Venezuelan Trade Union leader Orlando Chirino at the TUC Congress

After the success in raising solidarity for Venezuela's Bolivarian Revolution at the British trade union conferences, the next step of the Hands Off Venezuela campaign will be the intervention at the Trades Union Congress in Brighton. NATFHE will move a resolution in support of Venezuela and the progressive policies of the government of president Hugo Chávez, committing the TUC to work with solidarity campaigns and to build links with Venezuelan trade unionists. NATFHE President John Wilkin, who has just returned from a trip to Venezuela in which he has established important links with the trade union and Bolivarian movement will be moving the motion. Find below the full text of the resolution and the amendments moved by other unions.

At the same time, a leading member of Venezuela's largest union, the National Workers Union, UNT, will be present at the TUC, having been invited by the National Union of Journalists and by Hands Off Venezuela. Orlando Chirino, who is a National Coordinator of the UNT, will be speaking at a fringe meeting, giving a unique chance to TUC delegates and other British trade unionists to hear first hand about the experiences and challenges facing the Venezuelan revolution and labour movement. Orlando Chirino is currently a member of the oil workers' union SINUTRAPETROL, but has more than 30 years experience in the trade union movement, particularly in the struggles of the textile workers in Valencia and Maracay. He will be speaking at a fringe meeting at the TUC on Wednesday and at a joint meeting on Colombia and Venezuela in London on Thursday, 15th.

Date: Wednesday, 14th September, 5.30pm (straight
after end of conference).
Venue: The Quality Hotel (2 mins from conference
centre), Brighton
Chair: Jeremy Dear (General Sec NUJ)
Speakers: Orlando Chirino, National Coordinator of the UNT, John Wilkin (President NATFHE, just returned from Venezuela), John McDonnell
MP, Bob Crow (General Secretary RMT) , Ruth Winters (President FBU)

79 Venezuela

Congress congratulates and supports the Venezuelan Government for its utilisation of the country's wealth and resources for reforms to benefit working people, the poor and the landless.

Congress notes the results of the referendum last August in Venezuela that gave President Hugo Chávez an overwhelming victory and a strengthened democratic mandate.

Congress further notes that these results confirm that there is overwhelming support among working people and the poor for the social programme of the Chávez Government in relation to education, literacy, job training, healthcare, land reform and subsidised food.

However, Congress views with alarm the bellicose statements being made by the US Administration and its allies in Colombia and the oligarchy in Venezuela which pose a real threat to these reforms.

Congress deplores the attempts of the United States Administration to intervene in the internal life of Venezuela and agrees to raise these concerns with the British Government.

Congress agrees to support wider trade union initiatives to highlight the issue of Venezuela within the British labour movement, including the organisation of a trade union delegation to meet and build links with Venezuelan trade unionists.

Furthermore, Congress will build and work with trade union endorsed organisations in the UK working to provide solidarity to Venezuela.

NATFHE - The University and College Lecturers' Union

Amendment

Add at end of paragraph 5: 'Congress expresses its solidarity with trade unionists in Venezuela and rejects any outside interference in their affairs.'

Association of University Teachers

Amendment

Add new paragraph at end:

'Congress is concerned about the lack of media coverage of events in Venezuela and urges the General Council to establish relations with the Venezuelan National Union of Workers (UNT) to ensure that news of trade union issues, at least, is more widely reported.'

Transport Salaried Staffs' Association

Amendment

Add new paragraphs at end:

'Congress notes the independent poll in July that showed over 70% support for Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. It also notes the Venezuelan threat to suspend oil exports to the US if attacks on its government continue.

Congress resolves to support the Venezuelan people's efforts to preserve their democratically elected government.'

Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen