Longshoremen and transport workers unions have joined together to offer a reward of $75,000 to anyone providing information that leads to the murderers of union organizer José Gilberto Soto this past November 5th in El Salvador.

Soto, a 49-year-old resident of Cliffside Park, NJ, was a tireless leader of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, who since the beginning of this year had been responsible for organizing efforts among the mostly Latino truck drivers in the seaports of Elizabeth and Newark.

Representatives from the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), the International Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union (ILWU), and the Teamsters decided to offer the reward, claiming that the Salvadoran authorities are effectively doing nothing.

Soto was murdered in his home country, where he was visiting not only to celebrate his 50th birthday, but also to investigate the large number of complaints about wages and poor working conditions suffered by seaport truckers in El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras.

Apparently Soto stepped out of his mother’s house in Usulatán to use a cell phone, when at least two assailants shot him three times in the back. He died almost instantly.

Union representatives from that part of the country think Soto’s murder is part of a conspiracy by a group that uses violence of all kinds to prevent the organization of unions in El Salvador.

Recently John Sweeney, President of the AFL-CIO, and James Hoffa, Teamsters President, met with René León, El Salvador’s Ambassador to Washington, to pressure the Salvadoran government to investigate the case seriously and to deal with those responsible for Soto’s murder.

Hoffa stated that he asked the Ambassador to assure protection for witnesses, the Soto family, and Salvadoran union leaders and activists. In response, León said he would be going to El Salvador next week to evaluate the investigation first hand.

Several members of the Soto family who live in El Salvador stated that the police had initially framed their investigation as one of a murder committed by street gangs, or as a drug-related killing; they denied that the union leader had been in any way involved in illegal activities.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has created a memorial fund for Soto, proceeds from which will go to pay the costs of transportation of his remains, and for his funeral.

For its part, the (Salvadoran) National Civil Police said the investigation remains active, and that the next few days could bring arrests in the case.

Donations can be sent to:

Gilberto Soto Memorial Fund

Wachovia Bank

Account # 1010110478249

358 Market Street

Saddle Brook, NJ 07662