Log in

View Full Version : [labor_action] VZLA March 9, 2009--Chávez declares war on unionized workers



ckaihatsu
22nd March 2009, 23:56
[labor_action] VZLA March 9, 2009--Chávez declares war
on unionized workers

[Original source: http://www.aporrea.org/trabajadores/n130365.html The
translation below was done by Earl Gilman, and I am grateful for his work.
Cde Gilman's translation can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/
Argentina_Solidarity/message/5796

[I think it is very important to have Chávez' anti-worker, anti-union remarks
on the record, in view of the January 29 murder of two workers in
Anzoátegui state, Venezuela, by the police of that state, which has a
chavista Governor. The workers killed by the cops were Javier Marcano,
36, and Pedro Suárez, 23. They were participating in the workers'
occupation of the Mitsubishi plant in Barcelona, in Anzoátegui state.

Another worker, Alexander García, from the Mitsubishi plant, was seriously
injured in the chest, and at least six other workers were injured. The cop
attack on the workers at the Mitsubishi plant is the first time that workers
have been killed by the bourgeois Venezuelan state, headed by Chávez.
-- YM]

Chavez's words are a declaration of war against the workers, according to
Orlando Chirino and CCURA who reject Chavez's declarations of
President Chavez on the threat of strike by metalworkers.
March 9, 2009 A few hours ago President Chavez made a speach relating
to the building of the foundations of a metal factory in Guayana in which
he threatened the workers of the aluminum sector who are making salary
and labor demands.

He warned the labor unions of this sector that he would "not tolerate
sabotage" making reference to the threat of a work stoppage made by
several unions in this sector. "If they don't approve of this or that, they
shut down the factory. This is sabotage...we will not tolerate it."
The President called on the police intelligence DISIP and DIM to carry out
the necesssary intelligence to defend the factory.

He affirmed that he was not afraid of a work stoppage, and added: "I
confronted the petroleum stoppage (PDVSA). Nothing can be more
serious. I'm tested in this kind of war....you are going to have to take it
because you are confronting me directly."

He concluded: "Anyone who stops work at a state enterprise, is facing the
Head of the State."

skki
23rd March 2009, 00:00
State-Capitalist

GPDP
23rd March 2009, 02:02
So much for Chavez the socialist.

Die Neue Zeit
23rd March 2009, 02:07
To be fair, Chirino proved himself to be a scab awhile back, too. :(

DancingLarry
23rd March 2009, 02:58
We need to be careful here. I'm anything but a Chavez apologist, I have little use for caudillismo. At the same time, we've already established that certain of the Venezuelan unions have anything but the workers' interests at heart. The oil workers union has repeatedly revealed itself to be totally on the payroll and under the control of Pedro Cremora and the gang that staged the US-backed coup. If the union in question here is just playing games in order to get the old oligarchy back in power that is hardly anything for us to be in solidarity with. OTOH, if it's a legitimate organ of social self-defense of the working class, we need to stand with them against Chavista repression. Does anyone here know the specific orientation of this particular union?

RedSonRising
23rd March 2009, 04:02
Seems similar to Lenin's attitude towards dissenting workers after the revolution, calling it "sabotage" to national interests. I am also not too sympathetic towards Chavez but at the same time as a Latin American see the regional importance of his stance on global economics and social justice, and he is a victim of the media in ways which aren't too noticeable, so I think we should wait and see the nature of this Union and look into their agenda.

Die Neue Zeit
23rd March 2009, 04:42
Chirino proved himself to be a scab when he encouraged voters in 2007 to vote against the referendum questions, especially Proposal A. [I have mixed feelings towards Proposal B, which would've allowed the president to declare an unlimited state of emergency.]

metalero
24th March 2009, 01:27
The union in question is a legitimate organization of class conscious workers, the ones that defeated the bosses lockout in 2002 and helped in bringing back democratic institutions after the failed coup. Chavez has lead a process of democratic changes, some of them very positive for workers. But his socialist rethoric doesn't match his actions, which are socialdemocratic reforms, some of them designed to prevent real democratic control of the means of production. Communist workers in venezuela are aware of this, and have to pressure and keep struggling for their rights adn real emancipation from capitalist explotatcion even if that means facing chavez. As for chirino, and don't usually trust labor burocracy, but I know the UNT rank and file have very clear their class interests.