Scotland: solidarity with Venezuelan workers

After the successful meeting in Parliament on Wednesday, May 31 supporters of the Hands Off Venezuela Campaign took the decision to raise the question of the workers of DROGUERIA RACE on the floor of Parliament.

Frances Curran, who chaired the meeting with Jose Antonio Hernandez, member of the JSR (Revolutionary Socialist Youth) and spokesperson for the FRETECO (Revolutionary Front of Factories Occupied and under Co-management), wrote the following motion:

S2M-04524 Frances Curran (West of Scotland) (SSP): Solidarity with Venezuelan Workers 

That the Parliament expresses concern over the situation regarding the Venezuelan company, Drogueria Race, which has sacked two workers, Andry Key and Jhonny Coronil, for organising the SUPROFARD trade union; notes that this trade union has been recognised by the Venezuelan Ministry of Labour and that the company must therefore grant recognition to the union in accordance with the constitution of the Venezuelan Bolivarian Republic; is concerned that the management is trying to introduce a company union in order to impede the workers' rights to organise collectively; further notes that the workers have called for international support and solidarity for their case through the Hands Off Venezuela campaign; calls on the Venezuelan Ministry of Labour to intervene in the case and instruct the company to reinstate the sacked workers and recognise the SUPROFARD trade union with immediate effect, and offers solidarity to the workers in their struggle and to the continuing process of the socialist Bolivarian revolution in Venezuela.

Supporters of this motion on 8 June 2006 : Tommy Sheridan, Rosie Kane, Carolyn Leckie, Colin Fox, Ms Rosemary Byrne, Mark Ballard, Chris Ballance, Elaine Smith.

We would like to ask all HOV supporters and members to write their MSP asking them to sign the motion. We would also ask that where possible HOV supporters raise this issue in their own trade union or local branch.

We would like to thank the members and staff of the SSP Parliamentary Group, especially Barbara Scott, as well as all the MSPs that attended the meeting and have signed the petition, pushing the issue of solidarity with Jhony Coronil and Andry Key. We hope that this will be the first of many actions in defence of the Bolivarian Revolution in the Scottish Parliament.