Global workers union Public Services International (PSI) has called on Guatemalan president Otto Pérez Molina to tackle the many murders targeting trade unionists in his country.
At least 58 trade union members have been killed in Guatemala in the past five years, according to an estimate from the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). No one has been convicted for the murders.
President Pérez, reacting to the appeal by a visiting PSI delegation, said it was “very shameful for us that our country is the most dangerous country in the world for trade unionists today.”
The ITUC 2012 Survey of Trade Union Rights described Guatemala as “characterized predominantly by human rights violations” against trade union, rural and indigenous community leaders. The report documents numerous allegations of attempted murder, torture, kidnappings and death threats.
Impunity has remained rampant in Guatemala since the 36-year armed struggle ended in 1996.
Read more about the plight of workers in Guatemala here, or learn more about the ITUC here
(Image: PSI delegation visits Guatemala August 12-15 http://www.world-psi.org/en/node/1555 )