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Related: About this forumIs This US Coal Giant Funding Violent Union Intimidation in Colombia?
Is This US Coal Giant Funding Violent Union Intimidation in Colombia?
Thursday, 24 July 2014 10:13
By Rosalind Adams, The Center for Public Integrity | Report
Bogota, Colombia - Cesar Florez is often hesitant to answer his phone because there might be another death threat at the end of the line. Sometimes the threat comes in a phone call, other times in a text message or an email. In April, flyers were posted in the restroom stalls at Florezs workplace, declaring him and his colleagues permanent military targets.
Until last month, Florez served as a local president of Sintramienergetica, a labor union in Colombia that represents the employees of Drummond Company, a U.S.-based coal-mining firm, in a country known for some of the worlds most severe violence against union leaders. Florez has been a Drummond employee for 17 years and active in the union for the last 14. Most recently, he worked as a marine operations technician in Drummonds port near Santa Marta, where its coal is shipped out on barges.
But his position as a union leader has also meant hes attracted a significant number of threats, including attempts on his life, which happen to spike around labor disputes, he said. In July 2013 the union went on strike, calling for a pay raise and to move from an hourly wage to a salary, among other demands. For 53 days the strike wore on amid tense negotiations, while the threats that Florez and his colleagues received only accelerated.
They said if we didnt lift the strike wed be a target, Florez said, describing some of the phone calls he received. They said they already knew where my family was.
More:
http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/25144-is-this-us-coal-giant-funding-violent-union-intimidation-in-colombia
Louisiana1976
(3,962 posts)companies in Colombia fund violent union intimidation so it does the same.
Peace Patriot
(24,010 posts)The fascist death squads in Colombia would have been cleaned up a long time ago, by the Colombians themselves, BUT FOR U.S. SUPPORT FOR FASCIST REGIMES AND TACTICS to enhance the profits of powerful U.S. multinational corporations.
The U.S. has been destroying democracies in Latin America--and thus the ability of a country's people to deal with crime and corruption and establish the rule of law--for more than half a century.
So, the "when in Rome..." comment goes the other way. The fascists in Colombia are imitating their U.S. mentors.
roody
(10,849 posts)as part of School of the Americas Watch vigil.
http://www.soaw.org/presente/
I can't find a good link, but every November vigil includes a protest in Alabama at Drummond Coal.