Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
INVOLUCIONES.
Por: Atilio A. Boron.
ECONOMA EN MIAMI PARA UNOS, HAMBRE PARA OTROS.
Por: Hedelberto Lpez Blanch.
DONALD O HILLARY, HILLARY O DONALD?
Por: Atilio A. Boron
MERCOSUR, EN PELIGRO LA INTEGRACIN
Por: Hedelberto Lpez Blanch
2011 - 2016
A MANERA DE BREVE INTRODUCCION:
Desde la celebracin del anterior XVI Congreso Sindical Mundial (Atenas 2011), la FSM en
Amrica Latina y El Caribe continu esforzndose en impulsar sus derivaciones. El Pacto de
Atenas, entonces adoptado, fue difundido y utilizado como pauta de la accin en la regin.
Tres objetivos estratgicos relacionados con la visin del XVI Congreso, acordados en su
Conferencia Regional, recibieron durante el periodo sostenido impulso.
La Formacin sindical.
La Batalla en las Empresas Transnacionales.
Iniciativas tendentes a promover ideario FSM en Jvenes y Mujeres Trabajadoras y en
los Migrantes.
Otros tales como:
Apoyo al desarrollo de la Unidad en la Accin a travs de los Encuentros Sindicales
de Nuestra Amrica:
Promocin del engarce permanente de la FSM con otras luchas.
Apoyo a las transformaciones sociales en favor de los trabajadores y pueblos por
parte de los gobiernos progresistas en la regin.
Esta positiva evidencia se logra insertos en tenaces luchas por preservar derechos
laborales y sociales que se insiste en cercenar y un creciente ataque a los sindicatos y su
accin. Nuestra regin contina caracterizada por la confrontacin entre la continuada
pretensin de imponer una Amrica Latina y Caribea sometida a los intereses imperiales, y
Durante estos aos posteriores a la celebracin del XVI Congreso Sindical Mundial, se ha
desarrollado por la FSM en la regin intensa actividad.
Un importante hito, fue la combativa presencia de organizaciones sindicales de la regin en
el significativo encuentro Internacional en Brasil por el 70 aniversario de la FSM formando
parte de los 300 sindicalistas de ms de 40 pases presentes en el evento que contribuy a
continuar visualizando a la FSM en la regin. Destacable fue la celebracin en Bolivia, en
coordinacin con la COB, del Encuentro Internacional Antiimperialista y Solidario realizado
exitosamente el 1ro. y 2 de Julio del 2004, aniversario de la agresin por el presidente
boliviano sufrida por parte de gobiernos europeos. Fue relevante el rol organizativo que
despleg la Coordinadora de la FSM panamea propiciando un destacado papel de la FSM
en la exitosa Cumbre de los Pueblos, Sindical y de los Movimientos Sociales en Noviembre
del 2015.
Otras acciones destacadas desplegadas han sido: el relevante impulso cada vez ms
creciente y vigoroso al Da de Accin el 3 de Octubre, Aniversario de la fundacin de la FSM
y la cada vez ms visible presencia de la FSM en las jornadas nacionales por el 1ro. de
Mayo; el influjo alcanzado en el amplio encuentro organizado en ocasin del cambio de la
Presidencia de la CELAC en Costa Rica dando continuidad al llevado a cabo en Chile; la
promocin de reuniones subregionales con particulares resultados en Centroamrica y en el
Cono Sur.
Se destaca la celebrada en Willemstad, Curazao con participacin de 21 organizaciones
sindicales de 11 pases de la zona caribea donde es marcadamente dbil nuestra
influencia; encuentros de la Juventud Trabajadora en Centroamrica y prximamente
Mesoamrica y en el cono sur auspiciado por la Coordinadora de la FSM en Argentina
promovido por la coordinadora FSM en ese pas , en Brasil apoyado por la CTB y Uruguay
promovido por la Coordinadora FSM en ese pas con el efectivo auspicio del PIT-CNT. Se
le brind apoyo al desarrollo del Festival Mundial de la Juventud.
Se avanza en respaldar lo acordado en la reunin de Atenas en Mayo del pasado ao
tendente a fortalecer los vnculos UIS FSM Regionales.
Aunque con insatisfacciones ante la importancia de la labor sectorial, se han realizado
aportes al fortalecimiento de la labor de nuestras Uniones Sindicales Internacionales en la
de los trabajadores Agroalimentarios; la de los Constructores; Mineros y Metalrgicos;
Educacin, Energa y trabajadores de las finanzas. Aun somos dbiles en la de Transporte y
Telecomunicaciones, en la UIS de los Servicios Pblicos y en la de Turismo. Se contribuy
a la preparacin de la Conferencia de la UIS de Pensionados y Jubilados y a la realizacin
de su Conferencia Regional.
