Montevideo, January 15, 2010

Dr. Álvaro Uribe Vélez

President of Colombia

Bogotá – Colombia

Dear Sir,

The National Union of Agroindustry Workers (SINTRAINAGRO), an IUF affiliate, has reported serious violations of the right to unionize, the freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining committed by the palm oil company Inversiones Palo Alto, which operates in the municipality of Pueblo Viejo, department of Magdalena. The company reacted with violence and layoffs to the decision of 200 of its workers to form a union and present a List of Demands to negotiate the Collective Bargaining Agreement, firing 185 workers and sending a violent group of hired guns with orders to clear out striking workers and attack their leaders. This action resulted in the wounding of the worker Miguel Augusto Cuesta.

On behalf of UITA, the IUF's Latin American Regional Office, and together with the IUF's 390 affiliates from 122 countries, we denounce this antiunion action, which is illegal and inadmissible under both national and international laws. And we denounce in particular the violence committed against workers who were peacefully demanding their rights. This is purely and simply a criminal act, making the perpetrators and those who ordered the action criminals who must be brought to justice.

We express our utmost solidarity with the attacked workers and with SINTRAINAGRO, which is keeping us informed of its efforts and has our full support.

In view of the above, we urge your government in general and the human rights authorities in particular to step in immediately and guarantee the safety of the workers and union leaders, and fully enforce the key ILO Conventions regarding freedom of association, protection of the right to organize, and the right to collective bargaining ratified by Colombia.

Sincerely yours,

Gerardo Iglesias

IUF Latin American Regional Secretary