PSAC National President Chris Aylward has written to Prime Minister Trudeau to condemn the escalating violence against unions and union leaders in Haiti and to urge the Canadian government to take action. 

PSAC is deeply concerned by the criminalization and punitive actions against Haitian union leaders by the government of Jovenel Moïse. We are aware of several repressive actions, including the forced transfers of union leaders Magalie George and Georges W. Franck, the salary suspension of Josué Mérilien, and the issuance of arrest warrants against union leaders Josué Mérilien, Jeanty Manis, Wilmann Joseph, Adeka Israel, Eliscart Jimmy, and Exantus Rigaud in the education sector. 

This wave of systemic repression –including dismissals, arbitrary arrests and death threats –is targeting the few sectors where workers have been able to organize unions. Unions in Haiti, along with Public Services International (PSI) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) have reported that attacks against unions by government ministers in Haiti are now common.  

The collusion and corruption of the Haiti government can no longer be ignored by Canada and the international community. PSAC is urging the Canadian government to condemn this repression and act immediately.  

For more details, you can read the full letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.