Take Action Now: Ask your Representative to enforce the labor laws set out in CAFTA and to suspend military aid to Honduras.
June 28 marked the tenth anniversary of the U.S.-backed coup that ousted democratically elected President Manuel Zelaya and unleashed a decade of violence in Honduras. Over the last several weeks, Honduran security forces have killed and wounded teachers, students, health care workers and other Honduran citizens protesting cuts to the health and education system. In many incidents across the country, security forces have harmed protesters by shooting live bullets and tear gas indiscriminately.
The suffering of the Honduran people is deep and the repression needs to stop. Maryknoll Missioners have long advocated for human rights and trade policies that protect workers in Central America. We invite you to join us in doing so today.
Please click HERE to ask your U.S. Representative to sign a letter to protect workers' rights in Honduras under the Central American Free Trade Agreement, and to join the International Workers’ Rights Caucus. The letter, copied below, is from Rep. Schakowsky. The deadline to sign is Friday, July 12, 2019.
The text of the letter is as follows:
Join the International Workers’ Rights Caucus and Sign onto Honduras Labor Rights Violations Letter
Deadline: Friday, July 12, 2019
Current Caucus Members (14): Jan Schakowsky (Chair), Raúl M. Grijalva (Vice Chair), Andy Levin (Vice Chair), Mark Pocan, Ilhan Omar, Marcy Kaptur, James P. McGovern, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Zoe Lofgren, Hank Johnson, Paul Tonko, Anna Eshoo, Pramila Jayapal, Debbie Haaland
Current Letter Co-Signers (22): Jan Schakowsky, Raúl M. Grijalva, Andy Levin, Barbara Lee, Ilhan Omar, Marcy Kaptur, Jamie Raskin, James P. McGovern, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mark Pocan, Jose Serrano, Zoe Lofgren, Hank Johnson, Bobby Rush, Pramila Jayapal, Debbie Haaland, David Cicilline, Chuy Garcia, Paul Tonko, Anna Eshoo, Tim Ryan, Nydia Velazquez
Letter Endorsed by: AFL-CIO
Dear Colleague:
Please join the International Workers’ Rights Caucus, which will serve as a voice for millions of working people around the globe. Through the Caucus, we will raise awareness of worker exploitation and promote the enforcement of labor rights internationally.
As the first action of the Caucus, I invite you to join me in sending a letter to Secretary of Labor Acosta and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Lighthizer to raise our concerns regarding labor rights violations in Honduras, especially in the melon and palm oil sectors. In light of these violations, we must urge Secretary Acosta and Ambassador Lighthizer to take action and enforce the labor laws set out in the Central American Free Trade Agreement. Please see the letter text below.
To join the Caucus and/or to sign onto the letter, please contact Kate Durkin in Representative Schakowsky’s office at kate.durkin@mail.house.gov by July 12, 2019.
Sincerely,