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Technical Cooperation Project Summary

Project Title

Enhancing Skills of Colombian Trade Unionists - Workers' Rights Initiatives 2008

Region/country

Colombia and the United States

grant number

IL – 17769-08-75-K

project duration

October 2008 - December 2010

Funding Level

Total: $1,250,000 FY 2008

Problem to be Addressed
  • The need to promote worker rights in Colombia.
  • The need to provide skills training and internships for local union representatives.
  • The need to conduct follow-up training for these representatives.
  • The need to improve/promote social dialogue.
  • The need to equip workers/workers’ representatives with skills necessary to strengthen civil society and play a positive role in the peace process.

Targets
  • Colombian Trade Unionists

Project Objectives
  • Improve the training skills and hands-on capacity of Colombian trade union leaders in trade union organization and administration, collective bargaining, conflict resolution, mediation and arbitration, as well as in computer/ technology, research, and strategic communication.
  • Expose Colombian trade unionists to unionized work places in the U.S.
  • Establish a communication network between international trade unions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Summary of Activities
  • Bring three phases of Colombian trade unionists to the U.S. to attend training workshops on conflict resolution, social dialogue, interest-based bargaining, mediation, and arbitration.
  • Conduct training seminars for Colombian unionists to improve their skills at replicating the training they receive in the U.S. in order to create a train-the-trainer opportunity once the unionists return to Colombia.
  • Carry out study tours for the Colombian trade unionists of unionized workplaces in the U.S.
  • Conduct seminars between Colombian trade unionists and non-governmental organizations in order to create communication networks.

Implementing Organization

American Center for International Labor Solidarity

Contact Information

Office of Trade and Labor Affairs
Division of Trade Agreement Administration and Technical cooperation
(202) 693-4900

Date Last Updated

October 2, 2009