Lydia Lopez Union Organizer Columbian Flower Industry 12:00 Noon, Monday, November 5 RSC Danielson Room

Lydia Lopez, a union organizer in the Colombian flower industry, will speak Monday, Nov. 5, at noon in the Danielson Room of the Rothwell Student Center. Everyone is invited. Feel free to bring a bag lunch.

Ms. Lopez has worked in the flower industry in Colombia for 15 years. She has been instrumental in organizing workers in her region, and is president of Asoflores, one of the district unions of Untraflores - the Colombian flower industry union founded in 2000 (<http://www.untraflores.org/> in Spanish).

Colombia is one of the largest suppliers of commercially-grown flowers to North America. Flower workers endure poor working conditions and low wages, and are routinely exposed to dangerous chemicals. As is true for all Colombian workers, their attempts to organize have been met with massive layoffs and violence by the industry and its paramilitary and military allies.

Ms Lopez is on a speaking tour of the US organized by Witness for Peace. Campus co-sponsors include the Department of Social Inquiry and the Women’s and Gender Studies Program.

Attend the session, write a two-page reaction, and five points will be added to your test score.