ORGANIZATION OF PETROLEUM WORKERS IN LATIN AMERICA

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6
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RIPPUB
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S
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48
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November 11, 2016
Document Release Date: 
July 7, 1998
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2
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Publication Date: 
August 1, 1955
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REPORT
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Sanitized - Approved For Release : ql~IA-RDP62-00865ROO0300210002-6 SE ORGANIZATIONS OF PETROLEUM WORKERS IN LATIN AMERICA 25X6F Supplement to: LABOR IN THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY IN THE FREE WORLD 25X1A8a Prepared by Prepared for 10 Division Case number 25X1A2g Date completed: August 1955 25X1A9a SEC T Sanitized - Approved For Release : Cl DP62-008658000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 25X1C10b Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 mmpmopw ORGANIZATIONS OF PETROLEUM WORKERS IN LATIN AMERICA CONTENTS Federacion Nacional Sindical de Trabajadores Petroleros de Bolivia (National Federation of Petroleum Workers of Bolivia) Federacao Nacional dos Trabaihadores en Empresas Comercais de Minerios e Combustiveis Minerais (National Federation of Workers in the Petroleum Industry) Federacion Nacional de los Trabajadores del Petroleo de Chile (National Federation of Petroleum Workers of Chile) Union de Trabajadores Petroleros de Colombia (Ultrapetrol - Union of Petroleum Workers of'Colombia) Fedepetrol Federacion Nacional de Trabajadores del Petroleo (FNTP - National Federation of Petroleum Workers) Sindicato de Trabajadores Petroleros de la Republica Mexicana (STPRM - Union of Petroleum Workers of the Republic of Mexico) ii_ Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release S] I1 '62-00865R000300210002-6 Netherlands West Indies Petroleum Workers Federation of Aruba (PWFA) Lago Employees Council (LEC) Petroleum Workers Federation of Curacao (PWFC) Federacion de Trabajadores en Petroleo y Anexos del Peru (FTPAP - Federation of Workers in Petroleum and Allied Industries of Peru) Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) Venezuela Confederacion Nacional de Trabajadores (CNT - National Confederation of Workers) Comite pro-Federacion de Trabajadores Organizados de Venezuela (COFETROV - Committee for Federation of the Organized Workers of Venezuela) Comite Independiente, Sindicato Petrolero Nacional (CISPEN - Independent Committee, National Petroleum Workers Union) Sindicato de Marinos Petroleros (SMP - Union of Marine Petroleum Workers) 25X6F References Sanitized - Approved For Release ;j1 4-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 BOLIVIA Additional information, as of August 1955 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release'DP62-00865R000300210002-6 ORGANIZATIONS OF PETROLEUM WORKERS IN LATIN AMERICA B0L>IV.I'A: Federacion Nacional Sindical de Trabajadores Petroleros de Bolivia (National Federation of Petroleum Workers of Bolivia) Address: Casilla 401; La Paz Affiliation: CentralObrera Boliviana (Bolivian Workers Central - COB) Membership: Officers: Sec. General: 10,000 (1954) *Fuad MUJAEZ (elsewhere listed as President) Sec. of Relations: Juan ASPORT Affiliates: 14 unions Political orientation: The National Federation of Pe- troleum Workers of Bolivia was organized in September 1952 under government sponsorship. It is highly regarded by the government-operated petroleum industry in Bolivia. ` The?COB, with which the union is affiliated was reorganized in 1952; it advocates the con- tinued development of Bolivia along socialist lines, but has gone firmly on record as opposing Soviet Communism and has rejected vigorously efforts.-of the Bolivian Communist Party to direct the course of the labor movement. A Na- tional Workers Congress in 1954, although expressing friend- ship and cordiality toward all international labor organi- zations, voted to maintain the "independence" of the Bolivian labor movement from all such organizations. The present cabinet of the Bolivian administration holds five members 25X6F SE T Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA- DP6.2-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized Approved For Release NVP62-00865ROO0300210002-6 regarded as representatives of labor; three of these either held or hold important executive positions in three differ- ent labor confederations. The Congress of Bolivian Petroleum Workers, held in Tarija in the fall of 1954, preparatory