Muy importante ha sido el inicio, aunque an sin la intensidad deseada, de la celebracin de
acciones en Transnacionales de determinados sectores. Actividades sectoriales tuvieron
una significativa proyeccin ayudando a una mayor incidencia en federaciones y sindicatos
nacionales contribuyendo tambin a hacer avanzar la presencia de la FSM a travs de la
labor sectorial. Algunas de estas fueron:
FSM panamea y la del Cono Sur atendida diligentemente por el CES de la CTB brasilera
que ha extendido su influencia a Paraguay y Uruguay. Tambin en Mxico se ha fomentado
la Escuela Nacional de Cuadros de UNTA-FSM. Se est en espera de que acaben de
fraguar los intentos de que la Escuela Sindical Clasista de Medelln, vinculada al Equipo
FSM Colombia, comience a formar a dirigentes de la zona como Escuela de la FSM SubRegional Andina. No avanzaron los intentos de desarrollar cursos itinerantes en El Caribe.
Se aplican tambin acciones puntuales como la llevada a cabo con significativos resultados
en la Formacin de dirigentes sindicales Centroamericanos realizado en el Campus de la
Universidad de las Amricas panamea que cont con el decisivo aporte de la combativa
FAT as como el Seminario llevado a cabo por iniciativa de esta misma organizacin en la
intrincada y lejana regin de Changuinola en Panam.
El mantenimiento por cinco aos de nuestros boletines electrnicos semanales (ya va por el
nmero 425) y las 98 ediciones de la revista electrnica mensual titulada Acontecer
Sindical, que reciben de parte de las bases sindicales afiliadas o no a la FSM - no obstante
la necesidad de ser mejoradas - continuadas manifestaciones de satisfaccin, nos han
permitido un sistemtico vinculo a travs del cual se conocen, no solo nuestros sueos, sino
nuestras acciones por llevarlos a la prctica sumando contribuyentes a estos esfuerzos..
Un refuerzo notable a ello, est significando nuestra pgina WEB la que con el concurso
eficaz y solidario de la FSM en Zacatecas, apoyados por la Coordinacin FSM Mxico, ha
cosechado, significativamente, el acceso a ella de ms de dos millones y medio de
interesados, un promedio mensual que supera los 31,000. Ello evidencia avidez por conocer
el pensamiento de la FSM, sus proyecciones, acciones y el deseo en la regin de tomar
contacto con nuestra organizacin.
LA BATALLA DE IDEAS:
valiosos aportes para sustentar nuestra labor, de manera destacada, de la CTB de Brasil y
la UNTA mexicana. Asimismo de UNDECA de Costa Rica, CSB de Brasil, de la
Coordinadora FSM y de la AMP de Argentina, de la Coordinacin FSM de Chile, de la
Federacin Petrolera de Bolivia, de la Coordinadora FSM y de SINTRATELEFONOS de
Colombia, de SUNTRABMERCAL de Venezuela, de la CGTP Peruana, del STISS de El
Salvador, de la INTERSINDICAL brasilera, de la OWTU de Trinidad y Tobago, de la PWFC
de Curazao, de GAWU de Guyana, del C-47 de Surinam, de TAWU de Granada, de la UTC
y FENATRANO de Republica Dominicana, de UNSITRAGUA de Guatemala, de la FUTH
Hondurea, de la Coordinacin FSM en Jamaica, de la Coordinadora FSM en Nicaragua y
de la FAT y de la CNTP de Panam.
Se ha continuado precisando en cada pas el inventario de potencialidades de afiliacin
determinndose y ejecutndose acciones nacionales para su captacin.
La Secretara de la FSM para Amrica Latina y El Caribe estuvo presente directamente en
veintitrs pases realizndose alrededor de doscientas actividades. En su propia sede se
recibieron representantes de cerca de cien organizaciones de ms de 20 pases.
Aprecia la Secretara de la FSM en Amrica Latina y El Caribe el significativo apoyo moral
recibido de la mayora de nuestras organizaciones afiliadas, las Coordinaciones SubRegionales y Nacionales as como los Vicepresidentes de la Federacin Sindical Mundial en
la Regin.
A MODO DE SUMARIO:
Somos conscientes, pese a los antes sealados positivos resultados, de lo lejos que
estamos de poder incidir, como se requiere, en las luchas de Nuestra Amrica. Es mucho
el camino por recorrer. Se requiere lograr ms visibilidad de nuestra FSM.
La experiencia alcanzada en nuestra accin en la etapa, nos reafirma que sin nuestra
unidad nada sera posible y todo lo avanzado se perdera.
Entre quienes estamos inmersos en las transformaciones de nuestras sociedades, hay
obstculos y errores, es probable que existan deslices y desavenencias, pero debemos
asumir, firmemente, que solo nuestra unidad nos permitir arribar a metas superiores en
nuestras luchas.
