Labor and Inter-American Relations

Abstract

Despite growing Latin-American discontent with United States policy, the inter-American labor organizations continue to provide liaison with a most important element of Latin-American public opinion. Friendly relations between labor organizations in the Americas were fostered by United States labor leaders who encouraged the growth of responsible, democratic labor organizations in Latin America. Of United States labor unions, the American Federation of Labor worked importantly, especially since World War II, to encourage pro- West, anti-Communist labor organizations on a hemispheric basis. The Congress of Industrial Organizations joined the Inter-American Regional Organization of Workers, the domi nant international labor group during the 1950's. During the early 1950's, the Argentine Peronistas competed to organize Latin-American labor, particularly through vilification of the United States and its labor unions. The fall of Perón ended that campaign, but the rise of Castro presented a new challenge for influence in inter-American labor organization. The Cuban menace to democratic, pro-Western labor organizations has been partly relieved by efforts of the International Trade Secre tariats, which became interested in Latin America in the late 1950's. The future of the inter-American labor movement hangs in balance between the success of the Fidelistas in generating and consolidating support and the ability of the United States to counteract trends of anti-Yankeeism and neutralism.—Ed.