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Colombia holds an impressive lead

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090610/ap_on_re_eu/eu_eu_trade_unions

By JESSICA LETCHFORD, Associated Press Writer Jessica Letchford, Associated Press Writer – 36 mins ago
BRUSSELS – More than 200 trade unionists worldwide were killed, assaulted or threatened in 2008 for trying to defend workers rights, an international trade union group said Wednesday.

The International Trade Union Confederation said 76 people were killed, mostly in Latin America: 49 in Colombia, nine in Guatemala, four in Venezuela, three in Honduras and one in Panama.

The annual death toll has declined — from 91 in 2007, and 144 in 2006 — but the ITUC report said many governments violate workers rights and in several cases "were themselves responsible for heavy repression of these rights."

It reported 7,500 cases of dismissal of workers involved in trade union activity in 68 countries, including 20 in Africa alone. "These cases are, however, only the tip of the iceberg," the report said.

"The country with the worst record of dismissals was Turkey, where more than 2,000" cases were documented, it said. Next came Indonesia, Malawi, Pakistan, Tanzania and Argentina.

The ITUC said that Colombia was again the deadliest country for rights activists, with 49 killed in the South American nation last year, up from 39 in 2007 but down from 78 in 2006.

The ITUC comprises 312 national labor unions from 157 countries.

Its 2008 annual report said several dozen nations used death threats or assaults against unionists. Nine countries — China, Iran, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Burma, Cuba, South Korea, Indonesia and Turkey — imprisoned people for legitimate union activity, it said.

The report said the recession has led some governments to crack down on workers demanding higher wages to cope with the recession and high food prices.

ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder said in a statement that repressing workers and denying them basic rights "wreaks havoc on their lives, as they work extremely long hours in hazardous or unhealthy situations with incomes so low that they are unable to support themselves and their households properly."

The ITUC survey reported abuses in 143 countries and said workers' rights did improve in several countries in 2008.

Newly elected leaders in Australia and the United States have promised to increase worker protection. Burkina Faso, Kenya and Mozambique passed new legislation allowing trade unions to organize. The Maldives ratified a new constitution that guarantees freedom of association and the right to strike.

By cali373 on Jun 10, 2009, 07:07 in Politics & the war.

Bill Turley (Moderator) says on Jun 10, 2009, 07:18:

If situations like the Auto Bankrupcy continue to occur there will be a greater uproar against the unions. Think of the UAW literally stealing the pension funds of the Indiana Teachers

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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makopp5 says on Jun 10, 2009, 07:39:

"The ITUC said that Colombia was again the deadliest country for rights activists, with 49 killed in the South American nation last year, up from 39 in 2007 but down from 78 in 2006."

Old stuff, hoy many in 2008 and how many in 2009.

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tasco66 says on Jun 10, 2009, 07:49:

By DANIEL GRISWOLDPosted 06/09/2009 05:58 PM ET

As President Obama seeks to boost the U.S. economy and build stronger ties with our friends abroad, he could advance both goals at once by urging Congress to pass the pending trade agreement with our South American neighbor Colombia.

The U.S. and Colombia signed the free-trade agreement in November 2006, and every month that it languishes in Congress is another month of lost opportunities to export more U.S. goods and build ties to a key Latin American ally.

Upon enactment, the agreement would immediately eliminate duties on more than 80% of U.S. exports of consumer and industrial products to Colombia, and remaining tariffs would be phased out over the next 10 years.

The U.S. International Trade Commission estimates the FTA would boost U.S. exports, of manufactured and farm goods, by $1 billion a year.

Most of Colombia's exports to the U.S. already enter duty-free because of the Andean Trade Preferences Act. The FTA would make Colombia's access to the U.S. market permanent, boosting investment and growth in that country.

And by reducing and eliminating Colombia's tariffs, the agreement would deliver the "level paying field" that critics of trade are always demanding.

More importantly, the agreement would strengthen U.S. relations with the Colombian government, which under President Alvaro Uribe has been a bulwark in the region against terrorism and the authoritarian socialism of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez. Rejecting the agreement would send a signal to the region that the U.S. does not stand by its friends.

The main domestic opposition to the agreement in the United States is organized labor. Reflexively opposed to almost all trade liberalizing agreements, the AFL-CIO complains that Colombia is unworthy of the agreement because of continuing violence there against union members.

Labor complaints ignore the dramatic progress that has been made under Uribe against violence of all kinds. Since he took office in 2002, the government has disarmed 30,000 paramilitary fighters and largely defeated the left-wing guerrilla movement known as FARC.

As a result, the murder rate in Colombia has been cut by 40%, and murders of union members by 80%. One study showed that union members in Colombia are actually at less risk of murder than nonunion members.

In a recent visit to EAFIT University in Medellin, Colombia, in February, I was struck by what a normal city it has become. A decade ago, it was the epicenter of drug cartel and FARC violence. Today it is a bustling commercial, cultural and tourist center.

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=479089

Newsweek on Uribe: "he's delivered the trifecta of peace, security, and prosperity"

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El Expatriado says on Jun 11, 2009, 04:07:

I looked at thier web-site, and hey seem relatively Legit.- No hammers and sickles or Che profiles, that sort of thing.

This may not be Uribe's fault. If the decades old conservative land owner's culture is to oppress and violate the rights of workers in Colombia, it's difficult for the government to maintain control in all parts of athe country.

Lets put it in perspective.48 dead isprobably less than killed in Traffic accidents in Bogota in a week.

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cali373 says on Jun 11, 2009, 05:39:

Bill Turley.

I understand your analogy but I disagree. The bailouts of the auto-industry are funded by new debt at the federal level and not by current pension funds that are managed by state level educational unions.

El Expatriado:

Perspective: Let's kill 48 members of El Expatriado's family, which is less than how many died from starvation in Colombia in a given week. Doesn't affect most people, but it is still horrible isn't it.

It's not the point of how many were killed, journalism is part of an institution that represents democracy and free speech. Imagine when one police officer is killed. It is a BIG deal and sometimes even makes national news in the US, but there are still thousands of officers available and that officer can be replaced in a matter of weeks.

Smile if you are a thinker!

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