Rep. Johnson urges President to strengthen workers' rights in Colombia trade pact
Congressman Johnson’s letter to Mr. Obama signed by 24 colleagues: ‘Violence against Colombian workers, activists and advocates of human and labor rights must stop’
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the House Ways and Means Committee held a “mock” mark-up of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) sent a letter today to President Barack Obama stating his opposition to the FTA and urging him to provide stronger labor and human rights protections for Colombian workers – particularly for the rights of Colombia’s African descendants.
The letter was signed by 24 other members of Congress, including Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Emanuel Cleaver.
To read the letter, click HERE.
Referring to the assassination of more than 65 workers and unionists in Colombia the past two years and the displacement of more than 5 million people, many of whom are Afro-Colombians, Johnson said: “Violence against workers, activists and advocates of human and labor rights must stop. Colombia now has the sad distinction of having the largest population of displaced people in the world.”
“Colombia’s workers – especially Afro-Colombians and indigenous populations – have long faced violence, persecution and a lack of opportunity, perpetuating a cycle of poverty. As the moral and economic leader of the world, the U.S. must espouse policies that break this cycle. Unfortunately, the FTA fails on this front. Before ratification, the FTA must be strengthened to contain more concrete plans to hold Bogota accountable for improving workers’ rights.”
While Rep. Johnson said he supports the administration’s goals to help create jobs and improve the economy, “we must not condone inequality or violence through trade agreements.”
“We insist the agreement provide specific protections for Afro-Colombian labor activists facing political persecution and death simply for forming a union or fighting for basic civil and human rights. We can’t turn a blind eye to these abuses. It is only right and fitting that we get this right – before the FTA is ratified.”
###