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March 2003

Tyson Foods Fails to Comply With Labor Department Order
The National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice is continuing its campaign for the rights of poultry workers in the U.S. In a 2000 Department of Labor report investigating the labor practices of the poultry industry in the U.S. Tyson Foods was found to be in violation of wage and hour laws by not paying workers for the time they had worked. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao ordered Tyson Foods to comply with the laws and to pay back wages to all workers. Perdue Farms was ordered to do the same and settled with the Department of Labor in May 2002. Tyson Foods continues to fight the indictment and has engaged a team of lawyers to appeal the order while 70,000 workers continue to be underpaid.

Last year Tyson Foods realized a gross profit of over $1.8 billions dollars and a net income of $383 million, an increase of 435 percent over 2001. During that time, Tyson continued to pay below minimum wage and did not pay workers for all hour they worked. Tyson Foods prides itself on a policy that strives to "honor God and be respectful of each other, our customers and other stakeholders." Refusing to comply with federal laws protecting the rights of workers violates the dignity and well-being of the workers who produce the huge profits that Tyson takes in annually.

NICWJ is asking the religious community to write to Tyson Foods’ President John Tyson and urge him to comply with the Department of Labor’s order and settle with the Department, pay all back wages to current workers, to search for former employees and pay their back wages, and to begin paying workers for every hour worked. A sample letter and additional information can be found on the NICWJ website (www.nicwj.org). CMSM has supported the NICWJ efforts to protect the poultry workers.

Congressional Action Urged for Colombia
The Congressional Human Rights Caucus held a briefing on the impact of U.S. military aid on Arauca, Colombia on February 24. Two religious leaders, Father Luis Teodoro Gonzalez-Bustacara and Luz Marina Gomez testified how the change in U.S. aid to Colombia has impacted one region of the country. Both witnesses have received death threats; Fr. Gonzalez has been kidnapped and held by paramilitary forces and Mrs. Gomez’s family has been forced into exile in Venezuela and she will not be able to return to Colombia after this visit to the U.S.

People living in the Araucan region are in the crossfire between guerrillas, paramilitary forces and the Colombian security forces, aided by U.S. special forces. A recent Human Rights Watch report noted that church leaders who spoke out in favor of human rights are now being targeted by all of the "armed actors," often during mass or prayer services. They are threatened and killed because they care for victims on all sides and are committed to creating a culture of peace. In the first 11 months of 2002, an archbishop, a nun, 11 priests, and 18 Protestant pastors were killed in Colombia, among the thousands who have been killed in the civilian population.

Arauca is a particular target for killings and kidnappings because it has been declared an area for the "Firm Hand" approach to the conflict, and for U.S. attention, because of the oil pipeline that runs through the region.

The witnesses directly linked the change in U.S. policy in Colombia with the increase in violence and deaths and urged the U.S. Congress to take action to restore the peace process and bring about an end to the violence. In particular they urged that U.S. aid to Colombia include basic standards for the protection of human rights and that these standards be applied and monitored; peace talks, leading to a peaceful and negotiated settlement of the internal conflict, must be resumed; more U.S. aid should be directed toward addressing the root causes of the conflict and meeting the needs of the victims through humanitarian and development aid, not the disproportionate emphasis on military funding; aerial fumigation of illegal crops which damages health and the environment should be ended.

You can contact your representatives and urge them to include all of these conditions when providing foreign assistance to Colombia. CMSM will monitor legislation and continue working with partners in the U.S. and Colombia to address the situation. In March CMSM Associate Director Matt Wade, SM will participate in a CRS-sponsored meeting in Colombia and meet with Colombian religious to discuss the current situation and future collaboration.

U.S. Undermines Work of the International Criminal Court
This year the International Criminal Court (ICC) begins its important work of bringing about restorative justice for victims of genocide and systemic violence. The ICC is empowered to hear cases about apartheid, state-sponsored terrorism, enforced disappearances, torture, systematic persecution, and sexual violence. Through the ICC’s Victims’ Trust Fund the Court will be able to provide reparations for victims and their families. The Fund will be able to pay for medical and psychological care, restitution of property, provide proper burial of the dead, erect community memorials, develop educational materials, and other needs of communities recovering from atrocities.

The Bush Administration is opposed to the ICC and has drawn all U.S. support for the Court, including funding for the victims’ Trust Fund. The Administration is seeking bilateral agreements with other nations exempting U.S. personnel from prosecution by the ICC and threatening to withdraw military and foreign aid to any nation who will not agree to this exemption. This action could seriously interfere with the effective work of the Court.

The Coalition for the International Criminal Court, a network of over 1,000 non-governmental organizations is preparing a program to urge the Congress to ratify the ICC and to provide the funding necessary to support the ICC and the Victims' Trust Fund.

One way of bringing Congress’s attention to this matter is to send small donations to Victims’ Trust Fund of the ICC to a Senator and ask the Senator to forward the donation to the ICC. These small donations will have two effects, bringing Congress’s attention to this important international Court, and to provide the building blocks of a permanent institution that will protect the dignity and justice of victims for years to come.

CMSM will be participating in meetings of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court and the Victims’ Trust Fund Campaign. If you would like more information about the ICC visit www.usaforicc.org and www.wfa.org/wicc. An "activist kit" with materials about the ICC and the Trust Fund are available, as well. Contact the CMSM JP Office for these.

Resources
Walking With the Peoples of Africa: A resource guide to accompany the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops Statement A Call to Solidarity With Africa. This study guide was prepared by the Catholic Task Force on Africa, a coalition of Catholic religious communities and organizations who focus on advocacy for Africa. The packet can be used as a way of increasing solidarity and advocacy on Africa issues in Catholic Faith Communities throughout the United States. The packet evolves as issues in Africa cry out for our attention. All materials are available at http://afjn.cua.edu in pdf format and can be reproduced and used for education about Africa. For more information contact the JP Office (sdeboe@cmsm.org or call 301-588-4030) or Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns at 202-832-1780.

Stan De Boe, OSST
Editor

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