re: human rights records-
ITUC Survey: Colombia Still the Most Dangerous Place for Union Members
by James Parks, Jun 9, 2011
Colombia is still the deadliest country in the world for trade union members, according to the latest global Annual Survey of violation of trade union rights released yesterday by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
The survey, conducted across 143 countries, paints a picture of people fighting for greater economic rights and freedom to join a union, with many governments and corporations responding with repression, firings, violence, death threats and murder.
Last year, 90 trade union members were murdered, 49 in Colombia alone, according to the survey. Another 75 trade unionists received death threats. At least 2,500 were arrested and at least 5,000 were fired because of union activities.
The AFL-CIO vigorously opposes the proposed free trade agreement with Colombia so long as the “horrifying levels of labor and human rights violations in the country” continue.
more:
http://blog.aflcio.org/2011/06/09/ituc-survey-colombia-still-the-most-dangerous-place-for-union-members/K & R