
Issue No 27		20 August 1999

International

Venezuela Warned By Global Labour Group

Venezuela's new Constituent Assembly has drafted a decree providing for the dissolution of the country's national trade union organisation, the CTV.

BRUSSELS: The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions has called on the International Labour Organisation to send an urgent mission to Venezuela and warned the country's President, Hugo Chavez, that it may seek action by international lending institutions should Venezuela renege on its obligations under international law.

The move followed publication in Venezuela of a draft decree considered by the new Constituent Assembly for adoption on August 17 providing for the dissolution of Venezuela's national trade union organisation, the Confederacion de Trabajadores Venezuelanos (CTV). The CTV is one of Latin America's largest trade unions.

This would constitute a flagrant breach of Venezuela's international obligations contracted as a member state of the ILO. ILO Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association, ratified by Venezuela in September 1982, prohibits any government interference in trade unions and recognises workers' fundamental rights to form and join unions of their own choosing. Freedom of association is also enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.

In a strongly-worded warning to President Hugo Chavez, the ICFTU said that freedom of association is now also "an element for consideration by international financial institutions in their assessment of funding application."

This suggests the possibility of bringing the matter not only before the ILO, if the anti-trade union decree should be adopted, but also to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

The draft decree would also affect the CTV's 3,000 affiliated unions and provides for the confiscation of all trade union assets. It would prevent trade union leaders from travelling abroad pending a government "audit" of the trade unions.

The dissolution of trade unions is part of the so-called "radical reform process" contemplated by democratically-elected President Chavez, ostensibly to improve the political and economic situation in the country, where rampant poverty coexists with fraud and corruption.

Yet, according to the ICFTU, "economic and social progress can only be achieved in the full respect of democracy, and human - including workers' - rights".

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  Issue 27 contents

Interview: Stepping Up To The Plate
ACTU secretary-in-waiting Greg Combet talks about his report on international trade union trends and the need to adapt for the future.

Work/Time/Life: The Good Type of Wharf Security
The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) has locked in better job security for casuals as part of its collective agreement with P&O Ports.

International: Venezuela Warned By Global Labour Group
Venezuela's new Constituent Assembly has drafted a decree providing for the dissolution of the country's national trade union organisation, the CTV.

Legal: Politically Motivated Case Against Unionist Fails
A politically motivated extortion case against Eric Wicker, a long-time trade unionist on the Port Kembla waterfront has failed.

Republic: Direct Election Republicans who say YES � and MORE!
Despairing at the sight of Ted Mack and Phil Cleary fronting for Kerry Jones and the Australians for A Constitutional Monarchy? Appalled at the disastrous strategy and paralysis of the Australian Republican Movement? A significant group of Republicans has an answer for you!

Unions: Technology for the Times
New technology offers exciting opportunities which help union growth, according to this extract from Unions@Work.

History: Australian Unions and Industrial Action 1788-1900
A project is under way to compile a comprehensive record of unions, informal worker organisation and strikes from the period of European settlement to 1900 using a specially designed computer database.

Review: Stage Left! - Workers Theatre Hits the Mark
'Rare' is the word on the Melbourne Workers Theatre production, 'Who's Afraid of the Working Class?' currently touring the eastern states of Australia.

Satire: Australia's Most Earnest
Strewth magazine scours the cultural landscape for its inaugural Earnest Bastard of the Year Award.

» Combet�s Call - Double Effort Needed Now

» Rally or Surf Party? It�s the Workers� Call

» Vizard Agenda Analysed

» Truckies Face Another Oakdale

» Former Union Leader to Investigate SOCOG Uniforms

» Second Steggles Mum Wins Job Back

» Strip Leads to Fair Wear Win

» Rail Security: Scully Cuts Staff as Assaults Rise

» Civil Libertarian Support Sought Against "Big Brother"

» Dita Sari takes Sydney by Storm.

» Guest Report

» Sport

» Trades Hall

» Piers Watch

» Thanks for Einstein

» A Non-Unionist's Sympathy

» A Mexican on Piers

» Group Homes Claims Disputed

» Rallying Cries

» Security Overload

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