Guatemala: Another Trade Unionist Murdered

Guatemala: Another Trade Unionist Murdered

Brussels, 30 September 2010 (ITUC OnLine): The ITUC, together with its Guatemalan affiliates, the CGTG, CUSG and UNSITRAGUA, has firmly condemned the murder of Fredy Geovani López Caal, disputes secretary of the hospital workers' union Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de Salud de Guatemala del Hospital Nacional de Melchor de Mencos Peten.

According to the information received by the ITUC, Fredy López was murdered on the night of 27 September, on leaving the farewell held for a doctor who had resigned from the hospital in Melchor de Mencos. He was shot to death by unknown assailants.

In a letter http://www.ituc-csi.org/otro-sindicalista-asesinado-en.html?lang=es to the Guatemalan authorities, the ITUC joined with its affiliates in calling for urgent steps to ensure a full and prompt investigation into this terrible crime.

"This is yet another demonstration of the risks involved in being a trade unionist in Guatemala," said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow. "It is vital that the authorities commit to fully respecting the core ILO Conventions ratified by Guatemala, so that trade unionists can freely exercise their trade union activities without risking their lives."

The ITUC represents 176 million workers in 151 countries and territories and has 301 national affiliates. http://www.ituc-csi.org and http://www.youtube.com/ITUCCSI

For more information, please contact the ITUC Press Department on: +32 2 224 0204 or +32 476 621 018