opinion

The trade union "Friends of Venezuela" group, comprising representatives from the ICFTU, its regional organization for the Americas ORIT, and from affiliated organizations in Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Portugal, Spain and the US, has held a series of meetings in Brazil and Venezuela from 11 to 13 March to work for a peaceful, democratic, electoral and negotiated solution to the continuing crisis in Venezuela.

Following meetings in Brazil with President Lula and with senior representatives from the inter-governmental Friends of Venezuela group, the union delegation proceeded to Caracas for meetings with the ICFTU affiliated Confederation of Venezuelan Workers (CTV), Venezuelan Vice President José Vicente Rangel and the country's Labor Minister, Organization of American States Secretary General César Gaviria who is acting as facilitator between the government and the opposition, as well as with the president of the country's Supreme Court.

In meetings with the CTV, the Friends Group and the CTV Executive Committee stressed their absolute commitment to ending the crisis democratically and their total rejection of any recourse to violence or military intervention. The trade unions are calling for the implementation of a provision in the Venezuelan Constitution allowing a mid-term referendum on the Presidency of Hugo Chávez, the deadline for which is 19 August.

In their meeting with Vice-President Rangel the delegation urged the government to engage seriously in the process underway in the "Table for Negotiation and Agreements" to ensure that the referendum takes place fairly, transparently and without delay. The delegation called on the government to end the series of anti-union actions it has undertaken and which have been criticized by the UN's International Labor organization. These include the immediate lifting of the detention order against CTV President Carlos Ortega, and recognition by the government of the legitimate Executive of the CTV. Ortega is currently in hiding amidst rumours of threats to his life.* Following a mass meeting with several hundred oil industry workers, the union delegation also called for the immediate reinstatement of the 16,000 oil workers dismissed by the government while taking part in the recent strike action.

"The situation in Venezuela remains tense, and the government has a clear responsibility to act in accordance with the Constitution and work to resolve the crisis peacefully through negotiations. The Venezuelan trade union movement has re-iterated its commitment to a peaceful, negotiated, electoral and democratic solution. The trade union Friends group and the entire international trade union movement will continue to do all it can to help bring this about," said ICFTU General Secretary Guy Ryder at the conclusion of the mission on 13 March.


* Since this article was written, Ortega has asked for and received political asylum in Costa Rica.

(The ICFTU represents 158 million workers in 231 affiliated organizations in 150 countries and territories. ICFTU is also a member of Global Unions: http://www.global-unions.org)