The University and College Union (UCU), Britain’s main trade union for workers in the higher and further education sector, has condemned recent death threats sent to Colombian trade unionists. It follows threats sent on 26 October to Diogenes Orjuela, the president of Colombia’s CUT trade union confederation, and executive committee members of the FECODE teachers union.
In a letter to the British ambassador to Colombia, UCU general secretary Jo Grady said ‘[w]e were outraged to hear from our colleagues in FECODE that members of its Executive Committee have received 16 candles, 16 obituary notices with the names of each Committee member and a funeral wreath.’ UCU has also written to Colombian president Iván Duque to call for greater protection for trade unionists in Colombia.
Additionally, the UCU asked British ambassador Colin Martin-Reynolds to urge the Colombian government to implement security mechanisms contained in the 2016 peace agreement and to provide protective measures for trade unionists under threat.
The National Education Union has also written to the Colombian government to condemn anti-union violence in the country.
You can read or download the UCU letter to the British embassy via the link below.