<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><br><div>Begin forwarded message:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face="Helvetica" size="3" color="#000000" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>From: </b></font><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">Gimena Sanchez <<a href="mailto:GSanchez@wola.org">GSanchez@wola.org</a>></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face="Helvetica" size="3" color="#000000" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>Date: </b></font><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">April 16, 2012 11:12:11 AM PDT</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face="Helvetica" size="3" color="#000000" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>To: </b></font><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">Gimena Sanchez <<a href="mailto:GSanchez@wola.org">GSanchez@wola.org</a>></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face="Helvetica" size="3" color="#000000" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>Subject: </b></font><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>Thanks!</b></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div> </div> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"> <o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"> <o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"> <o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"> <o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"> <!--[if !mso]> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Verdana; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} h3 {mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; font-size:13.5pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline;} span.EmailStyle17 {mso-style-type:personal-compose; font-family:Arial; color:windowtext;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" /> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout v:ext="edit"> <o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" /> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> <div lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple"> <div class="Section1"><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt">Dear Everyone,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt">I would like to thank all the persons and organizations who took action last week in order to try to convince the Obama Administration that declaring a victory on the Labor Action Plan was unwise given that the conditions have not been met. Unfortunately, they decided against upholding labor rights and jumped on the Colombia PR bandwagon. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt">I share with you the following statements/articles: <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt">USW Decries Pronouncement of Colombia’s Compliance with the Labor Action Plan<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"><a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/usw-decries-us-pronouncement-of-colombias-compliance-with-labor-action-plan-vows-defense-of-colombian-unionists-147514795.html"><font color="black"><span style="color:windowtext">http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/usw-decries-us-pronouncement-of-colombias-compliance-with-labor-action-plan-vows-defense-of-colombian-unionists-147514795.html</span></font></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <h3><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-weight:normal">Statement in Response to Obama’s Implementation of Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by Lori Wallach of Public Citizen <a href="http://citizen.typepad.com/eyesontrade/"><font color="black"><span style="color:windowtext">http://citizen.typepad.com/eyesontrade/</span></font></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h3><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt">ENS report on the Labor Action Plan--Balance del primer año del Plan de Acción Obama-Santos: La visión de la ENS y las centrales sindicales <a href="http://www.ens.org.co" target="_blank" title="blocked::http://www.ens.org.co/"><font color="black"><span style="color:windowtext">http://www.ens.org.co</span></font></a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt">Below you will find the statements by the AFL-CIO and Colombian trade unions:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold">For Immediate Release Contact:</span></font></b> Josh Goldstein 202-637-5018<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-weight:bold">Statement by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on </span></font></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-weight:bold">U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement</span></font></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">April 15, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt">Today’s announcement that <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Colombia</st1:place></st1:country-region> has successfully implemented key elements of the Labor Action Plan and that the U.S.-Colombia trade agreement will enter into force on May 15<sup>th</sup> is deeply disappointing and troubling. It signals to average Colombians that their struggles are not our struggles. Rather than insisting that the Colombian Government honor its promises to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Colombia</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s working class, our government signaled with today’s decision that a little improvement is good enough. If a little improvement were good enough, women might still be fighting for the right to vote, and our workplaces would be filled with children. Premature certification of the Labor Action Plan undermines the early signs of progress that have been achieved for Colombian workers – and could prevent further progress. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt">Rather than moving to prematurely implement the U.S.-Colombia FTA, President Obama today should have signaled that he stands shoulder to shoulder with the working people of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Colombia</st1:country-region> and the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> and will continue to fight for their right to improve their working conditions and standards of living. On behalf of the working families of both nations, the AFL-CIO, CUT, and CTC strongly oppose today’s announcement and urge our governments to redouble their efforts to ensure that Colombian workers can organize to improve their lives in a climate of respect for their fundamental rights, without fear for their own safety or that of their families. We regret that the Administration has placed commercial interests above the interests of workers and their trade unions.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">###<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Verdana"><span lang="ES" style="font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:Verdana"> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-weight:bold">Joint Statement by AFL-CIO, CUT, CTC on </span></font></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-weight:bold">U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement</span></font></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Verdana"><span lang="ES" style="font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:Verdana"> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The AFL-CIO, CUT, and CTC, the national labor organizations of the <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Colombia</st1:place></st1:country-region>, join in opposing today’s announcement that the U.S.–Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will soon enter into force.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">In April 2011, the <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on">Colombia</st1:country-region> agreed to an Action Plan on Labor Rights intended to “protect internationally recognized labor rights, prevent violence against labor leaders, and prosecute the perpetrators of such violence” in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Colombia</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Though the Action Plan includes some measures that Colombian unions and the AFL-CIO have been demanding for years, its scope was too limited: it resolved neither the grave violations of union freedoms or human rights. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">We have been monitoring the progress of the Action Plan and conclude that, although new laws and directives are in place, the Government of Colombia has not yet demonstrated successful implementation. Workers across the whole economy continue to be forced into indirect employment relationships—preventing them from exercising their rights to free association and collective bargaining—because the Government has not completely lived up to its promises regarding “cooperatives” and other employment relationships that affect labor rights. Nor has the Government of Colombia compiled a successful record of criminal prosecutions of employers who illegally interfere with workers’ fundamental rights. Labor activists and other human rights defenders remain subject to threats and violence, including murder, when they stand up to fight for their rights. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">We fear that prematurely declaring the plan a success will not only halt progress, but lead to backtracking. Today’s announcement shortcuts the work-in-progress that is the Action Plan and removes a key incentive that has been motivating reform. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">In addition, we agree that the underlying trade agreement perpetuates a destructive economic model that expands the rights and privileges of big business and multinational corporations at the expense of workers, consumers, and the environment. The agreement uses a model that has historically benefitted a small minority of business interests, while leaving workers, families, and communities behind. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Rather than moving to implement the FTA, we urge the leadership in both countries to re-examine not only the progress on the Action Plan, but the entire FTA. A new trade model that creates jobs, boosts economic development, and increases standards of living in both countries is possible. We must work together to delete the provisions that imperil worker rights and freedoms as well as public interest regulations. Instead, we should add provisions to ensure stronger worker protections, a healthy environment, safe food and products, and the ability to regulate financial and other markets to avoid crises like that of 2008. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt"> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span lang="ES" style="font-size:12.0pt">CUT CTC</span><o:p></o:p></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span lang="ES" style="font-size:12.0pt">President: Luís Miguel Morantes A. President: Tarcisio Mora Godoy</span><o:p></o:p></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span lang="ES" style="font-size:12.0pt">General Secretary: Rosa Elena Flerez G. General Secretary: Domingo Rafael Tova Arrieta</span><o:p></o:p></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:2.5in;text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span lang="ES" style="font-size:12.