The Venezuelan Trade Union Network denounced that since January 19 there have been acts of intimidation and aggression against workers by collectives and state security forces for going out to demonstrate. Despite the harassment, the unions and workers that make up the platform assure that they remain in the fight until they achieve their goals of a good salary
The Venezuelan Trade Union Network platform issued a statement to reject the intimidation and acts of violence that have occurred in recent days against union leaders and public administration workers in various states of the country for the simple fact of taking to the streets and demanding their demands.
In his opinion, these events are not isolated and violate freedom of association, free protest and free association and, therefore, hold the Executive responsible for this type of action that does not help to solve the labor problem and reminds that the right to protest is enshrined in the Constitution.
The letter indicates that this type of situation, carried out by State security forces and by armed civilian groups – which are identified as collectives – has been taking place since at least January 19; The first of these events being the one that occurred in the mobilization of teachers and workers on San Martín avenue, in Caracas del same january 19.
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There, a group of armed men and women identified themselves as colectivos and gathered at the Los Molinos Shopping Center to intimidate those who marched demanding fair payment.
Similar situations were reported on January 20 in Carabobo, when Sebin agents went to the house of the president of the entity’s College of Nursing, Julio García; and then they appeared on the 22nd at the residence of the general secretary of the Single Union of Electrical Workers of Falcón, Starling Bracho.
The Venezuelan Trade Union Network recalled that since 2013 there have been economic problems in the country and this affected the workers, whose salaries were reduced considerably and many have decided to seek a better quality of life outside the country.
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«Since then there has not been a salary increase that has not been pulverized by inflation. Without forgetting that every time an announcement is made in this regard, the authorities rely on an instruction that harms collective bargaining. The last salary increase was made in March 2022. What a public sector worker charges today is not enough to even cover the transfer to his workplace because it barely reaches $6 per month, ”describes the Venezuelan Trade Union Network.
Despite the harassment, the unions and workers that make up the platform assure that they remain in the fight until the minimum wage equals the value of the basic food basket, which is currently around 600 dollars according to various economic organizations.
From the #RedSindicalVenezolana We reject the recent acts of violence and intimidation of union leaders and public administration workers, within the framework of the demand for a salary in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and decent working conditions.? pic.twitter.com/8uL1PpaPth
— Venezuelan Trade Union Network (@RedSindicalVE) January 24, 2023
Since January 9, there have been protests in various states of the country where thousands of workers, most of them in the public sector, demand wage increases since the minimum wage is not enough for them since the 130 bolivars have been devalued due to inflation and represent only seven dollars; while a family needs 50 times that amount just to eat.
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