MIREYA RODRIGUEZ RODRIGUEZ

I was born in Golfito in the Province of Puntarenas in South West Costa Rica in September 1958.

I have three daughters and one grandaughter. I am a single mother and have raised my three chldrenon my own. Two of my daughters now go to university and the third (pictured) is in the fourthgrade of secondary school.

Since the age of seven I began working in the school holidays picking coffee beans. My parentsworked in coffee plantations, then went to work in the banana plantations.

Because I was one of nine children I wasn't able to finish secondary school; I lost my mother when Iwas very young, which meant I was obliged to go and work in the banana packhouses. I worked inseveral plantations, but one day got sick of this enslaving work and decided to change jobs.

I found work in hotels, tourist chalets, waitressing, as a clothes' shop assistant and a cook in cafés.

In 1980 I came to live in Siquirres, where I still live. I was involved with the union since thebeginning, but didn't start working directly with SITRAP until 1992, when they offered me anoffice job. But the union's lack of finances meant that I had to go back to my previous work.

One day in Janauary 2004, I was working in a local café kitchen when the compañeros fromSITRAP came to see me and proposed that I come back to work with them. Now I am a member ofthe union executive committee and have the responsibility for the Women's Secretariat.

I also coordinate the Women's Committee of the Costa Rican Banana Workers' Union CoordinatingBody (COSIBA-CR). I am employed as an organiser and have responsibility for quite a fewplantations, together with my two other compañero organisers.”

MRR, Siquirres, 31st January 2007