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Toronto - Ken Neumann, National Director of the Steelworkers criticized the Harper government this week for signing a so-called Free Trade deal with the Uribe Government of Colombia.
"The current government in Colombia has a history of close ties to those who murder trade unionists and others that it deems 'undesirable' and we are seeking a full discussion in the coming session of Parliament about how this deal will help Canadians in this period of economic crisis", said Ken Neumann, National Director of the United Steelworkers in Canada.
The Steelworkers, the CLC and other unions are supporting a speaking tour by Jesus Lorenzo Brochero a Colombian coal miner union leader, who describes Colombia as the world's most dangerous place for unionized workers.
Brochero will be in Vancouver, British Columbia on December 2 and in Hamilton, Ontario on December 6.
See below for the Media Release
Click here for more information on the event in Hamilton on December 2 www.usw.ca/UserFiles/File/BARGAINING/Hamilton poster.pdf
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Prime Minister Harper sneaked a ceremonial deal-signing with the notorious government of Colombia while in Peru attending the APEC summit, but Canadian union leaders will continue to push for a full discussion of the impact on jobs and human rights in Parliament.
"The current government in Colombia has a history of close ties to those who murder trade unionists and others that it deems 'undesirable' and we are seeking a full discussion in the coming session of Parliament about how this deal will help Canadians in this period of economic crisis", said Ken Neumann, National Director of the United Steelworkers in Canada.
"It is clear to us that this deal will do nothing to help Canadians in this period of economic crisis. It will in no way lead to an improvement in human rights in Colombia. The Steelworkers advocate a Canadian foreign policy approach that goes well beyond the simple-minded view that 'any friend of Bush is a friend of ours'.
Supporting Colombian President Uribe because he is one of the few friends of the Bush administration in the region, and because he is an opponent of Venezuelan President Chavez, shows a fundamental misunderstanding of what is happening in Latin America", Neumann said.
The Steelworkers are co-sponsoring the speaking tour with the Canadian Labour Congress and other unions, by Jesus Lorenzo Brochero a Colombian coal miner union leader, who describes Colombia as the world's most dangerous place for unionized workers.
Parliament will now have 21 days to debate the deal, which has already come under fire in a report by the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Affairs issued this summer. The report states that "Colombia has the worst human rights record in the hemisphere" and goes on to question whether Canada can "in good faith, enter into a free trade agreement with a country where labour and human rights abuses are so prevalent".
Brochero will be in Vancouver, British Columbia on December 2 at the SFU Harbour Centre, 515 W. Hastings, in Policy Room 7000 at 7 pm, and in Hamilton, Ontario on December 6 at the Sky Dragon Centre, 27 King William St., at 7 pm.
Canada's most diverse union, the USW represents more than 280,000 men and women working in every sector of the economy.
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For further information: Ken Neumann, National Director for Canada, (416) 487-1571 or (416) 558-2510,
or Peter D. Birt, Communications Department, (416)544-5966
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NEWS RELEASES
