SOA Watch is an independent organization that seeks to close the US Army School of the

Americas, through vigils and fasts, demonstrations and nonviolent protest, as well as

media and legislative work. SOA Watch 5525 Illinois Ave. NW Washington, DC 20011

phone: 202-234-3440 email: info@soaw.org www.soaw.org

SHUT DOWN THE SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS

In November of 2012 members of local 140 participated in the yearly bus trip to the School of Americas(SOA). The School of Americas is a U.S. military training school for Latin American soldiers and police, located at Fort Benning, Georgia. Union organizers are among the primary targets of SOA violence. SOA graduates have been directly responsible for the killing of striking workers and union organizers throughout Latin America.

Until around 1990 Colombian trade unions were among the strongest in Latin America. However the

1980s expansion of par militarism in Colombia saw trade union leaders and members increasingly

targeted for assassination, and as a result Colombia has been the most dangerous country in the world for

trade unionists for several decades.

Most of the violence committed against trade unionist has been directed at there leaders of

unions of multinational corporations, reports that US corporations in Colombia have actively

colluded with paramilitaries in order to reduce union activity. Besides acknowledged payments

from multinationals to the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) (Doe v. Chiquita

Brands International), "Trade unionists have been particularly targeted by the paramilitaries

3 years." Other sources give figures of around 4000 trade union members killed from the mid-

1980s to 2008

Anibal Perez ( left photo center) brought attention to the fact that Drummond Mining an

American Company based in Alabama was illegally dumping pollutants into his local water

system. Drummond Mining has also been implicated in testimony by paramilitary persons in the

death of 3 union organizers. Over 25 union organizers have been killed in Columbia that worked

for the Drummond Corporation since 2000.

The CIW’s national Campaign for Fair Food educates consumers on the issue of farm labor

exploitation – its causes and solutions – and forges alliances between farmworkers and

consumers in an effort to enlist the market power of major corporate buyers to help end that

exploitation. Since 2001, farmworkers have partnered with people of faith, students and young

people, and communities all over the country to win respect for workers from some of the

largest corporations in the world.

From left to right Contact: Torrey Green-King of UAW local 140 Civil & Human Rights, Jake Ratner of Just Harvest USA , Jerry King of UAW local 140 Civil & Human Rights, Silvia Perez of Coalition of Immokalee Workers

A partnership for justice, Just Harvest USA and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), an internationally recognized farmworker organization based in South Florida. The CIW is at the forefront of fighting to end decades of stagnant, sub-poverty wages for farmworkers, combating modern-day slavery cases in the agricultural industry, and demanding that corporate food retailers use their power to ensure the human rights of farmworkers in their supply chains.

Just Harvest USA 110 S 2nd St Immokalee, Florida 34142 (239) 357-1473 info@justharvestusa.orgwww.justharvestusa.org CIW P.O. Box 603 Immokalee, FL 34143 (239) 657-8311 WWW.ciw-online.org

What is the Fair Food Program?

The Program consists of a wage increase supported by the additional penny per pound paid by corporate

purchasers of Florida tomatoes, and a human-rights-based Code of Conduct, involving six main

elements:

A pay increase supported by the “penny per pound” paid by participating buyers, such as Taco Bell,

Whole Foods, and pay for their tomatoes;

Compliance with the Code of Conduct, including zero tolerance for forced labor and sexual assault;

Worker-to-worker education sessions carried out by the CIW on the farms and on company time to

insure workers understand their new rights and responsibilities;

A worker-triggered complaint resolution mechanism (including a 24-hour hotline staffed by the FFSC)

leading to complaint investigation, corrective action plans, and, if necessary, suspension of a farm’s

Participating Grower status, and thereby its ability to sell to Participating Buyers;

Health and safety committees on every farm to give workers a structured voice in the shape of their

work environment. and

Ongoing auditing of the farms to insure compliance with each element of the FFP.

Current Fair Food Agreements

Of the five largest fast food corporations in the country — McDonald’s, Subway, Burger King, Taco

Bell (Yum! Brands), and Wendy’s — Wendy’s stands alone as the only one who has refused to join

the Fair Food Program and respect the rights and dignity of farmworkers in its supply chain.

Tools that drive awareness

The Committee recently held a GLOBAL SOLIDARITY & MOBILIZATION and Recruitment Meeting for the scheduled 2013 SOA Vigil and labor caucus taking place November 22 thru 24. During this meeting SOA Watch National Council and Legislative Working Group Member Theresa Cameranesi, spoke on the history of SOA Watch and her recent visit to Paraguay in April of this year. Elections were held after a military Coup that is referred to as the “Monsanto Coup”, had taken Place. Remember the Monsanto corporation. This corporation, which manufactures landscaping products like "Round - Up” or “GMO Seeds” is acting as if it was a Sovereign nation.

2013 UAW Friends Of The SOA Labor Caucus