British Trades Union Congress (TUC) reaffirms solidarity with Venezuela
- 14 September 2007
The motion, moved by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and drafted with the help of the Hands Off Venezuela solidarity campaign, instructed the TUC - which represents over seven million workers - to "ensure information on the positive work of the Venezuelan government and the achievements it has made for the people of Venezuela is circulated widely."
The TUC also pledged to encourage affiliated unions "to deliver support and assistance to independent trade union organisations in Venezuela, namely those organized under the umbrella of the UNT" - its Venezuelan counterpart.
Moving the motion, FBU president Mick Shaw pointed out that "the policies of neoliberalism and privatisation are being pursued by many countries around the world, but the continent of Latin America is showing the world that there is an alternative way - and leading that is Venezuela."
Mr Shaw added: "The government of Hugo Chávez is using the oil wealth to benefit the poor of his country. It is the duty of all working people to support the gains in Venezuela and elsewhere in Latin America."
With respect to workers' rights, the motion "particularly welcomes the advances for workers and trade unionists including the announcement of the re-nationalisation of all privatized utilities, the increase in the level of the minimum wage, the announcement of a progressive reduction of the working week and the setting up of Workers' Councils in factories and workplaces."
The National Union of Mineworkers added an amendment to the motion, with general secretary Steve Kemp recalling that President Chávez had survived a US-backed coup through the support of the people.
"Those who organised it have fled to America, but they'll be back," he warned, noting that the US government is already stepping up its "propaganda war" against Venezuela.
In 2005, the TUC became the first European union federation to pledge solidarity with Venezuela when it said that it "congratulates and supports the Venezuelan government for its utilisation of the country's wealth and resources for reforms to benefit working people, the poor and the landless."
Hands Off Venezuela spokesman Charley Allan hailed the result, saying: "This vote shows that Venezuela's peaceful and democratic revolution is backed 100 per cent by the workers of Britain, who are fighting for the same rights that have been successfully won by the Venezuelan people."
Full text of TUC 2007 motion:
76 Venezuela
Congress reaffirms its 2005 motion on Venezuela and congratulates the Venezuelan government on their achievements in using the country's resources for the benefit of the majority of its people.
The massive improvements which have been achieved, particularly in the fields of education, health care and land reform have the overwhelming support of the Venezuelan people.
Congress particularly welcomes the advances for workers and trade unionists including:
- i) the announcement of the re-nationalisation of all privatised utilities;
- ii) the increase in the level of the minimum wage;
- iii) the announcement of a progressive reduction of the working week; and
- iv) the setting up of Workers' Councils in factories and workplaces.
Congress deplores the attempts of the US administration to meddle in the internal affairs of the Venezuelan people and to attempt to undermine these initiatives. Congress notes and supports the decision of the Venezuelan government not to renew the licence for private TV station RCTV which supported the military coup against the democratically elected government.
Congress resolves to:
- a) ensure information on the positive work of the Venezuelan government and the achievements it has made for the people of Venezuela is circulated widely;
- b) encourage affiliates to deliver support and assistance to independent trade union organisations in Venezuela, namely those organised under the umbrella of the UNT; and
- c) encourage affiliates to consider twinning arrangements and other methods for promoting solidarity with Venezuelan trade unions.
Please help build the campaign by