C I S P E S
ACTION ALERT
November 22,1999
HEALTHCARE STRIKE IN SECOND WEEK IN EL SALVADOR
WORK SITES MILITARIZED BY NATIONAL CIVILIAN POLICE
INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE NEEDED>
Thousands of administrative workers, nurses and doctors of the Social
Security Institute of El Salvador are in their second week of a strike.The
Social Security Institute (ISSS) administers part of El Salvador's Public
Health system. The workers are demanding that the government stop their plan
to privatize health care; they are also demanding the government follow
through with a promised 20% salary hike.
The government has responded to the strike by militarizing work sites with
the National Civilian Police and by threatening to cut salaries and fire
workers participating in the strike. In spite of these obstacles, however,
the Union of Social Security Workers, STISSS, has been successful in
shutting down 100% of Social Security hospitals and offices throughout the
country. Workers from many sectors have expressed their solidarity with the
striking STISSS workers. They are threatening to join the strike if the
strikers' demands aren't met.
The STISSS workers need our political solidarity. They have asked the
international community to pressure Salvadoran President Francisco Flores
and the Salvadoran Embassy in the US. They are also asking for letters of
support for the striking workers.
Suggested Action:
Call or fax the Salvadoran Embassy in Washington, DC or the Consul General
at the consulate nearest to you (see sample fax below for demands)
Salvadoran Embassy in Washington DC: Tel (202)-265-9671 x229,
Rene Leon, Ambassador Los Angeles: Sr. Oscar Benavides Gutierrez tel- (213)
383-8599, fax-(213) 383 8599
Boston: Dra. Lorena Sol de Pool tel- (617) 577-9111, fax- (617) 577-9876
Chicago: Sr. Alfredo Angulo Delgado tel- (312) 332-1393, fax-(312) 332-4446
New York: Sra. Patricia Maza Pettsford tel- (212) 889-3608, fax- (212)
679-2835> Houston: Sra. Astrid de Ariz tel- (713) 270-6239, fax- (713)
270-9683,
San Francisco: Sr. Carlos Ernesto Gonzales tel- (415) 781-7924, fax- (415)
781-1136,
2. Fax the Salvadoran President, Francisco Flores, directly (see sample fax
in Spanish) 011-(503) 281-0018
3. Participate in CISPES's National Day of Action for Workers' Rights,
December 10. Contact your local CISPES committee for more information
4. Send letters of support to the striking STISSS workers. (Fax them, as
well as copies of your pressure letters, to the National CISPES office, and
we will forward them to STISSS.)
**************** Sample fax to the Salvadoran Ambassador or Consul General
to the United States.
Dear ____________ I am very concerned about the current social and economic
situation in El Salvador. Numerous polls have shown that the Salvadoran
people are opposed to the privatization of state services, especially health
care. I am closely monitoring the current situation of thousands of Social
Security workers, who are on strike to stop the privatization of the ISSS,
and to demand the raises promised them by the previous ISSS Administration
be given them. I am particularly concerned that the Salvadoran government
has responded to their strike by militarizing the work sites with the
National Civilian Police. This, as well as governmental threats to carry out
salary reprisals and fire workers participating in the strike, is
unacceptable.
As an American citizen concerned about the conditions of El Salvador and the
difficult situation Social Security workers face right now, I request you do
what you can to ensure the following:
-that the National Civilian Police immediately leave the work sites of the
striking workers
-that Social Security workers not be fired for mobilizing in defense of
their rights;
-that salary reprisal not be imposed on workers;
-that the Government and the Administration of the Social Security Institute
meet with union leaders to look for a mutually agreeablesolution to the
conflict;
-that the privatization of state services (health care, education, public
works, water, ports and airports) be stopped. I request that you forward my
concerns to the President of the Republic,as well as to the Administration
of the ISSS. I look forward to yourresponse.
Thank you. Sincerely,
**********************************************************************
Fax this text to the Salvadoran President, Francisco Flores: 011-(503)
281-0018 Francisco Flores Presidente de El Salvador Presente.
Estimado Presidente Flores,
Reciba mis mas cordiales saludos. Me dirijo a Ud para expresarle mi gran
preocupacin por la actual situacin poltica y social que vive su pais. Varias
encuestas de la opinin pblica muestran que el pueblo salvadoreo est en
contra de la privatizacin de los servicios pblicos, especialmente la salud.
Es de mi conocimiento la movilizacin de miles de trabajadores en contra de
la privatizacin de los servicios de salud, el incremento salarial
comprometido por la administracin previa, y la defensa de sus derechos. Se
de la miliarizacin de los centros de trabajo y de la persecucin que sufren
los trabajadores organizados. La amenaza de descuentos salariales y despidos
de los trabajadores quienes participan en las actividades sindicales, no es
acceptable.
Por todo lo anterior y como ciudadano estadounidense conocedor de la
preocupante realidad que viven los trabajadores del Seguro Social en estos
momentos, le solicito lo siguiente:
-que la Policia Nacional Civil sea removida de los centros de trabajo;
-que no haya despidos o descuentos a los trabajadores que participan en la
defensa de sus derechos;
-que el gobierno y la adminsitracin del ISSS busquen una solucin favorable
al conflicto suscitado con los trabajadores del Seguro Social;
-que no permita la privatizacin de los servicios pblicos (salud, educacin,
obras pblicas, agua, el puerto y el aeropuerto).
Sin mas por el momento, atentamente.
COMMITTEE IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF EL SALVADOR
>National Office: P.O. Box 1801, New York, NY 10159
>Phone: 212-229-1290 ~ fax: 212-645-7280
>www.cispes.org ~ cispesnatl@people-link.net
>Regional Offices: New York, NY 212-229-1290> San Francisco, CA
>415-648-6520>
>>>>>>>>>>
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