to the National Workers Congress, was completely dominated by Fuad MUJAEZ and the left-wing faction of the Movimento Nacionalista Revolucionario (Nationalist Revolutionary Movement - MNR). The delegation from this union to the National Congress was expected to agree with whatever Juan LECHIN Oquendo, then labor minister and head of the COB, asked. Sanitized - Approved For Release':62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 BRAZIL Additional information, as of August 1955 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release'~F620100865R000300210002-6 B R A Z I L Federacao Nacional dos Trabaihadores en Empresas Comercais de Minerios e Combustiveis Minerais National Federation of Workers in the Petroleum Industry) Address: Rua Mexico, No. 11, 5th Andar Rio de Janeiro Affiliation: International Federation of Petroleum Workers (IFPW) Membership: Officers: President: 45,000 (1954) Alberto BETTAMIO (Betamio) Political orientation: While the Brazilian labor move- ment as a whole is controlled to.a large extent by the government, this control has lessened considerably, and a growing cadre of young ind effective labor leaders is striving to divorce local unions from the influence of the Ministry of Labor, Industry., and Commerce./ No information is available concerning the political orienta- tion of the petroleum workers union. Sanitized - Approved For Release "iC774AQP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 CHILE Additional information, as of August 1955 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release93QP62-00865R000300210002-6 C H I L E Federacion Nacional de los Trabajadores del Petroleo de Chile (National Federation of Petroleum Workers of Chile) Address: Casilla 11 D, Santiago CUTCH (Central Unica de Trabajadores de Chile) IFPW ORIT ICFTU Membership: 1,500 (1954) Officers: Sec. General: *Luis FUENTES Zapata Political orientation: No information is available on the political orientation of this federation. It is presumed to be Western-oriented, inasmuch as it is affiliated with the IFPW, ORIT and the ICFTU. It was reported in 1953 to be a major affiliate of the CUTCH. 25X6F Sanitized - Approved For ReleasPT-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 COLOMBIA Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For ReleaseDP62-00865R000300210002-6 Additional information, as of August 1955 Sanitized - Approved For Releas+ DP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Releas~RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 C O L O M B I A 1. Union de Trabajadores Petroleros de Colombia (Ultra- petrol - Union of Petroleum Workers of Colombia) Address: Salon Sintranal, Barrancabermeja Affiliations: UTC IFPW Membership: 20,000 (195+) Officers: Sec..General: Luis Alfonso PERDOMO Treasurer: Benjamin DIAZ Herrera Efforts begun in February 1953 by the Union de Trabajadores Colombiana (UTC) to organize a petroleum federation culminated a short time later in the establishment of Ultrapetrol under the leadership of Luis Alfonso PERDOMO. There are no avail- able indications of the number of affiliates, but workers of the International Petroleum Company at Barrancabermeja and of Empresa Colombiana de Petroleos at El Centro are believed to be affiliated with Ultrapetrol. The UTC probably still is the largest of the confedera- tions in Colombia, and with the eclipse of Fedepetrol, Ultra- petrol no doubt represents most of the petroleum workers in Colombia. Political orientation: Since the July 1953 coup d'etat by General ROTAS Pinilla, the alliance between the state and the Roman Catholic Church has not been as close as previously. Influence with the Rojas regime of the UTC, which had been organized by the prre- ceding Conservative government under the aegis of the Roman Church, appears to have waned somewhat to the advantage of a newly-established, Argentine-oriented Confederacion Nacional de Trabajadores (CNT), which received government recognition in December 1954. However, at the 1955 annual meeting of the UTC mutual pledges of support were made by the government and the union. S T Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA- 62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Releases TZDP62-00865R000300210002-6 2. Fed.epetrol The Confederation de Trabajadores Colombiana (CTC)- affiliated Fe_depetrol apparently has ceased to be a force in Colombian labor. 7/ In 1953 it was reported to have affiliates at the installations of the Andian National Corporation and the Esso Colombians Company, / and in 1952 at the Compania Petroleo Shell de Colombia, Barranca- bermeja, and at the Texas Petroleum Company of Colombia. ,/ There is reportedly a Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Con- cesionaria 'Shell-Condor" at Santander. No information has been found to indicate the present existence or strength of any of these unions. 2 Sanitized - Approved For ReleaseE RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 ECUADOR Additional information, as of August 1955 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 1 Sanitized - Approved For Release DP62-00865R000300210002-6 E C U A D O R Federacion Nacional de Trabajadores del Petroleo (FNTP National Federation of Petroleum Workers) LO/ Affiliations: Membership:. Officers (1948): Sec. General: Ancon, Guayas Federacion Provincial de Traba- jadores del Guayas (FPTG - regional labor federation) Confederacion de Trabajadores del Ecuador (CTE - national confederation) CTAL (through CTE) 1,300 Sec. of Communications: Isaias RONQUILLO Enrique MARQUEZ Sec. of Organization: Carlos ERAZO Sec. of Agitation and Propaganda: Emilio CANESSA (Communist) Sec. of Legal Defense: Victor BERMEO (Communist) Sec. of Charity: Sec. of Labor, Cul- tural & Athletic Activities: Sec. of Press and Foreign Relations: Sec. of Coordination and Liaison: Sanitized Approved For Releasesq Romuaido RONQUILLO (Communist) Francisco MORAN (Communist) Jose J. GONZALEZ (Communist) 25X6F DP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release'kDP62-00865R000300210002-6 Political orientation: In 191-9, the FNTP was one of the strongest industrial affili- ates of the CTE and was reported to be leftist-dominated. There is evidence that the members are not necessarily all militant leftists, but Communist strength usually is suffi- cient to assure the selection of Communists or Communist sympathizers as representatives of the workers. Communist leaders have energetically kept up a constant stream of de- mands upon the management and by their initiative and drive have influenced the FNTP leftward. The FNTP reputedly is one of the more solvent Communist- led federations in Guayas Province. The CTAL News has re- ported financial assistance to the FNTP from the CIO (US) and from the STPRM (Mexico). Communist manipulators have maneuvered the FNTP into issuing strike threats, but no strikes are known to have resulted. In negotiations with the oil companies, FNTP leaders have called on Communist Party leaders to assist in drawing up lists of demands. At a meeting of the FPTG on 20 September 1954, which was addressed by Antonio CABRERA, the Argentine member of the CTAL Secretariat, grievances of the Ancon oil workers, members of the Comite de Empresa and the Sindicato General de Trabajadores, were discussed and a manifesto against the Anglo-Ecuadoran Oil Company, Ltd., drawn up. Notices of this meeting had been sent by the Communist Party of Ecuador's Guayas committee to all secretaries general of Communist cells, urging attendance. 11 Reports were received early in August that the Ancon oil workers and the railroad employees were planning a general strike between 15 and 20 August. 12 However, the strike did not materialize. The government arrested several. labor leaders, both Communist and Socialist, about that time, but whether the failure of the strike can be attributed to this action or to weakness of the unions is not known. Sanitized - Approved For Release ~INOZDP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 MEXICO Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For~ReleaseE -'RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 Additional information, as of August 1955 Sanitized - Approved For Releases'tDP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release SW4LRDP62-00865ROO0300210002-6 25X6A Sanitized - Approved For Release tDP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved Fob-Releases DP62-00865R000300210002-6 25X6A Sanitized - Approved For Releases,. ~DP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release ~ DP62-00865R000300210002-6 25X6A Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 NETHERLANDS WEST INDIES Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release zDP62-00865R000300210002-6 Additional information, as of August 1955 Sanitized - Approved For Release 3 P62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release - 'DP62-00865R000300210002-6 NETHERLANDS WEST INDIES 1. Petroleum Workers Federation of Aruba (PWFA) Address: Nuijenstraat No. 7, San Nicolaas Affiliations: IFPW ORIT ICFTU Membership: 700 (dues-paying - April 1955) Officers: not known; were to be elected March 1955 Organizing Committee: Chairman: N. KOCK Secretary: Jose A. HERNANDEZ Members: P. BENNETT H. TROMP F. BARENO J. deVRIES Fees: Fls. 5 initiation fee Fls. 2.50 monthly dues Political orientation: The political orientation of