[Occupymendocino] [Fwd: Stand with Colombian Workers - Make Today Int'l Flower Workers' Day]

[nlnelson at mcn.org]

putting a damper on heart day now that you've all bo't your flowers.....

saw and heard about this corporate abuse of female workers in the vast
greenhouses near/around Bogota - you can see them lit up if you fly into
Bogota at night.....and for fear of miscarriage and fetal deformity from
exposure to all the pesticides, females are
 forced into birth control and often sterilization

Nancy WN


---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Stand with Colombian Workers - Make Today Int'l Flower Workers' Day
From:    "Witness for Peace" <colombia at witnessforpeace.org>
Date:    Tue, February 14, 2017 7:42 am
To:      nlnelson at mcn.org
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Dear Nancy Liela,

Today is Valentine’s Day: you may not know, though, that 65% of flowers
given in the U.S. on this day celebrating love come from Colombia.
Unfortunately, though, the treatment of the workers who cut and prepare
those flowers shows nothing like tenderness toward them: to learn more,
watch this video from the WFP Colombia Team, featuring our Colombian
partner organization Cactus, as well as representatives of the flower
sector in Colombia. And we need you to take action TODAY to help protect
these workers' rights!   2/3 of flower workers have health problems due to
exposure to pesticides and toxins (many prohibited in the U.S.).    During
the high season, many workers have to endure 12-22 hour shifts, six days a
week.


     Members of the 60%-female workforce are often forced to take
pregnancy tests and birth control as a condition for employment.    
Workers are denied their right to collectively organize, bargain and
strike, despite the promises made under the Labor Action Plan--agreed
upon in 2011 as a precursor to  the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade
Agreement (FTA)--that workers' rights would be protected.
But you can do something about this difficult situation for Colombian
flower workers!

Representative Keith Ellison (MN) is introducing a resolution in Congress
this evening to recognize today, February 14, as International Flower
Workers’ Day. This includes a commitment to improve conditions for
workers, and a revision of the Labor Action Plan to “uphold the
fulfillment of strong labor commitments under the U.S. Colombia Free Trade
Agreement.”

Please call (or write) your member of Congress today and urge them to
sponsor this resolution. Help protect human rights in Colombia.

Ask your representative to be in touch with Brieana Marticorena at Rep.
Ellison's office (Brieana.Marticorena at mail.house.gov) to add his/her name
to the resolution.

In solidarity, and with affection and deep appreciation for our inspiring
Colombian partners,
Witness for Peace
     Witness for Peace
  1115 Massachusetts Ave. NW
  Washington, DC 20005
  202-547-6112
  witness at witnessforpeace.org
   www.witnessforpeace.org                                                
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
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