Following the international campaign, in conjunction with the Haitian labour organisation, Batay Ouvriye, to support the demands on unionised workers on the Grand Marnier orange plantation in Haiti, Marnier-Lapostolle has acceded to some of the workers’ demands, and granted improvements in pay and conditions.

The French company Marnier-Lapostolle had faced pressure from the newly formed trade union SOML (Sendika Ouvriye Marnier Lapostolle) which represents 300 workers at the plantation near the northern city of Cap-Haitien, and also from an international solidarity campaign spearheaded by the Haiti Support Group and the French Reseau- Solidarité.

Marnier-Lapostolle had stalled the negotiation process for nearly a year. In June, without any consideration for the difficult situation of the workers, Daniel Zephir, manager of Novella, Marnier-Lapostolle's local partner, left Haiti and went to France for his summer vacation. However his stay in France coincided with the launching of a new letter campaign in support of the workers by trade unions in the United Kingdom. In less than a week, Zephir was summoned to the Marnier-Lapostolle head quarters. Then he rushed back to the plantation in Haiti where he informed plantation workers and officials of the Haitian Social Affairs Ministry that he had received formal instructions to reach a settlement. On July 25 2000 Zephir, SOML members and representatives of the Ministry of Social Affairs signed a formal document in which they laid down some provisions for changes regarding working conditions and wages.

The Union’s position remained steadfast, and endorsed unanimously by every worker at the plantation, throughout the negotiations. They believed that their original demands were modest and had been surprised by the ferocious resistance of Marnier-Lapostolle and their Haitian management. In addition, their salary demands dated back a year, with inflation of 12%.

Settlement details:

Day labourers were asking for 100 gourdes and received 95 gourdes per day ($4.75) - a 55% rise;

Pickers were asking for 7.35 gourdes per box, and received 7.25 gourdes per box - a 57% rise;

Cutters were asking for 25 gourdes per box, and received 25 gourdes per box;

Graters were asking for 35 gourdes per box, and received 35 gourdes per box.

In addition, pickers received the promise of assistance by a second person to collect the oranges from the ground and cutters were guaranteed the retention of the 2 worker-team.

Even more importantly, Marnier_Lapostolle stated: "these salaries should be reviewed in the future, according to economic changes...the company intends to continue the process of improving working conditions and will work toward changing the material conditions and existence of the plantation personnel".