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UNCLAS BOGOTA 000695 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PLEASE PASS TO USTR: BENNETT HARMON AND AARON ROSENBERG 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELAB PGOV PHUM CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA'S PRO-TPA UNIONS TO FORM THEIR OWN LABOR 
CENTRAL 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY. On February 14, representatives from over 60 
unions who support the U.S - Colombia Trade Promotion Act 
(TPA) proposed forming a new labor group (central) as an 
alternative to the three main labor confederations that 
oppose the TPA.  The 60 unions -- which represent more than 
45,000 workers -- said the existing confederations do not 
represent all members' interests.  They plan to lobby for 
permanent access to U.S. markets and better workers' 
benefits.  Leaders of the three existing confederations 
dismissed the group, saying there was "no room" in Colombia 
for another labor central.  The pro-TPA group expects its 
central -- which is subject to fewer incorporation 
requirements but functions the same as a confederation -- 
will include members from unions and other labor federations, 
as wellas individual workers. The organizers hope to form 
the labor central by August. End Summary 
 
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PRO-TPA UNIONS WANT THEIR OWN LABOR CENTRAL 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  At a February 14 meeting, representatives from over 60 
pro-TPA unions discussed forming a new "labor central" as an 
alternative to the three existing labor organizations that 
oppose the TPA.  The group claims to represent over 45,000 
workers in the food and beverage industry, fruits, minerals, 
metals, flowers, textiles, and sugar sectors, as well as 
public services employees.  The group includes some union 
representatives currently affiliated with the three main 
existing labor organizations -- the United Workers' Central 
(CUT), the Confederation of Colombian Workers (CTC), and the 
General Confederation of Workers (CGT) -- as well as 
independent unions. They plan to form a new "labor central" 
by August. 
 
¶3.  The representatives said they share the existing labor 
groups' goals of strengthening the right to strike and 
reducing the effect of workers' cooperatives on unionization 
rates, but disagree with the confederations' stance on the 
TPA.  Some recently traveled to Washington to lobby in 
support of the TPA.  Ana Lucia Rojas, President of 
Sinaltraflor, a large flower workers' union, said the CUT, 
the CTC, and CGT are more concerned with "making political 
points and waging ideological battles" than protecting 
workers' interests.  Rojas said sectors like hers depend on 
access to foreign markets.  Another representative said the 
central would reach beyond the TPA to work with the GOC and 
employers to boost productivity and seek increased workers' 
benefits. 
 
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EXISTING LABOR ORGANIZATIONS REJECT THE PLAN 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  CUT President Carlos Rodriguez issued a statement 
threatening to expel member unions that defied the 
confederation leadership's authority.  CTC President Apecides 
Alvis said his confederation has no plans to meet with 
pro-TPA union leaders.  CGT President Julio Roberto Gomez 
took a more moderate stance, saying the CGT would meet with 
its pro-TPA member unions to discuss what would be best for 
organized labor as a whole.  Still, he said there is no room 
in Colombia for another labor central, adding that a new 
labor group would only weaken workers' interests.  Gomez 
claimed the new central was being propped up by the GOC.  The 
Ministry of Social Protection (MSP) said the GOC played no 
role in organizing these labor leaders, stressing that they 
came together out of mutual interest. 
 
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CENTRAL EASIER TO FORM THAN A CONFEDERATION 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  Gomez predicted the pro-TPA group would not reach the 
legally required number of ten federations needed to form an 
official labor confederation.  Carlos Sierra, a leader of the 
pro-TPA group, said they are forming a labor central instead 
of a formal confederation to avoid the ten federation 
requirement.  MSP confirmed that the requirements for forming 
a labor central differ from those for creating a 
confederation, but said a central and confederation have 
 
effectively the same rights and privileges.  Rhett Doumitt of 
the AFL-CIO Solidarity Center agreed that forming a "looser" 
central of federations, unions, and individual workers would 
exempt organizers from incorporation rules required of a 
confederation. 
Brownfield