Argentina: A workers' union known as the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Workers' Union; status in Mendoza; treatment of members by the police; involvement in protests on behalf of truck drivers in September 1999; treatment of protesters by the police (1997 - October 2000)

In a 5 October 2000 interview, the secretary general of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Workers' Union (Sindicato de Trabajadores de Fruta Fresca y Hortalizas) stated that his organization represents workers in the provinces of Mendoza, San Juan and San Luis. According to the secretary general, the Union has approximately 11,000 members, of whom most are based in Mendoza and San Juan provinces. The secretary general further stated that the Union represents workers in three principal areas: carrot washing and packing; fruit harvesting and packing; and the processing of garlic, tomatoes, lettuce and other delicate vegetables. The secretary general added that the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Workers' Union, unlike many local trade unions, is independent of any labour federation, and is instead affiliated directly with the General Labour Confederation (Confederación General del Trabajo, CGT).

The secretary general was not aware of any cases of mistreatment or abuse of Union members by police or other state authorities. However, he added that the exploitation by employers of undocumented workers from other countries, such as Peru and Bolivia, is a significant problem in the agricultural sector in Mendoza, as it is in other provinces (5 Oct. 2000).

According to media reports, on 12 September 1999 the Argentinean Agricultural Federation (Federación Agraria Argentina, FAA) launched a four-day protest against state agricultural policies by setting up picket lines and slowing traffic on roads in a number of provinces, including Buenos Aires, Entre Rios and Santa Fe (Página/12 13 Sept. 1999; ibid. 14 Sept. 1999; La Nación 14 Sept. 1999; Clarín 15 Sept. 1999). By 13 September 1999, FAA protesters were joined by truck drivers angry at the high cost of tolls and diesel fuel, along with the imposition of a vehicle tax to improve teachers' salaries (Clarín 14 Sept. 1999; Página/12 14 Sept. 1999). According to La Nación, the FAA announced that although it would officially end its protest on 15 September 1999, its members were free to continue to participate in the truck drivers' pickets (14 Sept. 1999). The truck drivers' protest was reportedly organized by at least ten regional and municipal transport workers' associations, who declared that they would block roads on an indefinite basis until the government acted to meet their demands (Página/12 17 Sept. 1999; Clarín 17 Sept. 1999; ibid. 19 Sept. 1999).

In response to the road blockages in Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Santa Fe and other provinces, the government assigned police to escort truck convoys, mobilized officers of the National Gendarmerie (Gendarmería Nacional, GN) paramilitary police and threatened protesters with police action should incidents occur at picket lines set up on roads leading to major cities (ibid.; ibid. 16 Sept. 1999; ibid. 17 Sept. 1999; Página/12 17 Sept. 1999). According to the Buenos Aires newspaper Página/12, citing the secretary general of the National Truck Drivers Federation (Federación Nacional de Camioneros), Hugo Moyano, there were a number of violent incidents involving truck drivers and transportation company officials (ibid. 15 Sept. 1999).

However, no reports of violent incidents involving police could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. In a 16 September 1999 report, Clarín claimed that protesters had become more flexible in allowing trucks carrying perishable goods to pass, and cited Security Secretariat (Secretaría de Seguridad) staff as saying that no one wanted a pitched battle (nadie quiere armar una batalla campal). The truck drivers suspended their protest on 20 September 1999 after reaching a compromise agreement with government negotiators (ibid. 21 Sept. 1999).

According to the secretary general of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Workers' Union, his organization was not involved in any protests or demonstrations in September 1999 in support either of the FAA or truck drivers (5 Oct. 2000).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Clarín [Buenos Aires]. 21 September 1999. "El gobierno prometió medidas y levantaron el paro de camiones." [Accessed 4 Oct. 2000]

_____. 19 September 1999. "Hay riesgo de que falte carne." [Accessed 4 Oct. 2000]

_____. 17 September 1999. "Menem busca quebrar el paro de camioneros." [Accessed 4 Oct. 2000]

_____. 16 September 1999. Matias Longoni. "Buscan evitar la escasez por el paro de camiones." [Accessed 4 Oct. 2000]

_____. 15 September 1999. Matias Longoni. "Los supermercados, en alerta." [Accessed 4 Oct. 2000]

_____. 14 September 1999. Matias Longoni. "El paro se sintió en Liniers y en los puertos cerealeros." [Accessed 4 Oct. 2000]

La Nación [Buenos Aires]. 14 September 1999. "El agro no afloja con la protesta." [Accessed 4 Oct. 2000]

Página/12 [Buenos Aires]. 17 September 1999. Pablo Ferreira. "Clima de guerra en las rutas." [Accessed 4 Oct. 2000]

_____. 15 September 1999. Pablo Ferreira. "Mandan a la Gendarmería a reprimir el paro del transporte de cargas." [Accessed 4 Oct. 2000]

_____. 14 September 1999. "La protesta agraria paralizó el ingreso de hacienda en Liniers." [Accessed 4 Oct. 2000]

_____. 13 September 1999. "Protesta en soledad." [Accessed 4 Oct. 2000]

Sindicato de Trabajadores de Fruta Fresca y Hortalizas, Mendoza, Argentina. 5 October 2000. Telephone interview with secretary general.