Venezuelan union clashes are on the rise as Chavez fosters new unions at odds with older ones

[naaman fletcher]

MARACAY, VENEZUELA -- Calling itself the most labor-friendly government in Latin America, President Hugo Chávez's socialist administration has repeatedly increased the minimum wage, turned over the management of some nationalized companies to workers and fostered the creation of new unions.

But labor leaders and human rights groups say the government's efforts have had a dark side. About 75 union members have been shot dead in the past two years as the new unions -- many of them pro-Chávez -- and traditional unions battle it out, making Venezuela among the world's most dangerous countries for labor activists.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/14/AR2010071405832.html

[Bacchus39]

1. well now, this is certainly revealing about the union members being killed

I admit I hadn't heard this until now.

[naaman fletcher]

2. Me neither

We hear so much about union leaders killed in Colombia though. I think it's wrong no matter what country it happens in.