All Organisations subcategories:
Committee for a Workers International
Nationalist and National Liberation
Pro capitalist and Imperialist
Left and radical keywords:
International Socialist Resistance (54)
Revolutionary Communist League (1)
Socialist Peoples Party (Denmark) (1)
ISR
Highlight keywords |
Print this article
Support Colombian Trade Unionists - Boycott Coca-Cola
International Socialist Resistance (ISR) is campaigning in support of the international boycott of Coca-Cola products. This is because of the company's activities against workers in Colombia and in many other countries.
Clare James, ISR national coordinator
In Colombia, Coca-Cola workers fighting for decent wages and conditions have been murdered. Their union, Sinaltrainal (the National Union of Workers in the Colombian Food Industry), has appealed for support from workers around the world and called for a boycott of Coke from 22 July.
Sinaltrainal union President Javier Correa describes conditions in Coca-Cola's Colombian bottling plants:
"The paramilitaries have graffitied threats and accusations against us on the walls of the bottling plants. These plants have become like concentration camps. The army patrols the buildings. There is so much repression that union workers are even followed into the toilet. One worker killed himself - in his suicide note, he blamed Coca-Cola."
Correa explains the corporation's attitude:
"Coca-Cola has turned from a time of exploitation to a time of slavery. Because the workers continue to resist this oppression, the paramilitaries now try to kidnap family members. They've burnt union headquarters and destroyed whatever evidence they can so we are unable to bring a case against them."
The paramilitaries have so far assassinated eight workers who were local union leaders, three union members have been forced into exile, over 60 live under the shadow of death threats and 48 others have been displaced. Union leader, Carlos Jul'a:
"When you drink Coca-Cola remember that you are contributing to a process which sows unemployment, hunger and pain..."
Bush's war of terror
While the US government proclaims it is conducting a "war against terror", it actively promotes terror groups in Colombia on behalf of US corporations. Under 'Plan Colombia' the US military has assisted the Colombian army - officially to fight guerrillas and drug cartels - mainly to arm paramilitary death squads to fight ordinary workers who are peacefully fighting poverty wages and for union rights. So far, these private armies have murdered over 3,000 workers. One of the US companies to benefit from this practice is Drummond, part owned by... the Bush family.
Join the international day of action on 22 July, join your local protest or action. If you would like help or information to organise your own protest, please contact us.
If you are a member of a trade union, ask your local branch to sponsor the campaign in solidarity with Sinaltrainal and other Colombian unions attacked by the paramilitaries (contact us for model letters or resolutions to take to trade unions).
Whether you are in a workplace, school or college, ask your friends, people at work etc to sign the petition in support of the Colombian Coca-Cola workers. When you have some petitions filled out, send copies to us and we will send all the signatures collected with a letter of support to the Sinaltrainal Coca-Cola workers.
Organise a meeting at your union/college/school in support of Colombian workers with an ISR speaker or contact the Colombian Solidarity Campaign PO Box 8446, London N17 6NZ
ISR is an international anti-capitalist organisation run by and for young people.
As well as in England, Wales and Scotland, ISR has groups in many countries: such as Sweden, Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Northern and Southern Ireland, Nigeria, South Africa, Australia, Brazil, USA and more.
By building an international organisation, we aim to help link up the many struggles young people are involved in across the globe, against the policies of big business and governments.
Above all, we aim to build international opposition to capitalism itself.
ISR, PO BOX 858, London, E11 1YG
www.anticapitalism.org.uk
Telephone 020 8558 7947
Donate to the Socialist Party
Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
LATEST POSTS
12 May Stop Israeli state brutality
 |
9 May Post-election meetings
15 May Birmingham Socialist Party: How can we fight for socialist change and a new workers' party?
17 May Oxfordshire & Aylesbury Socialist Party: The role of the state
18 May Bristol North Socialist Party: Liverpool - history of socialist struggle
CONTACT US
Phone our national office on 020 8988 8777
Email: [email protected]
Locate your nearest Socialist Party branch Text your name and postcode to 07761 818 206
Regional Socialist Party organisers:
Eastern: 079 8202 1969
East Mids: 077 3797 8057
London: 075 4018 9052
North East: 078 4114 4890
North West 079 5437 6096
South West: 077 5979 6478
Southern: 078 3368 1910
Wales: 079 3539 1947
West Mids: 024 7655 5620
Yorkshire: 078 0983 9793
ABOUT US
ARCHIVE
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999