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:2.5in;text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span lang="ES" style="font-size:12.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:2.5in;text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span lang="ES" style="font-size:12.0pt">AFL-CIO</span><o:p></o:p></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:2.0in;text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span lang="ES" style="font-size:12.0pt">President: Richard L. Trumka</span><o:p></o:p></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:2.0in;text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span lang="ES" style="font-size:12.0pt">Secretary-Treasurer: Elizabeth Shuler</span><o:p></o:p></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:2.0in;text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span lang="ES" style="font-size:12.0pt">Executive Vice President: Arlene Holt Baker</span><o:p></o:p></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt"> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold">En Español:</span></font></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:11.5pt"> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">La AFL-CIO, la CUT, y la CTC, centrales sindicales de los EE.UU. y Colombia, se unen en la oposición al anuncio de hoy de que el Tratado de Libre Comercio (TLC) entre EE.UU. y Colombia pronto entrará en vigor.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">En abril <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">del</st1:place></st1:state> 2011, los EE.UU. y Colombia acordaron un plan de acción sobre los derechos laborales destinada a "proteger derechos laborales internacionalmente reconocidos, prevenir la violencia contra dirigentes sindicales, y enjuiciar a los autores de esa violencia" en <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Colombia</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Aunque el plan de acción incluye algunas medidas que los sindicatos colombianos y la AFL-CIO han estado pidiendo durante años, su alcance realmente ha sido muy limitado: no se resolvió ninguna de las graves violaciones de las libertades sindicales o los derechos humanos.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Hemos estado monitoreando los avances <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">del</st1:place></st1:state> Plan de Acción y concluimos que a pesar de nuevas leyes y directivas emitidas, el Gobierno de Colombia no ha demostrado aún una implementación exitosa. Los trabajadores de todas las ramas económicas siguen siendo relegados a un empleo indirecto y por lo tanto precario que les impide ejercer su derecho a la libre asociación y a la negociación colectiva porque el Gobierno no está completamente a la altura de sus promesas en relación con la eliminación de las "cooperativas de trabajo asociado” y otras formas de vinculación, como las nuevas SAS (Sociedades anónimas simplificadas), que afectan los derechos laborales. El Gobierno de <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Colombia</st1:place></st1:country-region> tampoco acumuló un récord de éxito de los procesos penales de los empleadores que ilegalmente interfieren con los derechos fundamentales de los trabajadores. Los activistas laborales y defensores de derechos humanos siguen siendo objeto de amenazas y de violencia, inclusive asesinatos, cuando se levantan para luchar por sus derechos.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Tememos que declarar prematuramente el éxito del Plan, no sólo detendrá el progreso, sino que retrocederá. El anuncio de hoy cierra los accesos directos <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">del</st1:place></st1:state> trabajo en marcha y elimina un incentivo clave que ha motivado la reforma.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Además, estamos de acuerdo en que el tratado comercial subyacente perpetúa un modelo económico que expande los derechos y privilegios de las grandes empresas y corporaciones multinacionales a costa de los trabajadores, consumidores y el medio ambiente. El acuerdo utiliza un modelo que históricamente ha beneficiado a una pequeña minoría de los intereses empresariales, dejando a los trabajadores, familias y comunidades atrás.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">En lugar de avanzar para implementar el TLC, instamos a los dirigentes de ambos países a volver a examinar no sólo los avances en el Plan de Acción, sino también a todo el acuerdo de libre comercio. Un nuevo modelo de comercio que genere empleo, impulse el desarrollo económico y aumente los niveles de vida en ambos países, es posible. Debemos trabajar juntos para eliminar las disposiciones que ponen en riesgo los derechos de los trabajadores y las libertades así <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">como</st1:place></st1:city> las regulaciones de interés público. En su lugar, hay que añadir disposiciones para garantizar la mayor protección de los trabajadores, un medio ambiente sano, productos y alimentos seguros y la capacidad para regular los mercados financieros y de otros, para evitar crisis como la del 2008.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span lang="ES" style="font-size:12.0pt">CUT CTC</span><o:p></o:p></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span lang="ES" style="font-size:12.0pt">President: Luís Miguel Morantes A. President: Tarcisio Mora Godoy</span><o:p></o:p></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span lang="ES" style="font-size:12.0pt">General Secretary: Rosa Elena Flerez G. General Secretary: Domingo Rafael Tova Arrieta</span><o:p></o:p></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:2.5in;text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span lang="ES" style="font-size:12.