Bogotá, D.C., April 11, 2008
Fellow workers
JOHN SWEENEY
President
LINDA CHAVEZ
Vice President
STANLEY GACEK
General Secretary
AFL-CIO - Washington, DC
Telephone: 202-508-6916
Fax: 202-637-5325
Dear fellow workers:
It was with great pleasure that the National Union of
Agroindustry Workers (SINTRAINAGRO), an affiliate
of the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel,
Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’
Associations (IUF), received the news of the US
Congress’ decision to suspend the proceedings for the
approval of the United States-Colombia FTA.
The position of the majority of Congress was based on
the need to demand that the Colombian government assume
a greater commitment and deliver genuine results in
terms of respecting human rights and the lives of
unionists, as well as of observing the right to
unionize, freedom of association and the right to
collective bargaining. This decision would not have been
possible without the invaluable solidarity of American
labor, who together with the United Workers’ Federation
(CUT), have led the opposition to the FTA.
SINTRAINAGRO
has unconditionally supported and continues to support
all the actions necessary to ensure that the Free Trade
Agreement with the United States does not become
an instrument of privilege in the hands of transnational
corporations and major economic and industrial groups,
because if in the United States working
conditions are undergoing increasing casualization, in
Colombia they are undergoing increasing
pauperization, as unemployment and the displacement of
agricultural workers continue to grow.
SINTRAINAGRO
has been the victim of a governmental strategy deployed
by the Ministry of Social Protection, who manifestly
allied with floriculture businesses, has prevented the
establishment of labor subcommittees, refusing them
legal recognition and, as a result, allowing these
companies to freely fire workers and union leaders.
For all of the above, and on behalf of our membership of
20,000 agriculture workers, the Subcommittees and the
National Board, we again express our great appreciation
to the AFL-CIO for its efforts and commitment
with our struggle against the FTA.
Sincerely yours,
GUILLERMO RIVERA
ADELA TORRES
National President
General Secretary
