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Fairness in Flowers
Flower Workers Protest in Colombia
Thanks to the 21 individuals and 8 organizations standing in solidarity with flower workers on strike in Colombia! To date $1,120 has been donated to Untraflores members. We are still gathering donations at:
1671 NW 16th Terrace, Miami, FL 33125.
Fresh flowers are a $7.2 billion industry in the US, and Miami is the portal for North America. Over the last several years, Colombian flower workers fighting to build a union have spoken to and won support from unionists and community groups in Miami and South Florida. They have also visited Washington DC, Chicago, and New York City.
Over 400 brave, cut-flower workers (mostly women) from the company Benilda, S.A. in Facatativa, Colombia are nearing the one-month mark of their strike for justice and respect. On September 10, 2009, workers took control of the plantation where they work. Since then workers have had to endure an aggressive response from the police in a country that is known worldwide as the most dangerous place for union activists.
The mobilization efforts against the Benilda Company have been organized by Colombia's independent flower workers' union, Untraflores, and supported by other agricultural unions such as Sintrainagro (in Colombia) in the international union of food workers, IUF. Under the umbrella of Untraflores, Colombian flower workers, mostly women, have won 5 contracts.
The failure to collect their wages and health coverage owed to them by the company, in addition to the already hazardous work of cut-flower cultivation and production has resulted in workers falling ill from cancer, thrombosis, carpal tunnel syndrome and other life long illnesses.
Please take the time to spread the word of this struggle to others, and to donate any amount possible to the workers of Benilda and their families who are facing a very difficult economic situation. You can rest assured that your financial contribution will directly reach the workers and their families and help to continue their strike and demand for justice and respect.
For more information, call Ricardo Ocampo (786-208-6015, ricardo3153@yahoo.com) or view:
http://benilda.untraflores.org/
http://laborrightsblog.typepad.com/international_labor_right/2009/09/400...
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