El enemigo, apuntando a nuestras debilidades, acta por reforzar la divisin y as,
maliciosamente, corroernos desde dentro ansiando vencernos. Esparce la idea de un
supuesto fin del ciclo progresista sembrando desaliento y espritu derrotista.
Ante ello corresponde fortalecer la continuidad de nuestros combates, nuestra resistencia, y
robustecer nuestras luchas y triunfos por la definitiva independencia de nuestros pueblos
alcanzando la justicia que los trabajadores merecemos radicalizando las batallas
antimperialistas que nos permitan merecer victorias ms all del combate al neoliberalismo.
Impulsando tales acciones, estaremos contribuyendo a la necesaria recuperacin de la
capacidad de lucha y de victoria de los trabajadores, ayudando al rescate del dinamismo y
representatividad en la actuacin sindical y tambin aportando a la tan necesaria unidad de
la izquierda en nuestra regin la cual, es nuestro empeo, debemos continuar impulsando.
Una motivacin especial para tales fines, la constituir el esperado positivo resultado de
nuestro XVII Congreso Sindical Mundial.
Brief introduction:
Since the last 16th World Trade Union Congress (Athens, 2011) the WFTU in Latin America and the
Caribbean continued making an effort to promote its derivations.
Three strategic aims related to the 16th Congress vision and agreed during its Regional Conference
received a sustained boost during this period.
o Struggle for labour and trade union rights. SOLIDARITY.
o Development of WFTU image and expansion of its values in the battle of ideas.
o Strengthening of coordination and organizing aspects.
Likewise we paid attention on:
o The trade union training.
o The battle in transnational companies.
o Initiatives addressed to promote WFTU thinking in young people, working women and migrants.
o Others such as:
Support to the Action Unity development through the Trade Union Meetings Our
America.
Promotion of permanent WFTU links with other struggles.
Support to social changes in favour of workers and peoples carried out by progressive
governments in the region.
Such efforts tried to give continuity to the notable WFTU recovering no only in this region that began
during its 15th Congress in Havana. The growth in more than 5 times of affiliated organizations (from
33 to 181) is an example of such advances.
STRUGGLE CONTEXT:
This positive evidence is achieved by tenacious struggles in order to preserve labour and social rights
that the capital wants to cut increasing its attack against trade unions and their actions. Our region is
still characterized by the confrontation between the continual pretension of imposing a Latin America
and the Caribbean subjugated to imperial interests and the fair aspiration to Our America. The
imperialism rebuilds its strategy of join domination that is shown in a great capital, national, regional
and international offensive, in the boost to the free trade, to the imperial power of transnational
companies that violate our sovereignty from a military, cultural and media points of view where the
media is playing an important and control role imposing us economical and political challenges. We
have to avoid that Latin America and the Caribbean are tear off into pieces like reaction forces
pretend to do. It is very important the defence of self determination, sovereignty, democracy and
process of changes in the region. The neoliberalism has kept its predatory effect even more during the
crisis of capitalist system attacking labour rights, removing the historical achievements of workers,
decreasing salaries and workingconditions, trying to knock any increasing of salary down to the
absolute cause of affecting their profits.
Neoliberal business promotes the unconditional observance by workers of the so called relaxation of
labour relations. In addition, it handles workers affection and feelings. This way it gets that workers
knowledge and skills are under pressure and subordinated to the service of high productivity in favour
of business men interests. Business men, as ever before, want a new workers generation that is
flexible, cheap and submitted suggesting its adaptation to exploiting methods similar to the slave and
feudal systems and applying servants forms adapted to capitals requests. They use piecework
payment and out of production spaces, in a kind of housework, as services rendered subjecting
workers to long and exhausting working hours. They reduce workers rights till they disappear. There
are countries where workers can not demand and if they do that they are expelled towards the
centrifuge to where are sent those who are not necessary or dare to rebel. Any resistance by trade
unions against these imposed and oppressive labour links is, for neoliberal capitalists, an action of
permanent enemy who has to be persecuted and destroyed since it is a terrorist.
The corrosive forms of exploitation that has been intensified by the neoliberal capital have used,
among other, the intensive propaganda against the genuineness, action and trade union rights as
weapon to destroy the trade unionism and to demoralize labor leadership in the claiming fight and in
the mass political action. The reactionary slogan that the best trade union is the one that doesn't exist
is not only proclaimed, but eagerly applied. It is not a euphemism; it is a reality that becomes sharper
in certain countries.
IN VIEW OF THE CONTEXT WE FACE: WHAT HAS WFTU BEEN DOING IN OUR
AMERICA?
The WFTU in Latin America and the Caribbean faced by different methods and ways, the brutal
increasing of repression against trade unionism.
