Ecuador: TO THE WORKERS OF ECUADOR, TO THE TRADE UNIONS AND USERS OF THE IESS

We hereby share an unofficial translation of a statement by the Defense Front of the People’s Struggles in Ecuador.

The Ecuadorian People’s Struggle Defense Front denounces and condemns the reactionary maneuver that seeks to impose the opportunistic rat Jorge Moncayo Chica, secretary general of OSUNTRAMSA, as the supposed “representative of the workers” before the Board of Directors (Higher Council) of the IESS, in open violation of the law and against the interests of millions of members.

Let us be clear: we are not dealing with a “formality” or a legitimate “appointment” of a workers’ representative to the IESS Board of Directors to look after the interests of users, both active and retired; We are facing a political deal, an operation to silence the voice of the workers, a “payment” to Moncayo for his servility and the role he has been playing in the State campaign to demobilize workers and continue to sustain the anemic coffers of the IESS as the “petty cash fund” of the Noboa’s inept, repressive, and corrupt government, without dismissing the fact that it will become the spoils of the leadership and servile leaders.

The IESS has 3,850,541 members, that is, nearly four million active and voluntary workers, and therefore workers’ representation cannot be hijacked by the government imposing on us a lackey subordinate to its class interests.

The Social Security Law is clear regarding this type of appointment: the election of the members of the IESS Board of Directors must be carried out by equal, periodic, direct, and secret ballot; furthermore, the call for nominations and the appointment correspond to the National Electoral Council at the end of each term. Despite this, there has been an attempt to replace the will of millions with the self-appointment of “leaders” of the same ilk as Moncayo, who, between midnight and dawn, assumed the power to appoint this wretch, usurping the name of the workers and organizations they claim to represent.

The Social Security Law sets forth requirements that do not allow for biased interpretations. Among them, it requires a professional degree and having practiced the profession with proven integrity for a period of no less than ten years. Moncayo registered his law degree on October 8, 2012, but the law does not satisfy with “having a degree,” but rather with having effectively practiced with integrity.

Likewise, it is stated that he has been a public official for more than ten years, with a career linked to the health sector as an administrative assistant, without actually practicing law; it is even pointed out that “he never signed a single document as a sponsoring attorney.”

Therefore, he does not meet the requirement and does not have the required integrity.

In addition to the above, which is serious enough in itself, there is the political and trade union complaint made by this Front and grassroots workers in the health sector:

• During his tenure at the helm of the organization and despite repeated demands for accountability, Moncayo has failed to provide clear, complete, and verifiable reports on expenses, resource management, and financial decisions. This systematic refusal reveals not only opportunistic behavior, but also serious indications of allegedly criminal conduct: that of an individual who parasitizes workers, their organization, and their expectations, while accommodating himself to a government that makes work precarious. This makes an immediate audit, the full disclosure of supporting documentation, and public clarification of his actions urgent.
• Politically, he does not respond to the interests of the working class and the people. He collaborated with the marches called by the criminal government of Daniel Noboa, bringing out some unions to support the regime, and opposed the popular uprising, acting as the government’s political front man in the ranks of the working class and the people.
• He spoke out openly about the elimination of employer pensions in the private sector. This decision clearly expresses his position against the interests of workers.
• He signed a collective agreement with the government without achieving anything for the workers: no salary increase, real improvement, training nor guarantees; he only contributed so the government can show itself “having conversations” with the workers while it keeps the resources low, the unjust firing of workers, particularly in the health sector and increasing the precariousness of work.

In this context, the attempt to appoint him as a “representative” before the IESS is the “prize” or recognition given by the regime in exchange of his servile, collaborationist attitude and demobilization.

For all the above reasons:

We call on all trade union organizations in the country to reject this illegitimate and illegal nomination. We cannot allow the regime, in collusion with a group of traitors to the working class, to impose on us, behind the backs of millions of members, a servile, opportunistic representative of the workers who is clearly identified with the pro-imperialist, pro-Zionist, sell-out, hunger-inducing Noboa government. Therefore, we point out:

• Nullity and public rejection of any “appointment” made without a call for nominations and without an electoral process conducted by the CNE.
• Demand that the CNE fulfill its legal obligation and guarantee the corresponding election mechanism.
• Reject the use of the IESS as a platform for political patronage or as a showcase to whitewash the regime’s antisocial policies.
• We warn and denounce that Moncayo does not meet the legal, moral, and class requirements to lead the workers on the IESS Advisory Council.
• We call for assemblies to be held in unions, federations, and confederations; for formal resolutions of rejection to be issued; and for warnings to be issued that no leader should lend themselves to legitimizing this imposition.

The defense of the IESS and social security requires class independence, transparency, accountability, and consistent leadership. We reject false representatives and leaders who negotiate positions while working people pay for the crisis.

OUT WITH THE TENTACLES OF THE FASCIST GOVERNMENT OF THE IESS!

JORGE MONCAYO, YOU GOVERNMENT DOG!

OUT WITH MONCAYO FROM THE IESS AND THE UNION LEADERSHIP!