ANTHOC continues the fight against privatization of health care - depite the tremendous personal risks
ANTHOC leaders in Bogota
ANTHOC continues the fight against privatization of health care
125 Health Care workers were murdered between 2000 and 2009. In that same period, 382 health care workers were displaced, and 328 were victims of death threats.
Crowded around a table in a small room, over 15 health care workers gathered to tell us their stories. Members of ANTHOC, the Union of health care workers, bravely shared the details of their lives. Their stories spoke clearly to one key theme: speaking up for your rights, or against corruption and privatization will result in death threats, displacement, imprisonment or assassination.
The Colombian government is privatizing Colombia's few remaining public services under tight deadlines. Hospitals are being privatized or shut down around the country, while over a third of the Colombian population does not have access to medical care. As part of the government strategy to implement these free-market economic policies, those who speak out against privatization, and the corruption associated with it, are subject to extreme repression. The government responds by denying the existence of paramilitary groups that often carry out the repression on their behalf. Worse still, they claim that anyone who resists is a guerilla or terrorist.
Here are some of the testimonials we heard:
Rosa, worked as a nurse for 18 years. When she found out the managers at her hospital were stealing funds, she reported it to the Prosecutor's Office. She was given 10 days to leave her region. She has been displaced and moving around the country for four years now. “It is so hard to be displaced, to be alone. There are no government programs to support us.”
Carmen, imprisoned for 25 months on false charges. “They destroyed my life, put my image in the newspapers. All the charges were dropped except for 'rebellion'. But now, my employer refuses to hire me. Some of my family members have disappeared because of my involvement in the union. They destroyed my life and now I have no means of survival.”
Eduardo, survived two attempts on his life. “If the paramilitaries are demobilized and don't exist, how did they threaten my life twice?”
Jorge, due to his activity in his local, his wife was assassinated on January 5th, 2009. He fled his home with his three kids on January 14th. “My economic situation is so tight. My kids are now in school so far away. I tried to go back home, but the rate of killing is so high, I couldn't.”
Members of ANTHOC ended by stressing that the situation for them now is critical. Those who want fair conditions of trade and development are facing a “genocide” under Uribe: “we are being killed by bullets, but also because of starvation and the loss of our jobs and our lives.”
Fabio Serna, coordinator of COMOSOC, the Coalition of Movements and Social Organizations of Colombia, summarized the situation: “we are trying to respond to this campaign of extermination by the [Uribe] government. All these policies are aimed at converting rights, such as health care, association etc. into merchandise. We are experiencing a military response to social problems.”
In terms of its mandate, Fabio explained that they have three main goals:
To re-empower social actors
Reorient the position on war. That is, developing political solutions, as opposed to military ones, emphasizing the importance of life and work with dignity, and insisting on territorial sovereignty and real democracy.
Propose a different economic model and reality than the one currently being offered by the Uribe government.
Our meeting ended with another call to share what we heard with our members and our government.
ANTHOC in Atlantico
Once again when we met with ANTHOC in Santa Marta on the north coast of Colombia, it was the same story. Along with the rush to privatize health care in this province, comes repression against those who try to stand in its way. Executive Board member, Ricardo Roscoe was killed in 2001 and after that 22 brothers and sisters were forced to leave the country after death threats. Brother Carlos Germenez was killed on the way out of a hospital after putting up flyers about bad management at the hospital. In 2003, Carlos Rojas left the country because of death threats. In March 2004 Brother William Torres, Secretary General of ANTHOC as shot in the back and his wife is imprisoned for 6 years, charged with rebellion.
In April 2005, the process of privatization of the University Hospital in Barranquilla was completed and this included eradicating services like the trauma unit. A total of 462 workers were fired and the current workers have serious health and safety issues, including infections with Hepatitis C and many spinal problems. These workers have no access to Workers’ Compensation.
In this area, 660 people have been outsourced in the hospitals and only 86 people are hired directly by the hospital. 70% of health care is now transferred to “cooperatives”.
In 2006 Carlos Hernandez Janos was killed at this home because he was initiating an investigation into bad management of the hospital. He was killed by two paramilitaries and it was discovered that these two gunmen had been the personal bodyguards of the hospital manager. The federal court actually ordered this manager, Pedro Clave Quintero, fired because of bad management but he was so powerful that even though the Prosecutor’s Office gave orders to the office responsible in the region, they were never carried out – until 7 months later when the union found out and he was fired.
In July 2008 the Union President was captured by intelligence agency representatives handcuffed and charged with rebellion. She spent 5 months in jail but lawyers managed to get her out. She is free to work but the legal process is continuing.
