Tell Your Representative and Senators To Oppose the Colombia Trade Deal

On April 7, President Bush announced his decision to send Congress the Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) despite strong objections from leaders in both the House and Senate.

Their opposition to moving forward on the Colombia FTA reflects a strong concern about the plight of trade unionists in that country. The Colombian government continues to systematically undermine union members' rights—their freedom to form unions, bargain collectively, go on strike and criticize the government. These trade unionists operate in a constant climate of fear and intimidation. In 2007 alone, 39 Colombian trade unionists were murdered.

Tell your representative and senators to vote “no” on a trade deal with Colombia until the government there makes real progress in protecting the lives and rights of union members.

Tell me more

Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

I strongly urge you to vote "no" on the Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

President Bush's recent decision to send the FTA to Congress displays a complete disregard for basic human and workers' rights. Colombia is the most dangerous country in the world for a trade unionist--well over 2,000 union leaders and members have been murdered there since 1991. And the government routinely ignores or violates internationally recognized workers' rights.
Congress should not support a trade agreement with Colombia until that government meets an established set of human rights benchmarks which are transparent and enforceable. These benchmarks should include:

* Severing all ties with paramilitary organizations and international criminal networks, which are responsible for most of the murders of union members;

* Making significant advances in the investigation and prosecution of crimes against trade unionists, and providing meaningful and adequate protection for unions and trade unionists; and

* Bringing Colombia's labor laws into conformity with International Labor Organization (ILO) core labor standards and providing full support for the newly created ILO office in Colombia to monitor labor rights compliance and pursue investigations of key cases of assassinations of trade unionists.

The Columbian government must demonstrate that it can live up to its responsibility to end the violence against trade union members and government-sponsored assaults on unions. Until then, I urge you to oppose the Colombia FTA and, by doing so, send an important message that America will not partner with governments that show blatant disregard for basic human and workers' rights.

(Edit Letter Below)

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

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