PARAGUAY: It has been one month since Hugo González Chirico, president of the IMF's Paraguayan affiliate, FETRAMPAR, began a hunger strike in protest at the steel company ACEPAR's abuse of workers' rights. González commenced his strike when company management not only suspended collective bargaining negotiations and dismissed over 20 workers without justification, but also reneged on agreements and commitments it had established through collective bargaining.
FETRAMPAR's education secretary, Genaro Hector Jara, has informed the IMF that González' state of health is now very weak. Although the conflict with ACEPAR is still not resolved, Jara says González remains optimistic that a solution will be found.
The union and its president have expressed their thanks and appreciation to all those who have given their support to this cause.