[mobglob-discuss] Venezuela report on workers-- 26 November 2003

[michael a. lebowitz]

This is the second of two notes on current developments in Venezuela; it is 
being sent to a larger distribution list because of its content. Please 
circulate widely.

	There have been rumours that in private industry (largely unorganised) 
workers would be taken to the signature tables by their supervisors to sign 
up in the 'Reafirmazo' to generate a recall of Chavez. (It is called the 
RE-signing because of the opposition claim that their unsupervised and 
constitutionally premature sign-up last February was the first firmazo.) 
There is some rather concrete evidence, though, that the pressures upon 
private sector workers will be intense.
	I have just been shown a card by a leader of UNT (the National Union of 
Workers, the new trade union federation formed in August). This nicely 
embossed a card for the "reafirmazo'  has a place for the bearer's name and 
signature and a place where this card is to be stamped. It is being given 
by private sector employers to their workers. The card reads (roughly 
translated): 'Today I have left my signature and my hello for history, as 
demonstration of my desire and will to look for a peaceful, democratic and 
electoral exit to the crisis of the country.' What will happen to workers 
whose card is NOT stamped is anyone's guess. The real point is that the 
pressure being placed upon workers in the private sector is clear. We can 
say with certainty that no such pressure was placed upon public sector 
workers this last week because we definitely would have heard about it.
	This is news that needs to be spread--- especially to trade unionists who 
will recognise what such a card represents. Also, it is essential to ensure 
that international observers watch for this.
	in solidarity,
	 michael
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Michael A. Lebowitz
Professor Emeritus
Economics Department
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, B.C., Canada V5A 1S6
Office Fax:   (604) 291-5944
Home:   Phone (604) 689-9510