ARCHIVE: 2004

Benilda flower company continues to discriminate against unionists in Colombia

Company refuses to let unionist participate in Fairness in Flowers events for Mother's Day

The International Labor Rights Fund's Fairness in Flowers Campaign invited Esperanza Cerero, the Secretary General of the Untraflores union in Colombia, to participate in numerous events in Washington DC coinciding with Mother's Day, to share her experiences as a flower worker with US consumers and Members of Congress. Her employer, Benilda SA, a company which has fired numerous union leaders in the past few years, has refused to even meet with Esperanza to discuss the possibility of her taking a few days of unpaid leave to be able to participate in this tour. Esperanza also has the right to take vacation time as of May 8, and the company refuses to let her take vacation time just three days before that date. This is yet another clear incident of anti-union discrimination.

Background:

Very few Colombian flower workers are affiliated to unions as a result of strong employer repression. Untraflores (the Unión Nacional de Trabajadores de Flores), one of the few independent flower worker unions, was founded in May 2001. Nearly all of the union members are women, as are most of the workers in the cut-flower industry. Untraflores, an industry-wide union, has about 45 members, who are employed by companies such as Benilda S.A. C.I., Flores La Vereda, Flores La Monja and Agrícola Tibar. From 2001 to early 2003, the management of Benilda S.A., one of Colombia's largest flower companies, dismissed 24 workers, all members of Untraflores. At least five fired Untraflores union leaders are still involved in legal processes, trying to gain reinstatement in their jobs. The employed trade unionists are openly being discriminated against; for example, they do not get the usual subsidies for lunch or for bus fare.

Esperanza Cerero is 34 years old, and she has been working in the flower plantations since she was 17. She has worked at Flores La Pampa, Inversiones Calipso, Flores El Condor, Agrícola Cunday, and Benilda SA CI. She has worked at Benilda for four years. She was one of the first workers to join the effort to create the union in early 2001, and has suffered persecution by her employers as a result. She is currently serving as the union's Secretary General.

Please write to Benilda to demand that they respect workers' right to freedom of association, and that they permit Esperanza to participate in these important events.

Sample letter:

Doctor Carlos Gómez Gómez, Gerente Empresa Benilda S.A. C.I. Colombia Fax: 011 571 820 0341

Dear Dr. Gómez,

I am writing to express my outrage at the news that Benilda S.A. continues to commit open acts of discrimination against unionists, in clear violation of the fundamental right to freedom of association. Specifically, I am concerned to hear that you have refused to even meet with Esperanza Cerero, the Secretary General of the Untraflores union, to discuss her request for a few days of unpaid leave time to participate in events organized by the International Labor Rights Fund in Washington DC for Mother's Day. Esperanza also has the right to take vacation time as of May 8, and you have refused to let her take vacation time just three days before that date.

US consumers, NGOs, and Members of Congress had looked forward to learning more about the Colombian flower industry, which provides many of the flowers sold her for Mother's Day, by hearing Esperanza relate her personal experiences. Having worked in flower plantations for 17 years, she represents a valuable source of information for people interested in learning more about the industry.

Esperanza has worked at Benilda for four years. She was one of the first workers to join the effort to create the union in early 2001, and has suffered persecution as a result. The refusal to grant her request for unpaid leave is yet another attempt to punish her for her union activities, and to discourage other workers from also affiliating to the union.

There are reports that violations of labor rights are common in the Colombian flower industry. Very few Colombian flower workers are affiliated to unions as a result of strong employer repression. Asocolflores and Benilda have denied allegations of labor rights violations, but this recent incident hardly helps improve the reputation of Benilda and the other flower companies in Colombia.

I strongly urge you to reconsider your decision, and to grant Esperanza the unpaid leave time that she has requested, thus demonstrating your respect for your employees' right to freedom of association.

Sincerely,

Please copy to:

Ministerio de Proteccion Social Carrera 7ª Nº 34-50, Bogotá Fax 011 571 285-7091

Vice President of Colombia Francisco Santos Palacio de Nariño Carrera 8 # 7-26 Bogota, Colombia 011-571-566-2387 / 334 1138 (fax)

Ambassador Moreno Colombian Embassy in Washington 2118 Leroy Place, NW Washington, DC 20008 Fax 202-232-8643 Email: emwas@colombiaemb.org

Honorable William Wood US Ambassador in Colombia (fax) 011-571-315-2163 Email: AmbassadorB@state.gov

International Labor Rights Fund (fax 202 347 4885)

Untraflores (email untraflorescol@hotmail.com)