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INTERNATIONAL
Projection
Documento del XLVIII
CONGRESO ORDINARIO
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DOCUMENT OF THE FATLyF XLVIII ORDINARY CONGRESS
This year Argentineans commemorate the 60th anniversary of a political event which would
drastically change the historical course of our country: On 4 June 1946, Lieutenant General Juan
Domingo Perón assumed the Presidency of Argentina for the first time, after winning the elections
performed on 24 February 1946.
The new government set out to build a New Argentina, throwing off the colonial chains and leaving
behind the fraud and corruption which had characterized the "Infamous Decade". However, it is worth
mentioning that in the creation of a fair, free and sovereign country the organized workers would
take on a leading role for the first time in history. These workers were the so called "cabecitas
negras" (literally, "small black heads") who freed Perón from military prison in the memorable heroic
deed carried out on 17 October 1945, entrusting him to manage one of the most original popular movements
of the 20th century: the JUSTICIALISMO, a very prolific doctrine that even at present marks the horizons
of progress in the Argentina of today.
The steely alliance formed between the Leader and his people gave rise to a new policy, a different
economy and a new unionism. The various labor union fractions, traditionally directed by anarchists
and socialists, were replaced by a General Confederation of Labor (Confederación General del Trabajo
- "CGT") with a clear national, humanistic and Christian affiliation. In fact, the Popular
Government not only granted fair wages, collective bargaining, annual statutory bonus and vacations,
but also brought workers the necessary dignity and strength to become the main creators of their
own destiny. Within that framework of deep changes, in 1949 the "Workers' rights" achieved
constitutional rank, the first Collective Labor Agreements (Convenios Colectivos de Trabajo - "CCT")
were signed, social tourism was set in motion and the first medical and welfare services came up,
later becoming the modern Labor Union Health Care programs.
The abovementioned facts cannot only be remembered as a mere tribute or a yearning for better times
given that precisely in those years the material and doctrinaire foundations currently supporting
the ARGENTINE LABOR UNION MODEL were established. This model, which was built from the creation
of large national federations organized by production Branch, ensures the necessary strength for
negotiation and struggle, and at the same time allows the development of wide social nets to
preserve the affiliates' welfare.
The electricity workers also took a leading part in this transformation process and we perfectly
remember that until 1943 only 3 Electricity Unions had been set up in our country. However, just
five years later, precisely on 13 July 1948, 29 labor unions around the country signed up the
incorporation documents of our Argentine Federation of Electricity Workers. From then on, having
achieved the validation of an own and legitimate space within the social dynamics, this Multiple
Unionism would not be satisfied just with its struggles and vindication activities. On the contrary,
its participating leanings would lead it to take an active and responsible role in the definition of
important national policies.
And it is precisely that leading role which should inspire those who lead the General Confederation
of Labor today. This institution, which serves as a natural parliament for all Argentine workers,
should integrate into a large discussion and agreement table where to create a program that
provides for the ambitions and desires of the great national majorities. In this respect,
it is important to make it clear that though the Electricity Union has resigned from the CGT
Board of Directors we will never stop the struggle and will continue presenting our criticism
and proposals to the highest organic bodies of the Organized Workers' Movement. It is time to
postpone all kind of sectorial arguments and personal ambitions to unify forces in favor of the
unlimited defense of a Labor Union Model about which its founder, Lieutenant General Perón, stated:
"I think that no other country has qualitatively achieved the perfection level demonstrated by
Argentine labor union organizations day after day" (Speech delivered in CGT on 2-11-1973).
Historical memory and loyalty towards our Leader should help to clarify the irresponsible attitudes
of some leaders who play along with left and right minorities that have always aimed at breaking
up and causing anarchy in the organic structures of the Workers' Movement. In fact, these
minorities are also those who in international forums report alleged lack of union
democracy in Argentina, being unaware that in our country there exist more than 1,100
labor union organizations which periodically elect and renew their leaders according
to the free and supreme will of their affiliates. In this regard, we should also condemn the
dark actions of some senior staff associations like APJAE, who try to violate the functional frame
clearly defined in our CCT 36/75 and whose false plan of union representation was rejected by the
CGT Arbitration Committee.
