Demonstration: International campaign in support of the colombian national strike 

Join the canadian colombian association

• Tuesday, august 31st., 12:00 p.m. 
• Colombian Consulate 1 Dundas Street West (Corner of Yonge & Dundas)

Attacks against trade unionists in Colombia are closely linked to the government's neoliberal economic agenda. Since the 1990's, Colombia has experienced a policy of Apertura (opening of the economy), which has lead to an increased wave of privatization and foreign investment. The nation's ports, portions of its railway system, cellular telephone service and domestic long-distance service, banks, chemical companies, agro-industry enterprises, among others, have been sold. In recent years, the unions hardest hit by repression are those; such as USO ( Oil Workers Union) and Sintra Telecom (Workes Union of National Telecommunications Company); that have opposed the privatization of the national petroleum and telecommunication companies.

This August 31st National Strike; organized by CUT (Workes Union Federation), CTC ( Colombian Workes Confederation), FECODE (Colombian Teacher's Federation) and CGTD (Democratic Union Confederation); aims to put pressure on the President Andres Pastrana to change his neoliberal political agenda, that has plunged the Colombian people on misery, poverty an unemployment.

Colombian trade unionists are killed every other day. In 1998 of every 10-trade unionists killed in the world, 4 were from Colombia. During's National Strike, 8 of the most representative Colombian Unionists were killed.

More than 3 million of Colombians are currently unemployed. 1,700,000 internally displaced Colombians.