SECRETARY GUTIERREZ AND CHAO DELEGATION MEETS WITH

UNCLAS BOGOTA 000970 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO SUBJECT: SECRETARY GUTIERREZ AND CHAO DELEGATION MEETS WITH COLOMBIAN LABOR LEADERS ¶1. Participants: UNITED STATES Secretary Carlos Gutierrez SIPDIS Secretary Elaine L. Chao SIPDIS Steven Preston, Administrator, Small Business Administration Ambassador William R. Brownfield Senator Bob Corke, R-TM Representative Tom Davis, R-VA Representative Edolphus Towns, D-NY Representative Fred Upton, R-MI Representative Peter Roskam, R-IL Representative Jim Mathewson, D-UT Representative Paul Ryan, R-WI Bob Manogue, ECON Kelly Carrillo, POL (note-taker) COLOMBIA Anti-FTA Carlos Julio Diaz, United Workers' Confederation Jose Joaquin Vasquez, United Workers Confederation William de Jesus Ramirez Ortiz, Colombian Workers' Confederation Ruben Dario Gomez, Colombian Workers' Confederation Jorge Iban Diez Belez, Colombian Workers' Confederation Jose Luciano Sanin, National Union School Pro-FTA Gerardo de Jesus Sanchez Zapata, Rionegro Textile Workers' Union Walter David Navarro Giraldo, Public Business Professionals' Union Carlos Sierra, First Thought Colombia Foundation Luis Fernando Cadavid Mesa, Textile and Garment Union of Antioquia Jose Gustavo Palacio Moreno, Mining and Energy Workers' Union ¶2. SUMMARY: On March 1, a congressional delegation led by Secretary Gutierrez and Secretary Chao met with SIPDIS representatives of two of Colombia's largest labor confederations--the United Workers' Confederation (CUT) and the Confederation of Colombian Workers (CTC)--as well as the Director of the National Unionists' School (ENS). The groups said they oppose the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA),because it would lead to higher unemployment and weaker labor rights. They called for more progress on prosecuting perpetrators of violence against unionists. The delegation also met separately with members of unions that support the CTPA. who said CTPA passage would boost the Colombian economy and help workers. The pro-CTPA unions also claim that the unions opposed to the CTPA do so for political rather than economic reasons. END SUMMARY. ¶3. Secretary Gutierrez and Secretary Chao, along with a Congressional delegation, met with two labor federations and the ENS on March 1. CUT, CTC, and ENS representatives did not offer specific suggestions to improve the CTPA or to bolster labor rights. They called on the GOC to address impunity related to violence against trade unionists, continue labor reforms, and improve "social dialogue" between unions and the government. When asked directly by Secretary Gutierrez if any of the leaders would support the Agreement if it were modified to meet their concern, they all responded no, saying that they could not envision any changes that would make the CPTA acceptable to them. ¶4. Ruben Dario Gomez of the CGT said the three labor confederations ideologically oppose the CTPA, which he said would allow U.S. corporations to "invade and conquer" Colombia's markets. He stated that the TPA would produce substantial job losses, with only job creation occuuring among low-paying, manual labor jobs. This would cause social and economic decline. The labor groups claimed the CTPA would infringe Colombian sovereignty, especially in regard to the production of medicines due to intellectual property protections. They said the CTPA would also endanger Colombia's domestic corn and rice industries, making it dependent on food imports. ¶5. Jose Luciano Sanin, Director of the ENS, said unions are "disappearing" because of the GOC's failure to enforce existing laws and to guarantee workers' rights. He complained that Colombian firms often fire unionized workers and replace them with non-unionized workers. Carlos Julio Diaz of the CUT said workers under temporary contracts fear their contracts will not be renewed if they organize or attempt to bargain collectively. He distributed a complaint written to the Ministry of Social Protection (MSP) by the CUT on behalf of the workers of Colvanes, a messenger service company. It complains of intimidation, bribery, and mistreatment of workers to discourage them from starting a union. The Ministry of Social Protections (MSP) is investigating the case. ¶6. Senator Corker asked whether the unionists would ever support the TPA, especially given that the CPTA would help Colombia attract U.S. businesses with have excellent labor rights records. The unionists replied that foreign businesses in Colombia do not respect labor rights, citing a history of labor problems at Carrefour--a French-owned retail chain. The union leaders admitted that violence against unionists has fallen, but said more should be done on impunity. He urged the USG to continue support to the Prosecutor General's office (Fiscalia) so that more cases of violence against unionists are prosecuted. ¶7. At a separate meeting, union leaders in favor of the Agreement said the CTPA was crucial for Colombia's flower, mining, textile, garment and gold industries. It would guarantee a market for Colombian products, boosting foreign investment. Carlos Sierra noted that the CTPA would not be a "panacea", but it would provide opportunities for job and investment growth. They recognized the important steps the GOC has taken to combat union-related violence, noting that the deaths are not always related to union affiliation. ¶8. They said the main labor confederations represent only 4% of all Colombian workers, and that 60-70% of their members represent the public sector--where the CTPA would make no difference. They claimed to represent 45,000 workers, almost all from the private sector. Jose Gustavo Palacio Moreno from the Mining and Energy Workers' Union said "a vote against the CTPA would be a vote for Chavez". Sierra noted that the pro-CTPA unions have reached out to the unions opposed to the Agreement, such as the AFL-CIO, but their requests for meetings have been rejected. Brownfield