President Chavez Frias announces creation of new central union movement

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela´s Electronic News Posted: Monday, March 31, 2003 By: Robert Rudnicki

President Hugo Chavez Frias has announced the creation of a new central union movement called the Venezuelan National Workers Union (UNTV) aimed a replacing the Confederation of Trade Unions (CTV) which played a key role in the two month long opposition work stoppage which crippled the Venezuelan economy.

According to the President the union grouping will hold its first national assembly in the near future and it will be made up of "hundreds, thousands of unions who were part of the CTV but are currently leaving the it ... they support the Constitution not against it."

The President said he is hoping to create a new model of cooperation between the private sector and Venezuelan workers and ruled out any "invasion of factories" as some opposition leaders had been warning about.

The CTV and its leadership have long been a thorn in the President's side and the exile of its president Carlos Ortega late last week was a major step in the government's efforts of reduce the CTV's sphere of influence.