In July this year, the whole Executive Board of ANTHOC was threatened by the Black Eagles paramilitary organization. In August, Juan Jose Malina denounced the bad management of the hospital and so the paramilitaries burned his car in front of his house. In total, this Union has had 3 different Executive Boards so far this year - January to August. As well, hospital managers have refused to take union dues out from workers’ pay cheques and the union is now in a deficit of 380 million pesos.
The goal in this province as elsewhere in Colombia is to privatize the whole health care system in the shortest time possible. Under this government 180 hospitals have been privatized throughout Colombia and in this region it has meant 4 hospitals and 47 clinics. The privatization process here is supposed to be completed by September 23, 2009. If it goes through, 650 more workers will be fired and they will keep only 150 because they are entitled to pensions.
How did they do it before? They came at night and took away doctors, nurses, support workers and brought bus loads of replacement workers in with armed police and the military present. Now they are outsourcing everything.
The Union has tried to sit down with the Ministry of Social Protection but their meetings have been cancelled and they have had no answers to their calls, etc. ANTHOC wants answers on who is behind the threats and killings of brothers and sisters – and they want to know why this Ministry is allowing the system to be devastated and the quality of heath care destroyed. As far as personal security for this Union, they have been given 2 bullet proof cars and two bodyguards for 8 people altogether so they have to go everywhere together.
Postscript:
During our stay in Bogota, together with ANTHOC – and only because OPSEU was here – we did get the chance to meet with the Deputy Minister of Social Protection and members of his staff on three occasions. Each time it was an extremely frustrating exercise as they tried to describe the benefits of the new privatized health care system they are rushing to implement. One particular Senior Staff person rolled her eyes as ANTHOC related a story of a brother who was killed for his activity against privatization.
That is the indignity that Colombia unionists have to face every day as they try to go about their work to defend members of their union and at the same time struggle to hold on to the remnants of a high quality public health care system. It’s the same work we do every day on Canada – but without the death threats, displacements and murder of trade unionists and human rights defenders.
125 Health Care workers were murdered between 2000 and 2009. In that same period, 382 health care workers were displaced, and 328 were victims of death threats.
Crowded around a table in a small room, over 15 health care workers gathered to tell us their stories. Members of ANTHOC, the Union of health care workers, bravely shared the details of their lives. Their stories spoke clearly to one key theme: speaking up for your rights, or against corruption and privatization will result in death threats, displacement, imprisonment or assassination.
The Colombian government is privatizing Colombia's few remaining public services under tight deadlines. Hospitals are being privatized or shut down around the country, while over a third of the Colombian population does not have access to medical care. As part of the government strategy to implement these free-market economic policies, those who speak out against privatization, and the corruption associated with it, are subject to extreme repression. The government responds by denying the existence of paramilitary groups that often carry out the repression on their behalf. Worse still, they claim that anyone who resists is a guerilla or terrorist.
Here are some of the testimonials we heard:
Rosa, worked as a nurse for 18 years. When she found out the managers at her hospital were stealing funds, she reported it to the Prosecutor's Office. She was given 10 days to leave her region. She has been displaced and moving around the country for four years now. “It is so hard to be displaced, to be alone. There are no government programs to support us.”
Carmen, imprisoned for 25 months on false charges. “They destroyed my life, put my image in the newspapers. All the charges were dropped except for 'rebellion'. But now, my employer refuses to hire me. Some of my family members have disappeared because of my involvement in the union. They destroyed my life and now I have no means of survival.”
Eduardo, survived two attempts on his life. “If the paramilitaries are demobilized and don't exist, how did they threaten my life twice?”
Jorge, due to his activity in his local, his wife was assassinated on January 5th, 2009. He fled his home with his three kids on January 14th. “My economic situation is so tight. My kids are now in school so far away. I tried to go back home, but the rate of killing is so high, I couldn't.”
Members of ANTHOC ended by stressing that the situation for them now is critical. Those who want fair conditions of trade and development are facing a “genocide” under Uribe: “we are being killed by bullets, but also because of starvation and the loss of our jobs and our lives.”
Fabio Serna, coordinator of COMOSOC, the Coalition of Movements and Social Organizations of Colombia, summarized the situation: “we are trying to respond to this campaign of extermination by the [Uribe] government. All these policies are aimed at converting rights, such as health care, association etc. into merchandise. We are experiencing a military response to social problems.”
