Daniel Aguirre was a committed trade union activist throughout his life. He helped to unionise Colombia’s sugar cane cutters, provided support for the negotiation of collective labour agreements, contributed to bringing agricultural workers together within the Sintrainagro trade union and was a prominent campaigner against free trade agreements.
“The Colombian trade union movement has an important role in society, but it cannot play this role in the climate of terror and violence that reigns in the country. The government must take firm action to end violence and impunity with a view to fulfilling the terms of the Plan signed by Presidents Obama and Santos," said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.
In a letter addressed to the Colombian authorities, the ITUC calls on President Juan Manuel Santos to take effective measures to end the constant stream of anti-trade-union violence suffered by Colombia’s trade unionists.