had been an honest person HE WOULD HAVE 
> NEVER RENTED THE COMPANY FROM THE BANK until the INTERBANK had paid all 
> money owed to the workers.
> 
> The closure of the company is illegal as the required forms were not 
> filled in the Labour Ministry and no court authorisation was seeked for 
> it. But in this country JUSTICE IS ONLY FOR THOSE WITH MONEY AND NOT FOR 
> THE POOR.
> 
> We appeal for solidarity with the 420 workers and demand the PRIVATE BANK 
> INTERNAK MUST PAY ALL INDEMNISATIONS ESTABLISHED BY LAW
> 
> SEND MESSAGES OF PROTEST TO:
> INTERBANK.
> General Management
> Fax. +505- 2783537
> 
> Free Trade Zone Corporation
> Fax 505-2631700
> email: czf-AT-ibw.com.ni 
> 
> and to SAMUEL MILLER (the new owner) asking him to put pressure on the 
> bank to fulfil its legal duties:
> Sr. Samuel Miller
> Fax: + 505-2631207
> 
> Send messages of solidarity to the workers:
> Pedro Ortega Mendez
> Textile, Clothing, Leather and Shoes Federation
> Central Sandinista de Trabajadores
> Fax: + 505 2225272
> e-mail: trenza-AT-tmx.com.ni
> -------------------------
> La Red Obrera/Labournet
> www.labournet.org.uk
-- 





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