News

The past two years have seen huge changes in the world of Colombian labour: workers have been mobilising like never before, with 290 actions in 2012 alone, and workers have been joining unions like never before, with a growth of 120,000 in the independent trade union movement. In the context of historical oppression and attacks, such advances are to be celebrated.

Private health workers who are a part of UNI Global Union sector UNICARE are at the forefront of this, with union growth being driven by private hospital and care workers around the country. Private health workers, the vast majority of whom are women, have been successful in unionising their workplaces, and compelling large private health companies to negotiate collective bargaining agreements. It has taken nearly two years, but workers have won recognition, and important improvements to wages and working conditions, not least of which is the right to freedom of association and union representation.

Yet union members can see their fight is not over, as the government begins a process of health system contract cuts which will bring collapse and consolidation to companies in the sector which has been privatized for some time. For workers, this could mean severe job losses, and that is why unions are increasingly coordinating to share information and strategise (across unions and across sectors), to increase their capacity to mobilise and win, and to build leadership within their ranks.

In UNICARE, unions will be taking on a new organising programme in private health which aims to address the consistent problems workers face in the industry including harassment, instability, chaotic and unachievable workloads, and legislation which blocks genuine sector bargaining. Workers are also faced with the challenge of company unions begun by corporations attempting to undermine legitimate worker organising.

UNI Global Union will work alongside these unions over the coming months to build strategy and strength for the fight ahead.