Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CARACAS1674
2006-06-07 21:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
CHAVISTA LABOR FEDERATION DELAYS ELECTIONS -- AGAIN
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C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001674
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR DFISK AND DTOMLINSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2031
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ELAB KDEM VE
SUBJECT: CHAVISTA LABOR FEDERATION DELAYS ELECTIONS -- AGAIN
REF: A. CARACAS 1173
B. CARACAS 1585
Classified By: Robert Downes, Political Counselor,
for Reason 1.4(b).
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001674
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR DFISK AND DTOMLINSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2031
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ELAB KDEM VE
SUBJECT: CHAVISTA LABOR FEDERATION DELAYS ELECTIONS -- AGAIN
REF: A. CARACAS 1173
B. CARACAS 1585
Classified By: Robert Downes, Political Counselor,
for Reason 1.4(b).
1. (U) The pro-Chavez National Workers Union (UNT) held its
second congress May 26-28 with the objective of setting a
date for internal elections for the trade confederation. The
congress was billed as a landmark event for the labor
confederation because in the three years since the group's
foundation its squabbling factions had been unable to reach
agreement on elections. However, UNT leaders failed to
achieve consensus and settled for an agreement to hold
elections in the first quarter of 2007, after the December
2006 presidential elections. The UNT leaders also pledged to
support President Hugo Chavez in obtaining 10 million votes
in that election. According to press reports, some 3,000
delegates attended the congress.
2. (C) UNT National Coordinator Franklin Rondon told Poloff
June 5 the decision to postpone came after several factions,
including his own, had expressed concern that the union
election would interfere with Chavez' presidential campaign.
Rondon said a simple review of the legal time frames required
to hold the union election would have put the process in late
September, when the presidential campaign would be heating
up. He said he was not sure whether the National Electoral
Council (CNE) would be able to facilitate elections
simultaneously with the presidential race. He reiterated his
position that the CNE ought to provide technical support to
UNT election organizers -- as stipulated in international
labor standards -- rather than the CNE administering the
entire process, as outlined in Venezuelan electoral law.
Rondon was optimistic, however, that the BRV and the multiple
UNT factions would all be ready for union elections in early
2007.
3. (C) Comment: Rondon was probably putting a good face on
the situation. These elections have been delayed for years
while the UNT factions have dithered. Still, the good
showing for the conference suggests the beleaguered
confederation may be starting to get its act together for
sometime next year. Rondon's position regarding CNE
involvement limited to technical advice echoes that of
Venezuela-specific pronouncements by the International Labor
Organization (ILO) as well as with the position of the
pro-opposition Venezuelan Workers Confederation (CTV). The
BRV is wary of permitting fully autonomous union elections as
it may not be able to control which of the UNT leaders, who
display varying degrees of loyalty to Chavez, is ultimately
elected.
WHITAKER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR DFISK AND DTOMLINSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2031
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ELAB KDEM VE
SUBJECT: CHAVISTA LABOR FEDERATION DELAYS ELECTIONS -- AGAIN
REF: A. CARACAS 1173
B. CARACAS 1585
Classified By: Robert Downes, Political Counselor,
for Reason 1.4(b).
1. (U) The pro-Chavez National Workers Union (UNT) held its
second congress May 26-28 with the objective of setting a
date for internal elections for the trade confederation. The
congress was billed as a landmark event for the labor
confederation because in the three years since the group's
foundation its squabbling factions had been unable to reach
agreement on elections. However, UNT leaders failed to
achieve consensus and settled for an agreement to hold
elections in the first quarter of 2007, after the December
2006 presidential elections. The UNT leaders also pledged to
support President Hugo Chavez in obtaining 10 million votes
in that election. According to press reports, some 3,000
delegates attended the congress.
2. (C) UNT National Coordinator Franklin Rondon told Poloff
June 5 the decision to postpone came after several factions,
including his own, had expressed concern that the union
election would interfere with Chavez' presidential campaign.
Rondon said a simple review of the legal time frames required
to hold the union election would have put the process in late
September, when the presidential campaign would be heating
up. He said he was not sure whether the National Electoral
Council (CNE) would be able to facilitate elections
simultaneously with the presidential race. He reiterated his
position that the CNE ought to provide technical support to
UNT election organizers -- as stipulated in international
labor standards -- rather than the CNE administering the
entire process, as outlined in Venezuelan electoral law.
Rondon was optimistic, however, that the BRV and the multiple
UNT factions would all be ready for union elections in early
2007.
3. (C) Comment: Rondon was probably putting a good face on
the situation. These elections have been delayed for years
while the UNT factions have dithered. Still, the good
showing for the conference suggests the beleaguered
confederation may be starting to get its act together for
sometime next year. Rondon's position regarding CNE
involvement limited to technical advice echoes that of
Venezuela-specific pronouncements by the International Labor
Organization (ILO) as well as with the position of the
pro-opposition Venezuelan Workers Confederation (CTV). The
BRV is wary of permitting fully autonomous union elections as
it may not be able to control which of the UNT leaders, who
display varying degrees of loyalty to Chavez, is ultimately
elected.
WHITAKER