Defending Public Services: Canadian and Colombian Workers on the Frontlines May 6-21,2004

PSAC SJF Funding: $25,000

Co-funded with CUPW, CUPE and the CLC

The Frontlines tour held May 6-21, 2004, was sponsored by the PSAC, CUPW, CUPE and the CLC. The tour consisted of a delegation of five public sector unionists and activists from Colombia who participated in a variety of events in a number of communities, both large and small, in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and in British Colombia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. The testimonies, evidence and analysis of our Colombian Sisters and Brothers helped us to further understand the devastating impact of the neo-liberal agenda being implemented by the Colombian government - the erosion of the public sector, and the promotion of free trade, privatization and the global corporate agenda, to the detriment of working people. We made concrete links between what is happening to the public sector in Colombia, and the privatization of public services here in Canada.

The Canadian unions recognized the need to build on the relationships created through the Frontlines Tour, and are committed to developing a plan to follow-up on the areas identified for further collaboration and support, including education, capacity-building, communications and networking.

The Colombian delegation, from left to right: Dora Lilia Gomez, Ana Beatriz Saldarriaga, Jorge Albin Anaya, Maria Eva Villate, Dario Restrepo