BWI General Secretary, Ambet Yuson and Saúl Méndez, President of the BWI Regional Committee for the Latin American and Caribbean Region, BWI Deputy President and General Secretary of SUNTRACS, Panama, send a solidarity message to the Latin American region in times of COVID-19.
(Video Script in English)
Saúl Méndez
Greetings to BWI organizations in the region. Greetings to our comrades of the Regional Committee.
It is a State’s responsibility to provide protection and tranquility in times of crisis. Governments must find ways to protect life before the economy.
We have undertaken activities to ensure workers' income, health, safety, and employment, including the informal, outsourced, and subcontracted sectors.
We have fought for our families, our communities; many of us are making donations and volunteer work. We call on employers to do the same. Temporarily paralyze construction projects and production where the health authorities require it or where the company and the trade union agree to do so, guaranteeing employment and wages, providing safety and health wherever it is agreed to continue working.
Let’s be vigilant of our CBAs and special agreements signed in times of crisis, in order to benefit those who really need it.
We want to be emphatic: workers won’t pay the price of this crisis. Go ahead, comrades. Let's keep fighting.
Ambet Yuson
The COVID-19 pandemic threatens everyone's health and safety, everyone's jobs and global economy.
The task of defeating this tragedy is a collective responsibility.
Workers are the most affected in this crisis. Therefore, we value the exceptional work done by BWI affiliated trade unions; all their efforts to guarantee safety, health, employment and wages.
Comrades: you make the difference. We continue working hard, in solidarity.