From: Colombian Labor Monitor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2001 09:21:51 -0500 (CDT)
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: SFC: EDITORIAL - Colombia's 'other coke' problem
[NOTE: Check out www.laborrights.org and
www.prairienet.org/clm/SINALTRAINAL.html -DG]
================================================
This is a serious violation of human rights, one
that Congress should consider before sending
additional military aid to a government that
can't -- or won't -- control its paramilitary
forces.
____________ ================================================
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
Monday, 30 July 2001
*************
* EDITORIAL *
*************
Colombia's 'other coke' problem
-------------------------------
The United Steelworkers of America and an American labor rights group have
filed a suit in the United States accusing Coca-Cola and other bottlers of
using right-wing paramilitary groups to intimidate and assassinate
Colombian labor organizers. Coca-Cola has denied these accusations.
Someone, however, is killing labor organizers in Colombia. Last year, 130
union members were slain. This year, 67 union members have already been
murdered.
Colombian human rights groups say that the United Self-Defense Forces of
Colombia, a paramilitary group, is responsible for these deaths.
Intimidation takes many forms. After the death of one labor organizer, a
plant manager handed out union resignation forms. Workers have gotten the
message. From a high of 1,300 members in 1993, the number of union workers
at Coke plants has dropped to 450 in 2001.
In Colombia, as in the United States, workers enjoy a legal right to
organize. But when they do, they face grave threats.
This is a serious violation of human rights, one that Congress should
consider before sending additional military aid to a government that can't
-- or won't -- control its paramilitary forces.
Copyright 2001 The Chronicle Publishing Co.
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