Cane Cutters Win Strike Victory in Colombia

18,000 Colombian sugar cane workers have ended a 56-day strike after sugar mills employing 75% of the workers agreed to some major demands of their new union SINALCORTEROS. The remaining employers are expected to sign on to the pattern agreement that includes a 15% wage increase, a limitation on excessive hours of work, paid sick leave and employer contributions to housing, education, and social security.

The striking workers were unable to win the demand that would compel the employers to provide direct employment contracts. Therefore the system of phony workers’ “cooperatives” that under Colombia law permit employers to evade legal responsibility for collective bargaining and providing health and pension benefits continues. However the strike did compel sugar mill operators into de facto collective bargaining with SINALCORTEROS. By agreeing to pay into the national employee health and retirement system, the owners in effect are recognizing the employee status of the cane cutters. During the strike the union increased its voluntary membership from 900 to more than 3000 members, making it one of the largest private sector unions in Colombia.

International solidarity played a major role by forcing the Uribé government to back down from its initial stance of labeling the strike “guerrilla inspired.” It is also likely that the Uribé government restrained paramilitary attacks on the strikers because of its ongoing campaign to win U.S. Congressional ratification of the Free Trade Agreement. Sugar production in Colombia is increasingly dedicated to producing ethanol for the U.S. market.