Massive Sugar Cane Strike Continues in Colombia, Government Responds with Violent Repression

The Colombian government increased the repression against the sugar cane workers' strike this week, arresting workers and supporters and continuing the violence that has left over 100 workers injured. More than 10,000 of the industry's 18,000 workers have joined the strike since it began on September 15th.

Staff members of Senator Alexander Lopez, president of the Colombian Senate's Human Rights Commission, have become the new target of the Uribe administration. Arrest orders have been issued for six people involved in the demonstration, two of whom, Senator Lopez has been informed, are from his staff.

Last week, in an attempt to justify the level of repression being waged by the government, President Uribe claimed that the workers had been organized by the FARC guerrilla organization. The administration has not offered any evidence to support these claims.

The workers decided to strike due to the exploitative use of temporary work contracts. Rather than having permanent, direct contract with the company, most workers in the industry are employed by third parties, paid a piece rate by weight of cane cut rather than an hourly wage, and have lost most basic benefits they received under permanent contracts. This amounts to a very precarious labor situation for workers in the industry, who are forced to work 12-hour days and have only one day off per month. Workers report that if they are sick and have to miss work, they must find someone to replace them for the day or they are fired.

The strike represents a much larger challenge to the Colombian system, where laws have allowed the creation of a temporary work contract system. This system allows employers to avoid providing legally required benefits, prevents workers from organizing, and removes much of the accountability for labor rights violations. Government representatives have stated that it is refusing to negotiate with the workers because conceding to any of their demands would fundamentally undermine this arrangement.

Please visit the Witness for Peace website to see a short interview of one of the sugar cane workers, currently on strike in Bogotá's Plaza de Bolivar.

Click here to send a message on behalf of these workers. 

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