USLEAP's A Mother's Day Story Tour; New Toolkit

As part of the Economic Justice for Flower Workers Campaign, USLEAP kicks off its worker tour "A Mother's Day Story." The tour highlights the story of Amanda Camacho, a Colombian flower worker and union leader who is touring various cities in the U.S. to raise awareness about labor rights violations in the cut-flower industry, especially during high selling seasons like Mother's Day. 

The 3-week national tour commences in Chicago at a speaking event on Tuesday, April 28, 2009, curtails to Cleveland, OH to meet with one of the largest flower distribution centers in the country, and returns to Chicago for a panel discussion including women worker leaders from the UE and ROC Chicago on Saturday, May 2, 2009 focusing on women in unions.

With Mother's Day coming on May 10 and a high U.S. consumer demand for flowers, Ms. Camacho will speak to audiences on the issues of gender discrimination and unjust working conditions in the Colombian flower sector, which is responsible for 60% of cut-flowers sold in the U.S. The joint tour will continue to the East Coast coordinated by the partner organizations International Labor Rights Forum, Jobs with Justice South Florida, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500, and SEIU Local 32BJ, where Ms. Camacho will speak at events like a briefing before the International Workers Rights Caucus (IWRC) and a panel discussion with leaders from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers.

Who is Amanda Camacho?

Amanda is the president of ASOPAPAGAYO, the union of workers who recently signed a union contract with the company that employs them, Papagayo. It is a member union of UNTRAFLORES. Amanda is a single mother of two adolescent boys who has been working at the same flower plantation for the last 14 years. Amanda clarifies that she has not chosen to stay at the same company out of loyalty, but rather as a strategy to work towards better conditions for all the workers at her plantation. ASOPAPAGAYO only achieved official registration in June of 2008, but is already quickly began working to negotiation better contracts. Despite setbacks such as the company's actions to reduce the benefits of those who are part of the union, she continues committed to the struggle for her rights as a worker; she asserts, "I am a union leader because I feel capable and supported by my colleagues, and I chose to take action because I am tired of the humiliations from my employers."

Flower Worker Economic Justice Toolkit!  USLEAP just put together a Support Flower Workers Toolkit that is now available on-line!  Check it out to see what you can do to support flower workers in Colombia.

Hey Chicago!

Join us on Tuesday, April 29, 2009 to hear Amanda speak about Gendered Injustices and Labor Rights Violations in the Cut-Flower Industry.

Saturday, May 2, 2009 to celebrate Women Workers Organizing for Change: A panel discussion on the gender experiences and organizing struggles of women. Panelists include Amanda and Chicago union women worker leaders from the UE and ROC Chicago.