USW's Gerard Challenges Colombia to Enforce Labor Laws, Reinstate Fired Drummond Workers

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Jan 13, 2010, 11:06 ET

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United Steelworkers (USW) today said that International President Leo W. Gerard this week sent a letter to Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Velez and copied to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that calls upon his government to take action against Drummond Co., Inc. for violating the country's own labor laws as well as the ILO Convention's when it fired 15 union leaders during a strike over health and safety.

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The letter calls for immediate reinstatement of the workers and for sanctions to be imposed against Drummond, and challenges the Colombian government to require that Drummond, which has had 16 workplace fatalities at its Colombian operation, provide a safe working environment.

For the entire text of the letter, visit: http://assets.usw.org/Releases/Misc/10-01-12_drummond_in_columbia.pdf

For more information, contact: Tony Montana (USW) – (412) 562-2592

SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)