FOR THE PRESS

For immediate release: July 14, 2009

US Trade Associations Putting Profits before Human Rights in Honduras  

The Global Union representing workers in the apparel and footwear sectors has dubbed as ‘disgusting’ a letter from leading US trade associations to President Obama calling for business as usual with Honduras following last week’s coup which was supported by key elements of the country’s business community.

Seven trade groups, including the American Apparel & Footwear Association, the Emergency Committee for American Trade, the National Council of Textile Organizations, the National Retail Federation, the Retail Industry Leaders Association, the Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel and the US Chamber of Commerce,  wrote to President Obama on July 11 urging him to secure the US’s economic relationship with Honduras.

Says Neil Kearney, General Secretary of the Brussels-based International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation: “This approach, which overlooks democracy, civil liberties and the rule of law, is an affront to democracy and a negation of American values.  

“Since the coup there has been growing concern at the threat to trade union and popular leaders,  and it appears there is a list of leaders who are threatened with detention and whose personal safety is at risk.  There have been reports that on Saturday evening, two leaders of the popular opposition to the coup,  Roger Ivan Bados and  Ramon Garcia,  were murdered in two separate incidents by unidentified gunmen. 

“There is also growing concern about worsening working conditions, and in particular at efforts to claw back a wage increase ordered by President Zelaya six months ago in order to reflect the increased cost of food and other essentials. In reality the increased wage barely covered 90% of basic food needs and less than a third of a living wage covering basic needs such as food, rent, transport, education, and medical care”. 

Concludes Mr. Kearney: “These trade associations are protecting their profits on the backs of murdered leaders and worsening wages and working conditions.   The ITGLWF is calling on organisations linked with the AAFA and the six trade associations to publicly disassociate themselves from the statement. 

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The International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation is a global union federation bringing together 220 affiliated organisations in 110 countries with a combined membership of 10 million workers.

For more information, contact: Neil Kearney (General Secretary) at 32/475932487 (mobile) or nkearney@itglwf.org ITGLWF Secretariat at tel: 32/02/512.26.06, fax: 32/02/511.09.04 or office@itglwf.orgVisit our website at www.itglwf.org