Colombia maintains a reputation as one of the most dangerous countries for trade unionists, with over 3,000 trade unionists assassinated in the period of 52 years from 1971-2023. In response, the government has launched a process of reparation to the trade union movement as a collective victim of the armed conflict. Against such bleak statistics and their origins in decades of violence and instability, Colombia’s banana workers union SINTRAINAGRO has emerged as a champion of trade unionism for peace and stability.
Today, industrial relations in the Urabá region where SINTRAINAGRO is active are widely viewed as the most advanced in any Latin American banana producing region or country. Last year, the union negotiated an impressive four-year collective agreement with producers association Augura, with a 14% pay increase in the first year. The union, which is proactive in women’s empowerment and inclusion in the rural workforce, also ensured the agreement included clauses to increase the number of women hired in the traditionally male-dominated industry. Thanks to conventions negotiated by the union and partnerships established in the community, the union has been able to support the educational attainments and training of the workforce as well as offering sporting opportunities for children and young people in the community.
Below, Adela Torres, General Secretary, discusses the history of the union that is a model in Colombia and beyond.
SINTRAINAGRO as a model of trade union unity in Colombia
As reported by Adela Torres, General Secretary
A bit of History
SINTRAINAGRO was born 48 years ago on the oilpalm plantations surrounding Puerto Wilches, a town 300 kilometres North East of Medellín, as a response to the precarious and subhuman conditions in which the workers lived. At the time, workers suffered from a lack of job stability, working days of over 14 hours, a lack of access to public services, healthcare or social security, hazardous working conditions and were accommodated in camps.
SINTRAINAGRO has had to face countless challenges in order to continue its trade union struggle. At the time of its inception in 1976, the country was experiencing acute social and economic crisis resulting from a historical period of Colombia’s history known as ‘The Violence’: a period of civil war that ensued after hundreds of banana plantation workers were killed by the military in Ciénaga in 1928 after striking for better conditions, leading to civil unrest that worsened when a left-wing political candidate was subsequently assassinated. While peace gradually returned to the area, SINTRAINAGRO continued to work to defend the labour, social and economic rights of workers and their families.
SINTRAINAGRO is affiliated to the Central Union of Colombian Workers, the CUT, is a member of the IUF and of COLSIBA, the Coordinating Body of Latin American Banana and Agro-industrial Unions.
Core Commitments
Since its inception, SINTRAINAGRO has remained loyal to its founding principles, of defending the social, economic and labour rights of workers. At the same time, the union has been firmly committed to its central purpose: of contributing to the strengthening of the social rule of law, to the deepening of economic, social and political democracy, and promoting the growth and capacity of trade unions, in a single national trade union by branch of industry.
Leaders of SINTRAINAGRO today recognise the significance of the unions social and political history. It is a history that demonstrates that it is possible to come from a position of adversity and anti-union violence to achieve the opening of “spaces of hope”. It is a history that demonstrates how joining the union can lead to tangible improvements in the living conditions of workers and their families. It is a history through which the union has survived to earn a position of admiration and respect among the national and international community.
SINTRAINAGRO continues to work on the following key issues:
- Against labour precarisation
- Against labour outsourcing through cooperatives and subcontracting.
- For respect for freedom of association, collective bargaining and the right to organise freely.
- For labour contracting through direct contracts with companies.
- Against anti-union violence.
Model of Labour Agreement
Between 1970 and 1999 a period of violence in Colombia claimed the lives of many trade unionists, politicians, workers, military and businessmen. This violence destabilised the social and economic order in the agro-industrial productive regions, but through a political agreement between the government and armed groups, the trade union saw an opportunity to increase membership and pave the way to the signing of the first collective bargaining agreements.
Since then, and through the rethinking of the vision and programmatic objectives of the organisation, the culture of collective negotiation between the trade union and employers has been transformed, resulting in a climate of greater understanding on labour issues, improvement of the quality of life of workers, social development and a model of labour consultation in Colombia.
Over the last 25 years, the model of labour agreements between companies and SINTRAINAGRO has allowed for agile collective bargaining agreements to be negotiated which led to tangible benefits for workers and their families: this has become a decisive factor in productivity and therefore in workers’ wages. Ultimately, having an organised workforce with collective agreements in place favours the economic situation in productive regions.
These agreements, named ‘agreements on productivity, sustainability and decent work’, establish working commissions and activities that seek to ensure that both parties take initiatives to improve production. It is a negotiation model that seeks to improve market conditions and therefore the stability of the company and the workers.
Today, these agreements benefit over 33,000 workers in Colombia, across bananas, sugar cane, oilpalm, flowers, rice, and dairy products, and across 300 different companies. The major achievements of these agreements include the establishment of permanent employment contracts, recognition of social benefits such as healthcare and pensions, reducing occupational hazards, and gains in areas of housing, education and other benefits.
SINTRAINAGRO’s Presence
SINTRAINAGRO is present in the regions of Magdalena, Santander, Cesar, Risaralda, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Cundinamarca and Antioquia; in the agribusiness of: Banana, Rice, Sugar, Sugar, Flowers, Oil palm, Dairy, Rubber, and Biodiesel.
SINTRAINAGRO and its contribution to reconciliation
SINTRAINAGRO has shown that it is capable of settling disputes through dialogue and consultation, an example of which is the collective bargaining model it leads.
The union has worked tirelessly to defend decent employment for its members and their families.
SINTRAINAGRO has been part of the protection, advice and guidance provided to victims of violence and displaced persons, aiming to ensure that victims receive comprehensive reparation.
The women’s secretariat of SINTRAINAGRO was created to offer specific support to women, seeking the increased participation and empowerment of working women, widows and single mothers, promoting women’s leadership and the defence of women’s rights as citizens.
