Volume 10, No.2 - March 2001

We're part of the union

Venezuela, Fiji

Venezuela Unions under attack

The government of Venezuela has found an unusual - and dangerous - way of attacking the country's trade unions. It called a referendum asking voters to allow the government to "restructure" the trade union movement!

President Chavez called the referendum for 3 December. All citizens, not just trade union members, were to be asked if they were in favour of the "democratisation" and "reunification" of the movement.

A "yes" vote would mean that all trade union leaders would be removed from office and new trade union elections would be carried out within 180 days. They would be organised and supervised by the government, via its National Electoral Council.

Protests by the ombudsman, the public prosecutor and other prominent figures from various sectors, who believed the referendum violated international conventions ratified by Venezuela, were ignored. The Supreme Court rejected an appeal by the trade unions against the regime's decision to hold the referendum on grounds of unconstitutionality.

When the International Labour Organisation (ILO) warned that the referendum was in violation of its Conventions 87 and 98, President Chavez accused them of interference in the internal affairs of the country and made derogatory remarks.

He did the same with a delegation from International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), led by its General Secretary Bill Jordan, which visited Caracas, Venezuela, from 29-30 November 2000 to protest against the government's violation of fundamental trade union rights.

However, the mission received wide coverage in the press, which gave prominence to Bill Jordan's statements condemning the government's interference in trade union elections and announcing that such a blatant violation of core ILO conventions would lead to the international isolation of Venezuela.

In the referendum 78% of voters stayed away. Of the 22% that did vote, 66% were in favour, 26% against. The remainder were spoilt ballots.

Three days later, members of the board of the Venezuelan Workers' Confederation (CTV) decided to vacate their posts. The CTV President said they had taken this decision to "push forward with union democratisation".

To prevent the National Assembly from nominating the leaders of the organisation, the CTV nominated an interim board until internal elections are held and a new leadership appointed. It was hoped that this process would be completed by March 2001.

The National Electoral Council is currently preparing trade union elections: drawing up the electoral register, drafting the regulations, etc. The CTV Board has already held meetings with other national trade union centres, including those close to the regime, to negotiate a joint proposal to the Electoral Council. According to information received from the CTV, the negotiations are difficult but they are reaching agreement.

"We're not going to give up," said Carlos Navarro, CTV secretary-general. "Let the government stick to its plan, and we will see how the country reacts in the medium and long term."

Unions welcome Fiji Court of Appeal democracy decision

By Andrew Casey

Australian Congress of Trade Union President Sharan Burrow has welcomed the decision by the Fiji Court of Appeal to uphold the Fiji Constitution as legal, declare current interim administration illegal and call for the reinstatement of the dissolved Fijian parliament.

Fijian President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, abrogated the Constitution, sacked the democratically elected government and replaced it by a military government, which imposed martial law.

Ms Burrow said the landmark decision provided immediate optimism to supporters of democracy in Fiji that the island nation would soon be returned to democratic rule. "We can only hope that the Fijian President and interim administration stand by their commitment to respect the decision of the Court and the rule-of-law and now act swiftly to facilitate the recall of the democratically elected Fiji parliament.

"Australian unions stand ready to act in solidarity with the Fiji Trade Union Congress and the citizens of Fiji to see that democracy is restored," said Ms Burrow.