From 26 to 30 October, the Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI) held the National Trade Union Action Programme in Colombia under the theme “Just Transition, Inclusive Trade Unions and Rights in Supply Chains". The programme was supported by Union to Union Sweden and Swedish trade unions, with administrative assistance from the José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers' Collective (CAJAR).  

Held in Bogotá, the meeting brought together leaders and representatives from 14 trade unions in the construction, cement, building materials, wood and related industries. Participants worked to strengthen their capacities to organise, negotiate and respond to economic, environmental and labour transformations. 

The programme focused on three main areas: just transition and climate justice; inclusive trade unions and organisational strengthening; and labour rights in the supply chains of national and multinational companies. Through presentations, exchanges of experiences and group work, participants analysed technological changes, job protection, vocational training, collective bargaining and trade union participation in company decision-making. 

 Participants highlighted the need to expand trade union membership among women, young people, migrant workers, outsourced and subcontracted workers, and historically excluded groups. The discussions also provided an opportunity to examine international tools such as ILO Conventions, OECD Guidelines, International Framework Agreements, trade union networks and mechanisms for dialogue with companies. 

 As part of the activities, participating organisations carried out practical exercises to identify the relationships between parent companies, contractors, suppliers and workers, as well as opportunities for trade union intervention throughout production chains. 

 The programme included sessions to design organising and mobilisation campaigns that combine in-person and digital activism. These campaigns aim to promote climate justice, combat labour exploitation and build inclusive working environments. It also included trade union support activities for SINTRAUNIOBRAS, through an institutional visit to the Road Maintenance Unit of the Bogotá Mayor's Office, as well as bilateral meetings with BWI-affiliated organisations to strengthen their agendas and work priorities. 

 The programme coincided with the International Trade Union Mission of the Council of Global Unions (CGU-CSG) to Colombia, which made it possible to include a meeting at the Congress of the Republic with representatives of the international trade union movement, senators and members of the House of Representatives. 

 Nilton Freitas, BWI Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, together with Ernesto Marval, Regional Policy Officer, accompanied the activities, which focused on identifying common challenges and setting trade union priorities for the short and medium term. For BWI, this initiative reaffirms the importance of building stronger, more representative and inclusive trade unions, capable of defending workers' rights at national and international levels through solidarity and collective bargaining. 

 Among the working sessions, a key highlight was the reflection shared by Edwin Palma Egea, former Minister of Mines and Energy and former Vice Minister of Labour of Colombia, on the role of the trade union movement in the country's current political, economic and social situation, calling for greater democracy and participation.