Anyway, Argentine workers will never let anyone confuse us since we are convinced that our Labor
Union Model is the only guaranty to ensure the full validity of the worker family social, labor
and welfare rights.
In the political field, we cannot be unaware that after the collapse of the Alliance government
and in view of the institutional chaos, the Justicialismo movement once more had to take on the
great responsibility of re-channeling the country into the progress and civilized coexistence path.
By going back to the old method of favoring Work and Production Culture, our country started to
grow and set up the factories again, leaving behind a disastrous model which was supported by
permanent adjustments and widespread exclusion. There is no doubt about the merits and achievements
of President Néstor Kirchner, who managed to liberate the country from the chains of international
financial capital and set up a government inspired in the defense of national interest and popular
welfare. The significant fiscal and trade surplus enabled a successful renegotiation of our foreign
debt, having obtained deductions that no other country had been able to achieve before.
By strengthening the State role in order to slow down the Market excessive cravings, Argentina
recovered the path for intensive development, having already counted 16 consecutive quarters of
GDP growth.
However, the economic development is not enough to bridge the gap of inequality and social exclusion
which spread like cancer in the last decades. Though some wage increases have been granted both to
working and retired individuals, they are not enough to recover the purchasing power and be able to
face up the evident increase of the family shopping basket. And despite the creation of hundreds of
thousands of new jobs, which has considerably reduced the unemployment rate, there are still
4.5 million of 'off-the-books" workers with no social or labor coverage.
We have to understand that the required balance between capital and work will only be permanently
consolidated once the internationally recognized workers' rights become completely and effectively
established. In fact, the basic principle followed by the International Labor Organization management
in the last decade is precisely encouraging DECENT WORK, which implies the possibility of accessing
to a steady job, earning a fair salary, and having appropriate labor health and safety conditions,
a labor union affiliation and a full social and welfare coverage.
All these objectives are the ones that guide the common and joint performance of our Union Secretariat
and the 41 Argentine Unions of Electricity workers: Fighting for flexible wages which guarantee a
decent life for both our working and retired workmates; signing nationwide agreements and instruments
to preserve the main social and labor accomplishments of the CCT 36/75; putting a final stop to
outsourcing and demanding the coverage of organic plants with permanent workers, who are members of
the union, giving priority to the incorporation of those workers working in different
microentrepreneurships.
On another hand, we must highlight the fact that the National Secretariat has just succeeded in
ratifying the important Welfare Agreement signed in 1990 between the Federation of Electricity
Workers and the Social Services State Department. Even though this Agreement implies a general
ennoblement of our retirees and pensioners, we must keep on working to eliminate all differences
and to preserve the spirit of equality and solidarity which should be characteristic of the Social
Security System. It was just such principle, together with the need to preserve our workmates'
savings, what served as inspiration to create our Retirement and Pension Fund Administrator (AFJP)
'FUTURA' one decade ago. This is the only AFJP with a vocation to solidarity which is still in the
market. In a context where the greed of large multinational banks prevailed, FUTURA was seriously
affected by the worst consequences of the macroeconomic crisis. Besides, the fact that FUTURA did
not receive any official support or compensation made the situation even worse. Fortunately,
political negotiations with senior officers, conducted with great effort by our National
Secretary, made it possible to clarify and consolidate the equity and financial situation of FUTURA,
the only retirement and pension fund administrator which will always privilege the well-being of its
members to the results of the financial business.
Another serious problem that should be faced and corrected is the unequal distribution of national
revenues. Whereas in 1954 the workforce stood for 50% of the GDP, nowadays that percentage has been
reduced to just half of what it was. This twofold, disintegrated society started to establish as a
result of the tyrannical model imposed by the latest military dictatorship and was afterwards
getting worse throughout the succeeding neo-liberal policies carried out by the IMF together
with its powerful local allies.
In November last year, a Bishops' Plenary demanded long lasting and stable policies to help
overcome poverty. They also condemned strongly what was described as 'the outrageous growth of
inequality in the distribution of income.'
