Analysis: Labor and Workers' Control

Venezuela & Revolutionary Vignettes. Part 1: Workers' Control vs Bureaucrats, Mafia and Multinationals in Bolivar

By Jorge Martín - In Defence of Marxism, Jul 10th 2011

In the first of a series of articles, José Martín discusses and analyses the challenges facing the worker's control movement in the state of Bolivar. Having attended the national "Class Struggle" conference, Martín percieves an increasing polarisation between left and right, but most importantly "an open clash" between the revolutionary wing of the Bolivarian movement and reformists and bureaucrats.

Discussing Venezuela and the Worker Control Movement: An Interview with Cayapa Radio

By Ewan Robertson - AlertaQueCamina, Jun 3rd 2011

The Windsor/Canada-based radio program Cayapa recently broadcast a program discussing the social and political changes underway in Venezuela, in the context of a solidarity brigade to the country by activists from the English-speaking world, and the country’s growing worker control movement. This article provides an overview of the program in English as well as a report to the program about the worker control movement in Venezuela.

Statement: Dismissal of President of the Radio of the South

By Workers’ Collective of the Radio of the South, May 16th 2011

In light of the dismissal of the president of the Radio of the South, the Workers’ Collective of the Radio of the South has, in a meeting, agreed on the following statement.

Workers Take over Mérida Newspapers, Appeal to Chávez for Support

By Marcy Rein, Clifton Ross, Jan 24th 2011

(Clifton Ross)

The fate of the only media company in Venezuela to be taken over by its workers now rests in the hands of President Hugo Chávez and his administration.

Socialists from U.S. Meet with Venezuelan Workers

By Naomi Craine , Dec 7th 2010

Three communist workers from the United States met with factory workers here November 16 during a two-day visit to the state of Aragua just west of the capital, Caracas. We were in Venezuela helping to staff Pathfinder Press’s stand at the Venezuela International Book Fair.

Venezuela: Thousands Demand Passing of Radical Labour Law

By JANET DUCKWORTH – GREEN LEFT WEEKLY, Nov 17th 2010

Marchers carried banners such as this one that read, "New Revolutionary Labour Law Now! Vital Instrument for the Working Cl

More than 5,000 workers from across Venezuela marched to the Venezuelan National Assembly in Caracas, demanding a new labour law that would, "place in the hands of Venezuela’s workers the direction of this revolutionary process.”

Venezuelan Unions March to Control Companies, Throw Out “Reformist” State Management

By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com, Oct 28th 2010

A recent worker control conference in Anzoategui state (UNETE)

Worker unions from a range of state-owned and private companies in Venezuela plan to march on November 9th in favor of a new labor law, the resolution of collective union contracts, and the empowerment of worker unions in the management of their companies.

Two Day Worker Summit Expresses Content and Discontent

By Steven Mather - Correo Del Orinoco International, Sep 29th 2010

The Venezuelan labor union confederation, the National Union of Workers (UNETE), organized a two-day meeting in Caracas on radical workplace organization last week in the run up to the National Assembly elections.

Voices from Venezuela on Worker Control and Bureaucracy in the Bolivarian Revolution

By Jeffery R. Webber and Susan Spronk - Against the Current, Sep 7th 2010

Three Venezuelan revolutionary socialist activists, Gonzalo Gómez, Stalin Pérez Borges, and Luis Primo, discuss their views on the contradictions and prospects of the Bolivarian process.

The Big Lie: Venezuela and Labor

By Daniel Kovalik, Aug 9th 2010

Incredibly, it appears that adherents of the Free Trade Agreement between the US and Colombia have commenced an effort to smear Venezuela in order to advance the prospects of the Colombia agreement by using bare statistics without elaboration or explanation to suggest that Colombia is no different. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Labour Movement and Socialist Struggle in Venezuela: An Interview with Pedro Eusse

By Susan Spronk and Jeffery R. Webber – The Bullet, Jul 26th 2010

In mid-June, 2010, we met with Pedro Eusse, National Secretary of the Venezuelan Communist Party (PCV) and part of the provisional executive committee of the labour confederation, Unión Nacional de Trabajadores (National Union of Workers, UNT). Refusing to be interrupted by the constantly ringing phone, Pedro spoke passionately for two hours about the centrality of organized workers in the revolutionary struggle and the need to unite the labour movement.

Venezuela's process of struggle

By Jason Netek - Socialist Worker, Jul 23rd 2010

Jason Netek looks at the political situation in Venezuela, and why international solidarity is key to furthering the process of workers' power.

Venezuela, Worker Control, and Self-management

By Josep Cruelles - Kaosenlared.net, Jul 19th 2010

In the middle of the deepest crisis that the capitalist system has ever seen, when it’s already showing its cruellest face, when anger and sometimes impotence spreads among those of us with years fighting and predicting the consequences, the lights of hope that show us that another world is possible pass us by unnoticed.

Venezuela: Economic War in the Run Up to the Elections

By Patrick Larsen and Alan Woods - Marxism.com, Jul 6th 2010

A sharp analysis of some of the mistakes already made that need correcting and the pitfalls the Bolivarian Revolution must avoid if it is to remain on track to twenty-first century socialism

Workers’ Control and the Contradictions of the Bolivarian Process

By Susan Spronk, Jeffery R. Webber - The Bullet, Gustavo Martínez, Jun 22nd 2010

Gustavo Martínez

An interview with Gustavo Martinez, a union leader in the worker-controlled, nationalized coffee company, Fama de América, in Caracas, Venezuela. He discusses the importance of workers’ control in the ongoing struggle towards socialism and some of the most pressing contradictions of the Bolivarian process in Venezuela today.