Presentation: Union Worker Struggles in Colombia 3/20/08

03/17/2008

A discussion about union organizing and the impacts of economic trade
in Colombia and the United States

WHEN: Thursday, March 20th
Coffee & snacks at 5:00pm
Program starts at 6:00 pm

WHERE: Christ United Methodist Church
400 5th St. SW, Rochester, MN

Join us for an in-depth discussion on the realities and risks of union
organizing in Colombia. The forum will be hosted by Edgar Paez from
the Colombian Union SINALTRAINAL (National Food Industry Workers
Union), Tara Widner of the United Steelworkers, Gerardo Cajamarca of
the Global Justice Program with the United Steelworkers, Alicia Ranney
of the MN Fair Trade Coalition and Kristen Melby of Witness for Peace.
The discussions will focus on conditions for union organizers in
Colombia and how trade deals impact workers, families and human rights
both in Colombia and the US.

Edgar Paez is part of the international mission of SINALTRAINAL
(National Food Industry Workers Union) in Colombia. Paez has dedicated
his entire life to organizing workers and has worked actively in
connecting social struggles both in Colombia and the world over. Paez
is a member of the Operating Committee for the Social Observatory of
transnational businesses, megaprojects, human rights and the Permanent
Tribunal of the Pueblos Sesión, Colombia.

Tara Widner is a Staff Representative for the United Steelworkers.
She was involved with the Steelworkers Global Justice 40-campus
speaking tour featuring Luis Cardona, an exiled Colombian trade
unionist and former Coca-Cola worker. Tara is currently working on the
USW Toxic Trade Get the Lead Out Campaign, making the connections
between poisonous imported toys and bad trade policy.

Gerardo Cajamarca works with the United Steelworkers through their
Associate Member Program. He dedicates his time to education on
Global Justice, worker and human rights, Plan Colombia, Free Trade,
and immigration. He has assisted in organizing workers at Tyson
Meatpacking in Garden City, Kansas and the boycott against Western
Union. He is part of the International Mission of SINALTRAINAL. In
Colombia Gerardo investigated human rights violations for
SINALTRAINAL, the union at the forefront of the struggle of Coca-Cola
and NESTLE workers. In 2004, he sought asylum in the US after
receiving death threats.

Sponsored by SE MN Central Labor Council, Witness for Peace, Minnesota
Fair Trade Coalition and United Steelworkers of America.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Alicia Ranney (612) 578-8266,
or Russell Hess, (507) 261-6546.