Bochica Farms

The following is a history of the union at the Bochica Farms plantation, where the only independent union in the flower sector in Antioquia was officially destroyed in July 2008.

On January 28th, 2007, a group of 42 workers at the Bochica Farms plantation formed a union, the "Unión de Trabajadores de Exportaciones Bochica S.A. CI." Prior to the formation, workers had experienced worsening conditions at the plantatation, including increased production demands and verbal abuse by management. Most of the organizing workers had been Bochica employees for between 8 and 20 years. When the company failed to follow through on a pay raise the workers expected on January 1st, the workers decided to organize, even though the manager of the farm, Hugo Cifuentes, had convened a meeting in which he told workers that he did not want a union on the farm.

On January 29th, the workers completed the legal requirements to obtain legal recognition from the Colombian Ministry of Social Protection. Within days, the company held a meeting in which uniformed military personnel were present "to warn workers of the dangers of organizing a union in Colombia." After the meeting, managers attempted to persuade union members to disaffiliate, reportedly offering bribes and other incentives.

Two days after this meeting, three union leaders, the President, Treasurer, and Auditor, received written threats signed by the Aguilas Negras del Oriente, the Black Eagles of the East. This group is said to be a new paramilitary organization comprised of formerly demobilized members of the AUC, Colombia's largest paramilitary group. The threats warned the leaders to cease the union formation process, or they would be "declared military objectives." In addition, the spouses of the union's executive committee members reported being approached on the street by unknown men who warned them of the dangers of being a part of a union.

The union never received any form of protection from the Colombian government. The Ministry of Social Protection denied the union's registration on the basis of a technicality, but was eventually granted legal recognition with the assistance of the Escuela Nacional Sindical, a Colombian NGO, and SINTRAINAGRO, the largest private sector union in Colombia who primarily represents banana workers.

Spectrum Flowers, based in Miami, is the sole distributor of flowers grown at Bochica Farms. USLEAP contacted Spectrum, which was unresponsive to repeated calls and faxes.

In July 2008, USLEAP received word from SINTRAINAGRO that while the union had finally started negotiations with the company, that the plantation was closing down. After the announcement of the liquidation of the property and the firing of all workers, management hired a new group of workers under temporary contracts. This is a common strategy in Colombia and elsewhere to ensure that workers cannot organize and that workers with seniority do not receive higher wages.

Context:

Bochica Farms is located just outside of La Ceja in Antioquia, which is a historically paramilitary-controlled region of Colombia. About 20% of Colombia's floriculture industry is located in Antioquia, making it the number two flower-growing region in the country, after Bogotá. Aside from this recently formed union, there are no independent flower worker unions in the region.

The farm originated 34 years ago, when floriculture was a new industry in Colombia. Currently, prior to its closure it employed about 600 workers, of which 450 had individual contracts and 150 were temporary. Unlike the Bogotá flower-growing region, which is dominated by roses and carnations, Bochica Farms grew a wide variety of flowers including chrysanthemums, eucalyptus, asters, sunflowers, and hydrangeas.