Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BOGOTA597
2009-02-24 19:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD DISCUSSES LABOR REFORM
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UNCLAS BOGOTA 000597
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PGOV PREL SOCI CO
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD DISCUSSES LABOR REFORM
EFFORTS WITH UNION LEADERS
UNCLAS BOGOTA 000597
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PGOV PREL SOCI CO
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD DISCUSSES LABOR REFORM
EFFORTS WITH UNION LEADERS
1. (U) Ambassador Brownfield hosted a February 13 breakfast
for union leaders of the General Work Confederation (CGT) and
its member union, the Federation of Colombian Workers
(FETRABOC) to discuss labor trends in Colombia. The
Ambassador underscored the importance of working together on
issues of common concern. He welcomed specific proposals for
joint projects.
2. (SBU) CGT Deputy Secretary General William Millan
thanked the USG for its interest in protecting human rights,
especially the rights of unionists. He said the CGT
(Colombia's second largest labor confederation with
approximately 114,000 members) represents moderate labor
voices, and is interested in taking part in dialogue with the
GOC. The CGT recently launched a Human Rights House for
women and children in the poor Bogota neighborhood of Ciudad
Bolivar and is interested in collaborating with the USG on
the effort.
3. (SBU) Millan said that the GOC should increase its focus
on social and labor reforms to achieve its goal of building a
peaceful and prosperous society. He noted that Colombia's
five million temporary contract and cooperative employees do
not receive full employee benefits. CGT Secretary of Finance
Miryam Luz Triana Alvis said it had become increasingly
difficult to organize unions in private companies due to
employers' harassment of workers, including firing workers
promoting unionization. Hence, few new unions are being
formed. She called for greater legal protection for workers
against unfair labor practices. Millan said Colombia's
economy was not yet sufficiently "developed" to enter into
free trade agreements with large economic powers.
4. (SBU) Comment: This was useful outreach to an
institution that feels cut off from the GOC. In essence, we
agreed on their labor agenda, and agreed to disagree on most
of their political agenda. We will see if the meeting gives
us any bounce with the Colombian labor community in the
future. End Comment.
BROWNFIELD
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PGOV PREL SOCI CO
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD DISCUSSES LABOR REFORM
EFFORTS WITH UNION LEADERS
1. (U) Ambassador Brownfield hosted a February 13 breakfast
for union leaders of the General Work Confederation (CGT) and
its member union, the Federation of Colombian Workers
(FETRABOC) to discuss labor trends in Colombia. The
Ambassador underscored the importance of working together on
issues of common concern. He welcomed specific proposals for
joint projects.
2. (SBU) CGT Deputy Secretary General William Millan
thanked the USG for its interest in protecting human rights,
especially the rights of unionists. He said the CGT
(Colombia's second largest labor confederation with
approximately 114,000 members) represents moderate labor
voices, and is interested in taking part in dialogue with the
GOC. The CGT recently launched a Human Rights House for
women and children in the poor Bogota neighborhood of Ciudad
Bolivar and is interested in collaborating with the USG on
the effort.
3. (SBU) Millan said that the GOC should increase its focus
on social and labor reforms to achieve its goal of building a
peaceful and prosperous society. He noted that Colombia's
five million temporary contract and cooperative employees do
not receive full employee benefits. CGT Secretary of Finance
Miryam Luz Triana Alvis said it had become increasingly
difficult to organize unions in private companies due to
employers' harassment of workers, including firing workers
promoting unionization. Hence, few new unions are being
formed. She called for greater legal protection for workers
against unfair labor practices. Millan said Colombia's
economy was not yet sufficiently "developed" to enter into
free trade agreements with large economic powers.
4. (SBU) Comment: This was useful outreach to an
institution that feels cut off from the GOC. In essence, we
agreed on their labor agenda, and agreed to disagree on most
of their political agenda. We will see if the meeting gives
us any bounce with the Colombian labor community in the
future. End Comment.
BROWNFIELD