EPM-Tigo merger faces strong opposition from trade union

The trade union representing the employees of Empresas Publicas de Medellin (EPM) has called for officials to rule on criminal charges levelled against Medellin’s mayor, the comptroller general of EPM and eleven councillors who approved a draft agreement for the merger of EPM’s telecoms arm Une with wireless operator Tigo Colombia. Local news outlet Caracol Radio cites the president of the trade union, Jesus Maria Lopez Velasquez, as saying that the approval of the merger was legally flawed and as such criminal proceedings have been initiated. The union had previously petitioned for the agreement to be suspended but the case was dismissed. A request has also been sent to anti-trust watchdog Superintendencia Industria y Comercio (SIC) to urgently rule on the agreement.