Colombia continues to be the most dangerous country in the world for trade unionists. These terrifying numbers reveal the dark truth that anyone fighting for the rights of our nation’s workers is up against. Luc Triangle, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), draws attention to a serious situation in Colombia. Today, union organizers are increasingly becoming targets of violence, and attacks on social and trade union leaders are, unfortunately, a daily occurrence.
According to the ITUC, there have been a shocking 45 murders of Colombian trade unionists from 2020 to 2023. Of these, 29 murders came in 2022 alone, with at least five recorded in 2023 so far. Furthermore, a report highlighted that 11 of the 22 trade unionists killed globally for their activism within a 12-month period were murdered in Colombia. This worrisome pattern highlights the dangers endured by individuals who defend pro-labor ideals across the nation.
Fabio Arias heads up Colombia’s largest trade union federation, the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT). He admits that the violence against social leaders and trade unionists has become widespread. “In this country, social leaders and trade union leaders are killed every day,” he states, reflecting the relentless threat faced by activists.
Luc Triangle ascribe these attacks to Colombia’s illegal economies, such as the cocaine trade and illegal mining. He notes that the targets aren’t exactly the highly visible heads of large unions. Instead, they are very talented people who are deeply rooted in the practice of grassroots organizing. This is not directed at the trade union big shots, or leadership. They are specifically targeting, in tiny little villages, trade unionists who are doing active trade union work,” he tells me.
The Cauca Valley, which has been home to the world’s largest cane sugar industry has gotten especially deadly for trade unionists. Local representatives like Zenón Escobar and Jimmy Núñez highlight the chaotic environment created by various armed groups operating in the region. Escobar remarks, “In the Cauca Valley there are so many different armed groups you never really know who’s behind the attacks, who’s carrying them out, who’s ordering them.”
Plagued with personal experiences of violence, Núñez describes horrifying instances that have jeopardized his life and those of his loved ones. “In 2007, I was in a van, and guys drew up next to us on a motorbike and asked for me, and then opened fire,” he recalls. His own colleague was killed in that attack. Today, his family continues to live under threats that have already made them have to leave Cauca.
Inspite of the risks, Núñez continues to fight for street–traders in the city of Cali, where he heads up a citywide union representing their interests. He reflects on the sacrifices made by those who take on union roles: “When you take on these roles in the union, you lose your social life.”
The international community has been criticized for its part in this crisis. Triangle believes that multinational companies have a moral obligation to take action in order to prevent this violence. There’s a very large accountability gap for multinational corporations. They cannot have a nice code of conduct and at the same time remain silent when trade unionists are killed,” he states. And he calls on global corporations and foreign direct investors to do more to ensure that they are respecting labor rights in Colombia.
The current Colombian government, under the leadership of President Gustavo Petro, has made no secret of its appreciation for workers’ rights. However, challenges remain as violence continues unabated. Triangle believes that more needs to be done to solve this persistent crisis. “For many years now already, unfortunately, Colombia is the deadliest country in the world for trade unionists and for trade union work,” he concludes.