Last August 31st, Jairo del Rio, the president of SINTRATUCAR (the Tenaris workers’ union) and member of the Socialist Workers Party (PST-Colombia) received the following death threat:
“Mr. Jairo del Rio. We want to make it clear which are the objectives of the union organization you lead since you are getting into trouble, making denounces that are not convenient. we remember you that in this country guerrilla communists like you and your group die fast so do not interfere in what is not your business. we remember you that you have a beautiful family that you should take care, even more with a pregnant wife that leaves home everyday at 5h30 to take your son to school. it would be very harmful if something happens to them because of you. the guerrila in this country will be terminated because it will and the guerrillamen like you as well. Take care of you and of yours.”
The day after, the Union Vice-President, Deivis Blanco, also received a similar death threat message.
Tenaris is a leading global supplier of steel tubes for the world’s energy industry. It has plants in several countries, among them Colombia (called Tubos del Caribe), Argentina and Italy.
In Colombia, every day more union leaders are threatened with death. More than 40 unionists have been killed this year. Behind these threats are businessmen in alliance with the political establishment and hired paramilitary groups, who carry out these threats. Unionists under threat are forced to flee the cities they live in. Those who don’t leave often begin receiving new threats or are killed immediately.
For the transnational companies, to be perceived by the public as involved in massacres and assassinations of Colombian union leaders represents an important political problem. That is why, in some cases, they are forced to make public statements that they are not behind the threats and to step back.
This time, facing threats, the Union is pushing for work stoppages of a few hours, depending upon the response of their worker base. No matter what, we understand that International Solidarity is essential.
Sintratucar, the Tenaris workers’ Union, despite having formed only recently, has transformed itself into a vanguard organization in the city of Cartagena, pushing forward the unionization of other sections as well. For this reason, attacking this Union will have repercussions in the Labor Movement.
We call on all persons, union organizations and democratic groups to demand that Tenaris Tubos del Caribe Ltda and that the Colombian government give full protection of union activity. Alvaro Uribe, the Colombian President, claims that all protection for unions is guaranteed but the reality on the ground clearly demonstrates the opposite.
For the right to live! For Union rights! Support the Struggle of Colombian Unionists!
Send emails to:
Mr Rubén Fidalgo, General Manager, Tubos del Caribe – Tenaris S.A., rfidalgo@tenaris.com
Copy:
Álvaro Uribe Vélez, President of Colombia, auribe@presidncia.gov.co
Fabio Valencia Cosio, Minister for Justice, ministro@minjusticia.gov.co
Wolmar Antonio Pérez, Public Defender, defensoria@defensoria.org.co
SINTRATUCAR, sintratucar@gmail.com
PST, pstcolombia@yahoo.com
Hehe!!!