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International Solidarity
Columbian Unionists Rights Focus for PSI05 September 2003The PSI, our international union for the Public Sector, is joining the international union movement to campaign for human rights in Columbia. Hundreds of unionists, mostly public servants, education and health workers, have been killed in last two years; just for being unionists. International Human Rights Day, is on December 10th 2003. PSI is requesting its affiliates to carry out acts of solidarity with public sector trade unions in Colombia on December 10. Below is an appeal from Hans Engelberts, PSI General Secretary, for solidarity action from Public Sector UnionistsDear Friends, At its last World Congress, PSI agreed to focus on the human rights of trade unionists in Colombia, on the occasion of International Human Rights Day in 2002 and 2003. Last year 184 Colombian trade unionists were assassinated, the vast majority from the public sector and education. These assassinations remain in impunity. No one has been charged or arrested in relation to these crimes. As the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association noted in March 2003, none of the investigations into these assassinations had led to the conviction of those responsible. However, the ILO Conference in 2003 failed yet again to adopt a decision to establish a Commission of Inquiry into this grave situation. PSI Solidarity ActionsLast year, PSI called on affiliates to send a letter of protest to the government of Colombia and if possible, deliver the letter in person. At the same time, PSI organised an international mission to Colombia to investigate the situation and to call upon the government to improve the security of public sector trade unionists and to charge and bring to trial those responsible. The report of this mission has been widely circulated, including to all members of the ILO Governing Body. It was accompanied by an open letter to the President Alvaro Uribe. PSI has not received any reply from the Government of Colombia. Our affiliates have reported that the violation of human rights and trade union rights continues. Although the numbers of assassinations have decreased compared to 2002, the number of death threats, persecution, raids and violations of labour rights have increased. In 2003, PSI is again requesting that its affiliates carry out solidarity actions and some countries will be requested to host a Colombian unionist for a week to provide first hand accounts of the situation in Colombia. GLOBAL UNIONS SUPPORTThe International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (Trade Union and Human Rights Committee 25 June 2003) and the Global Union Conference (Geneva meeting on June 12, 2003) have endorsed the decision to focus on Colombia on December 10. Therefore PSI is requesting that affiliates seek to carry out joint activities with other partner organisations, including the trade union centres, other public sector trade unions, Education International affiliates and the global union affiliates. Other important partners could include human rights organisations in your country, student groups, and other civil society organisations. Here are some ideas on what you could do: · Send a copy of the letter to the nearest Colombian Embassy, to your trade union centre(s) and to PSI (rights@world-psi.org) · If there is a Colombian mission in your country, deliver the letter personally by making an appointment to see the Colombian Ambassador · Draw up a petition to the Colombian government to call for an end to the assassinations and the situation of impunity and get public sector workers and others to sign it · Deliver the petition to the Colombian Embassy on December 10th 2003 or stage an event at the main post office on December 10th when you post the packet of signatures to the Colombian President · Issue a media release giving information about the situation in Colombia and the events organized by your union(s) · Write an article in your union journal or for another publication · (PSI will circulate further documents and a model letter with up-dated figures to all its affiliates in November 2003) If you have good contacts in Parliament/ Congress, you could do the following: · Ask a worker friendly Member of Parliament or Congress member to submit a written question to your government asking why they did not support the workers' group resolution for an ILO Commission of Inquiry and requesting that the Minister of Labour (or representative) be instructed to vote in favour of a Commission of Inquiry at the ILO Conference in 2004 If your country has a government or employer representative whether titular or substitute on the ILO Governing Body, you could do the following: · Write a letter to the representative explaining that the public sector trade unions in your country are deeply disappointed that the Governing Body did not establish a Commission of Inquiry on Colombia and request the representative to provide a written assurance that s/he would vote in favour on the next occasion that a vote is taken. Make sure you send copies of the letter to your trade union centre(s), PSI and the Chair of the Workers Group at the ILO. I would like to thank you for all the support and solidarity you can provide to our Colombian trade unionists on the occasion of 10 December 2003. Yours sincerely, HANS ENGELBERTS
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© 2001 Community & Public Sector Union - State Public Services Federation (CPSU-SPSF) - National Office http://www.cpsu-spsf.asn.au/campaigns/women/20030905_158.html Site proudly designed and engineered by Social Change Online |
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