Here is the latest request PSI has received asking for solidarity and support from affiliates.
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14 September 2007

PSI was recently informed by the El Salvador Ministry of Health that all 8 trade unionists had been released.

Arbitrary detention of nurses’ union leaders in El Salvador

PSI is calling on its affiliates to send letters of protest to the Salvadoran government following the arrest of 8 members of the Executive Board of the Trade Union of Nursing Workers of El Salvador, SIGEESAL, members of the Salvadoran Trade Union Front (Frente Sindical Salvadoreño). The union leaders were arrested in the city of Ahuchapán and Santa Ana, early in the morning of 4^th September by members of the National Police at the hospitals or health centres where they work or at their homes. There are also arrest warrants issued against other union leaders as well.

The arrests were a result of solidarity actions, which members of SIGEESAL had undertaken in support of other union members in the Department of San Vicente. In San Vicente, the union had called for work stoppages in the administration of the National Hospital of Santa Gertrudis and other health units to protest against privatisation of health services and the acute shortages of medicines in public health clinics. The SIGEESAL union in San Vicente had also denounced embezzlement and misuse of funds on the part of the Regional Public Health Director, Manual Abarca. SIGEESAL branches throughout El Salvador had participated in these protests, including in the Western region and the main Hospital Rosales in the capital, San Salvador.

These earlier protests had taken place on 6^th July. The Director General of the Hospital Services, Dr. Alcides Urbina, called union representatives for a meeting on 9^th July, and in a spirit of dialogue, agreed to enter negotiations to discuss their demands and to open an inquiry into the charges of embezzlement. He also agreed that there would be no reprisals against those who took part in the actions on 6^th July. 

However, in Santa Ana, these commitments have not been honoured. The 8 persons arrested have been accused under new terrorist legislation, Ley Especial Contra Actos de Terrorismo. The health workers arrested are Ana Luz Ordoñez Castro, Mirian Ruth Castro Lemus, Elsa Yanira Paniagua, Noemí Barrientos de Pérez, Ana Graciela de Carranza, Jorge Emilio Pérez, Manuel Trejo Artero, and Anemias Armando Cantadeiro. This is particularly sad, as the Salvadoran government has only just ratified ILO Conventions 87 and 98, which came into force in El Salvador on 7 September.

SIGEESAL has only recently managed to obtain its legal registration. It has become known for its campaign to oppose the privatisation of public health services and calls for increased investment in quality health services for all. 

PSI has sent a protest letter to the Salvadoran government calling for their release. PSI supports the demands of SIGEESAL and has sent a letter to the government of President Elías Antonio Saca, calling for the immediate release of the 8 union leaders in Santa Ana, an end to the harassment and intimidation of union leaders and full guarantees for freedom of association and collective bargaining. 

PSI is asking its affiliates to send similar letters of protest to the government of President Saca; you may use the attached model letter (in Spanish) or the online form (www.world-psi.org/urgentaction). Please remember to send copies of your letters to the PSI subregional office in Central America (oscar.rodriguez@psi-ca.org) and to PSI Headquarters at rights@world-psi.org as well as to the El Salvador mission in your country.

 View PSI's letter
Download model letter (word)
Previous Urgent Action on El Salvador

_____________________________________________

Model Letter

Señor Elías Antonio Saca González
Presidente de la República de El Salvador
Casa Presidencial
Alameda Dr. Manuel Enrique Araujo 5500
Frente a Canal 6
San Salvador 
EL SALVADOR

Fax: +503 2243 7857/+503 2243 9930
E-Mail: fmelgar@presidencia.gob.sv.

Estimado Señor Presidente, 

Arresto arbitrario de dirigentes/as de un sindicato de personal de enfermería

Le escribo en nombre (Name of your organisation and country) para pedirle tenga a bien ordenar la liberación inmediata de las 8 personas arrestadas el pasado 4 de septiembre en Ahuchapán y Santa Ana. Estas personas, miembros de la junta directiva del Sindicato de Gremio de Trabajadores/as de Enfermería de El Salvador (SIGEESAL), son: 

• Ana Luz Ordoñez  Castro,
• Mirian Ruth Castro Lemus,
• Elsa Yanira Paniagua,
• Noemí Barrientos de Pérez,
• Ana Graciela de Carranza,
• Jorge Emilio Pérez,
• Manuel Trejo  Artero,
• Anemias Armando Cantadeiro

Nuestra organización brinda su pleno apoyo a las reivindicaciones de SIGEESAL y pide a su gobierno tenga a bien entablar negociaciones de buena fe con el sindicato para garantizar el suministro de servicios públicos de calidad para todas y todos y su pleno y efectivo derecho a la libertad sindical y la negociación colectiva, de conformidad con los Convenios 87 y 98 de la OIT, que su gobierno acaba de ratificar.

Atentamente,

(Name and signature of the President and/or General Secretary)
(Name of your organisation and country)

Copies:

• Ministro de Trabajo y Previsión Social, Roberto Espinal (Fax: +503 22093730/E-mail: informacionwmtps.gob.sv)
• Ministro de Salud, Guillermo Maza (Fax: +50322210991)
• Misión de El Salvador
• ISP Interaméricas: psiamericas@verizon.net
• ISP América Central: oscar.rodriguez@psi-ca.org

_________________________________________________________________________

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