Columbian labor activist seeks support

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Yessika Hoyos, daughter of assassinated Columbian labor leader Jorge Dario Hoyos urged Sacramento area labor activists in an event organized by the Sacramento Central Labor Council on Sept.25,2009. Ms. Hoyos is the recipient of the 2008 AFL-CIO Human Rights Award for her work to seek justice for the assassination of union leaders.
Hoyos asked for labor support to pass California Assembly Joint Resolution 27 to oppose a free trade agreement.
The resolution authored by Majority Leader Alberto Torrico says,
“Whereas, Violence against trade unionists persists to this day, with over 500 unions murdered during the administration of the current Columbian President; and
Whereas the murder rate increased by 25 % from 39 murders in 2007 to 49 murders in 2008; and
Whereas, Twenty Four trade unionists have been murdered so fare in 2009,”
and continues,
“Resolved that the Legislature of the State of California strongly urges the U.S. Congress to oppose a free trade agreement between the U.S. and Columbia.”

Majority leader Torrico urged union members present to ask their unions and central labor bodies to pressure the Democrats in the California legislature to pass the resolution. Bill Camp, Executive Secretary of the Sacramento Labor Council, who was a part of a delegation of union leaders to Columbia, argued that many of the corporations who exploit workers, intimidate workers, and even murder union activists in Columbia are based in the U.S. Camp said that the killing of the union leaders in Columbia and the assaults on their unions weakens labor around the world and in the U.S.
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SOURCE SITE
http://talkingunion.wordpress.com/2009/09/25/columbian-labor-activist-seeks-support/