Post by TonyV on Jul 16, 2011 13:19:32 GMT -5
Hello, I would like to bring your attention on a new post published on the
UAWLAP.org Site.
Details of the post follow.
In Solidarity,
Steven M. Stone
UAW OPPOSES U.S.-COLOMBIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (FTA)
The U.S. Congress will soon take up legislation implementing the U.S.- Colombia
Free Trade Agreement (FTA). UAW is opposed to the passage of this FTA
because:
Colombia should not be rewarded with the benefits that would come with the FTA
until there has significant and measurable reductions in union violence:
As confirmed by an ITUC report issued earlier this month, Colombia remains the
most dangerous place on earth to be a unionist: 49 people were murdered for
their union activities in 2010, more than the rest of the world combined; 75
additional individuals received credible death threats; at least 2,500 unionists
were arrested; and thousands more fired from their jobs solely due to union
membership. The passage of the Colombia FTA would seriously weaken the pressure
on the Colombian government to fulfill its human rights obligations. The
Colombian government has not addressed the large backlog of unresolved cases,
nor ensured that all parties responsible for the violence, including
intellectual authors, are brought to justice and prosecuted.
While the recently-negotiated Action Plan requires Colombia to take significant
steps toward strengthening its capacity to apprehend, prosecute, and punish the
perpetrators of violence against workers and unionists, it is not enforceable
under the FTA itself. Thus, the UAW believes that the FTA should not be passed
until Colombia has fully implemented all of provisions of the Action Plan and
that Colombia demonstrates a sustained and effective effort to protect the labor
and human rights of its citizens.
While the Action Plan necessitates some criminal law changes, neither it, nor
the FTA, mandates comprehensive reform of Colombia’s labor laws, regulations
and practices. The International Labor Organization (ILO) has identified
serious flaws with regard to freedom of association, the right to bargain
collectively and the right to strike in Colombia. These flaws must be
completely addressed prior to consideration of the FTA.
The Colombian labor movement is opposed to the implementation of the
U.S.-Colombia FTA, not only because of the current situation, but because its
passage would diminish international attention on the continued labor violence
and human rights abuses in Colombia and reduced their leverage to force changes
in labor law and enforcement.
The global labor movement is unified in its opposition to trade agreements with
Colombia until violence against workers ceases.
Link to the post:
uawlap.org/building-chairpersons-report/uaw-opposes-u-s-colombia-free-trade-agreement-fta.php
Link to UAWLAP.org: uawlap.org
UAWLAP.org Site.
Details of the post follow.
In Solidarity,
Steven M. Stone
UAW OPPOSES U.S.-COLOMBIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (FTA)
The U.S. Congress will soon take up legislation implementing the U.S.- Colombia
Free Trade Agreement (FTA). UAW is opposed to the passage of this FTA
because:
Colombia should not be rewarded with the benefits that would come with the FTA
until there has significant and measurable reductions in union violence:
As confirmed by an ITUC report issued earlier this month, Colombia remains the
most dangerous place on earth to be a unionist: 49 people were murdered for
their union activities in 2010, more than the rest of the world combined; 75
additional individuals received credible death threats; at least 2,500 unionists
were arrested; and thousands more fired from their jobs solely due to union
membership. The passage of the Colombia FTA would seriously weaken the pressure
on the Colombian government to fulfill its human rights obligations. The
Colombian government has not addressed the large backlog of unresolved cases,
nor ensured that all parties responsible for the violence, including
intellectual authors, are brought to justice and prosecuted.
While the recently-negotiated Action Plan requires Colombia to take significant
steps toward strengthening its capacity to apprehend, prosecute, and punish the
perpetrators of violence against workers and unionists, it is not enforceable
under the FTA itself. Thus, the UAW believes that the FTA should not be passed
until Colombia has fully implemented all of provisions of the Action Plan and
that Colombia demonstrates a sustained and effective effort to protect the labor
and human rights of its citizens.
While the Action Plan necessitates some criminal law changes, neither it, nor
the FTA, mandates comprehensive reform of Colombia’s labor laws, regulations
and practices. The International Labor Organization (ILO) has identified
serious flaws with regard to freedom of association, the right to bargain
collectively and the right to strike in Colombia. These flaws must be
completely addressed prior to consideration of the FTA.
The Colombian labor movement is opposed to the implementation of the
U.S.-Colombia FTA, not only because of the current situation, but because its
passage would diminish international attention on the continued labor violence
and human rights abuses in Colombia and reduced their leverage to force changes
in labor law and enforcement.
The global labor movement is unified in its opposition to trade agreements with
Colombia until violence against workers ceases.
Link to the post:
uawlap.org/building-chairpersons-report/uaw-opposes-u-s-colombia-free-trade-agreement-fta.php
Link to UAWLAP.org: uawlap.org