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3 April 2009
Directorate of Public Services closes down
Cali
refuse and waste disposal corporation (EMSIRVA) and its union,
a PSI affiliate
PSI is asking its affiliates to send letters of protest
in support of workers from the Municipal Refuse Collection and Waste
Disposal Corporation (EMSIRVA) in the town of Cali, Colombia, over the
winding up of this public company, decreed by the Directorate of Public
Services, a national body which follows guidelines laid down by the
government under Álvaro Uribe Vélez.
In the early hours of the morning of 26th March, the EMSIRVA workers
were removed from their posts, on the instructions of the Directorate of
Public Services headed by Eva María Uribe, and the order to put the company
into liquidation was issued.
This arbitrary decision shows that the national government is determined to
hand over public property at any cost. In this case, around 600 workers will
be sacked, and a company built up through the efforts of the people of Cali
will be lost. This also shows up the authoritarian nature of this
government, which took no heed of the proposals put forward by the workers,
who were prepared to reach agreements to guarantee the financial viability
of the company. The most brutal police repression was used to quash the
justified protest of these workers, leaving several of them wounded.
We condemn the privatisation policies of Álvaro Uribe's regime and the
underhand tactics of the Director of Public Services who, in her report of
25th March made no reference to the closure of the company, which was taken
into administration in 2006. However, in the early hours of the morning she
ordered the closure of the company, and for the workers to be removed by
force. These are policies which produce violence in Colombia, and which make
it sink further into poverty, exclusion and authoritarianism.
This measure, implemented by the Directorate of Public Services, reveals
the anti-union nature of government policy, since it also gets rid of the
union, despite the latter's commitment to making the company financially
viable, and their having shown their interest in revising the collective
bargaining agreement.
We appeal to all unions affiliated
to PSI to send letters of protest, addressed to President ALVARO URIBE VÉLEZ
and the Directorate of Public Services, about this plan which affects around
600 workers and their families.
We have prepared a model letter below. Your message can also be sent via the
website or (www.world-psi.org/urgentaction.
Please send copies of your own letter to PSI at rights@world-psi.org,
ispandina@etb.net.co); sintraemsirva@email.com), juankaortiz@gmail.com and to
the Colombian embassy in your country.
NB: Letters of solidarity and support should be sent to the addresses
indicated above, and letters of protest to the addresses below.
You can send this online by filling in the boxes and clicking "submit" below.
 View
PSI's letter
Model
letter (Spanish - Word)
_____________________________________________
Translation of Model Letter
His Excellency
Doctor ÁLVARO URIBE VÉLEZ
President of the Republic of Colombia
Carrera 8 No 7-27
Palacio de Narino
Bogota D.C.
Colombia
Fax: (57-1) 566-2071.
E-mail: auribe@presidencia.gov.co
Your Excellency,
Our organisation, [Name of organisation} is surprised at the resolution issued by the
Directorate of Public Services on 26th March 2009, putting into liquidation
the Municipal Refuse Collection and Waste Disposal Corporation (EMSIRVA) in
the town of Cali, Colombia, making around 600 workers redundant, and
seriously jeopardising the living of their families, and the existence of
the trade union.
In the early hours of the morning of 26th March, under orders from the
Directorate of Public Services, headed by Eva María Uribe, the police were
used to remove the workers from their posts at the Municipal Refuse
Collection and Waste Disposal Corporation (EMSIRVA), and the order to put
the company into liquidation was issued. In carrying out this measure, the
most brutal police repression was used to quash the justified protest of
these workers, leaving several of them wounded.
We consider that this measure, implemented by the Directorate of Public
Services, reveals the bias against working people and the anti-union nature
of government policy, since it both foments unemployment in the public
sector, and, at the same time, gets rid of the union, despite the union's
commitment to making the company financially viable, and their having shown
their interest in revising the collective bargaining agreement.
With EMSIRVA having been taken into administration by the Directorate of
Public Services three years ago, it is clear that the plan was to close down
the company and counter the union’s proposals, in order to further the
elimination of both institutions, leaving the delivery of services in
private hands.
We request urgent intervention by your government, so that the Directorate
of Public Services revokes the resolution that puts EMSIRVA into
liquidation, and reopens the negotiations, initiated with the trade union,
to revise the collective bargaining agreement and further the participation
of all parties interested in keeping the waste disposal company in public
hands.
It is imperative to remember that in the replies given by your government
regarding this case, interest was always expressed in keeping the company in
the public sector, and that there was a commitment to respecting workers'
rights and to recognition of the role of the trade union in the process of
rescuing EMSIRVA: this has been overturned in the measure taken by the
Directorate of Public Services.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
NAME OF THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ORGANISATION
NAME OF THE ORGANISATION
cc:
Vice-president of the Republic
Doctor: FRANCISCO SANTOS
E-mail: fsantos@presidencia.gov.co
Ministerio de Vivienda y Medio Ambiente
Doctor: JUAN LOZANO
Calle 37 No 8-40.
Telefax: (57-1)332-3400.
Ministerio de la Protección Social
Doctor: DIEGO PALACIO BETANCURT
Carrera 13 No 32-
Fax: (57-1) 336-0182
Email: dpalacio@minproteccionsocial.gov.co
Bogotá D.C.
Procuraduría General de la Nación.
Doctor: EDUARDO JOSE MAYA VILLAZÓN.
Carrera 5 No 15-80.
Fax:(57-1) 342-6472.
Bogotá D.C.
Superintendencia de Servicios Públicos Domiciliarios
Doctora: EVA MARIA URIBE T.
Carrera 18 No 84-35
Fax (57-1) 691-3142
Bogotá D.C.
Fill in the boxes below to send this letter of protest
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