Labor is Not a Commodity

Show your love for working mothers this Mother’s Day!

By Rachel Wallis, USLEAP

Instead of getting your mom chocolates or flowers again this year, think about making a donation in her name to support the basic rights of working mothers in Latin America. The US Labor Education in the America Project (USLEAP) has designed two beautiful Mother’s Day cards, each featuring a photo of a Colombian flower worker and her child. In exchange for a $25 donation to USLEAP’s Flower Worker Economic Justice Campaign, your mother will receive a card in the mail, with a personalized message from you inside.

Flower Worker Dora Acero Speaks on the Hill

Clarissa Pintado, Intern, International Labor Rights Forum

Colombian flower worker Dora Acero’s words were both eye-opening and moving at last week’s International Workers Rights Caucus Briefing, “Labor Rights in the Colombian Flower Sector.” Other speakers present were Congressman Phil Hare, Global Economic Policy Specialist Jeff Vogt of AFL-CIO and Executive Director Bama Athreya of the International Labor Rights Forum. They informed the audience of the atrocious labor and human rights violations taking place in Colombia, and explained why the Colombia Free Trade Agreement before Congress is a continuation of failed trade policy.

This Valentine’s Day Bring Justice to Flower Workers

By Clarissa Pintado, student intern at International Labor Rights Forum

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, but for cut flower workers around the world, the holiday is not so romantic. Around this time of year, cut flower workers are forced into long overtime and high quotas. But this Valentine’s Day we can stand together in solidarity with cut flower workers by writing a letter to a Colombian businessman in the flower industry.

The disappointing truth is that behind most flowers bought in the U.S. there is a story of a flower worker in South America whose fundamental worker’s rights were violated.

Solidarity with Colombian Flower Workers

*This blog entry is part of our week-long response to the World Social Forum's Global Week of Action (January 21-26, 2008).  Our theme for all blog entries this week is: "Another World is Possible: International Labor Solidarity Success Stories."  If you would like to contribute, contact Tim at tim.newman[at]ilrf.org!*

By Lyn Pegg

This past fall, Witness for Peace brought Lydia Lopez to the Upper Midwest U.S. to talk to area schools and community groups about the impact of globalization and free trade agreements on the cut flower industry in Colombia.  Lydia has worked on flower farms outside of Bogota, Colombia for 24 years, and more recently was elected president of her local Untraflores union.  She spoke from the heart and with specific data about violations of labor rights, lack of environmental protection, and the deterioration of their local economy.  After Lydia's successful tour throughout the region, I helped to organize a local campaign in Duluth, MN to support Colombian flower workers.  Opportunities for international exchanges like the ones organized by Witness for Peace help people around the world to learn about each other's struggles and develop campaigns together.

We have a chance to connect with and support their emerging labor movement by joining the  upcoming Witness for Peace delegation.  Act now!!!  Keep reading for details on how to join.

Another World is Possible!

In response to the call for a global week of action during the week of January 21-26, 2008 initiated by the World Social Forum, the Labor is Not a Commodity blog will feature articles throughout the week related to the theme: "Another World is Possible: International Labor Solidarity Success Stories."

We will be sharing stories about when people around the world came together to support workers' rights and how different individuals and organizations are successfully protecting labor rights globally.  Keep checking throughout the week for inspiring updates.

We also want to hear your stories!  You can contribute blog entries about successful labor campaigns by sending your stories to Tim at tim.newman[at]ilrf.org -- the sooner the better!

Haga clic abajo para espanol.

From the slave trade to "free" trade

Tim Newman, Campaigns Assistant, International Labor Rights Forum

Fahamu and Pambazuka news have just published a new book titled From the slave trade to 'free' trade: How trade undermines democracy and justice in Africa.  The book, edited by Patrick Burnett and Firoze Manji can be order online here or you can read the whole book online here!

As the editors note in the introduction, "In the global trading system, justice and the interests of ordinary working people often take backstage to trade policies dictated by global powers; countries and even entire continents like Africa, frequently appear to be on the losing end of the equation."

Keep reading to find out more about ILRF's appearances in the book!

ILRF at the US Social Forum

Tim Newman, Campaigns Assistant, International Labor Rights Forum

The first United States Social Forum (USSF) is taking place between June 27th and July 1st in Atlanta, Georgia.  Gathering under the slogan "Another World is Possible, Another US is Necessary," thousands of people will converge to share stories of struggle and strategize on how to strengthen social movements in the US.  The USSF is part of the World Social Forum process which started in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 2001.

ILRF has a number of exciting events planned for the USSF.  Keep reading to find out more!

Betty protests against War in Iraq in Bellingham

Beatriz (Betty) Fuentes, President of SintraSplendor (Cut Flower Workers Union in Colombia)

Estoy muy feliz porque he podido compartir mis experiencias con gente que comparte mis ideas y perspectivas.

En Bellingham la participacion fue total. Comparti con algunos companeros que habian tenido la oportunidad de ir a Colombia. Fui al lugar de esta ciudad desde donde hace 40 anos todos los viernes por una hora en la noche la genta protesta por alguna razon. "Siempre hay algo porque protestar," dicen. La noche que fui, estaban protestando contra la guerra en Irak.

Lessons in nutrition, or lessons in exploitation?

Nora Ferm, Program Coordinator, Fairness in Flowers Campaign

On January 30, Dole Food Company announced that it is going to put new vending machines in schools, to give kids more healthy options, like fruit salads, for lunch. Dole says it has done this because of its "duty as a responsible corporate citizen". How can Dole broadcast its responsibility to US schoolchildren while ignoring its responsibility to its employees abroad? A responsible corporate citizen would not refuse its workers the right to a safe, healthy workplace and the right to organize and negotiate collective bargaining agreements. Yet that is exactly what Dole is doing on its flower plantations in Colombia - perhaps the very plantations that will be producing the flowers that you will buy next week for Valentine's Day. For more information about Dole's treatment of Colombian workers, visit the Fairness in Flowers on our website or come to some of our DC events February 12-14, featuring Dole flower worker Betty Fuentes who will share her first-hand experiences in the cut flower industry.

Another World is Possible!

Tim Newman, Campaigns Assistant, International Labor Rights Fund

International Labor Rights Fund staff members recently participated in the 7^th World Social Forum in Nairobi, Kenya. As the chart of the WSF states, the annual event is an open meeting place where groups and movements of civil society opposed to neo-liberalism and a world dominated by capital or by any form of imperialism, but engaged in building a planetary society centered on the human person, come together to pursue their thinking, to debate ideas democratically, formulate proposals, share their experiences freely and network for effective action.

Participants gather at the opening ceremony in Uhuru Park on January 20, 2007.