Definitive Report - REPORT_NO218, November 1982

1. 59. The complaint is contained in a communication from the Latin American Central of Workers dated 15 July 1982. The Government's reply is contained in a communication dated 13 August 1982.
2. 60. Honduras has ratified the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87), and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98).

A. The complainant's allegations

1. 61. In its communication of 15 July 1982, the Latin American Central of Workers alleges that 300 workers of the municipality of San Pedro Sula were arrested on the order of the Mayor of the town, and that one of the detainees is Mr. Israel Salinas, President of the trade union to which these workers belong. According to the complainant, the arrests took place when workers demanded compliance with the collective agreement, reinstatement of 60 dismissed workers and payment of trade union dues amounting to 26,000 lempiras, which had been withheld.

B. The Government's reply

1. 62. In its communication of 13 August 1982, the Government states that the workers of the municipality of San Pedro Sula were arrested for one day for attacking municipal property, and were released the next day.

C. The Committee's conclusions

1. 63. The Committee observes that in the present complaint the complainant has alleged that 300 workers of the municipality of San Pedro Sula, including a trade union leader, were arrested for demanding that certain claims be met. The Government, for its part, has stated that the detained workers were released the next day and that the reason for the arrests was an attack on municipal property.
2. 64. The Committee also observes that in their brief communications neither the complainant nor the Government has provided details on the circumstances of the attack in question and that, in particular, it is not possible, from these communications, to assess the extent to which the workers of the municipality committed acts of violence. In consequence, in the absence of more detailed information on the basis of which conclusions might be reached on the allegations made and considering that the workers who took part in the attack on the property of the municipality of San Pedro Sula were apparently released the day after their arrest, the Committee considers that this case does not call for further examination.