| Rémy Cointreau can resolve the St Raphaël orange plantation dispute
With the announcement of Rémy Cointreau's first quarter revenues of EUR 213.2 million (US$ 192 million/£134 million), up 30% from a year earlier, the Haiti Support Group renews its call for the French drinks giant to help resolve the dispute at an orange plantation in northern Haiti. For almost a year now, the Haitian company Guacimal SA, in which Rémy Cointreau owns a minority share, has been refusing to recognise or negotiate with the legally registered trade union of 300 workers at its St Raphaël plantation. The union went on strike at the end of last year but workers were forced back to work by the local Lavalas Family mayor. Then, in May, union members, together with local peasant farmers, occupied the plantation to protest against the violent conduct of the company's foremen, and in the hope that such drastic action would force Guacimal to negotiate a settlement regarding the union's claims for improved pay and better conditions. Now, on the eve of the new orange-growing season, and as Haitian families struggle to find the money to pay fees at the start of the school year, the Haiti Support Group calls on Rémy Cointreau to intervene. * Rémy Cointreau depends on the Haitian workers to produce the oranges from which it manufactures its famous Cointreau liqueur. * Rémy Cointreau claims it is concerned that Guacimal's St Raphaël workers are properly remunerated, and enjoy conditions and benefits as stipulated by Haitian labour legislation. * Yet, Rémy Cointreau has not used the considerable influence it has with Guacimal's management to induce it to negotiate with the legitimate workers' union. In October 2000, the Syndicat des Ouvriers de Guacimal St Raphaël proposed a wage increase so that the orange pickers and packers would earn 20 gourdes (80 US cents/55 pence) per box of oranges - workers can fill up to seven or eight boxes per day if there are sufficient oranges on the trees. The union also asked for the company to provide workers with gloves and boots, and hats to prevent wasp stings, to ensure an eight-hour working day with a one hour rest period, to pay overtime and sick-pay according to the law, to construct and stock a first-aid centre, and to contribute to health and pension national insurance schemes. With the news that Rémy Cointreau recorded a net profit of EUR94 million (US$ 84.6 million/£59 million) in the twelve months to 31 March 2001, the Haiti Support Group suggests it is surely cannot be a question of lack of funds that prevents a settlement in accordance with these very basic and eminently reasonable demands.
or to :
Rémy Cointreau Amerique Dear Ms Hériard Dubreuil, I understand that you feature in Fortune's list of the most powerful women in the world, and I congratulate you on your success as CEO of Rémy Cointreau. I am writing to ask if you could use some of your undoubted influence with your partner company in Haiti, Guacimal SA, and persuade it to negotiate a reasonable settlement with the workers' union at St Raphaël. As you may know, this legally registered union is seeking negotiations with Guacimal SA to discuss improvements in pay and conditions. However, since its inception as long ago as October 2000, the union has been denied the right to discuss these matters by the intransigence and hostility of the Guacimal management. I understand that the union's demands are eminently reasonable, and I implore you to intervene with the Guacimal management so that it first, ceases all acts of intimidation and violence directed at union members, and second, meets with the union officials to discuss and settle matters of mutual concern. Please let me know if you are prepared to take this action, and so preserve the reputation of your company. Yours sincerely
|