Call Today to Support Democracy in Honduras

Honduran unions are helping lead popular resistance to the June 28, 2009 coup when democratically elected Honduran President Zelaya was dragged out of bed, abducted, and forced to fly to Costa Rica. The union movement immediately called a national strike joined by, among others, Chiquita banana worker union members who gave up a day's pay and more to participate. Teachers unions, the largest in the country, continue on strike, shutting down the education system while thousands of workers have joined peaceful protests that have been met with teargas.

The international trade union movement continues to weigh in on its opposition to the coup, support for Honduran unions, and support for democracy and worker rights.

Under the de facto administration, the Honduran Congress has suspended civil liberties, including freedom of association, in a move that escalates the conflict and increases the risk of more violence, while some Honduran employers have reportedly forced their workers to take part in marches supporting the de facto administration.  The International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation (ITGLWF), a global union that represents workers in the footwear and apparel sectors, also expresses deep concern about worsening working conditions, including the efforts to rescind a wage increase ordered by President Zelaya earlier this year in order to reflect the increased cost of food and other essentials.

Take action today to help ensure that the White House uses every means at its disposal to ensure the reinstatement of President Zelaya and the restoration of democracy in Honduras. Urge your representative to condemn the military coup, which has resulted in the reported killing of five people (including a journalist and a trade unionist) and oppression of thousands of peaceful protesters, of whom 180 have been detained and 18 accused of sedition. It is vital that the U.S. Congress take a firm stand against the coup.

Please call your congressional representative. Ask her/him to support the Delahunt-McGovern House Resolution on Honduras! The Delahunt-McGovern resolution calls for the reinstatement of Manuel Zelaya as President of Honduras, suspension of nonhumanitarian assistance and for international observation of the November elections. See text of H.Res.630 and a list of the original co-sponsors here. 

TAKE ACTION:

Call the Capitol switchboard, 202.224.3121 and ask to speak to your representative's foreign policy aide.

The Message:
I urge Representative ______________ to join in co-sponsoring House Resolution 630 introduced by Rep. Bill Delahunt (D-MA) and Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) demanding the reinstatement of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, suspension of nonhumanitarian assistance, and welcoming the mediation efforts of Costa Rican President Oscar Arias. It is important to your constituents in ______________ that the U.S. Congress takes a firm stance condemning this military coup and supporting democracy in Honduras--and the Latin American region.  Failure to reverse the coup—the first in Central America in over 15 years—could have dire consequences for the region.

Or send an e-mail to your representative's office with this same message below.

We need to get some momentum on the Honduras resolution.  You can check updated cosponsors of H.Res 630 on Thomas. http://thomas.loc.gov/