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The ITF and UNI have pledged to stand by a worker in Panama who has received a written warning from his DHL employer for participating in the solidarity action day for Monica Okpe; she was sacked by the company in Norway for her union activities.

Rogelio Cuvillier, leader of the Sindicato de Empleados de Líneas Aéreas de Panamá (SIELAS) and other members took part in the action organised by the ITF and UNI on 10 October in front of the DHL Aero Expreso facilities at the airport cargo terminal in Tocumen. The action was filmed by Jorge Agrazal, known to have a close relationship with company management.

Ten days later, the regional human resources manager Maria Stella Ojeda called Cuvillier into her office and presented him with a letter from the chief executive officer Steve Getzler, dated 14 October. In it, Getzler says he is disappointed that the protest went ahead, claims that it was a “low level spectacle” and criticises the slogans used by the demonstrators. He also singles out Cuvillier, stating that his livelihood and that of his family depended on DHL Aero Expreso and that if he did not like it, he should resign.

It has also been reported that the company is using its internal rules and parts of the collective agreement to justify discriminating against Cuvillier – he was accused of gross negligence regarding the “internal hierarchy” for sending an email to DHL staff outside DHL Aero Expreso.

Ingo Marowsky, ITF organising globally coordinator, commented. “This kind of harassment for participating in legal solidarity action is completely unacceptable. The ITF and UNI stand by ready to provide Rogelio and SIELAS with whatever support they need.”

Neil Anderson, UNI head of post and logistics, added: “We will raise this matter with management at global level. How can they say they abide by international standards and then dish out this kind of treatment? It’s deplorable.”