Back to DHDEE

Employment

• Labor and Employment

  Mandates
   

• Political Processes

  IACML

  Working Groups
   

• Workers and Employers

  COSATE

  CEATAL
   

• Cooperation Networks

  Inter-American Network for Labor Administration (RIAL)

Workers' participation in the Sixth Summit of the Americas

Workers (social actors) Dialogue with the Heads of Delegation

Date: April 13, 2012 –11:00 am to 1:00 p.m.
Venue: Centro de Convenciones Las Américas, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia

In the framework of the Sixth Summit of the Americas, representatives of workers, indigenous communities, civil society and the youth of the region sustained a Dialogue with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Hemisphere. The workers presented the Workers' Declaration, which was elaborated in consult with organizations from the entire region through the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA).

The Dialogue was characterized by having the highest governmental representation of any other in this nature, with the participation of President Juan Manuel Santos from Colombia and President Evo Morales from Bolivia and the active intervention of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of the United States and Ministers of Foreign Relations, Antonio de Aguiar Patriota of Brazil, Hector Timerman of Argentina, Luis Almagro of Uruguay, Hugo Martínez of El Salvador, Rafael Roncagliolo of Peru and Jorge Lara of Paraguay, who coincided in emphasizing that the participation of civil society is indispensable for democracy and the definition of policies and development strategies. They also appreciated the recommendations of all of the actors and they invited them to continue working with their governments and continue demanding and pressing for the demands of all of the sectors of society to be heard and resolved.

More than 1000 people participated in the dialogue, among them, more than 150 worker’s representatives. The spokesmen of the workers were Francisco Quijano, President of the Trade Union Technical Advisory Council (COSATE) and Julio Roberto Gómez, Adjunct President of TUCA.

Videos

• Opening Session
• Closing Session

Workers' Forum

Date: April 12, 2012 – 9:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Venue: Centro de Convenciones Las Américas, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia

In the Forum, under the leadership of the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA) and the Trade Union Technical Advisory Council (COSATE), workers’ representatives of the region analyzed the labor situation of the Americas and its repercussions for the labor movement. Further, they finalized the Trade Union Statement to the Sixth Summit, document that was presented during the Dialogue with Ministers and High-Level Representatives on April 13, 2012.

The representatives of the workers that participated in the Forum were selected by the trade union movement through TUCA and in consultation with the United Center of Colombian Workers (CUT), the Confederation of Workers of Colombia (CTC), and the Confederation of General Workers (CGT).

Relevant documents

• Final Agenda
• Workers Declaration presented by the workers in the Summit

Videos

• Opening Session
• Panel 1: Sustainable development and the demands of the workers of the Americas
• Panel 2: Freedom of association and collective bargaining, the threatened labor union movement of the Americas
• Presentation and debate of the Trade Union Declaration
• Approval of the Workers Declaration and closing

Interventions and presentations of special guests

• Remarks by Evelyn Jacir de Lovo, Director of the Department of Social Development and Employment of the OAS
• Remarks by Beethoven Herrera, Economist and Professor
• Remarks by Carmen Benitez, Regional Specialist in Workers Education, ACTRIV, International Labor Organization (ILO)