Under warning of being cleared by force and death threats to the Ministry authorities the conflict continues at the firm Inversiones Palo Alto Gnecco Espinosa, which does not acknowledge the Union and refuses to start negotiations towards the Petitions Document. Sirel spoke with Hernán Correa, the acting chairman of SINTRAINAGRO, who commented on the new events of the conflict.

-What is the current situation of the conflict at the Palo Alto establishment?

-Quite delicate, because, apart from the threats, the firm Palo Alto refuses to acknowledge the existence of the union and, as a consequence, is not willing to go into any negotiations.  

Also, the fact that the Mayor of Pueblo Viejo in Magdalena authorized that the workers who remain occupying the establishment be cleared by force has made things worse. This measure was provisionally delayed, but the situation continues to be very tense, for this could happen anytime, and we fear a massacre, since the workers stand firm on their decision to defend their rights and are willing to go all the way in search of their fair claims.

At a meeting held recently in Santa Marta, Ms. Luz Stella Viera, chief of the Registry and Control Unit of the Ministry of Social Protection, informed us that she had been directly threatened with death by, some who said that if she traveled to Ciénaga, it would be her trip to death…

-No man’s land …?

-Exactly! The State does not dare go there. This whole situation is reminiscent of that of the 20s and the 30s, when entrepreneurs were used to treating employees as slaves.

The Magdalena area is led by five or six families who are in power, and there is no way of opposing them. They defy the State and whoever is in their way and have no respect for the Constitution or the Law.

The authorities usually act in collusion with these people, and that’s why SINTRAINAGRO considers both the government and the Ministry of Social Protection responsible for any violent outcome in this conflict. Especially the Ministry that has shown lack of authority for defending the workers.

-Apart from publicly condemning the situation, what other actions have been implemented?

-Along with the Magdalena office of CUT* we are currently organizing a demonstration by all the unions that are part of the Confederation, to take place in the city of Santa Marta, in order to make the company’s behavior known to the general public.

We will also take the issue to the office of the Attorney General in charge of Human Rights issues, as well as to the Ombudsman and all other constitutional bodies involved in the defense of civil rights.

Through IUF we can take this matter to the international arena. The role of the international union is fundamental for putting pressure on the government and on the ministries of Internal Affairs and Social Protection for demanding that they apply all instruments available to them for bringing this situation to an end.

I would like to take this opportunity to appeal for solidarity with these workers, to help them in pursuing their demands, and to insist on calling upon the government of Colombia to treat this as an employment conflict, rather than as a matter of law and order, as the employers see it.