Eradicating unemployment and putting an end to poor working conditions and social exclusion call
for a true national crusade to which no Argentinean can feel indifferent. In this context,
the proposals and conclusions presented by the Social Pastoral Committee of the Episcopate gain
great relevance. Ratifying the dialogue as an essential tool in the republican lifestyle, the
Church offered itself as a launching pad where different sectors could unify consensus so as to
achieve common well-being.
Maybe, in Argentina it is time to soften the tone of disputes in the media and to leave aside
unnecessary offenses in order to debate and come to an agreement on true State Policies which go
beyond temporary urgencies and election conveniences. This will be the only way to provide core
solutions to endemic problems that involve highly sensitive areas such as: education, health care,
housing, and social welfare.
Another key issue for the future of our country is consolidating an integral electro-energetic
policy which could meet the demanding needs of an economy that has been growing non-stop for
more than four years. In response to the lack of private investment and the evasiveness of the
holdings which had bet to short-term profitability, the State took once more its non-delegable
role of planning, controlling, and actively promoting electro-energetic development. Although
much is being done in this respect, there is still much to be done, as for example, to finish
Atucha II and Yacyreta, to start the design of the fourth nuclear power station, to revive old
hydroelectric projects and to promote clean, renewable technologies which are environmentally
friendly. As a main responsible party in the supplying of a key service for the growth of our
country, we double our commitment working hand in hand with ENARSA to enable the development
and nationalization of the Electricity Sector.
To conclude, a final thought: in order to guarantee sustainable growth and strengthen democracy,
it is not enough to increase the production of goods and services quantitatively. Apart from
keeping a balance in the macroeconomic variables it is necessary to make some cultural changes,
to show strict respect to constitutional rules, to renew the ethics of work, to have solid
institutions and social peace based on an equal distribution of wealth.
According to the above, the FATLyF XLVIII Ordinary Congress, members Abel Kauffeler,
Luis Juan Gigante and Luis Andrés Gagliano,
DECIDES:
1º) To approve all the steps taken by the FATLyF National Secretariat.
2º) To empower the National Secretariat so that, at different organic levels in our organized Workers'
Movement, our representatives can continue fighting for the philosophical and doctrinal ideals.
These guidelines distinguish the Argentine Union Model which guarantees the social, working,
assistance, and welfare rights of our affiliates.
3º) To offer full support to the endeavoring and multiple actions taken by our Union Secretariat in
order to fight for a necessary wage updating and to preserve the basic fundamentals of the CCT 36/75;
and also, to claim that all plants must have organic and permanent staff to put a definite end to the
corrupt process of outsourcing and working deficiencies.
4º) To authorize the National Secretariat to take all the necessary steps to maintain and optimize the
excellent assistance services of our Health Care Plan, since it guarantees good health and standard of
living to our affiliates.
5º) To empower the National Secretariat to carry out prompt action before the CGT and the Health
Authorities in order to call for a General Collective Bargaining to come to an agreement on core
solutions to the difficult situation that Union Health Care Companies are facing, as these are the
only institutions who offer solidarity and complete assistance for all the Union Workers.
6º) To celebrate the hard but successful actions which enabled our Union to recover the full force
of the important Welfare Agreement which establishes absolute respect to our pensioners and retired
people. We must continue working so that our benefits reach all our affiliates according to the
spirit of equality and solidarity which should distinguish the Social Security System.
7º) To claim for a coherent policy in the electricity sector, where the Estate could play an
active role. This policy should also satisfy the increasing demands that result from our fast
growing economy. At the same time, we must ratify our solid commitment to work jointly with
ENARSA to strengthen and nationalize the Electricity Sector.
8º) To report and repudiate the secret activities of a senior personnel association (APJAE)
which both in the trade union sector and in the electro-energy sector tries to appropriate a
representation that historically and genuinely belongs to the FATLyF.
9º) To offer full support to the positive international actions carried out by the FATLyF,
where our General Secretary has been elected as a permanent member of the Electricity World
Committee and who also has the great responsibility of chairing the Electricity World Sector
of the UNI.
Mar del Plata, 29 de junio de 2006.
JULIO CESAR IERACI
President
FATLyF XLVIII Ordinary Congress
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INTERNATIONAL WORKERS UNION
