Colombia Temporary Workers in Colombia Attacked for Attempting to Organise

[Judi Lynn]

27 July 2009
Colombia Temporary Workers in Colombia Attacked for Attempting to Organise

ICEM mining affiliate Sintracarbón in Colombia is calling for international solidarity for the outsourced workers of transport contractor SOTRANS. Those workers are being subjected to a fierce campaign, in response to their attempts to exercise their right to organise and bargain collectively. The new trade union SINTRANS, faces a difficult challenge, as all SOTRANS workers are contracted on a fixed term, six-month basis. Colombia has ratified ILO Conventions 87 and 98.

The fact that all SOTRANS workers are limited to six month contracts, enabled the contractor to end the employment of union leaders Vicente Pomarico and Jorge Diaz, ignoring their protections as founders and leaders of the workers’ organisation and members of the bargaining committee. The company have since continued their strategy of persecution and harassment of the union, making 33 more workers, involved in the union, unemployed. Eighty per cent of the SOTRANS workers are still reported to be organised. The management of Cerrejón and the Ministry of Social Protection have voiced no objection at all to this blatant violation to the right to organise.

SINTRANS is the first union of subcontractors at Cerrejón. Sintracarbón, with full ICEM support, seeks to set a precedent of SINTRANS at the site, an example for workers at other subcontracting firms there. There are around 300 contractor companies at the site in La Guajira, conducting much of the operation’s work. The union continues to organise meetings and demonstrations at the world’s richest coal reserve. There is no sign of the union backing down.

As reported in InBrief, SINTRANS are pushing for two priorities, firstly full-time permanent employment contracts, and secondly wages and social benefits that are, at least, in line with the national minimum standards. They are currently paid US$250 a month. Subcontractors at Carbones del Cerrejón, the world’s largest open-pit coal mines, are often described as working in “slave labour” conditions. It is the responsibility of Carbones del Cerrejón management to block SOTRANS’ campaign of harassment and union-busting at their site.

Colombian politician Carlos Gaviria Díaz, president of the Alternative Democratic Pole (PDA), has stepped in on the side of subcontractors, “the realization of these rights is an indicator of the vitality of a democracy and the rule of law". Gaviria does not accept the claims from Carbones del Cerrejón, that these rights violations are not their responsibility due to the “independence” of contractor firms. "Outsourcing can not be a dodge to evade responsibilities and violate workers' rights," he added.

Senator Jorge Robledo has also weighed in supporting the victimised SINTRANS workers, demanding the immediate reinstatement of the 33 union members sacked by the contractor. Robledo has also denounced the complicity of the Cerrejón management.

In unrelated news in Colombia, new ICEM affiliate Union Sindical Obrera (USO) are facing intimidation during their collective negotiations with petroleum company Ecopetrol. Thursday 17 July saw riot police attack workers at the Barrancabermeja refinery with tear gas, rubber bullets and stun bombs. Workers flocked to listen to union leaders at the refinery front door, but were attacked by the security forces, leaving 3 injured workers and arresting 2 more. The attack occurred two days after the start of the negotiations; USO suspended the meeting to focus on treating the injured and securing the release of detainees.

http://www.icem.org/en/78-ICEM-InBrief/3330-Temporary-Workers-in-Colombia-Attacked-for-Attempting-to-Organise