There were large marches in Caracas by supporters and opponents of venezuela's revolutionary government on May 1, as well as smaller ones around the country, to mark International Workers Day. Government supporters celebrated a minimum wage rise and a new labour law that extends workers' rights. Government opponents, however, demanded a “fair wage”.

President Nicolas Maduro marched with the pro-government march in Caracas, while opposition leader Henrique Capriles marched with his supporters in the eastern part of the capital.

In order to guarantee peaceful marches, Maduro announced a modification to the May Day march route on April 30. The opposition had announced it wanted to march in the east of Caracas, but the pro-government May Day march was set to begin in that area. Maduro changed the starting point.

On April 30, the executive secretary of the opposition umbrella group (MUD) Ramon Aveledo called on workers to attend the mobilisation called by “unions opposed to government”.

“The day of the worker can’t just be about rhetoric and repeating routine, Venezuelans have to defend work and union autonomy,” Aveledo said. He also claimed he has received a lot of statements by public employees who have been allegedly “persecuted” for voting for Capriles.

Unionists and community members marching in support of the government celebrated the gains made by workers, and in some cases also made specific demands for improvements, opposition marches criticised the government, demanded even higher wage increases, and called for more “freedom”. Opposition marchers also waved First Justice party flags, and a few held placards demanding “freedom for Revero”, the retired general who was recently arrested for provoking post election violence.

As of May 1, the minimum wage will be Bs2457 ($381), a rise of 20%.This also affects pensions, which are paid at the minimum wage rate, and all workers earn food tickets and an end of year bonus. Maduro signed the official decree increasing the wage the night before.

In September, there will be a further 10% increase in the minimum wage, and another one in November of 5%-10%, depending on inflation.

According to Maduro, 60% of workers now have formal employment, and 40% of workers are informal. Before 1998, a majority of Venezuelan workers were informal.

General secretary of opposition union CTV, Manuel Cova, criticised the government for devaluing the bolivar, and “destroying the purchasing power of the workers”. He argued that Bs5000 were necessary to survive, and that a wage increase of 20% was “deficient”.

However during his election campaign, after the February devaluation, Capriles promised a wage rise of 40%. The main difference between his promise and what the government has now approve, is that the rise would be all at once, rather than spaced out through the year.

Pro-government marchers also celebrated the labour law that was passed on April 30 last year. It comes into effect on May 7. During his speech, Maduro asigned the law’s regulations.

“When in the past has the government protected the work stability of Venezuelan workers?” Maduro asked the large Caracas rally.

When then-president Hugo Chavez approved the law last year, he said: “In more than 200 years of republican history I am absolutely positive that there has never been a work law ... that has been debated so much as this one.” The law had been under discussion in both the national assembly and by workers and movements since 2003.

Among many other things, the labour law provides for 25 weeks post-natal maternal leave, for some paternal leave, outlaws unfair dismissal, outlaws sub-contracted or outsourced labour, reduces trial periods to a maximum of one month, re-establishes a retirement bonus, and reduces the working week to 40 hours.

[Reprinted from Venezuela Analysis. See Venezuela Analysis's photo gallery of the pro-government and opposition May Day marches.]

More May Day coverage

Join the 'fightback' contingents at May Day! http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/53952

Socialist Alliance: Long live May Day! http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/53976

May Day marked with big global workers' protests http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/53981

Bangladesh: Huge May Day march mourns dead, demands justice http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/53980

Philippines: May Day statement http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/53977

Bolivia expels USAID on May Day, 'nationalises its dignity' http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/53979

Venezuela: Large May Day marches amid new labour law http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/53978





