Minister of Labour: LAN Ecuador’s dismissal of trade union leader is unconstitutional
On leaving a meeting with LAN Ecuador’s manager and legal representative, Max Naranjo, at the transnational company’s
offices, arranged to try and resolve the dispute caused by the dismissal of the trade union leader, Jimena López, the
Minister of Labour, Carlos Ernesto Marx, said he is convinced that the dismissal violated Ecuador’s Constitution and
that, in the light of the company’s refusal to adopt a conciliatory position, legal action should be taken to demand her
reinstatement.
After meeting with LAN Ecuador management, the Minister of Labour, Carlos Ernesto Marx, told members of the Aerolane
Workers’ Trade Union (SITA) he is convinced that the dismissal of the trade union leader, Jimena López, is
unconstitutional. “The dismissal is unconstitutional”, said the minister, indicating frustration at the company’s
refusal to adopt a conciliatory stance and reinstate the trade union leader to her job.
Given LAN Ecuador’s refusal to reverse the illegal dismissal, the Minister of Labour said that legal action would be
required to re-establish the rights guaranteed to its citizens by the Ecuadorian Constitution.
In the afternoon of Tuesday 16 December, the Minister of Labour, Carlos Ernesto Marx, met LAN Ecuador’s manager and
legal representative, Max Naranjo, at the company’s offices in order to ensure “compliance with the Constitution” and to
mediate between the company and the workers, who have been taking action in the country and elsewhere in Latin America
since 10 October, to demand the reinstatement of trade union leader, Jimena López. The unions claimed the dismissal was
illegal and designed to prevent the union from organising in the company.
ENDS