Colombia's Blood-Soaked Struggle: The Deadliest Nation for Trade Unionists

In Colombia, trade unionists face a perilous existence amidst ongoing violence and targeted attacks. One harrowing incident involved Jesús Cometa, who was shot at while driving through the Cauca Valley, a region pivotal to the country’s sugar industry. This dangerous environment forces unionists like Cometa to forgo social lives to avoid becoming targets, with their families at risk as well.

The turmoil isn’t new; Colombia’s history recounts the massacre of workers since the 1920s, exacerbated by over 3,000 murders of trade unionists recorded since the 1970s. Despite improvements in national stability, Colombia remains the world’s most dangerous country for union activists, with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) reporting 11 of 22 global killings of unionists occurring there in a recent year. While the violence has diminished, particularly over the past few years, targeted killings are reported as part of a broader civil conflict involving leftist rebel groups and right-wing paramilitaries.

Fabio Arias, head of the country’s largest trade union federation, highlights that union affiliations with leftist ideologies often prompt attacks justified by right-wing narratives equating them with terrorists. The bloodshed links to illegal economies, especially in regions fostering cocaine and mining activities, where violence often escalates alongside wage negotiations.

The government’s response has included recognizing the trade union movement as a victim of the conflict, a step seen as essential for encouraging investigations into these crimes. Yet, ambiguity surrounds the attackers, with many suspecting connections between the private sector and organized violence against labor leaders.

As calls for accountability grow, especially directed towards multinational companies operating in Colombia, advocates assert that action must be taken to protect unionists and address corporate complicity in the ongoing violence.