Dora Acero, the Secretary of Education of the Untrafragancia flower worker union and a worker on Dole’s La Fragancia plantation in Colombia, is now back at work in Colombia after a two-week US tour sponsored by USLEAP. During her time in the US, Ms. Acero visited Washington DC, Madison, Chicago, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Toledo, and the Labor Notes conference in Dearborn.

The tour was aimed at raising awareness in the US of worker rights violations on Dole plantations in Colombia, as well as about the flower union’s opposition to the US-Colombia Free Trade Agreement. Ms. Acero spoke with unions, universities,community organizations, and Members of Congress about the ongoing violations of worker rights she experiences as a flower worker.

To a total of over 1500 people during the tour, Ms. Acero spoke about the insufficient access to potable water, limited restroom access, and long hours common to the industry. She told audiences about her union’s demand for appropriate protective clothing for all workers who are exposed to pesticides, as the chemicals have many long-term health effects. Ms. Acero’s mother currently suffers from an incurable case of blood poisoning after working for many years in the flower industry.

The tour received coverage from several public radio stations in the cities visited, and Ms. Acero was quoted in a National Journal
article [1].

Following the tour, Ms. Acero returned immediately to work
on the plantation, which is currently in the high season in preparation for Mother’s Day in the US.