News

UNI Global Union expresses its grave concern for the physical safety of Prosegur union leaders in Colombia and Peru. Over the past few months, these union leaders have internationally denounced human rights violations by Prosegur.

Yesterday an anonymous communication denouncing the Sintravalores union appeared, questioning the use of the union’s strike fund. The statement titled, “United for the Dignity of Prosegur”, was not signed by any individual or group.

The last time that anonymous communications appeared at Prosegur questioning the use of union funds, the General Secretary of the Peruvian union was violently assaulted by unknown assailants on his way to the company’s premises in Lima.

Also yesterday, a group of approximately 25 workers were involved in a supposedly “spontaneous protest” in Bogota demanding the removal of the President of the Sintravalores union for promoting “unemployment” at the company. None of the workers involved in the protest action are members of the union and various have received sums of US$2,000 and US$1,000 from Prosegur for signing a Pacto Colectivo, a collective contract and bonus only for non-union workers.

In the past, Prosegur has made open written declarations that the union “Sintravalores= strike = unemployment”. There is no proof that union leaders at Prosegur are responsible for the unemployment of any Colombian worker.

• We are extremely concerned that there is false information, without any foundation, being circulated that the union, and by extension union leaders, are responsible for unemployment and the misuse of union funds.
• In cases of violence against union leaders in 2014, Prosegur denied responsibility but never condemned the physical assaults against individuals who are union leaders, company employees and colleagues to many staff. It is concerning that personal and defamatory attacks occur within Prosegur Colombia and Peru via anonymous pamphlets freely distributed within the company.
• Prosegur is currently suing nine Colombian workers who are union leaders collectively for US$ 1 million after these individuals denounced human rights violations.
• Yesterday’s communication and “protest” occurred  after police in Colombia undertook a 13 day search for the manager legally responsible for Prosegur in the country, Alejandro Agudelo, for not complying with a court order from September 2014 to rehire a fired worker.

UNI rejects in the strongest possible terms the harassment of Prosegur union leaders who have denounced human rights violations at the company. We are very concerned for the physical safety and lives of these union leaders at Prosegur in Colombia and Peru. We demand the following:

• That Prosegur exercises governance over its operations in Colombia and Peru to stop the constant violations of human rights before further possible acts of violence occur. Prosegur must stop the distribution of false and defamatory information against union leaders.
• That Colombian authorities investigate Prosegur for human rights abuses.
• That Prosegur signs a Global Agreement publically demonstrating its commitment to the human, labour and union rights of all its workers around the world.

The Sintravalores union has the total support of UNI Global Union and our affiliates. We will not rest until the universal human rights of Prosegur workers are respected in all countries around the world.