The Quetzaltenango Workers` Union, (UTQ), situated in the City of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. UTQ is a NON-PROFIT institution founded with the objective and purpose of supporting all honest workers, independent of the sector to which they belong, whether they are individuals, unionised, organised, confederated or popular organisations.

The purpose and objective of the UTQ is to defend the Constitutional Rights and protection of other laws, of any worker or organised sector. It is not authorised to grant positions in markets, which has been indicated in recent months, as everything was under control, but that from more or less four years ago the Municipal Authorities lost interest and control resulting in anarchy.

The Municipality alone can authorise places for the vendors. Only 25% of the vendors belong to the UTQ, and where they were located was clearly established by the Municipality, without affecting the free passage of citizens. Also, the fact that other people are taking advantage of the situation is not the fault of the UTQ.

The situation does not end there and we publicly state that comrade Patty Chan, Women`s Coordinator for UTQ, director of the Alfa and Omega self-employed workers` union, member of the provincial Tripartite Workers` Council, Women`s Network, has been a victim of murder threats, simply for proposing that all this should be finalised in a legal form between the Municipality and the Vendors, and for this reason pertinent measures are being taken in the investigations concerning this type of threat.

WE REJECT ALL ACTS OF INTIMIDATION, AND SAY NO TO VIOLENCE!
FOR THE UNITY OF THE WORKING CLASS
AND PEOPLE IN GENERAL
UTQ TAKES A STAND!