Friday, May 8, 2009

Toyota Venezuela Labor Leader Killed

Argenis Vásquez, the trade union secretary of car-maker Toyota, was killed by unknown attackers on May 5th. Labor Union members have rightfully demanded an investigation into the killing, and Toyota has allowed a two-day work stoppage to allow the workers to attend the funeral.

Just because such reports rarely make it to the media outside Venezuela, do not consider this attack to have been an isolated case. In fact, the Venezuelan Worker's Confederation (CTV) is reporting to the International Labor Organization that 154 Labor leaders have been killed in recent years in Venezuela. Criminal gangs have been attempting to drive out or kill traditional labor leaders and replace them... and the implication is that the criminal gangs are Chavista opportunists.

No comments: