The Trade Union and Labour Situation in Guatemala

Abstract

The Trade Union and Labour Situation in Guatemala Julio Coj (bio) The trade union centre UNSITRAGUA HISTORICA emerged 8 February 1985 from a historical process that was a re-articulation of the trade union movement with the “classist” trade unions that were dispersed but had survived the criminal and repressive policy launched against trade unionism in Guatemala. Business interests and governments had succeeded in destroying the important trade union organisations, such as the Central Nacional de Trabajadores (CNT), the Federación Sindical Autónoma de Guatemala (FASGUA), the Federación de Trabajadores de Guatemala (FTG), and the instrument of unified struggle the Comité Nacional de Unidad Sindical (CNUS), as well as other popular organisations that fought for life, for social justice, against militarisation and for the construction of a state with effective and participatory democracy, while under the terrible policies of the military governments-and in complicity with certain business sectors-in the context of the internal armed confrontation. In fact the actions and struggles of re-articulation of the popular movements became necessary to continue defending life and human rights, after the thousands of crimes and massacres carried out by the State “security” forces. These crimes occurred within the framework of the counterinsurgency policy that unleashed the most brutal and criminal repression against the non-combatant civilian population and those who tried to exercise full citizenship through trade union organisation, among many other popular sectors and organisations. The Revolution of 1944 It should be pointed out that the working class organised in unions, popular sectors, artisans, peasants, women, students, soldiers, and with politicians of democratic and nationalist thought, managed to triumph with their great popular and trade union struggles to achieve the Revolution of 1944. This was an authentic struggle of the people that brought great advances and benefits with this new authentic, effective, participatory democracy and social welfare, and real freedom for the majority. The first Labour Code was created in 1947, freedom of association for trade unions was allowed, and other important institutions were established: the Labour Courts, the Ministry of Labour, the right to vote for women, the Instituto Guatemalteco de Seguridad Social (IGSS, English: Guatemalan Institute of Social Security), alongside the Agrarian Reform and many important achievements in the ten years of the Spring that Guatemala lived. A criminal phase of oppression from 1954 But in 1954, with the invasion of Guatemala by the United States, which set out to destroy the revolutionary process that began in 1944, they stopped the economic, social, political and cultural development of the country, and another stage of terror was re-started. There began the murders and disappearances of the leaders that had managed to break the oppressive and enslaving system and form a government of the majority. It was a bloody and criminal phase of oppression against the population and mainly against trade union, popular, and revolutionary leaders, and those who had been in the government of Dr. Juan José Arévalo Bermejo and the soldier of the people, Jacobo Árbenz Guzmán. Guatemala, like the rest of the peoples of Latin America, since the invasion of the Spanish have had to live and face slavery, oppression, violent and criminal repression, the absence of a justice system, and the severe exploitation of forced labour. Without a real, effective and participatory democracy, under the boot and terror of militarism, exile, death, illiteracy, chronic childhood malnutrition, deficient and precarious public education and health systems, without the Rule of Law or an effective justice system. The Peace Agreements of 1996 and continuing impunity In Guatemala, the Peace Agreements were signed on December 29, 1996, whose content and spirit was a consensual agenda and to initiate the route to begin to combat the causes that originated the internal armed conflict. But over time there has never been a will policy of big business, the different governments, and it could be said of the government of the United States, and some other sectors of the country, for either its application or compliance. These sectors are the ones that oppose the well-being and the economic, social, political and cultural development of the majority of the people, including the working class for work and...