[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16550]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                     UNIONS UNDER SIEGE IN COLOMBIA

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I rise today to also address the 
disturbing level of violence perpetrated against Colombia's union 
leaders.
  As another Labor Day passes, I could not in good conscience neglect 
to mention the plight of our brothers and sisters in the Colombian 
labor movement. There has been a dramatic escalation in violations 
against them and the response by the Colombian authorities in the face 
of this crisis has been negligible.
  For the past 15 years, Colombia has been in the midst of an 
undeclared war on union leaders. Colombia has long been the most 
dangerous country in the world for union members, with nearly 4,000 
murdered in that period. Today, three out of every five trade unionists 
killed in the world are Colombian.
  Union members and activists are among the main targets of human 
rights violations--including murders, disappearances and threats--in 
the escalating conflict in Colombia. Paramilitary groups, who are 
linked with Colombian security forces, are responsible for most of 
these attacks, although guerrilla groups have also targeted activists.
  The right-wing AUC has been especially brutal, killing hundreds 
simply because they view union organizers as subversives. One of the 
most recent killings occurred on June 21, when the leader of 
Sinaltrainal, the union that represents Colombian Coca-Cola workers, 
Oscar Dario Soto was gunned down. His murder brings to seven the number 
of unionists who worked for Coca-Cola and were targeted and killed by 
paramilitaries. Earlier this summer, the International Labor Rights 
Fund and the United Steelworkers of America brought a suit against the 
Coca-Cola company alleging that the Colombian managers had colluded 
with paramilitary security forces to murder, torture and silence trade 
union leaders.
  According to a recent New York Times report by Juan Forero, the 
number of union workers at Coke plants in Colombia has dropped to 450 
from 1,300 in 1993. Total Sinaltrainal membership has dropped to 2,400 
from 5,800 five years ago.
  Regardless of the outcome of this particular legal case, U.S. 
companies with subsidiaries in Colombia have an obligation to address 
the upsetting trend of violence against workers, particularly union 
representatives. It is clear that some companies regularly hire out 
paramilitary gunmen to intimidate and kill in order to break labor 
unions. Last year alone, at least 130 Colombian labor leaders were 
assassinated. Four times as many union workers have been killed this 
year as during the same time last year. That's more than 80 unionists 
killed since the beginning of this year.
  Colombia, like the United States, guarantees workers a legal right to 
organize. However, when they do, they face grave threats. This is a 
serious violation of human rights, under Article 22 of the 
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Colombian 
government must take an active role in protecting and ensuring that 
these rights are enjoyed by all its citizens.
  Likewise, the Senate should bear in mind the deteriorating plight of 
union membership in Colombia before sending additional military aid to 
a government that can't--or won't--crack down on paramilitary forces.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Carper). The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. VOINOVICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. VOINOVICH. Mr. President, I ask I be given an opportunity to 
speak as in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Ohio is recognized.

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