abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

21 Jan 2019

Author:
Fresh Fruit Portal

Following loss of Fair Trade certificate, Fyffes recognises union at its Honduras melon farm

“Fyffes recognizes Honduran melon farm union following Fair Trade USA decertification”, 18 of January, 2019

Ireland-based Fyffes has signed an agreement officially recognizing the Union of Agroindustrial Workers (STAS) as the representative of workers at its Honduran melon subsidiary Sur Agrícola de Honduras (Suragroh). The Federation of Agroindustrial Worker Unions (Festagro) said in a statement that STAS on Jan. 11 had held a meeting with representatives of the multinational owned by Japanese company Sumitomo. Collective bargaining negotiations between Fyffes and STAS are due to begin on Feb. 5, it said, adding that Fyffes also agreed to rehire union members by Jan. 21. The development comes after Fair Trade USA decertified Suragroh in December, saying the entity was non-compliant with several of its standards. It said that a “thorough on-the-ground audit and investigation” had confirmed issues related to wages and benefits, worker health and safety, and freedom of association. “STAS recognition from Fyffes is an important step toward improving working conditions at Fyffes’ subsidiaries, i.e. abiding by Honduran labor law and international labor standards; given that STAS is a legally constituted union with every right to represent Fyffes workers,” Festagro said…