Crisis, Inflation and Workers Struggle

In May 2016, collective bargaining agreements in some public and private companies were being negotiated, while others had been already signed. Since higher inflation rates are expected in 2017, most owners are interested in signing these agreements before the end of 2016: it is very likely that such wage increases will largely be absorbed by the coming inflation, thus leading to production cost reductions for the companies.

In many cases, during the negotiations between the unions and the employers, wage improvements and bonuses were granted in return for staff reductions.This type of agreement, only made possible thanks to the betrayal of trade union leaders, backed by “labor consultants”, has led to significant employment reductions in different companies. Workers in the meantime were offered compelling economic incentives if they left their employment.

In the case of Traylog, which provides logistics services at the Nestle warehouse in Moron, the number of workers who accepted the incentive offer, was so great that the few remaining workers didn’t reach the minimum number required by law to have their union recognized. Now the situation is such that Nesltè may dismiss all workers and resume its activity with a whole new staff.

The Ferralca, Tripoliven and Produven workers are meeting to discuss the collective bargaining agreement. Our comrades are proposing a joint meeting of the workers of these companies to unify all the demands and action.

Meanwhile Ferralca broke with their “employment consultant”, who also works for Traylog.

At Ferralca bosses attempted to push through a bonus wage tied to the productivity of each worker. Union leaders and workers have discussed the bonus and came to the conclusion that: a) it generates divisions between workers, in the midst of the of collective bargaining negotiations; b) it encourages the intensification of the working day and the attitude that makes workers to steal other workers’ jobs; c) it won’t be counted for social security funds; d) it would hold back the recruitment of new workers as the company would produce more with the same number of workers. Although a minority of workers remained willing to accept the bonus, a majority of the assembly voted to refuse the bonus and drew up a report to be delivered to the owner. Given the forthcoming negotiation of the collective bargaining agreement, the union has expressed the need to maintain unity and focus on the fight for a wage increase: this direction is shared by all workers.

The workers of Ferralca, alerted to the arrival of the Servicio Bolivariano de Inteligencia (Sebin), i.e. the government’s political police, made it clear to the owner’s representatives that if their union leaders should get arrested, they would have stopped work. The company denied it had anything to do with the political police Sebin visit, although everybody knew that if Sebin showed up it was because the boss had called them. The provocative intervention of Sebin against the union leaders occurred immediately after Ferralca workers had blocked shipments for one shift following demands regarding work clothing.

As for the PDVSA trade union workers, the union elections that were scheduled for the 22th of September have been suspended and will take place, if they will take place, in 2017, after the hypothetical presidential referendum. The postponement of trade union elections meets the need of the fraction of the PSUV [the ruling party] in the Unitary Federation of Venezuelan Oil Workers, represented by Wills Rangel, to gain time to make up for lost support of the majority of workers in the sector. Postponing the elections also took place with the complicity of the most important opposing current, that of trotskist, Jose Bodas.

Unfortunately, the various rank and file groups of workers ended up interested in the different options presented in the bourgeois elections, ignoring the discussion of a program for the recovery of the workers’ struggle. Comrades are preparing a leaflet about this.