In terms of its mandate, Fabio explained that they have three main goals:
To re-empower social actors
Reorient the position on war. That is, developing political solutions, as opposed to military ones, emphasizing the importance of life and work with dignity, and insisting on territorial sovereignty and real democracy.
Propose a different economic model and reality than the one currently being offered by the Uribe government.
Our meeting ended with another call to share what we heard with our members and our government.
ANTHOC in Atlantico
Once again when we met with ANTHOC in Santa Marta on the north coast of Colombia, it was the same story. Along with the rush to privatize health care in this province, comes repression against those who try to stand in its way. Executive Board member, Ricardo Roscoe was killed in 2001 and after that 22 brothers and sisters were forced to leave the country after death threats. Brother Carlos Germenez was killed on the way out of a hospital after putting up flyers about bad management at the hospital. In 2003, Carlos Rojas left the country because of death threats. In March 2004 Brother William Torres, Secretary General of ANTHOC as shot in the back and his wife is imprisoned for 6 years, charged with rebellion.
In April 2005, the process of privatization of the University Hospital in Barranquilla was completed and this included eradicating services like the trauma unit. A total of 462 workers were fired and the current workers have serious health and safety issues, including infections with Hepatitis C and many spinal problems. These workers have no access to Workers’ Compensation.
In this area, 660 people have been outsourced in the hospitals and only 86 people are hired directly by the hospital. 70% of health care is now transferred to “cooperatives”.
In 2006 Carlos Hernandez Janos was killed at this home because he was initiating an investigation into bad management of the hospital. He was killed by two paramilitaries and it was discovered that these two gunmen had been the personal bodyguards of the hospital manager. The federal court actually ordered this manager, Pedro Clave Quintero, fired because of bad management but he was so powerful that even though the Prosecutor’s Office gave orders to the office responsible in the region, they were never carried out – until 7 months later when the union found out and he was fired.
In July 2008 the Union President was captured by intelligence agency representatives handcuffed and charged with rebellion. She spent 5 months in jail but lawyers managed to get her out. She is free to work but the legal process is continuing.
In July this year, the whole Executive Board of ANTHOC was threatened by the Black Eagles paramilitary organization. In August, Juan Jose Malina denounced the bad management of the hospital and so the paramilitaries burned his car in front of his house. In total, this Union has had 3 different Executive Boards so far this year - January to August. As well, hospital managers have refused to take union dues out from workers’ pay cheques and the union is now in a deficit of 380 million pesos.
The goal in this province as elsewhere in Colombia is to privatize the whole health care system in the shortest time possible. Under this government 180 hospitals have been privatized throughout Colombia and in this region it has meant 4 hospitals and 47 clinics. The privatization process here is supposed to be completed by September 23, 2009. If it goes through, 650 more workers will be fired and they will keep only 150 because they are entitled to pensions.
How did they do it before? They came at night and took away doctors, nurses, support workers and brought bus loads of replacement workers in with armed police and the military present. Now they are outsourcing everything.
The Union has tried to sit down with the Ministry of Social Protection but their meetings have been cancelled and they have had no answers to their calls, etc. ANTHOC wants answers on who is behind the threats and killings of brothers and sisters – and they want to know why this Ministry is allowing the system to be devastated and the quality of heath care destroyed. As far as personal security for this Union, they have been given 2 bullet proof cars and two bodyguards for 8 people altogether so they have to go everywhere together.
Postscript:
During our stay in Bogota, together with ANTHOC – and only because OPSEU was here – we did get the chance to meet with the Deputy Minister of Social Protection and members of his staff on three occasions. Each time it was an extremely frustrating exercise as they tried to describe the benefits of the new privatized health care system they are rushing to implement. One particular Senior Staff person rolled her eyes as ANTHOC related a story of a brother who was killed for his activity against privatization.
That is the indignity that Colombia unionists have to face every day as they try to go about their work to defend members of their union and at the same time struggle to hold on to the remnants of a high quality public health care system. It’s the same work we do every day on Canada – but without the death threats, displacements and murder of trade unionists and human rights defenders.
125 Health Care workers were killed between 2000 and 2009. In that same period, 382 health care workers were displaced, and 328 were victims of death threats.
In Bogota, crowded around a table in a small room, over 15 health care workers gathered to tell us their stories. Members of ANTHOC, the Union of health care workers, bravely shared the details of their lives. Their stories spoke clearly to one key theme: speaking up for your rights, or against corruption and privatization will result in death threats, displacement, imprisonment or assassination.
