ANDEAN UNION CENTERS COORDINATING COMMITTEE FOUNDED IN LIMA

The Andean Union Centers Coordinating Committee, a new sub-regional union entity, was founded in Lima, Peru, Nov. 27. It was created to be a reference for unity, global union action and solidarity among union organizations of the Andean region. The founding ceremonies were attended by delegations of CGTP, CUT and CTP of Peru, CTV of Venezuela, CUT and CTC of Colombia, CEOSL, CTE and CEDOCUT of Equador.

In addition to representatives from the national centers, the event included members of the International Labor Organization (ILO), labor entities (Plades, CCLA, ILA) and representatives of Spanish union organizations (CC.OO. and UGT). ORIT General Secretary Víctor Báez presided over the closing of the event, ratifying ORIT’s support for the initiative.

The Declaration of Principles and regulations for the new coordinating committee were approved at the meeting. Members of the committee’s secretariat were also elected. Juan José Gorriti of CGTP-Peru was chosen to be secretary general and Rosa Fleves of CTC-Colômbia adjunct general secretary. The technical secretary will be elected in the next meeting, which is scheduled for the first quarter of 2007.

The economic and political situation of the Andean sub-region was analyzed during the meeting, as well as the free trade agreement that the United States wants to impose, the current position of the U.S. Congress after the Democratic party took the majority in recent elections, the recent founding of the International Union Confederation and the future activities of the new coordinating committee.

One of the principal objectives of the CCSA is to "guarantee, promote and defend the interests of the working class and to promote the construction of democratic labor relations in the region, through the coordinated action of its organizations, which broaden the scale of its interventions and leadership". The CCSA, in addition, recognizes the Andean Labor Consultative Council (CCLA) and the Andean Labor Institute (ILA) as well as the other existing union entities in the region, as important spaces for participation of the local workers. The CCSA intends to establish relations with the other coordinating committees of the Southern Cone, Central America and the Caribbean.

The assembly determined that the new entity will remain open to other national centers from the Andean region, including that of Chile.

The ORIT general secretary said that the creation of sub-regional coordinations that go beyond the international affiliations and which are inclusionary and pluralist is beneficial because this contributes to the unity of the union movement of the Americas.