Labor is Not a Commodity

Bush's War on Workers

Bama Athreya, Executive Director, International Labor Rights Forum

Why, exactly, is the Bush Administration in such a huge rush to pass the US-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, and why is Speaker Pelosi getting so much flak from the news media for her delaying tactics?  It was a relief this morning to pick up my New York Times and see, finally, some careful analysis of the ongoing violence against trade unionists in Colombia, after so much media commentary suggesting this was somehow a fake issue.

The violence is real; less so the Administration's shameless use of the global security card as justification for the need for rapid passage of this agreement.

Let me raise a few points here that our readers won't get from the pages of the Wall Street Journal, or even the New York Times:

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.

Is Free Trade Worth This?

By Bill Fletcher (ILRF Board President) and Bama Athreya (ILRF Executive Director)

The March 31 Washington Post editorial "Free Colombia" minimized not only the violence faced every day by Colombia's workers but also the complicity of U.S.-based multinational corporations in that violence, often with full knowledge of the Colombian government.

Cases have been brought against Coca-Cola, the Drummond mining company and Occidental Petroleum accusing them of supporting paramilitaries that terrorize and kill union organizers. These corporations and their peers are the real beneficiaries of President Bush's proposed trade deal.

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.

Lying is More Dangerous in Colombia: False Allegations Put Human Rights Defenders at Risk

Charity Ryerson, Program Coordinator, U.S. Labor Education in the Americas Project (USLEAP)

In a Dec 15th article in the Colombian weekly El Espectador, a writer with close ties to Colombia’s infamous 17th Brigade accused several human rights groups of being “secret weapons of the FARC.”  These groups included Justicia y Paz, a well known ecumenical human rights organization, the Collectivo de Abogados, and Peace Brigades International. 

After leveling this accusation, the author, Plinio Apuleyo Mendoza, went on to rewrite the well-known case in which three trade unionists were dragged out in to the street, stripped down to their underwear, and shot by the Colombian armed forces in the state of Arauca in 2004.  In Apuleyo’s version, the trade unionists were actually members of the ELN guerrilla group, and were killed in a daring early morning raid, scheduled to avoid perception by the guerrilla-infiltrated community.  The recent sentences given to the perpetrators of these crimes (40 years for each soldier) were painted as an injustice, orchestrated by several of FARC’s “secret weapons.”

Philippines Blacklists Human Rights Advocates

Tim Newman, Campaigns Assistant, International Labor Rights Forum

Last week, Human Rights Watch released an official blacklist created by the government of the Philippines to bar over 500 international human rights advocates from entering the country.  Number 408 on the list was ILRF staff member Brian Campbell.

Check out the ILRF statement here and keep reading to find out more information and see the list.

Murderers of Colombian Trade Unionists Rarely Brought to Justice

By USLEAP

A state of impunity for murderers of trade unionists continues unabated in Colombia, in spite of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe's recent claims of improvement.  Mr. Uribe is visiting the US this week, advocating for approval of a pending free trade agreement with the US.

According to new analysis from USLEAP based on information provided by the Colombian government, convictions took place in only three trade union murder cases in the first half of 2007.  Of the 236 murders of trade unionists that occurred between 2004 and 2006, the government has achieved convictions in only five cases.  Nearly 400 trade unionists have been murder since Uribe's inauguration in August of 2002. 

Keep reading the check out the press release from USLEAP and more information on this issue.

Take Action to Defend Union Organizers in Guatemala

By STITCH and USLEAP

In the early morning hours of Sunday September 23, Marco Tulio Portela Ramirez prepared to go to work at a banana plantation in Izabal, Guatemala never made it to work. He was gunned down in front of his house by armed masked men. Marco was the secretary of culture and sport at SITRABI, the union for banana workers in Izabal. His brother Noé Ramirez is the general secretary. He leaves behind a wife and young children. 

The union firmly believes this killing is directly related to the work they have been doing to end the intimidation and harassment of their union. Most recently the union intervened with the Public Ministry and the Ministry of Defense in Guatemala in response to military personnel who forcibly visited their office.

Keep reading to learn more and TAKE ACTION!

The "Rising Tide of Violence" Against Trade Unions

Tim Newman, Campaigns Assistant, International Labor Rights Forum

The International Trade Union Confederation just released their 2007 Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union Rights.  The annual survey compiles statistics and information from all over the world about violations of workers' right to organize.  This year's report found that in 2006:

• The number of murdered trade union activists rose to 144 from 115 in 2005
• 832 trade unionists were injured, tortured or beaten
• About 5,000 workers were arrested and 500 were jailed
• Colombia continues to be the most dangerous country for union organizing, accounting for more than half of the world's total of trade union murders in 2006
• The Philippines continues to be a major cause of concern as at least 33 unionists were killed in "an orgy of extrajudicial violence"

Keep reading to find out more.

Colombian soldiers convicted of trade union murders

By Charity Ryerson, Program Coordinator, U.S. Labor Education in the Americas Project

Last Tuesday’s announcement that four Colombian soldiers had been sentenced for the killing of three trade union leaders in Arauca was welcomed by many in the global trade union movement, including Colombia’s largest labor federation, the CUT.

The three leaders, Jorge Prieto, Leonel Goyeneche, and Hector Alirio Martinez, were killed on August 5th, 2004 by members of Colombia’s 18th Brigade.  Since 2002, this brigade had been receiving training in counterinsurgency from the US Special Forces to protect an oil pipeline that is partially owned by US-based Occidental Petroleum. The soldiers reportedly stripped the union leaders down to their underwear before killing them. They then put guns in their hands to create the illusion that they died in battle.