BY OLYMPIA NEWTON  
CARACAS, Venezuela—More than a dozen workers and peasants involved in struggles for land, jobs, and union rights here have signed on as endorsers of the Militant Fighting Fund.

Juvil Yauca Cordero, Angel Sarmiento, and Eugenio Sánchez, who have been involved in a 25-year-long struggle for land on the Yauquera estate near San Carlos, Cojedes, endorsed the fund. Peasants in Yaracuy state also endorsed, including Napoleon Tortolero, president of Los Cañizos farm cooperative.

Workers at the Invepal paper factory in Morón, Carabobo state, fought for two years, including through two factory occupations, to demand the government nationalize the bankrupt company (former Venepal), and succeeded. Rowan Jiménez, a leader of the workers’ struggle there, endorsed the fund along with eight other workers.

Carlos Pérez and Manuel Figuera, two officers of the union SINTRALCASA at the ALCASA aluminum plant in Bolívar state, also endorsed. Workers there staged a slowdown last December to demand the company pay them 13 billion bolivars ($1=2,150 bv) in back wages and benefits. This demand remains unresolved.

Four of the unionists from the aluminum plant and paper mill donated a total of 24,500 bolivars to help defend the Militant. The country’s minimum wage is 17,000 bolivars per day, which is about what Invepal workers get paid.
 

Supporters of the Militant in Miami sent in five new endorsers. These include Andrés Gómez, national coordinator of the Antonio Maceo Brigade, an organization of young Cubans in the United States who support the Cuban Revolution; and Steve Augustine and Pedro Smith, members of the International Longshoremen’s Association Local 1416.

In Price, Utah, Johnnie Gutierrez, a retired member of UMWA Local 6363, signed on and gave a $25 contribution. Charles Fausett, another retired miner, pitched in $20. Both have backed the Co-Op miners’ union-organizing struggle. In addition, six Co-Op miners endorsed the Fund.

In San Francisco three immigrant rights groups endorsed the Militant Fighting Fund. They are the Northern California Coalition to obtain Driver’s Licenses, La Raza Centro Legal, and the San Francisco Day Labor Program.

Contributions to the Militant Fighting Fund are due by August 15.
 
 
Related articles:
Arizona miners back union fight in Utah
Coal bosses in Utah rewrite 'defamation' lawsuit  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home