CREDHOS at permanent assembly of Petroleum Workers Union (USO) at entrance to the Ecopetrol refinery in Barrancabermeja

On May 25, the Barrancabermeja, Colombia-based Regional Corporation for the Defence of Human Rights (CREDHOS) tweeted: “A blockade at the refinery of Barrancabermeja by the social and popular organizations of the region in unity with the Petroleum Workers Union (USO) within the framework of national strike taking place throughout the country against the disastrous policies of the Government of Ivan Duque.”

Later CREDHOS tweeted: “We participate in the National Strike Day as a verifier and observer organization of the scene of mobilization and social protest. At this moment, we make the respective rounds at the different refinery gates in Barrancabermeja”

The following day, El Espectador reported: “Since yesterday, Tuesday, May 25, members of the Unión Sindical Obrera (USO) have been located at the entrance to the Ecopetrol refinery in Barrancabermeja and declared themselves in a permanent assembly.”

The article also notes: “According to its president, Edwin Palma, they oppose Ecopetrol selling shares [of the state company] to private capital and ask for better working conditions for outsourced employees. They also ask that he refrain from fracking and ask him for concrete actions in the context of the pandemic, such as the creation of social jobs.”

PBI-Colombia has accompanied CREDHOS since 1994.

In November 2019, CREDHOS president Ivan Madero took part in a cross-country advocacy tour in Canada that highlighted his organizations concerns about fracking and the operations of Calgary-based Parex Resources in Simacota, Santander.

Most recently, Madero participated in a PBI-Canada organized webinar in April 2021 on the risks faced by environmental defenders in the Magdalena Medio region of Colombia.

We also note that Unifor, Canada’s largest energy union, has called for a Canada-wide moratorium on all new oil and gas fracking due to its safety and environment risks and the lack of free, prior and informed consent from First Nations.

We continue to follow the USO action with interest.

The ongoing national strike in Colombia began on April 28. 

In this video, USO president Edwin Palma explains the reasons for the permanent assembly and participation in the national strike.