U.S. Union Leaders Meet Champions of the Colombian Labor Movement

On an AFL-CIO Solidarity Center-sponsored exchange visit, Florida AFL-CIO Vice President Mike Williams learned about Colombian workers’ constant struggle for social and economic justice—and why U.S workers need to hear their story.

In July 2008, as part of a Solidarity Center exchange program, a six-member labor delegation made a weeklong visit to workers and labor leaders in Colombia. The purpose of the trip was to build a greater understanding of the struggles and challenges that Colombian workers face in their daily lives. The nation has a history of human rights violations, violence and intimidation against worker activists. 

The delegation consisted of Williams, who also is president of the Florida State Building and Construction Trades Council; Bill Camp, executive secretary, Sacramento Central Labor Council; Nancy Hall, president, Dallas AFL-CIO Council; Tim Baker, deputy director, National Safety Department, Mine Workers; Art Pulaski, executive secretary-treasurer, California Labor Federation; and George Landers, vice president, Executive Council, California Labor Federation. Accompanying them were Solidarity Center Country Program Director Rhett Doumitt and Solidarity Center Senior Program Officer Samantha Tate. Williams kept a daily log of his experiences. Click on the links below to read the logs: 

• Day 1, July 20: The Journey Begins
• Day 2, July 21: We Meet True Worker and Human Rights Champions
• Day 3, July 22: Colombian Miners: “We Are Treated Like Pieces of Coal”
• Day 4, July 23: “What Can We Do that Has Some Meaning?”
• Day 5, July 24: Meeting the “Forgotten” Workers
• Day 6, July 25: “For Union Workers, Our Government Has Abandoned Us!”
• Day 7, July 26: Worker Solidarity: “Do Not Forget Juan’s Face!
• Day 8, July 27: “The Most Beautiful Place in the World” 
• Day 9, July 28: An Informative Political Briefing   
• Day 10, July 29: “The Circle of Death” and Other Issues   
• Day 11, July 30: A Not-So-Sweet Homecoming 

(This is a cross-post from the Solidarity Center website.)

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