90 years after the historic protest against “Mamita Yunai” in Costa Rica
On July 16, the National Commission for the Commemoration of the National Day of Banana Workers held a forum as part of the agenda of initiatives for the rescue, vindication and celebration of one of the most relevant milestones in the union history of Costa Rica. Marielos Aguilar, historian and specialist in the history of the Costa Rican social and union movement, spoke with La Rel.
“In Costa Rica, banana workers occupy a very important position in the national labour movement’s struggle for rights, especially from the 1930s onwards when they came into contact with the recently founded Costa Rican Communist Party,” said Aguilar.
One of its founders, Carlos Luis Fallas “Calufa”, also worked as a banana worker and labour leader, as well as a writer. This experience was captured in his masterpiece “Mamita Yunai”, about the inhuman living and working conditions on the banana plantations of the United Fruit Company (UFCO), the first Costa Rican novel.
“Fallas’ work was extremely important, contributing significantly to the creation of basic cells in each plantation and to the convening of the first congress of the organized banana sector,” explained the historian.
Everybody on strike!
On August 4, 1934, in Guápiles, workers from the UFCO banana plantations (today Chiquita Brands) agreed to put their demands into a document, which they would then hand over to the manager of the American transnational.
If the demands, which included recognition of the union, wage increases, eight-hour work days, overtime pay and health services, were not met, the next step would be a general strike.
After signing an agreement with the union that was never fulfilled and using various tricks, the fruit company managed to dismantle the protest.
However, between 9 and 10 September of the same year a new strike broke out, which this time was violently repressed.
“This is certainly the most bitter, painful and cruel part of this heroic feat of the organized banana workers who, despite the strong repression, knew how to mark the beginning of an irreversible process,” said Aguilar.
Claiming deeds and memory
In 2016, the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica approved Law 9393, which established August 4 of each year as Banana Worker’s Day.
For the specialist, in the history of the Costa Rican labour movement, reclaiming this date is extremely important, especially for the new generations.
“Costa Rica must legitimize this recognition of workers who were a true bastion of private sector unionism,” he said.
Ninety years have passed and the violation of labour and trade union rights in the agricultural sector, and in the private sector in general, continues to be a cause for deep concern.
If we compare the demands of banana workers almost a century ago with what is happening today in the Costa Rican agro-industrial sector, we realize that the conditions remain almost the same.
The crisis of the educational system
“Unfortunately, the process of privatization of higher education has led to new teachers being unaware of or not giving these achievements the importance they deserve.
The same educational programs, the historian continued, are devoid of information about a national identity that has also been forged in the struggle of the working class.
We have to reposition August 4 as an example of bravery, courage, strength, class identity, as a message of hope that we cannot forget,” Aguilar concluded.
Related article: The day banana workers said enough is enough!
Source: Rel UITA