GMB UK Press Release – GMB is calling for Fyffes, the Irish multinational fruit company, to improve working conditions for Honduran and Costa Rican plantation and farm workers and to pay them a living wage.

At an advisory meeting to the EU-Central America Association Agreement on March 1st, Bert Schouwenburg, one of 3 European trade union representatives, condemned Fyffes behaviour on its Honduran melon plantations and Costa Rican pineapple farms.

Fyffes, with operations in Europe, the US, Central and South America, announced a 12.1% increase in total revenue in 2015 to €1,222.5m on Friday 26th February.Their profit before tax See notes to editors for Fyffes financial highlights.

Bert Schouwenburg, GMB international officer, said, “The sustainable development chapter of the EU-Central America agreement specifically stipulates that all parties should adhere to and respect domestic and international laws on freedom of association and collective bargaining.

Disgracefully, Fyffes has increased its profit margin by exploiting a culture of impunity in Honduras and taking advantage of weak regulation in Costa Rica.

There is simply no excuse for this sort of corporate delinquency and no reason for Fyffes not to treat its workers properly in line with the norms of the discredited Ethical Trading Initiative of which, inexplicably, they are allowed to remain a member.”

About GMB

GMB is a campaigning trade union focused on protecting GMB members in their workplaces and growing the number of GMB members in order to strengthen the Union’s power.

GMB has been in existence for over 12 decades and has grown to be one of Britain’s most powerful and forward looking forces for change. It is made up of a number of unions who have merged over the last 120 years to become GMB – Britain’s General Union.