the PWFA is not clear-cut for two reasons: first, it is a new organization founded late in 195+; second, the Partido Patriotica Arubana (PPA - Aruban Patriotic Party) originally thought to be sponsor of the PWFA, has not yet identified itself with the federation, Organization of the federation was led by David Sternback, CIO (US) regional director for Puerto Rico on loan to the IFPW. Sternback has stated that the initiative for organization originated with requests by workers, in- cluding members of the Lago Employees Council, directed to Mr. Adrian VERMEULEN, secretary of the Nederlands Verbond van Vakverenigingen (Netherlands Trade Union Confederation) when he visited Aruba two years ago. 18 VERMEULEN appar- ently carried the request back to the ICFTU, which in turn passed it on to the petroleum federation. Considering its birth-ties to the IFPW and ORIT, the PWFA, in the short Sanitized - Approved For Release DP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For ReleaseiDP62-00865R000300210002-6 term at least, may be counted in the camp of Western- oriented unions. It will probably remain dependent on these forebears for a considerable length of time, and thus its present orientation and functions may be expected to continue. The possibility exists., nevertheless, that it may be exploited for political ends and thus become less effective in fostering workers' benefits. History: The new federation appeared to spring full-blown into existence; it first came to public attention through a handbill attesting its affili- ation to the IFPW. 19 It was thought to be a reincarnation of the Federation de Obreros Arubanos (FOA), led by J. E. "Juancho" Irausquin, Aruban politician and head of the PPA. It was referred to as "Irausquin's union," and Sternback was a guest of Irausquin during his stay on Aruba in Novem- ber 1954, when he came to assist organization of the group.20 The federation also appeared to be a logical culmination of the PPA's increasingly pro-labor pronouncements preceding the November 1954 elections, which Irausquin's party swept. However, Irausquin has never openly identified him- self with the PWFA, and recently he has reserved his sup- port. Various theories have been advanced to explain this. One theory holds that the detachment is a temporary expedi- ent, adopted to prevent alienation of many of Irauscuin's conservative political supporters. Another theory attri- butes his lack of support to the organization to jealousy of the support rendered the PWFA by W. S. van der Meer, the minister of social affairs and an ambitious politician in his own right. Van der Meer was legal adviser to the PWFA at the time of its organization, although reportedly he war; to be forced to relinquish that position because of his cabinet post. 21 The fact that Irausquin recently has made apparent efforts, through his lieutenants, to strengthen the Lago Employees Council lends credence to this theory. Opposition: Officials of the PWFA accuse the Lago Oil and Transport Company of using threats and intimidation to impede the progress of the union.. They charge that the company threatened to demote several of the PWFA members and officers unless they left the federation and that they warned supervisors of the dangers of union organization. Efforts also have been made to strengthen the company-sponsored Lago Employees Council as a counter to the union. One source termed the company's opposition short- sighted, as it might drive the union to accept government Sanitized - Approved For Release, DP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For ReleaseDP62-008658000300210002-6 support which could easily evolve into government domina- tion. 22 Another commented that the question was not whether Aruba should have a union, but rather what kind of union it should have. Among the arguments advanced by opponents of the new union are two which appear significant. The PWFA of- fers equal treatment for all workers, regardless of nation- ality, which runs counter to the strong current of "Aruba for the Arubans" sentiment among the population. The union has been widely criticized for this affront to nationalist pride. The present contract with the Lago employees grants preferential treatment to Arubans, an advantage they are loath to lose. Opposition also arises from elements in the popula- tion which do not wish to incur the wrath of neighboring Venezuela, on which Aruban refineries depend for their sup- plies of crude oil. ORIT has been antagonistic to the Perez Jimenez regime in Venezuela, and some Arubans reportedly fear a violent reaction from the Venezuelan Government should an ORIT-affiliated union become strong among the oil workers.23 Outlook: Because petroleum refining is the principal industry in Aruba, any union of petroleum workers will be the most powerful labor organization in the island. The loss, or lack, of Irausquin's support apparently has slowed the progress of the PWFA. Permanent officers were to have been elected in March 1955, and the federation hoped shortly after that to apply for recognition as the legitimate bargaining agent of the Lago workers, but to date no indication has been found that either event has taken place. 2. Lago Employees Council (LEC) Address: Lago Oil and Transport Company Affiliation. none; company-sponsored Membership: purports to represent all em- ployees of Lago Officers (1955) : 24+ Sanitized - Approved For Release >*qQP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release . CT 62-00865R000300210002-6 Vice-president- M. CROES Secretary: E. D. TROMP The Lago Employees Council is composed of eight repre- sentatives of the workers, chosen by secret ballot. In February 1955 the LEC voted out of the presidency Jacobo ERASMUS, Irausquin's political cohort, charging that he could not properly discharge his LEC duties because of fre- quent absences from board meetings due to his required presence in Curacao as a member of the NWI Legislative Council. The officers listed above were elected at that time. In retaliation Erasmus circulated a petition for a referendum to recall two of the LEC members, including Vice-president CROES, asserting that they were management "stooges.," Sufficient signatures were obtained to require such a referendum, but no report of the results has been .found. However, in May ERASMUS was reported as holding "unchallenged control" of the LEC;- it may be assumed that the referendum recalled the two representatives in question and restored ERASMUS to the LEC. Since that time, ERASMUS reportedly has been actively trying to make the LEC worker representation system work and simultaneously causing the LEC to become increasingly aggressive in negotiations with management. He also has given complete support to the LEC News, which has been well received as a competitor to the PWFA's Federation, The Lago management, for its part, has tried to strengthen the LEC to fight PWFA organization of the workers. A re- cent LEC request for a pay increase was granted by manage- ment, in an obvious attempt to increase the prestige of the LEC. The management also has made possible publication of the LEC News. Negatively, the management is trying, through speeches and printed material, to convince its employees that the PWFA and the international organizations with which it is affiliated do not have the best interests of the Aruban workers at heart. 25 Petroleum Workers Federation of Curacao (PWFC) Address: Middenstraat No. 4, Willemstad Affiliation: none Sanitized - Approved For Release : P62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release :SO Membership: Officers: P62-00865R000300210002-6 500 (reported paid-up) President: G. de JESUS Secretary: Na EUGENIO Treasurer: Roberto A. ADAMUS Local Organizer: Domingo ALBERTO The PWFC reportedly was organized on 19 January 1955 by 22 Shell section leaders. 2/ However, little has been heard of it. The NWI Government approved a PWFC request that an experienced labor adviser be permitted to visit Curacao to provide guidance to the new union, and David STERNBACK has been assisting the group. Thus its orienta- tion, should it grow to be an effective crganization, may be assumed to be pro-West. Sanitized - Approved For Release :StbP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 PERU Additional information, as of August 1955 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized -Y Approved For Release :7P62-00865R000300210002-6 Federacion de Trabajadores en Petroleo y Anexos del Peru -- Federation of Workers ers in Petroleum and Allied Industries of Peru) Calle Bolognesi No. 649-651, Talara Affiliation: none (Aprista-oriented) Membership: 4,000 (1953) Officers: Sec. General: Armando AREVALO Silva Since the Odria Government assumed office in 1948, two petroleum unions have vied for legal bargaining rights with the oil companies. Union No. 1, presumed to be identical with FTPAP, consistenly has been the stronger of the two and has claimed the loyalty of the majority of the workers. The International Petroleum Company reportedly prefers to negotiate with Union No. 1, which it terms a well-organized, disciplined union. However, the government probably to keep petroleum workers divided, twice has recognized a second, smaller union, which has not been further identi- fied, as the legitimate agent of the workers. 27 Union No. 1 has not been outlawed, but its effectiveness has been considerably reduced by the government's periodic preferential treatment of Union No. 2. FTPAP participated in 1953 in a strike against the In- ternation Petroleum Company which resulted in the Govern- ment's forcing a settlement without consulting either the management or the union. 2/ Political orientation: Little is known of the political orientation of the union. One report is that FTPAP is a "democratic" organization, sym- pathetic to the IFPW, but unable financially to affiliate with that group. 29 Sanitized - Approved For Release DP62-008658000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 TRINIDAD Additional information, as of August 1955 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release DP62-00865R000300210002-6 T R I N I D A D Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) Address: Affiliation: Membership: Officers: Pres. General: Sec. General: Assistant Sec.: Second Vice-presi- dent: Treasurer: Trustees: No. )a, Lower Hillside Street, San Fernando Trinidad & Tobago Trade Union Council (TTTUC) *John F. F. ROJAS Joseph C. HOULDER Cyril GONZALEZ Ramrattan MADOO Leslie NELSON Nazario CARMINE Founded: 1937 Political Orientation: The political orientation of the OWTU is somewhat indeterminate. It was formerly affiliated with the WFTU through the TTT'UC, but reportedly officers of the OWTU forced President General ROJAS to disaffiliate in 1953. 30 A rift in the executive was reported in 1954, over contract negotiations with the petroleum companies. President ROJAS was willing to settle for a small increase,-to establish himself as a responsible trade unionist. He was opposed by Fitzroy McCOLLINS, president of the Fyzabad Branch, John HACKSHAW and Fabien S. LESALDO, who called for strikes and violent action if the demands were not met. 31 25X6F Sanitized - Approved For Release N46 -RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release P62-00865R000300210002-6 Importance of the Union: The OWTU is the largest union in Trinidad. At present it includes the marine oil workers, who wish to withdraw-be- cause they say that the OWTU is not sufficiently concerned with their grievances. As the two principal industries in Trinidad are oil and sugar, the union plays a vital role in the economy of the island. In 195+ the Oilfield Employers Association of Trinidad (OEAT) informed the OWTU that when negotiations for a new contract began the OEAT would consider no rise in basic wage rates, claiming that Trinidad's oil industry cannot afford an increase and that in any case oil industry wages remain out of line with general wage rates in the colony. Nevertheless, negotiations began in February 1955 with presentation by the OWTU of a list of demands that included a 25 per cent general wage increase. In April the OEAT and OWTU formally notified the acting governor of Trinidad of their inability to settle their dispute, and the acting governor informed them he would appoint a board of inquiry. This board had not yet reached a decision at last report. The influence of extremists on the labor side, both among local leaders and among the OWTU's advisers from the United Kingdom, has been reported. 32 000 S Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 VENEZUELA CD 3 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 CD Sanitized - Approved For Release : Ci62-00865R000300210002-6 Additional information, as of August 1955 Sanitized - Approved For Releas P62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release : t62-00865R000300210002-6 V E N E Z U E L A There is no active, effective organization of all the Venezuelan petroleum workers. The Confederacion Nacional de Trabajadores (CNT), which has taken over most of the active unions, is organized along geographic rather than industrial lines. Government attempts to create a petro- leum federation within the CNT have failed. While it claims to represent 90 per cent of the Venezuelan workers, CNT's voluntary following is presumed to be very small. Nevertheless, it is the only government-approved, function- ing organization. The remnants of previous petroleum federations appear to remain in existence, but they are actually repressed and ineffective. Opposition to the CNT has been reduced to token pro- portions as a result of the mergers and reorganizations accomplished by the government in the confederation's behalf. Those rival unions which survive hope to maintain their independence and have been assured that their identity will be preserved, but they fear that they will be ab- sorbed. A few known survivors among opposition petroleum unions are listed in this section. 1. Confederacion Nacional de Trabajadores (CNT -- National PV -I - rat ion o orkers Address: Affiliation: Membership: none; government-sponsored Claims 90% of all organized workers; voluntary following is probably small Officers: Sec. General: Pedro Jose ROJAS Sec. for Petro- leum workers: *Julio Guerra ROSALES Teran Organization: 33 The CNT was constituted in Novem- ber 195+ at the Fourth National Convention of the Movimiento Sindical Independiente (MOSIT), 25X6F Sanitized - Approved For Release RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release :Z OP62-00865R000300210002-6 as the organization had been called until that time. MOSIT was made up principally of the so-called "Independiente" unions, which form the core of the new CNT. At the time of its constitution, CNT claimed to represent nearly 300,000 workers in 256 unions affiliated with 15 state federations. These figures are obviously exaggerated and are broad esti- mates of industry groups rather than the result of comput- ing dues payments. Nevertheless, the CNT, for all practical purposes, must be considered the legitimate and logical representative of Venezuelan labor. The CNT was formed with outward regard for the conventions required of a bona fide labor organization, although its close government sponsorship and strong-arm tactics prevent it from achiev ing this end. The government made use of Communists in setting up the CNT, most of whom are still "playing ball" with the government. Political Orientation: 34/ Because of its close ties with the govern- ment, the CNT is bound to follow the lead of government officials in its policies and orientation. Although the MOSIT 1953 convention passed a resolution favoring affilia- tion with ORIT or the ICFTU, the CNT convention voted not to affiliate with any international body. A representative of ATLAS (Agrupacion de Trabagadores Latino Americanos Sindicalistas) who went to Caracas with a proposal that the CNT join the Argentine-sponsored Latin American associ- ation was unsuccessful in lining up the CNT. Because of the similarities in their regimes, the intense wooing on the part of the Argentines and continued attacks by the free organizations, it is understood that some' top minis- try officials favor affiliation with AT.L,AS, but they re- portedly were overruled by the president. His motive, in keeping with previously declared Venezuelan policy against regior}al blocs, is said to be a desire to avoid offending the United States and to keep the door open to affiliation with ORIT. Petroleum Workers: The CNT is organized along geographical lines rather than on an industrial basis. This organization was probably determined to prevent any bloc of industrial workers, particularly the oil workers, from dominating the con- federation. Three "secretariats" within the CNT executive board were set up, however: one for petroleum workers, one for workers in commerce and industry and one for agricultural workers, thus recognizing the importance of petroleum workers in the national labor scene. 35 2 Sanitized - Approved For Release :144- P62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release :i bP62-00865R000300210002-6 During the latter part of 1954 and early in 195.5, the CNT was engaged in a series of "mergers", which actually were a wrecking of existing unions and a rebuilding, masterminded principally by Pedro ROJAS, of existing petro- leum unions into a singe "Sindicato Independiente de Obreros y Empleados Petroleros" in each area. In many in- stances these mergers have been accomplished by manipu- lation of boards of directors and presentation of claims to gain adherents. A few dissident unions have held out against all government pressure, and some workers have dropped their membership in the joint unions. However, the mergers have been so effective that in the Bolivar District of the State of Zulia, for example, the CNT reportedly has gained effective control over 90 per cent of the organized petroleum workers. 3 / However, the oil companies claim that less than half their workers are organized. The Union Sindica.l Independiente de Zulia is reported to be the.strongest of all the state unions. 37 Among the many reported leftists in the CNT are two men connected with the marine petroleum union; which is heavily Communist infiltrated: Ramon BARRIOS and Ramon DELGADO. DELGADO made a speech at the CNT founding convention presenting a resolution for nationalization of the petroleum tanker fleet. It was described as the convention's most important resolution L8/ Another re- solution attacked US restrictions on oil imports, and the Falcon delegation charged the Shell Company with imposing after-hours outpatient attention in the hospital at the Cardon refinery. Lack of sufficient public services at the time the hospital was created made it necessary for Shell Lo permit service during working hours. 