Very little information on union activity in the construction industry and state response to such activity could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, in an overview of recent actions on behalf of its affiliate unions, the International Federation of Building and Wood Workers (IFBWW) reported in April 1999 that workers associated with the Sindicato de Obreros de la Industria de la Construcción en Anexos Similares de El Salvador (SOICSCES) had not received wages from their employer, José Cartellone Construcciones Civiles, for a number of months. In response to this situation, the IFBWW's Latin American office "sent a letter to the Minister of Public Works in El Salvador and extended its support to .. SOICSES" (ibid.).

No reports of a violent strike in 1998 in Villa Victoria involving construction workers could be found among the sources consulted. This was corroborated by an administrator in the office of the governor of Cabañas, the department in which Villa Victoria is located (23 Sept. 1999). The administrator stated that she was not aware of any strikes in the construction industry in Villa Victoria in 1998, adding that there was little construction or union activity going on in Cabañas in general (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

International Federation of Building and Wood Workers (IFBWW). April 1999. "El Salvador: Non-Payment of Workers' Salaries." http://www.ifbww.org/~fitbb/TRADE_UNION_RIGHTS/IFBWW_Actions_in_Defence_o.html [Accessed 29 Sept. 1999]

Office of the Governor of Cabañas, El Salvador. 23 September 1999. Telephone interview with administrator.

Additional Sources Consulted

Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union Rights [Brussels]. 1995-1999.

Central America NewsPak [Austin, Texas]. 1990-Sept. 1999.

Central America Report [Guatemala City]. 1990-Sept. 1999.

El Diario de Hoy [San Salvador]. 1997-Sept. 1999.

International Federation of Building and Wood Workers (IFBWW) Website.

International Labour Organization Website.

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. 1998.

Mesoamerica [San Salvador]. 1991-Sept. 1999.

La Nacion [San José]. 1996-Sept. 1999.

La Prensa Grafica [San Salvador]. Jan.-Sept. 1999.

Red Obrera Website.

Revista ECA [San Salvador]. 1997-Sept. 1999.

La Tribuna [Managua]. 1997-Sept. 1999.

Unsuccessful attempts to contact an oral source in Villa Victoria.

Electronic sources: IRB Databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, WNC.