Buenos Aires, August 2009

We would like to express our deep concern for 150 workers who were illegally fired and discriminated against by the North American multinational Kraft Foods (ex Terrabusi). Amongst those fired were members of the factory committee, delegates and Food Union Directive Committee members (STIA). The company failed to recognize all of the labor legislations in force as well as the Human Rights principles, including their refusal to comply with the Obligatory Conciliation pronounced by the Ministry of Labor.

The firings are a clear retaliation to the workers’ grievances in light of the swine flu after last July when the workers asked the company to take minimal measures in improving the hygiene in the factory. The fired workers are the companies attempt to silence and break down the workers union organization.
At the head of the Chamber of Food Companies (Copal), which Kraft is also a member, is Mr. Jorge Zorreguieta, Videla Agricultural Secretary, who has reputation destroying workers’ organizations.

The Human Rights groups, including intellectuals, lawyers and well known human rights activists that have confronted the dictatorship and fought against its consequences, will not permit persecutions, firings and intolerance of the workers and their organizations.

Because of this, we strongly condemn the violation of the most fundamental Human Rights of the workers and we demand the immediate reincorporation of all of the fired workers. FIRST SIGNITURES:

Adolfo Pérez Esquivel - SERPAJ

Elia Espen – Madres Línea Fundadora

Enrique Fukman – Ex Detenidos Desaparecidos

Marcela Gudiño – HERMANOS

Mariano Pedrero, Myriam Bregman, Ruben Tripi, Victoria Moyano – CEPRODH

Oficina de DD.HH de la Coalición Cívica

PLEASE send support/signatures to [email protected]