Colombia’s United Workers’ Federation (CUT) announced its establishment at Plaza de Bolívar, Bogotá’s main square, on September 26, 1986. Luis Alejandro Pedraza, who was then president of the brewery workers’ union (SINALTRABAVARIA) and a member of the IUF’s Latin American Executive Committee, was the one chosen to read out the proclamation..

The Right reacted violently to the new federation, massacring labor leaders on the National Steering Committee in several regions across the country. According to an International Labour Organisation (ILO) report, 2,745 unionists were murdered between that September 26, 1986, and the year 2011, all of them CUT members.

In the CUT’s First Constituent Congress, the IUF was represented by Enildo Iglesias and Siderlei de Oliveira, respectively regional secretary and president of Brazil’s National Confederation of Food Workers (CONTAC).

Yesterday, a large IUF delegation participated in a meeting with current CUT president Fabio Arias Giraldo, who gave a detailed report on the situation Colombia, which is putting democracy at risk.

“We’re home and we’re willing to extend our utmost solidarity and support to the CUT and the Colombian people,” Pablo Quiroga, president of Rel UITA (IUF Latin America) said upon concluding his statement.