The ICTU, Columbia and Coca Cola

national | consumer issues | news report Friday December 05, 2003 12:20 by Ellen McCann

ICTU on coke

‘Global Solidarity’ is the Newsletter of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions' Global Solidarity Project – an ICTU Development Education Project. Global Solidarity’s ‘Campaign for Workers Rights in the Global Economy’ was launched by Minister Tom Kitt at Liberty Hall in February 2002. A press pack is available. There is a Congress website: www.ictuglobalsolidarity.org ‘Global Solidarity’ was available at a stall at this year's SIPTU National Conference. Global Solidarity provides a regular bulletin on Columbia.

Issue 1 of ‘Global Solidarity’ contains an article ‘Focus on Columbia’. It quotes the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions’ annual survey of violations of trade union rights 2002: “The most dangerous place in the world to be a trade union activist”. The article also says: “Many US and other multinationals benefit from the national wealth of Columbia and just because trade unionists work for a multinational does not mean they will benefit from the human rights normal in the home state of the company. Numerous trade unionists working for Coca Cola – which is responsible for many jobs in Columbia – have been victims of violence over the years. This has led unions and human rights groups in the US to launch a vigorous legal case against the soft drinks giant. However, it should surprise no one that this has led to reprisals in Columbia”