The Colombian government is privatising Colombia's few remaining public services under tight deadlines. Hospitals are being privatised or shut down around the country, while over a third of the Colombian population does not have access to medical care. As part of the government strategy to implement these free-market economic policies, those who speak out against privatisation, and the corruption associated with it, are subject to extreme repression. The government responds by denying the existence of paramilitary groups that often carry out the repression on their behalf. Worse still, they claim that anyone who resists is a guerilla or terrorist.
Here are some of the testimonials we heard:
Rosa, worked as a nurse for 18 years. When she found out the managers at her hospital were stealing funds, she reported it to the prosecutor's office. She was given 10 days to leave her region. She has been displaced and moving around the country for four years now. “It is so hard to be displaced, to be alone. There are no government programs to support us.”
Carmen, imprisoned for 25 months on false charges. “They destroyed my life, put my image in the newspapers. All the charges were dropped except for 'rebellion'. But now, my employer refuses to hire me. Some of my family members have disappeared because of my involvement in the union. They destroyed my life and now I have no means of survival.
Eduardo, survived two attempts on his life. “If the paramilitaries are demobilized and don't exist, how did they threaten my life twice?”
Jorge, due to his activity in his local, his wife was assassinated on January 5th, 2009. He fled his home with his three kids on January 14th. “My economic situation is so tight. My kids are now in school so far away. I tried to go back home, but the rate of killing is so high, I couldn't.”
Members of ANTHOC ended by stressing that the situation for them now is critical. Those who want fair conditions of trade and development are facing a “genocide” under Uribe: “we are being killed by bullets, but also because of starvation and the loss of our jobs and our lives.”
Fabio Serna, coordinator of COMOSOC, the Coalition of Movements and Social Organizations of Colombia, summarized the situation: “we are trying to respond to this campaign of extermination by the [Uribe] government. All these policies are aimed at converting rights, such as health care, association etc. into merchandise. We are experiencing a military response to social problems.”
In terms of its mandate, Fabio explained that they have three main goals:
To re-empower social actors
Reorient the position on war. That is, developing political solutions, as opposed to military ones, emphasizing the importance of life and work with dignity, and insisting on territorial sovereignty and real democracy.
Propose a different economic model and reality than the one currently being offered by the Uribe government.
Our meeting ended with another call to share what we heard with our members and our government.
ANTHOC in Atlantico
Once again when we met with ANTHOC in Santa Marta on the north coast of Colombia, it was the same story. Along with the rush to privatize health care in this province, comes repression against those who try to stand in its way. Executive Board member, Ricardo Roscoe was killed in 2001 and after that 22 brothers and sisters were forced to leave the country after death threats. Brother Carlos Germenez was killed on the way out of a hospital after putting up flyers about bad management at the hospital. In 2003, Carlos Rojas left the country because of death threats. In March 2004 Brother William Torres, Secretary General of ANTHOC as shot in the back and his wife is imprisoned for 6 years, charged with rebellion.
In April 2005, the process of privatization of the University Hospital in Barranquilla was completed and this included eradicating services like the trauma unit. A total of 462 workers were fired and the current workers have serious health and safety issues, including infections with Hepatitis C and many spinal problems. These workers have no access to Workers’ Compensation.
In this area, 660 people have been outsourced in the hospitals and only 86 people are hired directly by the hospital. 70% of health care is now transferred to “cooperatives”.
In 2006 Carlos Hernandez Janos was killed at this home because he was inititating an investigation into bad management of the hospital. He was killed by two paramilitaries and it was discovered that these two gunmen had been the personal bodyguards of the hospital manager. The federal court actually ordered this manager, Pedro Clave Quintero fired because of bad management but he was so powerful that even though the Prosecutor’s Office gave orders to the office responsible in the region, they were never carried out – until 7 months later when the union found out and he was fired.
In July 2008 the Union President was captured by intelligence agency representatives handcuffed and charged with rebellion. She spent 5 months in jail but lawyers managed to get her out. She is free to work but the legal process is continuing.
In July this year, the whole Executive Board of ANTHOC was threatened by the Black Eagles paramilitary organization. Lat month (Augus), Juan Jose Malina denounced the bad management of the hospital and so the paramilitaries burned his car in front of his house. In total, this Union has had 3 different Executive Boards so far this year - January to August. As well, hospital managers have refused to take union dues out from workers’ pay cheques and the union is now in a deficit of 380 million pesos.
The goal in this province as elsewhere in Colombia is to privatize the whole health care system in the shortest time possible. Under this government 180 hospitals have been privatized throughout Colombia and in this region it has meant 4 hospitals and 47 clinics. The privatization process here is supposed to be completed by September 23. If it goes through, 650 more workers will be fired and they will keep only 150 because they are entitled to pensions.
