Colombia: General Secretary of the sugar cane workers’ union assassinated

The Colombian and international trade union movement is in mourning once more: Daniel Aguirre, the General Secretary of the National Union of Sugar Cane Cutters (SINALCORTEROS) was assassinated on 27 April. The ITUC joins its Colombian affiliates CUT, CHT and CTC in strongly condemning this most recent assassination, which brings the number of murders committed this year to seven.

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.

For more information, please contact the ITUC Press Department on +32 2 224 0204 or +32 476 62 10 18

Photo: djinnecy