Call for solidarity with Colombian oil workers
One hundred oil workers have been sacked for going on strike. There are reports of arrests, death threats and other forms of harassment against the trade unionists and their supporters as the strike enters its second month. The ICEM, a 20-million member strong international federation of chemical, energy and mine workers has strongly criticised the Colombian Government for its brutal attempts to break the strike at Ecopetrol, Colombia's national oil company. The USO strike is over the government's restructuring of oil reserves and production, in which rewritten contracts have been awarded to several of the oil transnationals creating more favourable terms. The strike directly challenges the Uribe Government's preparations for the privatisation and opening up of the oil industry to transnational oil companies. Privatisation would rob the Colombian people of their wealth and future means of sustainable development and independence. Expressing support with the USO, ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs stated in a letter to Colombian President Alvaro Uribe that Colombia's use of "armed military personnel in and around Ecopetrol's petroleum facilities has escalated the conflict", making it even more difficult to resolve. The Uribe Government declared the April 22 strike illegal, citing petroleum refining as an "essential service" in Colombia, despite previous contrary findings by the International Labour Organisation. The USO is also seeking a new collective wage agreement through the strike, something the government and company oppose. Colombia is the most dangerous country in the world to be a trade unionist. Amnesty International reiterated its fears for the safety of trade unionists in this country, following the recent shooting of Gabriel Remolina, a leader of the SINALTRAINAL union, by gunmen linked to security forces. According to Amnesty International, "the concern for the security of trade unionists in Colombia is heightened, not only by these latest killings, but by the on-going failure to bring to justice those who kill and threaten trade unionists". Please support the striking USO workers. To send a protest to President Uribe, visit http://www.labourstart.org and click on Colombian strike article. Information available at http://www.anncol.org — click on "English".