Many U.S. international unions and locals have supported their Colombian sisters and brothers whose lives are in danger. Unions have passed resolutions challenging U.S. policy, signed on to letters to Congress, and hosted Colombian trade Unionists, among other supportive actions. Note: This brief and incomplete overview was written in 2003. U.S. unions have taken many actions since then; this list will be updated later in 2007.
AFL-CIO. Early on the AFL-CIO passed a resolution defending Colombian labor and civil society and opposing increases in U.S. funding of the Colombian military at its 2000 Executives national meeting. This resolution states “the United States should not deepen its entanglement with a military which has been responsible for the violence perpetuated against trade unionists.” In 2002 the AFL-CIO’s Solidarity Center began its Colombian Trade Union Training Program which brings Colombian labor leaders to the U.S. for one year to study English and labor issues, educate people in the U.S. on the situation in Colombia, and work with union locals.
AFSCME. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees passed a resolution challenging U.S. policy for Colombia in June 2002 as well as signed on to letters supporting efforts to cut military aid to Colombia to the both U.S. House of Representatives and Senate during their debates and floor action on U.S. aid to Colombia for FY 2004. AFSCME also brought Secretary General of the Colombian labor federation, CUT, to U.S. for International Human Rights Day 2003 and Congressional meetings.
AFT. The American Federation of Teachers is will host six members of the Colombian teachers union, FECODE, in a three-month travel and study tour of the U.S. Support from U.S. teachers unions is especially important because teachers unions are hardest hit by the violence against Colombian trade unionists.
APWU. The American Postal Workers Union passed a resolution challenging U.S. policy towards Colombia at their 2002 convention. CBTU The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists passed a resolution challenging U.S. policy in Colombia in May 2003.
CLUW. The Coalition of Labor Union Women invited visiting Colombian trade unionists to speak at their national conventions.
CWA. The Communications Workers of America passed a resolution challenging U.S. policy on Colombia at their annual convention in June 2002. CWA also joined with other unions to sign a July 2003 letter to the House of Representatives opposing increases in military aid to Colombia. CWA District 1 pledged a portion of their dues towards solidarity programs with the Colombian labor federation, the CUT, as well as dedicating its Eduardo Diaz Union-to-Union Solidarity Fund to support a Colombian public sector union’s struggle against privatization. They also produced a short film that focuses on violence against trade unionists and U.S. policy towards Colombia as well as bracelets engraved with Colombian trade unionist Hector Giraldo’s name and union on them in order to raise money to support Hector and his union.
IBT. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters aided efforts to hold Coca-Cola accountable for violence against Colombian trade unionists by bringing a Colombian Coca-Cola worker to the company’s April 2002 shareholders meeting where IBT called for Coca-Cola to take responsibility for violence against Coca-Cola workers. As a major partner in Chicago Jobs with Justice coalition, a IBT local organized many speaking opportunities for participants of the AFL-CIO’s Colombian Trade Union Training Program.
ILWU. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union passed a resolution challenging U.S. policy in Colombia in 2003 as well as signed on to letters to Congress opposing increases in military aid to Colombia during House and Senate votes on U.S. aid to Colombia for FY 2004. Los Angeles ILWU member activists arranged meetings for Colombian trade unionists with the local labor council and political leaders.
LCLAA. The Labor Council for Latin America Advancement has passed a resolution challenging U.S. policy in Colombia. LCLAA national leadership invited visiting unionists to speak at their national conventions and in Boston, a LCLAA chapter helped coordinate speaking opportunities for visiting Colombian unionists.
NEA. The National Education Association passed a resolution to work with Education International (EI) to support Colombian teacher union, FECODE, which has been hardest hit by the violence of all Colombian trade unions.
SEIU. The Service Employees International Union signed onto the joint union letter to the House in July 2003 during the FY 2004 debate on aid to Colombia. 1199P SEIU passed a resolution challenging U.S. policy towards Colombia at its 2002 Leadership Assembly.
UAW. The United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America International Union’s Labor Rights Now! project has supported Colombian labor by running a postcard campaign and informing U.S. labor unionists and allies about violence against Colombian trade unionists. The UAW also signed on to letters opposing increases in military aid to the Colombian military to the both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate during their debates on U.S. aid to Colombia for FY 2004.
UE. The United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers signed on to letters opposing increases in military aid to the Colombian military to the both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate during their debates on U.S. aid to Colombia for FY 2004.
UMWA. The United Mine Workers of America have supported the USWA’s court case against Drummond Coal by educating their membership about Drummond’s alleged contribution to the violence against a Colombian miners union while laying off most of Alabama’s unionized miners.
USWA. The United Steelworkers of America have used the Alien Tort Claims Act jointly with the International Labor Rights Fund to bring cases charging U.S. corporations, Coca-Cola and Drummond Coal for responsibility for paramilitary assassinations of Colombian trade unionists. USWA also signed on to letters opposing increases in military aid to Colombia to the both U.S. House of Representatives and Senate during their debates on U.S. aid to Colombia for FY 2004. USWA has also maintained a Colombia Solidarity Fund through the AFL-CIO Solidarity Center.
Examples of Locals Actions:
- Many locals, as well as internationals have sent members on delegations to Colombia through Witness for Peace, Global Exchange, and USLEAP.
- Among others, AFSCME, CWA, LIUNA, SEIU, UNITE, and USWA locals have hosted Colombian labor leaders through the AFL-CIO Solidarity Center’s Colombian Trade Union Training Program with the support of local NGOs such as Jobs with Justice.
- Locals, labor councils, and AFL-CIO regional offices have passed resolutions that challenge U.S. policy in Colombia.
- Some locals and internationals have chosen to highlight the need for solidarity with Colombian labor movement by including articles in their publications about the violent situation that faces the Colombian trade unionists.
Sample Resolutions:
Communications Workers of America
US Union Sign-On Letters:
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