As part of a six-member Solidarity Center delegation, Florida State AFL-CIO Vice President Mike Williams learned about Colombian workers' constant struggle for social and economic justice—and why U.S workers need to hear their story.

Day10—Our last day of meetings was with representatives of the Colombian and the U.S. governments. Our goal in these meetings was to share our concerns regarding the information we had gathered over the last nine days.

The first meeting was with the Colombian Vice-Minister of Labor Relations within the Ministry of Social Protection. (George Carlin would have had fun with this one!) Our delegation had grown with the arrival on Friday evening of Art Pulaski and George Landers. Art is the Executive Director of the California AFL-CIO and George is Vice-President. George is also the Western Regional Director for the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.

During dinner the night before, we had decided which issue each delegation member would address. Our presentations to the vice-minister included detailed information of our findings regarding, but not limited to, the following issues.

There is a health care crisis among workers, especially injured workers, in a country where medical care is supposed to be universal. The system has a priority for those who can pay. For the working poor or injured worker, it is sometimes called the "Circle of Death.” Those needing care circle from doctor to doctor and clinic to clinic seeking treatment until they die.
Associated worker co-operatives are rapidly growing in numbers, replacing contractors and direct hire employees. The co-ops are being used to violate the worker and human rights of the co-op members. The false claim that workers are members rather than employees is similar to the independent contractor abuses of the U.S. workforce.
The displacement of tens of thousands of workers and small farmers is forcing them into a life of poverty. Paramilitary activity and the seizing of land for the extraction and exploitation of natural resources have decimated communities and destroyed the environment.
The government routinely interferes in workers’ right to organize, bargain collectively, and strike. The military is commonly used to violate worker rights when workers are conducting legal and peaceful concerted activities.
The use of intimidation, threats, violence, and murders against labor leaders and activists is growing. There are three dozen murders of labor activists to date this year. Although the murder rate of labor activists is down from previous years, the incidents of threats and intimidation seem to have increased. We were shown a death threat sent to one activist that contained his proposed funeral notice. The paramilitary is so bold that some threats are on their letterhead. Impunity for those committing these crimes against labor is the norm.

The vice-minister’s response centered on claims of vast improvements made over the last several years on these issues. He gave numbers and percentages reflecting the stated success of the government’s focus on these subjects. Well, the vice-minister needs to take off that expensive suit, put on some work clothes, and get into the rural and urban areas we visited. The numbers and percentages of success do not apply!

Our next meeting was with the Vice-President of Labor Affairs for ANDI, which is an acronym for Asociación Nacional de Empresarios de Colombia. ANDI is a business association, much like the Chamber of Commerce, whose affiliates represent 36 percent of the gross domestic product in Colombia. No details are needed, as the responses to our presentations were similar to those we had received in our presentations in the previous meeting.

We had lunch with the daughter of a slain labor leader and an attorney representing the Corporación Colectivo de Abogados, an association of attorneys that specialize in worker and human rights. The group focuses on social litigation that can assist in determining policies regarding worker and human rights. The daughter spoke of her father with pride and reverence. The conversation was very special.

Our last meeting of the day, and of the trip, was with the political affairs director and staff of the U.S. Embassy. Again, our findings were met with some skepticism. We were thanked for our time and efforts during the delegation.

Click on the links below to read the rest of the daily logs:

Day 1, July 20: The Journey Begins
Day 2, July 21: We Meet True Worker and Human Rights Champions
Day 3, July 22: Colombian Miners: “We Are Treated Like Pieces of Coal”
Day 4, July 23: “What Can We Do that Has Some Meaning?”
Day 5, July 24: Meeting the “Forgotten” Workers
Day 6, July 25: “For Union Workers, Our Government Has Abandoned Us!”
Day 7, July 26: Worker Solidarity: “Do Not Forget Juan’s Face!”
Day 8, July 27: “The Most Beautiful Place in the World”
Day 9, July 28: An Informative Political Briefing
Day 11, July 30: A Not-So-Sweet Homecoming