Suprising Solidarity:
Honduran Maquila Unions Catch Bosses Off-Guard!

On July 29, 2002, two different Honduran maquila unions were able to close the distance and catch their employers by surprise. First, a group of workers that had been organizing in secret at the Corazon Apparel maquila factory shocked plant management by announcing their formation of a union, called SITRACOR. Later that same morning, leaders of STEYY, the year-old union at the Yoo Yang maquila, informed their factory’s management that they intended to provide enthusiastic support to SITRACOR. The factories, located in different industrial parks in different towns outside of San Pedro Sula, are owned by the same Korean company.

Immediately after notifying management of the union’s existence, the three most active leaders of SITRACOR were illegally fired. The Labor Ministry failed to respond to the union’s petition for reinstatement of the leaders. But - the SITRACOR leaders found an enthusiastic ally in STEYY. "If Corazon and Yoo Yang are sister factories, SITRACOR and STEYY are sister unions," said STEYY’s general secretary, Maria Elena Muñoz. "We wanted to show the bosses what that means."

The two unions drafted a joint letter to company owner David Chang in Korea requesting his intervention. At the same time, US solidarity organizations did the same. The years of organizing and public international campaigning for the STEYY union paid off and Chang’s response was immediate. Before the unions even sent their letter, Chang ordered local management to reinstate the Corazon leaders. Meanwhile, workers showed their overwhelming enthusiasm to organize – one third of the 350 workers at Corazon joined the union the same day the union leaders returned to the factory.

Yet, Corazon’s local management continued a harassing anti-union campaign and began calling workers into the office demanding that they affiliate to a company-sponsored union. Not missing a beat, the STEYY and SITRACOR leaders revised their letter to David Chang, requesting that he travel from Korea to Honduras to discuss with them the company union and harassment of SITRACOR unionists.

Meanwhile, STEYY and SITRACOR’s solidarity continued to beat back Yoo Yang and Corazon managers. The next day, managers of both plants were greeted at the Corazon factory by STEYY members holding posters and singing chants in support of their SITRACOR sisters and brothers. "Why are you trying to give me a heart attack?" one exasperated manager reportedly asked the unionists. "We just want you to know we’re serious," replied Jesus Banegas, STEYY’s vice president. They spend the rest of the afternoon helping SITRACOR sign up new members. A week later, on August 9, David Chang arrived in Honduras, met with SITRACOR and told them he would not recognize a management-formed union.

STITCH will support further exchanges of solidarity and skills between these two unions. In workshops planned for this fall, STITCH will help coordinate trainings with STEYY leaders on communication and leadership skills. Now, these leaders will also help coordinate trainings for their SITRACOR brothers and sisters on topics like contract negotiations and building power in the factory.

Currently, SITRACOR continues to build membership. They are identifying leaders throughout the factory and organizing area by area to ensure majority backing for the union. According to leader Sobeida Montes, the support of their sisters at STEYY has been key in keeping the new union’s energy strong. "In these struggles, we all have to fight for each other’s well being. None of us can do it alone."