Editorial note: The subject of the short article below by the Venezuelan anarchist group
El Libertario is of particular salience, as Maduro?s attack happens to parallel recent
developments here in the U.S. where top Democratic politicians and the Chelsea Manning
prosecution have both used the term ?anarchist? to slur their opponents. ---- As for the
strike prompting Maduro?s outburst, a piece in Venezuela Analysis provides some context:
?The current strike is the latest chapter in a long history of labour disputes at the
steel producer. Along with the outstanding pay demanded by workers, in August 2012 the
government?s decision to dismiss then Sidor factory president Carlos D?Oliveira sparked
employee protests, while other union workers called for a strike. ---- D?Oliveira had been
elected by Sidor workers, as part of efforts to bring the company under worker control. In
May this year, the government again appointed a new company president unelected by the
workers.?
By El Libertario
President Nicolas Maduro, the self-appointed ?President Worker,? continues his campaign of
criminalization against the SIDOR strikers. In a ceremony held at the Campo de Carabobo on
Saturday October 5th, he showcased a group of armed workers to face down what he has
called ?economic warfare.? As could be seen on state television, groups of workers from
Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and CORPOELEC, sporting uniforms of blue and red shirts,
raised their rifles at the event.
The head of state criticized SIDOR workers for initiating the strike in the steel mill. He
called the union leaders driving the strike in SIDOR ?anarcho-syndicalists and populists?
for demanding wage increases that the government claims it cannot afford. He warned that
if the group does not call off the shutdown, he will take the mill ?with the support of
the people.?
?You are with the people, or you are with the oligarchy; there are no half measures,? he
added. His declaration came in response to the shutdown led by workers of Sider?rgica del
Orinoco (SIDOR), who are demanding the renewal of their collective agreement, already due
three years ago, among other labor claims. President Maduro has insisted that the workers
are be being manipulated by imperialism, as part of the ?economic war? against his government.
Meanwhile, Wills Rangel, chairman of the Federation of Petroleum Workers of Venezuela,
attended the event and declared that the working class will incorporate the Bolivarian
militia ?from now on.? Rangel assured Maduro that he can count on ?this army of workers
and employees? to deepen the fight against the ?economic war.?
Working translation by Steven Fake
Links at:
http://ideasandaction.info/2013/10/president-maduro-and-the-anarcho-syndicalists-in-venezuela/
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