We are aware that there cannot be a lasting peace without development and without fighting against
poverty, hunger and inequality. Thats why we have promoted among our affiliated and friend
organizations the fight for workers welfare and against everything that could hinder it and we have
attempted to influence with this zeal on all trade union movement of the region. According to such
efforts we have manifested full support to the efforts of the Latin American and Caribbean States
Community (CELAC), ALBA and UNASUR as well as to other spaces of integration agreement in
order to face the challenges of the international scenario and to carry out efforts that impel sustained,
dynamic and long term rhythms of economic growth with fair distribution of wealth persuaded that
the Latin American and Caribbean integration constitutes the only viable alternative to reach such
purposes in the region.
Thats why we have reaffirmed in each Latin American and Caribbean States Community (CELAC)
transfer of pro-tempore powers the content of our Declaration since we are aware that it is a process
of extraordinary strategic significance for the destiny of Our America where the bases that
identified us are recognized without the interference of foreign hegemonic interests claiming the
sovereignty of our nations. We support CELAC because in its 2nd Summit it encouraged to get a slight
idea of possibilityto rescue lost labor rights, of fomenting the negotiation of fair agreements; it
encouraged governments to become a reality the agreed purposes of impelling the fairness and social
inclusion, to eradicate the discrimination, the inequalities, the alienation, the violations of the human
rights and the transgressions of the State Right. We support CELAC because in its second Summit it
declared the Region as a Peace Area: an interest of our peoples.
Likewise, we support the Bolivarian Alliance for Americas - Treaty of Peoples Trade (ALBA-TCP)
which was conceived with valuable and multiple achievements for peoples that integrate it. It shows
that it is an authentic proposal for the development of nations in the continent since it focuses its
interest on the fight against the poverty and the social exclusion, just as it is postulated in the first of
its rector principles that have had fruitful achievements. ALBA is addressed, in fact, with concrete
achievements, towards the elimination of causes of hunger and of inequalities in this continent full of
wealth. We have promoted, also, from the class trade union, fight and revolutionary movement, the
contribution to societies in which they really strengthen the inclusive democracy, where they act to
move our peoples forward the independent and sustainable development, forward the welfare and
forward the quality of life for all with a more equal distribution of wealth. We believe that with our
work our peoples sovereignty and independence are defended. If today we can get integration
mechanisms - that we support for their beneficial influence on our societies - it is because our region
has changed. Thats why we have encouraged trade union movement that truly fights for workers
interests which represents and that historically has been in the first line of change processes, to be no
behind these processes but leading them. We hope they assume the responsibilities they have in face
of the peremptory necessity of contributing to the unity in the diversity. It is a widespread approach
for those who fight from the class union movement that it is necessary fundamental and structural
changes not only for our fair claiming but also for changing society that forces us to claim them in
countries that promote social advances.
During this period it was present the action against the exploitation of transnational companies.
The important investment flows of transnational companies, although necessary, tend in general to
counteract the development processes of our countries imposing conditions that violate our
sovereignty.
For that reason we have supported the intention of giving to the region appropriate mechanisms in
order to solve controversies with foreign investors. And we declare our solidarity with Latin America
and the Caribbean countries that were affected by complaints that put in risk the development of their
peoples.
We directly negotiated with the sponsors of the First Ministerial Conference of Latin American States
Declaration affected by transnational interests, our disposition of supporting, in practice, the
agreements of the Meeting.
ABOUT OUR OPPOSITION TO THE MORE AND MORE BRUTAL LABOR CONDITIONS
IN THE REGION:
During this period we have continued gaining conscience that the neoliberal paradigm of labor
relationships which is in force in our continent is lasted out and that it demands from us to build a new
one with labor bonds where the human work is considered with approaches that exceed the framework
of the economic market when leaning on principles of Social Justice. Since the last Congress the
WFTU in Our America emitted systematic complaints and solidarity accompaniments were
developed in dozens of occasions in a significant number of countries influencing, in some of them, in
the solution of fair demands.
A Trade Union International Tribunal against the violators of the trade union rights was carried out, in
fact, in Colombia, where to be a trade union leader is more dangerous than ever before fulfilling an
agreement of the 16th WFTU Congress. The impact of the Tribunal was transcendent not only for the
trial itself counting with the attendance of magistrates from different countries and the cooperation of
the Latin American Association of Labor Lawyers (ALAL), but for its preparation that implied the
previous collection of accusations to be seen in the trial. This generated the consequent mobilization
and expectation. The public recognition by more than eighty five trade union organizations of the
overwhelming effects of this initiative evidenced, on the one hand, that Colombian trade union
centrals cohabit and are involved in the outrages and crimes that are committed with impunity and on
the other it showed, transparently, the real and effective commitment of the WFTU in defending
workers rights what contributed to a remarkable growth of the influence of the hardened WFTU
Team in Colombia.
