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SITAG-Peru U2U Funding Appeal
SITAG-Peru U2U Funding Appeal
SITAG-Peru U2U Funding Appeal
Introduction
SITAG‐Peru, a young but rapidly growing union, represents workers involved in the production and exportation of
organic and Fairtrade bananas, mainly from small farms. The union also has members in the mango, sugarcane,
grapes and avocado industries.
The organisation was founded in response to labour rights violations in the banana sector by the subcontracting
company Seragro SAC, which services the US fruit multinational Dole. Peru is one the poorest countries in South
America and tops the list of countries with the longest working hours; 50.9% of all workers have average working
weeks of over 48 hours. Other key labour rights violations experienced within the banana industry include gender
discrimination within the workplace and on hiring, poverty wages, excessive production demands and severe
discrimination and repression of trade unions.
Peru supplies a wide range of tropical fruits to the British market. This funding appeal is an opportunity to directly
support the ability of a new union to organise and educate the increasing numbers of workers are employed ‐ and
exploited ‐ in these export industries.
Funding for a sustainable future?
SITAG‐Peru has already succeeded in organising approximately 5,000 members across the agro‐industrial industries
in which they work. The union has started to levy an affiliation fee in order to work towards financial autonomy but
because of poverty wages many of their members are currently unable to pay this fee. It is hoped that as union
membership and wage levels increase SITAG‐Peru will become more sustainable in the long term. In the meantime
Banana Link is fundraising to ensure that SITAG‐Peru is able to continue their crucial work defending the rights of
agricultural workers across Peru.
SITAG‐Peru has also requested support to increase their capacity to develop solidarity links with trade unions and
labour rights organisations overseas. Banana Link’s Union to Union programme is currently their only source of
international solidarity.
This funding appeal details the activities that SITAG–Peru would like to deliver in the forthcoming financial year and
the associated costs. This funding appeal is being widely circulated throughout the British trade union movement
SITAG‐Peru’s aim in 2011/2012: For Peruvian banana workers, especially women and youth, to be empowered to
exercise their rights towards safe, secure and decent working conditions free from discrimination and exploitation.
Key activities from April 2011 to March 2012:
increase membership through increased organising of independent and casual workers and workers from
producer associations
work towards expanding the voluntary payment of worker affiliation fees (initially with a focus on worker
association fees)
deliver training workshops on labour rights and gender equality for workers and union organisers
empower new union leaders, especially women and young workers, through the training of union members
and organisers in negotiation and leadership skills.
strengthen legal defence work towards the increased resolution of rights violations and worker denunciations.
strengthen the organisational capacity of SITAG by enhancing its operational and accountability system and
strengthening its gender and youth secretariat
promote and enhance negotiations, advocacy and political dialogue with private companies and government
institutions
strengthen existing alliances with other trade unions, governmental and non‐ governmental organisations, and
civil society organisations to assist in combating union repression at plantation and national policy level
engage with existing alliances to lobby to reduce the legislative obstacles to trade union organisation through
the abolishment of the existing ‘Law for the Promotion of Agriculture’ (Law 27360)
strengthen international solidarity relationships, particularly those between SITAG‐Peru and UK trade unions
as part of the Banana Link Union to Union programme
Budget for activities from April 2010 to March 2011:
The total cost of SITAG‐Peru’s activities for this period are £13,600.
We are looking for any contribution towards these annual costs to assist SITAG‐Peru’s in achieving their aims for the
next year. This could, for example, include:
£167 to support the education and training of union members for 1 month
£300 to support the work of a trade union organiser for 3 months
£798 to support the unions legal defence work for 6 months
For more information on the work of SITAG‐Peru and how your union can support this, both financially
and politically through Banana Link's Union to Union Programme, please contact Jacqui Mackay on
info@bananalink.org.uk or call 01603 765670.