39 2. Comite pro-Federacion de Trabajadores Organizados de Venezuela 00 OV -- Committee or Federation 6T the organized Workers of Venezuela) Address: Salasa Balconcito 37, Caracas Affiliation: COPEI (Social Christian) Membership: 4,000 (1954) Officers: Sec. General: Sanitized - Approved For Release : RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release :' ~_2-00865R000300210002-6 The federation was reported to be strong in Caracas and the oil fields in 1955. 40 Comite Independiente, Sindicato Petrolero National CI EN -- Independent Committee, Nat onal Petroleum Workers Union) Affiliation: URD (Union Republicana Demo- cratica) Membership: Officers: President: Affiliates: 2,000 (1954) 16 CISPEN appears to have gone out of existence. Most URD leaders have been forced out. 4 Sindicato de Marinos Petroleros (SMP -- Union of Marine Petroleum Workers) Address: Not known Affiliation: Probably CNT; considered Communist controlled (1954) Officers: Sec. General: Ramon A. NAVA Corresponding Secretary: Anable LINARES Sec. of Organi- zation & Propa- ganda: Treasurer: Roque GARCIA Avila 4 ET Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA- P62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA- 2-00865R000300210002-6 Claims Officers: Ramon DELGADO Agustin A. ZINUGA The SMP was reorganized by Pedro ROJAS in the summer of 19514. The officers who had been elected, including Pedro BARRIOS, president, were all arrested on charges of being responsible for the dissemination of Communist propaganda. They were released after six or seven days, but allegedly were not allowed to resume their activities in the SMP. Subsequently ROJAS selected and placed in office, without elections, a completely new Board of Directors acceptable to the government (as listed above). 142 5. Sindicatos Libres_de Venezuela Address: ,Not known Affiliation: Independent Socialist Party, a moderate group headed by ex-Labor Minister ROJAS Con- treras Membership: 3,000 (1953) Officers: President: Jose Vicente ALFONSO (1953) May be virtually extinct following CNT's 19514 putsch. 6. Federacion de Trabajadores del Distrito Federal Estado Miranda Eastern oilfields Address: Not known Affiliation: "Black" Communist Membership: 7,000 (est.) Officers: Rafael BRACCIA No information is available on a number of petroleum workers affiliated with this union. NET Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA- DP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 Next 6 Page(s) In Document Exempt 25X6F Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 REFERENCES Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release2 ,DP62-00865R000300210002-6 References for additional information of August 1955 25X6F Sanitized - Approved For Release: (CIA-'7162-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release bC1A13 P62-00865R000300210002-6 REFERENCES 1. State despatch 272, La Paz, 21 Dec 54, Official Use Only. 2. State despatch 425, La Paz, 29 Mar 55, Unclassified. 3. Ibid. 4. State despatch 887, Rio de Janeiro, 7 Jan 55, US Officials Only. 5. Labor, National Trade Union Centers in the Western Hemisphere, Sep 53, Unclassified. State despatch 584, Bogota, 7 Mar 55, official Use Only. 25X1A2g 7. 8. Ibid. 9. State despatch 16, Bogota; 10 Jul 52, Unclassified. 10. CIA, The Labor Movement in Ecuador, Jun 54'25X1A8a Secr 13. 14. 15. 16. 25X1A2g 17. 18. State despatch 54, Aruba, 26 May 55, Confidential. 19. State despatch 23, Aruba, 8 Dec 54, Official Use Only. Sanitized - Approved For Release : CAC 62-00865R000300210002-6 Sanitized - Approved For Release : 62-00865R000300210002-6 20. 21. _ Ibid. 25X1A2g _"~2. = 25X1A2i 23. m 25X1A2g 24. State despatch 43, Aruba, 17 Feb 55, Official Use Only. 25. 25X1A2g 26. RI file 200-6-70-)3y21, op. cit. 27. State despatch 218, Lima, 10 Oct 52, Confidential. 28. State despatch 382, Lima, 24 Dec 53, Confidential. ,,..P9 . 25X1A2g 30. Navy, 280-C-53, Trinidad, 10 Nov 53, Confidential. 31. Navy, 324-54, Trinidad, 3 Dec 54, Confidential. 32. State despatch 370, Port of Spain, 6 Jun 55, Confidential. 33. State despatch 610, Caracas, 22 Dec 54, Official Use Only. 34. Ibid. 35. Ibid. 36. 25X1A2g 37. State despatch 610, op. cit. 38. Ibid. 39. Ibid. 40. State despatch 663, Caracas, 11 Jan 55, Official Use Only. 41. 25X1A2g 42. State despatch 132, Caracas, 9 Aug 54, Official Use Only 2 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 C L'?f'+~ r-m Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6 25X6F Next 1 Page(s) In Document Exempt Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP62-00865R000300210002-6