The promotion of attitude not only of uncompromising defense of labor rights, but of its promotion in
the agreements embracing more and more workers and overalls, the fight for fulfilling everything
agreed, was part of our promotion during this period besides the content of training courses, of the
exhibition of this position in the countless meetings carried out at different levels with trade union
leaders and workers.
The insistence in denouncing the lacks of the so called Decent Work promoted by the ITUC and the
ILO, was an essential feature since we continued emphasizing by different ways on the convenient for
workers to claim for the fulfilling of the World Employment Pact adopted in Geneva by the majority
vote of the international community in the 98 International Labor Conference that took place in 2009.
Many arguments that endorse it were diffused during the period.
One way or another, we participated in the region in the introduction or claiming for answer in about
fifteen demands and complaints before the ILO which propitiated, in some of them, the neutralization
of the noxious practices that caused them.
It has been very important the support for the freedom of the rural prisoners in Paraguay headed by
Rubn Villalba, of comrade Huber Ballesteros in Colombia, the defense of the WFTU Vice-president
Julia Amparo Lotan subjected in Guatemala to unjust accusations for keeping an unyielding and
incorruptible attitude in the protection of workers interests in the Social Security of her country.
WHICH HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE OTHER MOST IMPORTANT ACTIVITIES
ENCOURAGED BY WFTU IN THE REGION AFTER THE 16TH CONGRESS?
It has been developed an intense activity by the WFTU in the region during these years after the 16th
World Trade Union Congress.
An important landmark was the combative presence of trade union organizations from our region in
the significant International Meeting in Brazil celebrating the 70th WFTU anniversary and being part
of the 300 trade union leaders from more than 40 present countries in the event that contributed to
continue visualizing WFTU in the region. It was prominent the celebration in Bolivia, in coordination
with COB, of the International Anti-imperialist and Solidarity Meeting successfully carried out from
July 1st to July 2nd , 2004, anniversary of the aggression suffered by the Bolivian president from
European governments.
The organizing role played by the WFTU Panamanian Coordinator was excellent creating a favorable
atmosphere for an outstanding WFTU role in the successful Summit of Peoples, of Trade Union and
Social Movements that was carried out in November, 2015.
Other outstanding actions carried out have been: the excellent and even more growing and vigorous
impulse to the Action Day on October 3rd, Anniversary of the WFTU foundation and the more and
more visible WFTU presence in national May Day activities; the influence reached in the wide
meeting organized on occasion of the CELAC Presidency change in Costa Rica giving continuity to
the one carried out in Chile; the promotion of meetings in different areas having particular results in
Central America and in the South Cone.
It stands out the one that took place in Willemstad, Curacao attended by 21 trade union organizations
from 11 Caribbean countries of the area where our influence is markedly weak; meetings of the
Working Youth in Central America and soon in Mesoamerica and in the South Cone sponsored and
promoted by the WFTU Coordinator in Argentine, in Brazil supported by the CTB and in Uruguay
promoted by the WFTU Coordinator in that country with the effective auspice of PIT-CNT. It was
offered support to the development of the Youth's World Festival.
It is making progress in supporting everything agreed in the meeting that took place in Athens in May,
2015. This is addressed to strengthen links between TUI and Regional WFTUs.
Although there are dissatisfactions, due to the importance of the sectorial work it has been carried out
contributions to the strengthening of the work of our Trade Union Internationals in the Agricultural,
Construction, Mining and Metal, Education, Energy and Finance sectors. We are even weak in
Transport and Telecommunications, Public Services and Tourism TUIs. It was contributed to the
preparation of the TUI Conference of Pensioners and Retired and to the realization of their Regional
Conference.
It has been very important the beginning, although still without the wanted intensity, of holding
actions in Transnational of certain sectors. Sectorial activities had a significant projection helping to a
bigger incidence on federations and national trade unions contributing also to make progress in the
presence of WFTU through the sectorial labor. Some of these activities were:
o A colossal concentration attended by more than 120,000 participants who filled the emblematic
Zcalo claiming for their rights was carried out in Mexico promoted by the TUI of
Agricultural workers. This successful event promoted by the Countryside Authentic Front to
which belong the UNTA, led by Professor lvaro Lpez, was added to regional meetings and to
meetings of trade union organizations in transnational systematically extending the influence of
the UISTAAC.
o The performance of TUI of Construction workers is very outstanding in great measure
determined by the intense work of the Construction and Wood Latin American Federation
(FLEMACON) led by Luca Maia, from CTB, Brazil.
o The Venezuelan ngel Navas, a Vice-president of Energy TUI in the region, promoted in
Caracas the holding of sectorial meeting in the region. This meeting had positive results for the
future fulfillment of joined goals. o The Transport TUI called to a regional meeting in Sao Paulo
where purposes to promote were exchanged.
o In the FISE (Education TUI) were exchanged opinions in order to carry out in Brazil a meeting
of sectorial trade union organizations in the region.
