Flower Workers and Economic Justice

• Flower workers are primarily women who work long hours, especially before holidays like Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day, are paid poverty-level wages, and face hazardous working conditions
• Over 60% of flowers bought in the U.S. come from Colombia
• About 100,000 flower workers are employed in Colombia, most of whom are women; almost a third are single mothers
• In July 2008, Dole,which was the largest grower and exporter in Colombia, signed contracts with two flower worker unions in
  Colombia.  It took the workers nearly four years of struggle to win these first contracts and hundreds of workers lost their jobs during the fight.  In early 2009, Dole sold off its Latin American flower operations. 

USLEAP campaigns to support flower workers who are trying to improve their wages and working conditions in Latin America, with a current focus on Colombia.  Find out how you can help their organizing struggles.