Petition against Persecution of Costa Rican Union Leaders for Opposing CAFTA

To: Dr. Óscar Arias Sánchez, President of Costa Rica
Francisco Morales Hernández, Minister of Labor
We, the undersigned Australian union members and supporters of free speech and association, call on the government of Costa Rica to stop retaliating against union leaders who oppose implementation of the Central American Free Trade Agreement.
We adamantly insist that you rescind the disciplinary actions, and threats of action, against the union officers listed below who have worked for years in public service and who are tireless advocates for workers rights:
Alicia Vargas, Secretary of the Women Workers section of the Staff Union of the National Insurance Institute (UPINS);
Luis Salas, General Secretary of UPINS and the Central Labor Council (CGT);
Fabio Chavez, General Secretary, and Executive Board members Francisco Aguilar and Jorge Vega, Association of Employees of the Costa Rican Institute of Electricity (ASDEICE);
Jose Luis Castillo, Financial Secretary of the port workers union in Limon and Moín SINTRAJAP); and