The union issued a statement claiming improvements for all workers, this year the trigger was a complaint facing customs officials who work on the Paysandú International Bridge.
The letter of complaints and claims of AFA
On September 22, from the Association of Customs Officials (AFA) we were present in the Administration of Customs of Paysandú, responding to a call from companions and colleagues who fulfill tasks on the General Artigas International Bridge.
The main reason for our visit was to accompany and listen to a group of workers who are going through a situation of extreme gravity: they have been subject to harassment and persecution through social networks, where their photos, names and ID numbers were publicly disseminated, accompanied by false accusations of crimes, slander and injury.
Following these publications, our colleagues had to face both administrative investigation and a criminal complaint before the Departmental Literate Prosecutor’s Office. In both cases, it was demonstrated that the imputations were absolutely unfounded. However, this unfair public exposure has left personal and labor sequelae, and most worrying: they have not had the necessary institutional support to face a situation that threatens their integrity, their emotional health and their right to good name.
Working conditions and operational reality
During the survey, we verify a reality that is already known in many parts of the country, but that reaches alarming levels here: our colleagues are working with a minimal and insufficient endowment, facing an operational overload that puts their health and the quality of the service at risk.
Today, each operating shift is being covered only by two workers, who must assume a multiplicity of tasks:
* Income and vehicular discharge control.
* Verification of foreign trade trucks.
* Inspection of Excursions and Private Vehicles.
* Administrative tasks of the customs role.
* Comprehensive attention of the Tax Free system, responsibility that falls exclusively on our colleagues, since the company
Global Blue does not have assigned personnel in place.
This multifunctionality scenario without sufficient human resources is generating a serious deterioration in the physical and mental health of our partners. Extreme tiredness, stress, anxiety and feeling of institutional abandonment are current currency. The operational pressure, added to external harassment, make up an unsustainable table.
Mayor and hygienic conditions
The building situation also shows the disinterest of the authorities to guarantee minimal conditions of decent working work:
* Sanitary: There are no exclusive bathrooms for customs personnel. The only available bath is for public use, and does not meet basic hygiene or privacy conditions.
* Equipment: Only two Gopro cameras are available to register procedures. This scarcity of technological media leaves our classmates exposed to false complaints and seriously limits their defense capacity.
* Interinstitutional collaboration: a worrying passivity was observed by the prefecture personnel in situations of aggression or contempt. While they are present in the place, they do not act as guarantors of the order or provide support to our colleagues when they need them.
Infrastructure and deposits
As for the general infrastructure, although the new administrative headquarters represents an improvement with respect to the previous premises, the operating area of the bridge remains critical.
There are currently more than 60 seized vehicles deposited with weathering, without custody or adequate space for your guard. These vehicles are a few meters from the workplace of our colleagues, in areas of free movement, which represents a risk for both personnel safety and the preservation of seized goods.
Conclusions
From AFA we find that our partners who develop tasks on the General Artigas Bridge are working in a context of absolute institutional, physical and emotional vulnerability, aggravated by:
* Public exposure with personal data without protection or support.
* The overload of tasks derived from a minimum endowment.
* The bad building and health conditions.
* The lack of technological tools for the registration and protection of actions.
* The lack of effective collaboration by other State forces.
Demands and proposals
Given this situation, from AFA we demand that the competent authorities act urgently and determined, implementing the following measures:
1. Strengthen the staffing, either by income or redistribution, to guarantee a safe and sustainable operation.
2. Demand Global Blue the effective presence of its staff for the attention of the Tax Free system.
3. Improve building conditions immediately, including exclusive, worthy and in adequate hygiene conditions.
4. Acquire more Gopro cameras, ensuring the coverage of all operating shifts and strengthening the defense of our colleagues to possible unfounded complaints.
5. Demand the active commitment of Prefecture, to intervene in situations of aggression or contempt and support workers who fulfill customs functions.
6. Relocate the vehicles seized in a safe property, outside the usual transit area, avoiding unnecessary risks.
7. Establish a clear and effective institutional protocol to protect our colleagues in situations of harassment, harassment or media persecution.
Final words
From AFA we will not allow the abuse, abandonment or exposure of our colleagues to be normal. We will continue to denounce each situation of injustice and demand the conditions that correspond to us by right: decent work, health, security and respect.
We reaffirm once again our commitment to the defense of labor rights, the integrity and well -being of all and all customs workers in the country.
