Redhogares Infantiles was created with the mission of vindicating the working conditions of the staff that day by day is dedicated to the care and development of Colombian children, seeking to improve the quality of service offered to thousands of children, because if the staff is in better conditions, they will have more energy to work with a highly vulnerable population. The creation of this organization, which expects to organize up to 500 workers from 22 homes by December, has been possible thanks to the support and training provided by Public Services International (PSI) and the National Trade Union School (ENS).

A dream come true: the struggle for labor dignity

Tatiana Zapata García, director of the El Nido Children's Home and president of the Red hogares union, describes the path that led to the formation of this union: "Around 22 to 23 children's homes in the network were showing some needs in the contracting of ICBF and the Children's Home Associations," explains Zapata. Among the most pressing problems are the delays in the start of contracts, which usually begin in late February or mid-March, leaving children without care during this period. Added to this is the delay in payments by the ICBF, directly affecting the economic stability of the workers' families and the ability of the homes to operate adequately, impacting payments for human talent and the acquisition of food for the children.

Another critical point is the six-month contracts, which generate labor instability. "We need it to be for future periods," Zapata emphasizes. Despite having been "totally invisible" to the ICBF in the past, and after suffering "outrages", the dedication to the children never ceased. The union of the homes, which were previously widely dispersed, arose from the need to be heard, which initially led them to hold a sit-in to get the ICBF's attention. However, the lack of concrete solutions prompted the search for the Escuela Nacional Sindical for advice and to consolidate the union.

"It was born as a dream since 2024 to create a union and today June 5, 2025 it became a reality," celebrates Tatiana Zapata. "We are very clear about the fight we are going to start against the ICBF, we hope it grows and reaches other children's homes, all of Antioquia and Colombia."

Decent salaries and contractual stability: priorities of Redhogares Infantile Homes

Diana Zárate Montoya, director of the Marta Cecilia children's home, located in the Villatina neighborhood, Comuna 8 of Medellín, underscores the urgency of these demands. "We are employees of the children's homes and we saw the need to organize ourselves as a union to resolve our priorities and provide good care for the children," says Zárate. One of the central demands is the lack of stipulated and regulated salaries according to the professional qualifications of the employees.

"The attention is to very vulnerable children, we even have families in conditions of displacement. Our working and salary conditions are not the most dignified, and yet we provide an excellent service," stresses Zarate. The situation worsens at the end of the year, when many employees, most of them mothers who are heads of households, leave in December without being hired until February, generating uncertainty and economic difficulties. Redhogares infantiles demands that the State implement future contracts and allocate a decent budget to ensure labor continuity and quality of service.

Overcoming stigmas: the importance of union organizing

Yaira Jaramillo, a teacher and member of the union, stresses the importance of organizing in the face of rights violations: "Lack of knowledge has meant that their rights have been violated in a very marked and arbitrary way," says Jaramillo. He acknowledges that the union "has been very demonized," which has historically discouraged people from joining together to demand their rights. However, the creation of Redhogares infantiles seeks to break this stigma and empower workers.

The support of ENS (Escuela Nacional Sindical) and PSI (Public Services International) has been fundamental in this process: "Thanks to them we were able to create this union and with their good advice we learned how to negotiate and generate advocacy to organize ourselves," concludes Tatiana Zapata. With 30 initial members, Redhogares infantiles aspires to grow and become a representative force for workers in children's homes throughout the country.

Education: a pillar of union growth

A training workshop was held for the newly created Redhogares Infantiles union in order to strengthen its capabilities and knowledge of labor rights. This educational workshop represents a fundamental step in the consolidation of its union work, reaffirming its commitment to the defense of decent conditions for workers in the sector.