How did they do it before? They came at night and took away doctors, nurses, support workers and brought bus loads of replacement workers in with armed police and the military present. Now they are outsourcing everything.
The Union has tried to sit down with the Ministry of Social Protection but their meetings have been cancelled and they have had no answers to their calls, etc. ANTHOC wants answers on who is behind the threats and killings of brothers and sisters – and they want to know why this Ministry is allowing the system to be devastated and the quality of heath care destroyed. As far as personal secutiry for this Union, they have been given 2 bullet proof cars and two bodyguards for 8 people altogether so they have to go everywhere together.
In April 2005, the process of privatization of the University Hospital in Barranquilla was completed and this included eradicating services like the trauma unit. A total of 462 workers were fired and the current workers have serious health and safety issues, including infections with Hepatitis C and many spinal problems. These workers have no access to Workers’ Compensation.
In this area, 660 people have been outsourced in the hospitals and only 86 people are hired directly by the hospital. 70% of health care is now transferred to “cooperatives”.
In 2006 Carlos Hernandez Janos was killed at this home because he was inititating an investigation into bad management of the hospital. He was killed by two paramilitaries and it was discovered that these two gunmen had been the personal bodyguards of the hospital manager. The federal court actually ordered this manager, Pedro Clave Quintero fired because of bad management but he was so powerful that even though the Prosecutor’s Office gave orders to the office responsible in the region, they were never carried out – until 7 months later when the union found out and he was fired.
In July 2008 the Union President was captured by intelligence agency representatives handcuffed and charged with rebellion. She spent 5 months in jail but lawyers managed to get her out. She is free to work but the legal process is continuing.
In July this year, the whole Executive Board of ANTHOC was threatened by the Black Eagles paramilitary organization. Lat month (Augus), Juan Jose Malina denounced the bad management of the hospital and so the paramilitaries burned his car in front of his house. In total, this Union has had 3 different Executive Boards so far this year - January to August. As well, hospital managers have refused to take union dues out from workers’ pay cheques and the union is now in a deficit of 380 million pesos.
The goal in this province as elsewhere in Colombia is to privatize the whole health care system in the shortest time possible. Under this government 180 hospitals have been privatized throughout Colombia and in this region it has meant 4 hospitals and 47 clinics. The privatization process here is supposed to be completed by September 23. If it goes through, 650 more workers will be fired and they will keep only 150 because they are entitled to pensions.
How did they do it before? They came at night and took away doctors, nurses, support workers and brought bus loads of replacement workers in with armed police and the military present. Now they are outsourcing everything.
The Union has tried to sit down with the Ministry of Social Protection but their meetings have been cancelled and they have had no answers to their calls, etc. ANTHOC wants answers on who is behind the threats and killings of brothers and sisters – and they want to know why this Ministry is allowing the system to be devastated and the quality of heath care destroyed. As far as personal secutiry for this Union, they have been given 2 bullet proof cars and two bodyguards for 8 people altogether so they have to go everywhere together.
Postscript:
During our stay in Bogota, together with ANTHOC – and only because OPSEU was here – we did get the chance to meet with the Deputy Minister of Social Protection and members of his staff on three occasions. Each time it was an extremely frustrating exercise as they tried to describe the benefits of the new privatized health care system they are rushing to implement. One particular Senior Staff person rolled her eyes as ANTHOC related a story of a brother who was killed for his activity against privatization.
That is the indignity that Colombia unionists have to face every day as they try to go about their work to defend members of their union and at the same time struggle to hold on to the remnants of a high quality public health care system. It’s the same work we do every day on Canada – but without the death threats, displacements and murder of trade unionists and human rights defenders.
During our stay in Bogota, together with ANTHOC – and only because OPSEU was here – we did get the chance to meet with the Deputy Minister of Social Protection and members of his staff on three occasions. Each time it was an extremely frustrating exercise as they tried to describe the benefits of the new privatized health care system they are rushing to implement. One particular Senior Staff person rolled her eyes as ANTHOC related a story of a brother who was killed for his activity against privatization.
That is the indignity that Colombia unionists have to face every day as they try to go about their work to defend members of their union and at the same time struggle to hold on to the remnants of a high quality public health care system. It’s the same work we do every day on Canada – but without the death threats, displacements and murder of trade unionists and human rights defenders.
Presenting the OPSEU banner to ANTHOC
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