SITRABI is the oldest union
in Guatemala and arguably
one of the strongest and the largest private sector union in Guatemala. This
is not the first attempt to intimidate workers.

• In 1999, in a case that brought international attention to violence against unionists in Guatemala, seven members of SITRABI were violently attacked and forced to flee to the United States. Their case became the key test on impunity for workers rights advocates and the U.S. government who put Guatemala’s trade benefits on probation until Guatemalan courts convicted the criminals.

• In November of 2006, Union officer Cesar Guerra was shot at while driving in a union vehicle and others were threatened to cease and desist their activities or pay the price.

• And directly related to the murder of Mr. Ramirez, in July 2007, military forces forcibly entered a union meeting and demanded to know the identity of the leaders.

Violence against trade
unionists in Guatemala
has increased significantly since the passage of CAFTA. Four trade unionists
have been murdered so far this year (none in the year before CAFTA passed)
including the January murder of Pedro Zamora, head of an important port
worker’s union. The government has yet to charge anyone in the murder of Mr. Zamora.

SITRABI
has been working with local and international forces to pressure the Public
Ministry and Ministry of Defense in Guatemala to investigate these
crimes.  Now they need our help and international solidarity to let the
government know that this type of harassment and murder of unionists will not
stand!

Stand with  SITRABI
to stop the violence and intimidation of UNIONISTS!

Contact the Guatemalan
Ambassador in the United States and urge the Guatemalan Government to
act now!

SAMPLE LETTER

Ambassador Jose Guillermo Castillo 2220 R Street, NW
Washington, DC  20008
Tel(202) 745 4952

Fax:(202) 745 1908
ambassador [at] guatemala-embassy.orgambassador [at] guatemala-embassy.org

Dear Ambassador Guillermo Castillo,

I am
writing to ask your government to take strong and decisive action to stop the
violence against unionists in Guatemala.
The recent assassination of SITRABI Executive Committee Member, Marco Tulio
Portela Ramirez on Sunday, September 23 is a stark reminder of the incredible
danger workers face when trying to exercise their right to organize for better
wages and more humane conditions in their work places.  I urge your
government to thoroughly investigate and prosecute the murderers of Mr. Ramirez
and other trade unionist in Guatemala,
including Mr. Pedro Zamora of the port workers union.

As you may recall, the SITRABI union leadership was violently intimidated in
1999 and forced to leave their country. Their case became an important test
case on impunity for the U.S.
government.

The government of Guatemala must
also publicly condemn the violence against Guatemalan trade unions.

In addition, it is vital
that the Guatemalan government take responsibility for the safety of the
remaining leaders of SITRABI and ensure that they are protected from all
violence and intimidation. The Guatemalan government must protect those that
organize for basic their human rights. I will be monitoring the news as well as
following updates from labor rights organizations to ensure that this case is
taken seriously and that labor unions are protected throughout Guatemala.

Sincerely,

___________________