IDENTITY
The Argentine Federation of Electricity Workers (Federación Argentina de Trabajadores de Luz
y Fuerza - FATLyF) is a second grade trade union organization which gathers electricity unions
throughout the country. The FATLyF was founded on 13th July 1948, during a decade marked by
deep social transformations.
FATLyF was forged under the Christian Social doctrine which had become part of the Argentine
workers' political heritage. Along its many years of work, it has already established an
institutional culture based on solidarity.
It is, therefore, a Trade Union organization actively humanitarian.
INCORPORATION
Under this principle has grown this organization, which nowadays groups 41 unions throughout
the country, including more than 50 thousand direct affiliate members and around 250.000
indirect ones who seek protection under a solid social security net which combines health care,
welfare, tourism, housing, student grants and training.
All along its history, the FATLyF has played an active role in the development of electrical
energy companies with actions that range from responsible union practices to co-management
and self-management corporate experiences.
CONSOLIDATION
The transition from being an industrial society to becoming a technologically developed one,
and from the latter to the era of information and knowledge, has brought about structural
changes in the labor world. The strategic model encouraged by the FATLyF cannot remain unaware
of this situation. Nowadays, knowledge has become the most valuable asset in a society.
Therefore, the consolidation of new organizational forms necessarily calls for a deeper
analysis of the strategies to access knowledge which the
FATLyF has developed since its beginnings.
In the same way that in the 40s this Union promoted literacy courses as a means of
social integration for all workers in rural areas which were excluded from education
or for immigrants who didn't know the language, at present, it must continue undertaking
the same responsibility: to facilitate access to knowledge as a means of social justice and
to protect and promote work. Literacy, high school educational institutions, university grants
for workers' children, determined union action so as to give staff training a privileged place
in the collective labor agreements with those companies in the electricity sector, emphasis on
training as a tool to prevent labor accidents, and its own specialization and training courses.
All these practices have traditionally characterized and accompanied FATLyF development,
supporting each step forward.
MULTIPLE UNIONISM
Throughout almost 60 years of fights and achievements, a new term, which would later become
synonymous to the Federation, has been coined: MULTIPLE UNIONISM, a novel and participative
model of trade union management that would not only improve salary and working conditions
but would also guarantee complete health, educational, social, and welfare assistance to all
affiliate members.
Thus, in time, these ideals became true. Some examples are an international standard hotel
chain, programs to provide affiliate with their own housing, the "Children's home" in
González Catán, a compensation fund to increase pensioners' salaries, labor union training
courses, and accommodation for students coming from other parts of the country. Other
achievements are an ambitious Educational Project which includes three high institutes
for professional specialization (ISEP 13 July, located in Resistencia -Chaco-, Santa Fe
y Buenos Aires) as well as a Social Services Development and Training Centre in La Matanza area.
To these it should be added a national training program which aims to optimize labor safety
and hygiene in the electro-energy sector.
As regards medical care, the Federation's Health Care Program offers its members up-to-date
medical assistance which ranges from primary health care to organ transplants and high-complexity
medical practices. Furthermore, taking advantage of its great convening power in the community,
the FATYyF organizes talks concerning the Church Social Doctrine and the World of Labor,
as well as conferences about prevention for AIDS, alcoholism and drug addiction.
The philosophy behind Multiple Unionism also fosters an active role of workers in the
construction of a democratic, highly participative society, where economic development
goes hand in hand with a fair distribution of wealth.
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Members of the electricity Union during the demonstration
on 17 October 1950.
An example of socio-political activism.
VI Ordinary Congress, October 1954
1972, Oscar Smith at that moment
Trade Union Secretary, shaking hands with HH Paul VI
next to Felix Pérez Secretary General,
both from the FATLyF.
Historic demonstration of the electricity workers on 30 May 1986 with the aim of recovering
the Labor Collective Agreement
FATLyF headquarters in downtown Buenos Aires
Ordinary Congresses are held yearly by representatives of the 41
Electricity Workers' Unions throughout the country
2005, XLVII Ordinary Congress, Board of Directors
The Educational Project
The FATLYF by means of its Educational Foundation 'Fundaluz XXI'
trains High and Certified Technicians in different areas of specialization.
At the Social Services Centre
in La Matanza, located in an area of high social risk, some workers are
taught to read and write whereas some others are trained in specialized knowledge.
The FATLyF lending a helpful hand to the community. Exhibition of works done
by students at the Social Services Centre.
A border school, donated to the country, in the province of Jujuy,
in the northwestern border of the country.
"13 de Julio" Hotel in Mar del Plata, tourist town in the province of Buenos Aires
"Students' Home". Located in different university centers throughout the country,
these houses provide accommodation to the Federation workers' children who have been
awarded student grants.
"Oscar Smith" Championships: affiliates from all over the country,
through their local offices, take part in these Championships which are held yearly.
Year-round Trade Union training courses
"Children's Home" in Gonzalez Catán. Children from all over the country spend
some of their leisure time there in summer.
Conferences for the prevention of AIDS and to fight drug addiction are held in different
parts of the country and open to the whole community, especially children and teenagers.
In 1998 the Federation celebrated its 50th Anniversary
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INTERNATIONAL WORKERS UNION
