Colombia continued to be the most dangerous country in the world for labor activists in 2008, a study conducted by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) showed. Of the 76 unionists who were murdered worldwide, 49 were Colombian.
According to the study, ten more unionists were killed in Colombia in 2008 than in 2007 while globally the number of killed unionists went down. It is the first time in years the number of murders on labor rights workers goes up.
The ITUC condems the impunity for those murdering labor rights activists.
Violence against labor rights workers is one of the main issues that is blocking afree trade agreement between Colombia and the United States. The Democratic majority in U.S. Congress and President Barack Obama demand Colombia to significantly improve the situation for labor rights activists before ratifying the pact signed by former president George W. Bush.
Spy
said:
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... Unions believe, at least the USA ones, that they are the only ones that should be allowed to operate with impunity. Extortion, money laundering and intimidation of every kind that make the FARC look like children are the actions they plead ignorance of or have a member take the 'fall.' The current socialist mafia congress of the USA is doing Colombia a favor with their extortion tactics holding the FTA hostage. I like the theory of 'free trade' but the data can be cherry picked to prove either side’s point of view. On the whole it appears there are more losers on all sides than winners in every current FTA the USA is a partner. |
