On Saturday October 16, 1999, a prestigious observer delegation visited 2 banana plantations in the Atlantic Region, with the purpose of on-site verification of repeated public charges by unions and the Foro Emaus coalition about labor rights violations.

The delegation included the Costa Rican Minister of Labor Victor Morales; his deputy Minister Bernardo Benavides; the Congressman José Merino of the Partido Fuerza Democratica ; Congresswoman Virginia Aguiluz of Partido Liberacion Nacional; the head of women’s division of the Defensoría of the Inhabitants Ligia Martin; and the International Organization of the Labor’s (ILO) Regional Director for Latin America and Caribbean, Mr. Ian Chambers. Also participating were representatives of the Rerum Novarum Workers Confederation, the National Association of Public and Private Employees (ANEP), the National Union of Nurses, the Costarrican Union of Educators (SEC), of the Central American Human Rights Commission (CODEHUCA) and of the Student Federation of the University of Costa Rica. In addition the delegation was accompanied by journalists from TV Chanal 15, La Extra daily; weekly newspapers Seminario Universidad and Tico Times, as well as diverse leaders of the COSIBA and Foro Emaus who organized the tour.

On their first stop at the Plantation Duacarí 1, property of BANDECO (a subsidiary of Del Monte), the delegation heard the testimonies of the men and women workers who discussed the company’s drastic cuts in their salaries under the pretext of a crisis in the market.

With supporting documents which they presented to the representatives of the Ministry of Labor, workers recounted in detail, the harsh working conditions and employer repression that they suffer for their wish to freely organize themselves in a union.

Before some 100 people, the authorities of the Ministry of Labor, the ILO, Deputies to the National Assembly and others of the delegation some 10 workers speak publicly sometimes with tears but without fear, of the pain caused by the discrimination. They asked that everything possible be done to bring about a respect for law and human rights, especially those pertaining to the place of work.

The principal charges set forward by the men and women who spoke, related to measures taken by the company in response to the ostensible crisis facing the industry:

• Workers have been fired and rehired at salaries as much as 50% less than their regular salaries.
• Workers who have sought to affiliate with a union have suffered discrimination and dismissal.
• Workers have been given increasing work loads for less pay.
• The effective work day has been extended to 12 hours in many cases.
• Increasingly workers are required to work weekends and holidays.
• Permits to seek medical care at the public health facilities (CCSS ) are restricted.
• Workers who show themselves sympathetic to the unions are also subject to firing.
• Workers are pressured to accept declining working conditions.

In the presence of Bandeco’s Labor Relations Manager, The Minister of Labor committed himself to address the complaints since -according to him- the company had assured him that every action taken had been undertaken in accordance with the laws. Nonetheless, he stated that his responsibility was first to preserve jobs and then to address salary reductions- a position which was severely criticized by congressman Merino and union leaders present at the meeting.

After this first stop, the delegation proceeded in a caravan of cars and buses to the Sixaola region, the southernmost reach of the Atlantic Region, to meet with leaders of the Union of Workers of the Chiriqui Land Company (SITRACHIRI). Union members in plantations 96 and 97 welcomed them with a work stoppage begun at dawn. The action was motivated by the unjust firing of the Union’s Secretary General Daniel Gutierrez days earlier.

In the midst of the great number of workers gathered on the farms, five indigenous Guaymi workers addressed the delegation, speaking of the exploitation and discrimination to which they are subject from managers of the plantations, which are owned by Chiquita. Later several of the representatives of the visiting organizations, the Minister of Labor and union leaders of the banana workers in neighboring Panama, spoke of their concern for justice, compliance with the law and the human rights of those laboring in the banana plantations.

Earlier in the afternoon of the same day (16^th of October), the Minister had inaugurated the new installations of the "Office of Labor Inspection" in the town of Bribri. The office began its operations with the complaint over the firing of labor leader Daniel Gutierrez, top officer of the only Costa Rican banana union with a collective bargaining agreement.

As the various participants addressed the workers and delegation meeting on the Plantation soccer field, into the clear skies over Sixaola passed a small fumigation plane some six times as it went about its work fumigating the fields with potent pesticides used to combat the Black Sigatoka fungus. The overflights of the plane were threatening, seeming to say that the banana empire could controll the workers even from the skies: that it was not right that their arms should be idled in protest and their heart beats quickened with the cry for justice.

As the afternoon faded, the delegations took their leave from the indigenous workers, costarrican and panamanian, the women and children; with the faroff hope, but hope nonetheless, brought by the presence of the Minister himself and the possibilities that might come from the delegations presence, the solidarity and hard work that had brought it about. The beginnings of an awakening of a sleeping giant that senses that it possesses the right to exercize certain legitimate rights.

With this action, Foro Emaus is certain that it has contributed to pulling back the veil that has hidden the lives of banana workers and their communities from public view. The dream of liberty begins to take form and the communites find that others will join them in solidarity.