Activities above mentioned were contributions to the increasing of WFTU influence spaces.
This is an objective that should face the presence of another type of trade unionism with abundant
resources, influences and abilities. This way they know how to penetrate in national realities to reach
their goals although for that they deceive and confuse workers promoting the division. We know that
to be able to advance in the confrontation of challenges that workers face is required, above all,
transparent class militancy. It supposes to be outside of "bewitching" and seductions of a type of
trade unionism that with its corruptive money purchase consciences as if was merchandise generating
trade union mercenaries that sell the interests of those that they say they represent. We have
promoted the certainty that in the capitalism workers can not enjoy benefits they deserve and that
there wont be solutions for the pressing problems of our societies accumulated during centuries on
the contrary of what the another type of trade unionism diffuses outside of our values.
MORE ACTIONS:
It has been studied and applied, even in an insufficient way, renovating designs in our traditional task
and which we pretend to continue implementing in training trade union leaders. This trade union
training is requested with insistence. During this period we got support to foment, progressively, the
development of Distance Training". The maturing of such steps allows us to invite hundred of trade
union leaders from our member organizations to attend with special facilities more than twenty
courses of the Latin American Program of Distance Learning in Social Sciences (PLED) led by the
very wellknown Argentinean revolutionary intellectual Atilio Boron. Other initiatives were promoted
like the signature of Letters of Intention, although with scanty results, with the University of the
America of Panama, the Technological University of Zacatecas in Mexico and with the UOM among
others.
More than five hundred trade union leaders were trained in Havana during this period through the
sustained contribution of the trade union training and experienced team of the Workers Central
Union of Cuba and Nico Lpez" University. Class oriented training schools are promoted in some
countries
encouraged by WFTU affiliated organizations like the WFTU Central American School sponsored by
the WFTU Panamanian coordination and the South Cone School assisted diligently by the CES of the
Brazilian CTB that has extended its influence to Paraguay and Uruguay. It has been also promoted the
UNTA-WFTU National School of Leaders in Mexico. We are waiting for the conclusion of intents to
open the Class Trade Union School of Medellin, linked to WFTU Team- Colombia, which will train
leaders from the area and acting as Andean Sub-regional WFTU School. The intents of developing
been action or significant declaration without its opinion has been requested. It has been carried out
annually, every time with more presence, the meetings of WFTU Coordination in Our America that
have valued the developed actions and reached consent in the purposes to fulfill contributing to the
clarification of our projections in the region and applying the derivations of the 16th World Trade
Union Congress and the derivations of the WFTU Presidential Council and of its Secretariat.
The labor of WFTU Coordinating in Central America led by Luis Chavarra, Costa Rica stands out
and it constitutes a reference for other sub - regions. The labor of WFTU Coordinating in the South
Cone led by comrade Divanilton Pereira, a Brazilian CTB leader, is moving forward.
In spite of a hard insistence during this period we could not gestate the WFTU Coordinator in the
Andean Sub - Region. Neither, in spite of the countless actions carried out by the WFTU Secretarys
Office in the Region, the WFTU Coordinator advanced in the Caribbean Sub-region. It has been
possible to have WFTU Coordinators in practically all the countries propitiating an invaluable
contribution to the WFTU advance.
It has been encouraged about the necessity of the duty of contributing financially but with scanty
results.
Nevertheless we advanced in some magnitude. The results in seeking initiatives to develop financial
support in hard foreign currencies for the activity required by the WFTU Representation in the Region
that supplements the sustained and valuable contribution of the CTC of Cuba for more than 25 years
are practically nulls. Valuable contributions have been received to sustain our work, in an outstanding
way, from:
o the CTB of Brazil
o the Mexican UNTA
o UNDECA in Costa Rica
o Brazilian CSB
o WFTU Coordinating and AMP in Argentina, from
o WFTU Coordination in Chile,
o the Bolivian Oil Federation,
o the Colombian WFTU Coordinating and SINTRATELEFONOS
o Venezuelan SUNTRABMERCAL
o the Peruvian CGTP
o the STISS in El Salvador
o the Brazilian INTERSINDICAL
o OWTU in Trinidad and Tobago
o the PWFC in Curacao
o GAWU in Guyana
o the C-47 in Surinam
o TAWU in Granada
o the UTC and FENATRANO in the Dominican Republic
o UNSITRAGUA in Guatemala
o the Honduran FUTH
o the Jamaican WFTU Coordination
o the Nicaraguan WFTU Coordinating
o FAT and CNTP in Panama.
We have continued specifying in each country the inventory of affiliation potentialities being
determined and fulfilled national actions for their training.
The WFTU Secretarys Office for Latin America and The Caribbean was present directly in
twentythree countries being carried out around two hundred activities. Representatives from about a
hundred organizations from more than 20 countries were received in its own headquarters.
