[CTC] Initial 'Save the Date' for Dallas TPP Actions

[Arthur Stamoulis]

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/economy/23256-obama-expected-to-ratify-fta-with-colombia-amidst-labor-rights-complaints.html

Obama expected to green light FTA despite unionist killings

Wednesday, 04 April 2012 08:24           Brandon Barrett

U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to announce Colombia has met  
the labor rights conditions demanded for final approval of its Free  
Trade Agreement, despite the continued killing of unionists., reported  
Radio Caracol.

The announcement, expected at the Summit of the Americas to be held  
this month in Cartagena, will give the green light for the final  
passage of the wide-ranging agreement that will eliminate trade  
tariffs and is expected to boost trade between the two countries.

In April 2011, the U.S. Congress and the government of Colombia agreed  
upon a comprehensive Action Plan that would include "major, swift and  
concrete steps" for the national authorities to take before the  
implementation of the FTA. The main concerns surrounded the  
exploitation of workers and the safety of trade unionists, who have  
long been a target of violence for illegal armed groups.

In February, the U.S. said Colombia had still not met its commitments  
to protect workers’ rights -- but Obama's announcement will signal  
U.S. concerns have now been assauged.

The expected finalization of the agreement comes as one of the United  
States largest unions, the American Federation of Labor, sent a letter  
to Obama requesting that the FTA be scrapped due to Colombia's  
continued labour rights abuses.

"Moving quickly towards implementation would jeopardize future  
improvements for Colombian workers and undermine efforts to secure  
rights - including labor and human rights - which would harm workers  
in both countries," said Richard Trumka, president of the union in the  
letter.

Dozens of trade unionists were killed in 2011 -- the government says  
30, unions say 51 -- and four have been killed this year, according to  
the National School of Labor, a Colombian trade union.






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