Honduras: Information on the Honduran health care workers union SITRAMEDHYS; on its structure, its affiliations, its hierarchy and significant events during the 1990s
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1996 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | HND23849.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Honduras: Information on the Honduran health care workers union SITRAMEDHYS; on its structure, its affiliations, its hierarchy and significant events during the 1990s, 1 May 1996, HND23849.E, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6acdf5a.html [accessed 5 November 2017] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The following information was provided to the DIRB during a 10 May 1996 telephone interview by a laboratory technician who is also responsible for SITRAMEDHYS' archives in its Tegucigalpa office.
The source stated that SITRAMEDHYS is the union that represents health care workers throughout the country. The union was founded in July 1965 in the city of San Pedro Sula and is affiliated with the Confederación de Trabajadores de Honduras (CTH), "the largest union centre in Honduras" (Trade Unions of the World 1992-1993, 206). The source reported that SITRAMEDHYS' membership numbers approximately 7,000, encompassing health workers of every sector. The union is divided among 53 regional locals (secciónales).
The union's national executive board (Junta Directiva Central) is elected in a congress which is held every two years. Executive board's positions, including, when available, the names of individuals currently holding the positions are as follows: President (Hugo Daniel Sanábria), Vice-President (unavailable), Secretary General (Lic. Efraim Figueroa), Treasurer (Ramón Avila) and the Secretaries of the Women's Affairs Department (Isis Hernandez), the International Relations Department (Francisco Méjia) and the Education Department (Marco Antonio Moreno).
SITRAMEDHYS participated in a general public sector strike which ended in April 1996. The strikers were demanding a salary increase. According to the source, no incidents of violence were reported during the strike.
In a 13 May 1996 telephone interview with the DIRB, SITRAMEDHYS' Secretary for Education stated that since the 1990 94-day strike against the privatisation of health services there have been no incidents of violence against SITRAMEDHYS' members on the part of the authorities. "Each negotiation since then has been carried out peacefully with the proper authorities. The union has received positive responses regarding some of the 14 claims it presented to the governement, such as the freeze of income tax, salary adjustments and the like". The Secretary also stated that the next congress to elect a new national board is scheduled for 26 July 1996.
Please see the attached documents for information on the assassination of some SITRAMEDHYS' leaders during the above-mentioned 1990 strike.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB 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
SITRAMEDHYS, Tegucigalpa, Honduras. 10 May 1996. Telephone interview with the individual responsible for the union's archives.
_____. 13 May 1996. Telephone interview with the Secretary for Education.
Trade Unions of the World 1992-93. 1991. 3rd ed. Revised and updated by Martin Upham. London: Longman Group UK.
Attachments
Hondupress (Boulder, Col.(. Vol. 6, No. 221. 30 June 1990. "Popular Organizations: No To Privatization," n.p.
_____. Vol. 6, No. 220. 15 June 1990. "Health Care Workers on Strike," pp. 5-6.
_____. Vol. 6, No. 219. 31 May 1990. "Popular Movement: SITRAMEDHYS Against Privatization," pp. 2-3.
_____. Vol. 6, No. 217. 15 February 1990. "Popular Movement: SITRAMEDHYS Opposes Privatization of Public Health Services," pp. 4-5.
_____. Vol. 6, No. 213. 14 November 1989. "The Economy: Health Workers Oppose Privatization," p. 5.
National Labor Committee in Support of Democracy and Human Rights in El Salvador. June 1991. Workers Rights and the New World Order: El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, pp. 31-32.
Additional Sources Consulted
Central America Newspak [Austin, Tx]. 1992-1996.
Central America Report [Guatemala City]. 1992-1996.
Central America Update [Toronto]. 1994-1996.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. 1992-1996. U.S. Department of State. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Reports. Daily
Human Rights Watch. 1992-1996. Human Rights Watch World Report. New York: Human Rights Watch.
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU). Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union Rights. 1994, 1995. Brussels: ICFTU.
Keesing's Record of World Events. 1992-1996. Edited by Roger East. London: Longman.
Trade Unions Bulletin [London]. Amnesty International. Monthly
Trade Unions in the World. 1989. London: St. James Press.
