Global Labor Justice demands freedom for arrested Chiquita Banana Trade Union leaders in Panama

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Global Labor Justice joins La Coordinadora Latinoamericana de Sindicatos Bananeros y Agroindustriales (COLSIBA) in condemning the arrests of Francisco Smith and Gilberto Guerra, leaders in the Panamanian Agricultural workers union affiliated to the global union federation, IUF, the Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Industria Bananera (SINTRAIBANA).

“We denounce the government’s use of excessive force, including the deployment of 1,300 police officers to silence the protests of thousands of workers who had been on strike since the end of April, demanding the protection of their retirement pensions, freedom of association, and other fundamental rights,” the organization says in a statement. The arrest of union leaders occurred just days after they met with the government officials to reach a good-faith agreement that the union leaders signed on June 11, 2025, to end the strike. Instead of respecting this agreement, the government arrested the leaders in violation of their right to freedom of association.

“We call on the government to immediately release the trade unionists without charges and call on Chiquita to join in the demand for their release. We also renew our call for the multinational to engage in good faith dialogue with the union to reach a mutual agreement and reinstate all fired workers.”

The organization is demanding that the fundamental labor and human rights of Francisco Smith and Gilberto Guerra, and of all workers, be respected under ILO Conventions 87 and 98, which protect the right to freedom of association and the right to collective action, including the right to strike.

Contact:
Rachel Cohen
Global Labor Justice
[email protected]

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Source: The Plantations International Agroforestry Group of Companies