Venezuela

Shootings in Venezuela

As many as twelve miners were gunned down by Venezuelan army troops at the end of September, after taking part in illegal gold mining activity. The incident occurred in the mining zone of La Paragua in Bolivar state. William Saúd a miners’ union leader said: “The government decided that the environment in the zone should be protected, and that we have to shift to different kinds of work. That’s fine. But where are the programmes, and until they’re implemented, how can miners make a living for their families? There are about 40,000 of us — we support about 200,000 people in Bolívar.” The Chávez...

"Carry on putting.. Property is inviolate" says Chavez

A couple of days ago I read a heart-warming story about how the Mayor of Caracas was going to expropriate several golf courses overlooking the poorer parts of the city and use the land to build decent housing for slum dwellers.

This is not merely elementary social justice. Golf must be the most...

Venezuelan National Guard represses striking workers

The Venezuelan National Guard has repressed a group of striking workers belonging to the UNT in Carabobo state, according to reports on the Aporrea website.

Workers at Alfarería Internacional (International Pottery) had their three-week-old strike broken up on 10 August by the National Guard. Two...

Workers's news round-up

Indonesia Trade union rights may be curbed in new special economic zones (SEZs) in Indonesia’s Riau Islands, according to press reports. The plans include restricting the right to organise in the SEZs and allowing firms to sack workers without having to pay compensation. Under existing labour legislation, workers have the right to freely set up one or more trade unions in their workplaces. Indonesia has plans for more SEZs. It recently signed an agreement with Singapore to transform Batam, Bintan and Karimun into SEZs, because Singapore is running out of space for manufacturing. The Indonesian...

Class and the Venezuelan unions

By Paul Hampton The Venezuelan Unión Nacional de Trabajadores (UNT) congress, held on the weekend of 25-27 May, broke up in acrimony, with two distinct tendencies holding separate plenaries by the end. The congress was the first the confederation has held since it was founded in August 2003. What was the dispute over? Essentially the degree to which the union should be independent of the Chávez government. The immediate cause of the split was the date of elections for the UNT leadership. The more pro-Chávez current in the union wanted to put off elections until next year, in order to...

Venezuelan UNT congress ends in acrimony

The Venezuelan Unión Nacional de Trabajadores (UNT) congress broke up in acrimony this weekend, with two distinct tendencies holding separate plenaries at the end after bitter disputes.

The congress took place on 25-27 May and was the first conference the confederation has held since it was...

How left is Chávez?

Three comments from Chávez in London this week that might help some of his cheerleaders sober up:

I put it to Chávez that under him, Venezuela has all the good things about Cuba - the great schools and hospitals - without the revolting things - dictatorship, censorship, repression. "I don't think...

Report on Chávez meeting 14 May 2006

I went to the Chávez meeting in London today, hosted by Ken Livingstone. I sat through two and half hours of the most turgid, vapid, empty rhetoric interspersed with self-congratulation and pontification.

On the platform and around were Chávez’s array of hand raisers, from Tariq Ali to Richard...

SW on Chávez in London

Socialist Worker editorial this week (13 May 2006 | issue 2000) on Chávez’s visit to London is entirely lacking in criticism.

It says: “Chavez has become a symbol for a revolt across Latin America.”

It ends: “When Chavez talks about “socialism of the 21st century” he is reflecting something real...

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