Congressional Letter Addressing Worker Rights Violations and Violence in Guatemala Needs Support TODAY

A U.S. congressional letter to Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom needs support now from other members of Congress.

The letter, initiated by Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-CA, urges President Colom to address worker rights violations and violence against trade unionists, issues that were raised in a CAFTA (Central America Free Trade Agreement) complaint filed last year by the AFL-CIO and six Guatemalan unions. The letter is scheduled to be sent end of day July 10; only 33 members have signed-on as of July 9.

Take Action!

Call the office of your Representative (directly or through the Capitol switchboard, 202.224.3121). Ask to speak to the aide who handles foreign policy. Urge that your representative support worker rights and oppose violence against trade unionists in Guatemala by signing the congressional letter to Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom that has been initiated by Rep. Linda Sanchez.

Talking Points: Remind the aide that Guatemala is now the second most dangerous country in Latin America to be a trade unionist. Note that even the Bush Administration agreed with the substance of the violations listed in the CAFTA labor complaint filed by the AFL-CIO (available on the USLEAP website). Add that the letter is scheduled to be closed July 10. Ask the aide to contact Celeste Drake (202.225.6676 or celeste.drake@mail.house.gov) in Rep. Sanchez's office to sign on or for more information. If the aide asks questions you cannot answer, contact USLEAP for additional information at 773.262.6502 or Lupita Aguila (laguila@usleap.org) or check the USLEAP website for background information.

Guatemala Related Reports and Documents

The Struggle for Worker Rights in Guatemala, by the AFL-CIO's Solidarity Center (released June 15, 2009).

Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union Rights,  by the International Trade Union Confederation's (ITUC) (released on June 10).

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