Bolivarian Workers Force turn up at ILO in Geneva

www.vheadline.com Posted: Monday, March 10, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Bolivarian Workers Force (FBT) leader Jose Khan has led a commission to the International Labor Organization (ILO) HQ in Geneva to defend the government’s policy of dismissing thousands of rebel Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) workers during and after the failed national stoppage.

National Assembly (AN) deputy Khan says he will present “proof of the consequences the national stoppage had on workers and the economy.”

The government-sponsored trip comes as PDVSA executives and managers backed by the Confederation of Trade Unions (CTV) take their case to the ILO. Khan says the delegation will show that there is no political persecution in Venezuela … “the CTV and Federation of Chambers of Industry & Commerce (Fedecamaras) and 'Gente de Petroleo' called the stoppage committing a series of crimes and violating people’s right to education and the basic foodstuffs … gas had to rationed and domestic gas was scarce commodity … they also called on people not to pay taxes.”