News

A letter written by our affiliate Sintrapulcar Tocancipá.

Two years ago today everything changed. On the 22nd of April, 2013 a group of workers of multinational Kimberly Colpapel decided to organise to fight for our rights, for this we created our union Sintrapulcar Tocancipá, and presently we have signed our second collective agreement.
After the dismissal of 14 co-workers without just cause, and some with over 17 years of seniority we stated "THIS CANNOT CONTINUE", and with the help of various national and international entities that supported us, we did it.
We are very happy and proud to have people like you; the members of our Union Organisation, people whose loyalty, respect, mutual support and trust in their union leaders have made our organisation grow by over 300%.
But what has changed in these two last two years:
* Respect for workers and union recognition.
* Changed fixed-term employment contracts for indefinite-term contracts.
* Wage increase of more than 21% since January; in contrast, increases used to be in April.
* Table for compensation outside the law.  There was none.
* Premium for old age or disability retirement.
* Monthly meetings with plant management and every six months with the president of the
   company.
* Right to information within the plant.
* Increase in some existing benefits.
* More college scholarships for workers and our children.
* Funeral expenses.
* New routes to help workers to commute.
* Support and defence of brothers and sisters in discharge hearings.
* Housing Loans with 0% interest.
* Extra-legal bonuses for Christmas, holidays, vacation entitlement for seniority, and child
   birth.
* Company monthly contribution to the union.
* And every year they invite us to speak with the multinational’s senior management in the US
   to inform them of the current situation in Colombia.

We thank UNI, USW United States, the National Union School, CAL, and our advisor Luis Humberto Rubiano Leon for all their help. We already have our own offices and every day we have a stronger organisation.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SINTRAPULCAR TOCANCIPA, and God allows us to continue doing things right for the benefit of all. Thank you, thank you.