The WFTU Secretarys Office in Latin America and the Caribbean appreciates the significant and
moral support received from the majority of our affiliated organizations, the Sub-regional and
National
Coordinating as well as from the World Federation of Trade Unions Vice-presidents in the Region.
TO SUMMARIZE:
We are conscious, in spite of the above appointed positive results that we are far of being able to
impact, like it is required, on the fights of Our America". It is a long way to go. It is required to
achieve more WFTU visibility.
The experience reached in our action in the stage reaffirms us that without our unity nothing would be
possible and everything reached would get lost.
There are obstacles and mistakes among those who are involved in the transformations of our
societies.
It is probable that slips and disagreements exist, but we should assume, firmly, that only our unity will
allow us to achieve higher goals in our fights.
The enemy, pointing to our weaknesses, acts to reinforce the division and this way, maliciously, to eat
away us from inside desiring to defeat us. They spread the idea of a supposed end of the progressive
cycle sowing discouragement and defeatist spirit.
Facing this situation it is necessary to strengthen the continuity of our combats, our resistance, and to
strengthen our fights and victories for the definitive independence of our peoples reaching the justice
that workers deserve and intensifying the anti-imperialist battles that allow us to reach victories
beyond the combat against neoliberalism.
Encouraging such actions, we will be contributing to the necessary recovery of workers fight
capacity and victory, helping to rescue the dynamism and greatest representation in the trade union
performance
and also contributing to the so necessary unity of the left wing in our region. This is our aim and we
should continue encouraging it. A special motivation for such ends will constitute the expected
positive result of our 17th World Trade Union Congress.
As it is pointed out in its call: "the working class needs a stronger, more dynamic, more
massive and more class trade union movement."
This is our main challenge: to commit, in view of the offensive of the neoliberal policies and their
negative impact on workers, to strengthen the WFTU leadership in Our America contributing even
more to advance toward the only alternative against the capitalist barbarism:
THE SOCIALISM
INVOLUCIONES
Por: Atilio A. Boron.
Con el cambio de gobierno la Argentina ha experimentado un doble trnsito involutivo.
Por un lado, desde una democracia capitalista -con todas las insalvables limitaciones
que el capitalismo impone a la democracia, sobre todo en la periferia del sistema- a un
rgimen semi-autoritario o, para decirlo con palabras un poco ms amables, a una
democracia de baja intensidad; por el otro, una transicin desde un estado soberano a
otro de carcter semi-colonial, presto a obedecer los mandatos emanados de
Washington alinendose incondicionalmente con la poltica exterior de Estados Unidos.
En relacin a la primera involucin los gestos y las decisiones polticas adoptadas
por la Casa Rosada han sido de una elocuencia ejemplar y sera ocioso enumerarlos en
su totalidad. Baste en cambio sealar apenas los ms importantes: la autocrtica
pretensin de designar por medio de un Decreto de Necesidad y Urgencia (DNU) del
Poder Ejecutivo a dos jueces de la Corte Suprema; la aplicacin de una brutal terapia de
shock para sincerar la economa argentina, eufemismo acuado para ocultar el saqueo
del tarifazo, la cada del salario real, el aumento del desempleo, la disparada
inflacionaria y el vertiginoso crecimiento de la pobreza; la escandalosa transferencia de
ingresos realizada en los primeros meses del gobierno, calculada en poco ms de
20.000 millones de dlares producto de la eliminacin de las retenciones (impuesto a
las exportaciones) del agronegocio, la minera y los hidrocarburos. En el terreno poltico
se registra un debilitamiento del impulso democrtico cuando se toman decisiones
trascendentales sin un previo debate pblico y en funcin de criterios supuestamente
tcnicos. Un gobierno que se impuso en el balotaje con un exiguo 51.4 % de los votos y
que acta como si su legitimidad de origen reposara sobre un mandato popular
conferido por el 70 % o ms de los electores, sin reparar que se yergue sobre un pas
partido en dos y que la bsqueda del dilogo y el consenso tantas veces pregonado por
los personeros de Cambiemos durante la campaa electoral es un imperativo categrico
que fue velozmente archivado una vez que Mauricio Macri llegara a la Casa Rosada. El
caso de los desorbitados aumentos en los precios de los servicios esenciales como el
agua, la electricidad, el gas y el transporte impuestos sin las necesarias audiencias
pblicas previas que establece la legislacin argentina ilustra con elocuencia lo que
venimos diciendo. Es cierto que, en algunos casos, ante el descontento popular y los
lmites impuestos por fuerzas polticas de la oposicin el gobierno se avino a revisar sus
