LASC

On 29th May 2003 supporters of the Latin America Solidarity Centre (LASC) mounted a picket on the Fyffes shareholders' AGM in the Burlington Hotel. The protest was in support of banana workers in Belize who are trying to form a union to protect their labour rights. Workers in Belize have been intimidated and fired because they joined a trade union. Fyffes have stood idly by despite their promise to protect worker's rights and hold their suppliers to account. For a company so proud of their good name, Fyffes is still 'slipping up' on workers' rights. The picket generated considerable press coverage, with photographs in some of the next day's broadsheets.

One World Week 2003

A group of young people met with Irish banana giants Fyffes on 19 March 2003 to hand over around 2000 signed postcards, which were collected for the One World Week campaign to encourage Fyffes to improve conditions for banana workers in Belize. Fyffes, the largest importers of bananas in the EU, has a code of practice that purports to promote workers rights and has signed up to the Ethical Trading Initiative, but the delegation of young people is concerned that the banana workers in Belize are being ignored. One World Week is a project of the National Youth Council of Ireland. It explores local and global justice issues with young people in youth organisations throughout Ireland and provides them with opportunities to act for a more just world. The 2003 One World Week campaign was 'Could Do Fyffe Times Better?' The campaign called on Fyffes to use their influence as exclusive buyers of Belize bananas to ensure:

- Banana workers in Belize know their rights

- Workers are free to join trade unions without sanctions

- Irish consumers have access to Fair Trade bananas on a regular basis around the country

Back to Banana Trade

Back to Issues

Back Home