A delegation of American labor leaders are in Colombia this week to call for a crackdown on rightwing militias behind the murders of hundreds of Colombian union members. The visit comes amidst the ongoing U.S. congressional standoff over a pending Colombian trade deal. United Steel Workers attorney Dan Kovalik said the agreement shouldn’t be approved without addressing Colombian human rights concerns.

Dan Kovalik: “First of all, let me make clear that we oppose this FTA now, this year and in the future, to the extent that if there is any other trade agreement it is going to have to be renegotiated and it is going to have to be
renegotiated with the Democratic president of the United States and with the participation of unions and farmers in both Colombia and the United States.”

Colombian union members are killed at a rate of almost one per week.