Victory for Haitian the additional guarantee that they will be per day, (SUS 4.75). This constitutes a
40 International Viewpoint #324 September-October 2000
55% raise over the miserable 52 gourdes (SUS 2.60) they were earning previously However, it is important to note that only a small number of workers are daily wage earners on the plantation. Most of them are working on a piece rate basis such as the orange pickers, cutters and graters.
Orange Pickers: Will earn 7.25 gourdes
S.O.M.L. (Sendika Ouvriye Marnier Lapostolle), the labor organization representing some 300 workers toiling at the MarnierLapostolle plantation in the North of Haiti, finally obtained some results after nearly one year of struggle. BATAY OUVRIYE
N July 25, 2000, Grand Marnier's local manager, Mr. Daniel ZEPHIR, members of the Executive Committee representing the workers on the orange plantation and representatives of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor signed a formal document in which they laid down some provisions for a minimal change regarding working conditions and wages starting as of July 31, 2000.
Struggle
These results were obtained largely due to the unwavering struggle of the unionized agricultural laborers of the MarnierLapostolle plantation as well as the international solidarity campaign on their behalf. As a matter of fact Grand Marnier backed down after a long period of stalling and blocking the negotiation process. Without any consideration for the difficult situation of the workers, Daniel Zephir left the talks and went to France for his summer vacation. However his stay in France coincided with the relaunching of a letter campaign in support of the workers by solidarity organizations, unions in Europe.
In less than a week, Zephir had to rush back to the plantation and informed the workers and officials of the Labor Department, with a letter from Grand Marnier stating that he had received formal instructions to conclude this round of negotiations.
The letter says the following: "Conscious of the economic and social role it plays in Haiti, the SPML (Societe des Produits Marnier Lapostolle) gives mandate to Mr. Zephir negotiations". The company offered 86 Gdes. per day for the daily laborers; 7 Gdes per case for the orange pickers with assisted by a second person, paid by management. This other worker will collect the oranges from the ground as the picker drops them from the trees; and 25 gourdes per case for the orange cutters, with the assurance that the 2 worker-team would be maintained as before. Thus, the negociations reopened and the workers won some of their overdue demands.
### Steadfast
The Union's position was steadfast. Given the fact that: 1) their original demands were quite modest and though did not expect such ferocious resistance from Grand Marnier's management. Therefore they were not going to give up anything without a fight.
2) their salary demands dated back nearly one year ago. And the yearly inflation rate was up from 12 to 15% eating away further their purchasing power. Their demand was merely a small wage adjustment, not a salary hike.
In their meetings they have decided that they will not budge on their initial salary demands. This position was endorsed by every worker of the plantation, and was put before Daniel Zephir since August of last year. When through the Department of Labor, he had asked to speak to all the workers, apart from the executive committee. Again and again, the workers response was unanimous that they would not accept less than 100 gourdes for day laborers, 25 and 7.5 gourdes per case for the pickers and cutters respectively.
The final round of negotiations regarding salaries was held at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor office on July 25th and both parties concluded on these terms: Day laborers: Will earn 95 gourdes per case (SUS 0.36), a 57% raise over their previous 4.10 G. This negotiation lasted almost as long as the previous one. And shocking as it is, Zephir begged the workers to accept a reduction of 0.25 gourdes from their initial demands (meaning one penny off each case).
Orange Cutters: As was mentioned above, Grand Marnier accepted this groups' initial demand as is presented, (i.e. 25 gourdes per case or SUS 1.25). This implies that a 2-worker-team making a number of 5 cases a day will earn SUS 6.25 or SUS 3.12 each.
Orange Graters: Due to the length of this negotiation talks, it was agreed that more discussions about specific wages will be done after the opening of the coming working season.
An important aspect must be disclosed concerning Grand Marnier's official letter. It says the following: "these salaries should be reviewed in the future, according to economic changes"... and the "company (SPML) intends to continue the process of improving working conditions and will work toward changing the material conditions and existence of the plantation personnel".
### Fight
Given the limited gains won for the coming season and the statements made by the company itself, the Union is already geared up to fight for its Year 2000-2001 agenda. Being the victims of this situation, the workers are resolute to fight for a solution to this problem for improving their working conditions and material existence as Grand Marnier management proclaims it in their letter.
Much more is needed to be done. Workers at the Marnier-Lapostolle orange plantation, while acknowledging the growing solidarity movement in support of their struggle to win basic demands from the management, will continue to count on your militant solidarity for the continuation of the campaign. The long struggle against the exploitation of all workers of the world continues..*
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