AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD DISCUSSES LABOR REFORM

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