propuestas. Pero sus intenciones originales eran otras, y si acept la negociacin
democrtica lo hizo a regaadientes y porque no tena otra alternativa. Por otra parte,
la misma composicin del elenco gobernante con una significativa presencia de CEOs de
grandes transnacionales echa luz sobre el carcter oligrquico del gobierno, que se ve
ratificado no slo por el origen social de los supuestos representantes de la voluntad
popular encumbrados en las alturas del aparato estatal sino fundamentalmente por las
polticas que promueven que, al menos hasta el momento, slo han beneficiado a las
clases dominantes y perjudicado a todas las dems. Involucin autoritaria que se
confirma tambin cuando se nota la asfixiante uniformidad comunicacional (salvo muy
contadas excepciones) que hoy sufre la Argentina debido al DNU 267 de Macri que
derog parcialmente la Ley de Medios manotazo presidencial lamentablemente
convalidado despus por la Cmara de Diputados- cuyo objetivo era precisamente la
democratizacin de la esfera pblica. Por eso episodios tan graves como los que
revelaron los Panam Papers, y que comprometen la propia figura presidencial, han sido
meticulosamente blindados ante los ojos de la poblacin por un sistema de medios cuya
misin parece ser manipular o confundir a la opinin pblica en lugar de informarla. La
voluntad de imponer el pensamiento nico amparado por el oficialismo se manifest
en la eliminacin de la grilla de los canales de cable de la seal noticiosa internacional
de TeleSUR, condenando a los argentinos a escuchar tan slo lo que el imperio
considera apropiado, coartando de raz cualquier posibilidad de contraponer hechos e
interpretaciones alternativas. Por comparacin al pluralismo de voces y opiniones que
hasta hace pocos meses exista en la Argentina, que sin dudas no era el ideal por el
aplastante predominio que an as conservaban los medios hegemnicos, la situacin
actual no puede sino calificarse como un lamentable retroceso que empobrece la
conciencia de la ciudadana y carcome la vitalidad de la democracia porque sta
adquiere una existencia meramente espectral cuando lo que predomina en el sistema de
medios es una sofocante oligarqua comunicacional. En esta tendencia se inscribe la
ms reciente decisin del gobierno nacional derogando parcialmente, tambin por un
DNU, un decreto del Presidente Ral Alfonsn del ao 1984 que consagraba el control
civil de las fuerzas armadas. Segn el mismo era el Ministerio de Defensa quien
entenda y resolva todo lo relativo a los ascensos, traslados, designaciones, premios y
otras cuestiones relativas al funcionamiento de las instituciones militares. La
supremaca civil sobre las fuerzas armadas es una de las seas distintivas de la
democracia y lo que, hasta ahora, distingua a la Argentina del resto de los pases de la
regin. Lo que hace el DNU de Macri es debilitar esa supremaca y alentar la autonoma
corporativa de los uniformados, lo que acercara la Argentina a la triste situacin
imperante en pases como Brasil y Chile, en donde las iniciativas de verdad, justicia y
castigo a los responsables de los crmenes perpetrados por las dictaduras se estrellaron
contra el veto del establecimiento militar.
La segunda involucin es la que se produjo cuando el gobierno abandon
cualquier pretensin de autonoma en materia de poltica exterior haciendo suya la
agenda, las prioridades (y los conflictos!) de los Estados Unidos. La Argentina ya
intent probar las virtudes de la sumisin neocolonial en los nefastos aos noventas,
durante la presidencia de Carlos S. Menem y as nos fue. Sin recibir nada a cambio,
ningn beneficio especial como recompensa a tanta obsecuencia oficial, se pag un
precio atroz por tanta obsecuencia: 106 personas perdieron la vida en los dos atentados
en contra de la Embajada de Israel y la AMIA, en represalia por la participacin
argentina en la Primera Guerra del Golfo. Por qu la historia habra de ser diferente
esta vez? La vociferante ofensiva en contra de una poltica exterior latinoamericanista la nica sensata en un sistema internacional atravesado por amenazantes turbulenciasque se expresa en la desercin del macrismo frente a proyectos como los de la UNASUR
y la CELAC nada bueno presagia para el tan cacareado como enigmtico regreso al
mundo de la Argentina. Precisamente, una insercin fecunda en l slo ser posible
desde una postura de autonoma -por supuesto que siempre relativa- que preserve los
intereses nacionales y no desde una condicin de sumiso pen en un peligroso tablero
mundial cuyas fichas el emperador mueve a su antojo, y solamente atendiendo a sus
propios intereses y no a los de sus serviles vasallos. En las ltimas semanas esta actitud
ha sido atemperada, por razones oportunistas, debido a que la postulacin de la actual
nuestros pueblos, como lo queran Artigas, Bolvar y San Martn en los albores
de las luchas por nuestra independencia. No tenemos nada bueno que esperar
de los ocupantes de la Casa Blanca cualquiera sea el color de su piel o su
procedencia partidaria.