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:2.5in;text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span lang="ES" style="font-size:12.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:2.5in;text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span lang="ES" style="font-size:12.0pt">AFL-CIO</span><o:p></o:p></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:2.0in;text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span lang="ES" style="font-size:12.0pt">President: Richard L. Trumka</span><o:p></o:p></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:2.0in;text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span lang="ES" style="font-size:12.0pt">Secretary-Treasurer: Elizabeth Shuler</span><o:p></o:p></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:2.0in;text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span lang="ES" style="font-size:12.0pt">Executive Vice President: Arlene Holt Baker</span><o:p></o:p></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:2.0in;text-indent:.5in"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span lang="ES" style="font-size:11.5pt"> </span></font><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt">Keri A. Shanks, Senior Secretary<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt">AFL-CIO Media Outreach Department<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt">(202) 637-5389<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"><a href="mailto:kshanks@aflcio.org" title="mailto:kshanks@aflcio.org
blocked::mailto:kshanks@aflcio.org"><font color="black"><span style="color:windowtext">kshanks@aflcio.org</span></font></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"><a href="http://www.aflcio.org" title="http://www.aflcio.org/
blocked::http://www.aflcio.org/"><font color="black"><span style="color:windowtext">www.aflcio.org</span></font></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt">opeiu local #2<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">Thanks again,<br> Gimena<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><st1:personname w:st="on"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: Arial">Gimena Sanchez</span></font></st1:personname><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">-Garzoli</span></font><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">Senior Associate for <st1:country-region w:st="on">Colombia</st1:country-region> and the <st1:place w:st="on">Andes</st1:place></span></font><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"><ns0:state w:insauthor="gsanchez" w:insdate="2012-04-16T13:27:00Z" w:endinsauthor="gsanchez" w:endinsdate="2012-04-16T13:27:00Z"><st1:state w:st="on">Washington</st1:state></ns0:state> Office on <ns0:place w:insauthor="gsanchez" w:insdate="2012-04-16T13:27:00Z" w:endinsauthor="gsanchez" w:endinsdate="2012-04-16T13:27:00Z"><st1:place w:st="on">Latin America</st1:place></ns0:place></span></font><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">Tele: (202) 797-2171 ext. 205</span></font><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> Cell: (202) 489-1702<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Email: <a href="mailto:gsanchez@wola.org">gsanchez@wola.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Website: <a href="http://www.wola.org">www.wola.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Skype: WOLAColombia<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Twitter: wola_org <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><i><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic">The <ns0:state w:insauthor="gsanchez" w:insdate="2012-04-16T13:27:00Z" w:endinsauthor="gsanchez" w:endinsdate="2012-04-16T13:27:00Z"><ns0:state w:insauthor="gsanchez" w:insdate="2012-04-16T13:27:00Z" w:endinsauthor="gsanchez" w:endinsdate="2012-04-16T13:27:00Z"><st1:state w:st="on">Washington</st1:state></ns0:state></ns0:state> Office on Latin America (WOLA) is a <ns0:country-region w:insauthor="gsanchez" w:insdate="2012-04-16T13:27:00Z" w:endinsauthor="gsanchez" w:endinsdate="2012-04-16T13:27:00Z"><ns0:country-region w:insauthor="gsanchez" w:insdate="2012-04-16T13:27:00Z" w:endinsauthor="gsanchez" w:endinsdate="2012-04-16T13:27:00Z"><st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region></ns0:country-region></ns0:country-region> human rights organization that promotes democracy and socioeconomic justice in Latin America and the <ns0:place w:insauthor="gsanchez" w:insdate="2012-04-16T13:27:00Z" w:endinsauthor="gsanchez" w:endinsdate="2012-04-16T13:27:00Z"><ns0:place w:insauthor="gsanchez" w:insdate="2012-04-16T13:27:00Z" w:endinsauthor="gsanchez" w:endinsdate="2012-04-16T13:27:00Z"><st1:place w:st="on">Caribbean</st1:place></ns0:place></ns0:place> through analysis and foreign policy proposals informed by strong partnerships with civil society counterparts in the region. Visit WOLA’s website to </span></font></i><i><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial;font-style:italic"><a href="http://www.wola.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=218&Itemid=37" title="http://www.wola.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=218&Itemid=37"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"">sign up</span></font></a></span></font> for more information or </i><i><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-style: italic"><a href="http://www.wola.org/donatenow" title="http://www.wola.org/donatenow"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"">donate now</span></font></a></span></font> to help WOLA carry out its work.</i><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> </div> </div> </o:smarttagtype></o:smarttagtype></o:smarttagtype></o:smarttagtype></o:smarttagtype></div><br></body></html>