On December 1, the delegation of the World Anti-Imperialist Platform (Platform) visited the Guayas Provincial Workers’ Federation (FPTG) and the Electricity Workers’ Union (CNEL EP), exchanging views on the role of trade unions amid the current situation.
Founded in 1944, the Guayas Provincial Trade Union has played an important role in organizing and defending the rights of workers in the coastal region of Guayaquil. As a regional union, it works for the wages, working conditions, and social security of workers in the Guayas region.
The chair of the Guayas Provincial Trade Union stated, “The life of a trade union is struggle. Generations are changing. Younger generations must step forward,” adding, “Those who hold different political ideas will inevitably take a different path. We must strengthen political education within the union. We are working to establish a political school.”
He continued, “The current administration has firmly declared that there will be no wage increases, and wages are even being cut. Similarly, support for civic organizations is being reduced. The Noboa administration is pushing for constitutional amendments to allow the stationing of US military bases.”
The delegation responded, “The situation is the same in the the ‘Republic of Korea (ROK).’ Capitalists are using the economic crisis as a pretext to impose even more suffering on workers,” and expressed full support for “strengthening political education for workers.”
The delegation then visited the office of the CNEL EP and met with representatives of the CNEL EP and the CNJE.
They were greeted by Morales Villagrán, former general secretary of the CNEL EP, along with union chairs and leaders of the CNJE
General Secretary Amado Villagrán said, “Thank you for coming. We are fighting to defend workers’ rights and to protect the welfare of the people,” adding, “We are fighting to stop the deterioration of the constitutional. We must defend the previous constitution, which guaranteed workers’ rights.”
The chair of the CNJE stated, “The current government is cutting pensions and attempting to restrict our resources. At this rate, the next generation will not be able to enjoy social security. We must defend our resources and rights.”
The delegation stated, “The current situation, the ‘Second Caribbean Crisis,’ must be understood in the context of World War 3. The wars in Ukraine in 2022 and in West Asia in 2023 have already been launched, and although it failed due to the strategic patience of the DPRK and China, imperialist forces attempted to begin a war in East Asia in 2024 to escalate World War 3. The crisis now unfolding in Latin America must be interpreted as part of this same trajectory.”
They continued, “The wars waged today by imperialist forces are proxy wars led by fascist regimes such as Zelensky in Ukraine, Netanyahu in Israel, and Yoon Suk-yeol in the ‘ROK.’ The recent statement by the Japanese Prime Minister regarding intervention in a Taiwan contingency has greatly provoked China and is accelerating the crisis in East Asia as well. The attempts of imperialist forces to ignite World War 3 are intensifying, and war plans targeting Latin America will also escalate further.”
Finally, they emphasized, “Last year, the fascist regime of Yoon Suk-yeol in the ‘ROK’ attempted to impose martial law, but the people of the ‘ROK’ poured into the streets to block it and ultimately impeached the president. Recently, the people of Ecuador won a great victory by rejecting in a national referendum the government’s attempt to amend the constitution to allow foreign military bases. The victory of the people of Ecuador is the victory of the people of the ‘ROK.’ As imperialist forces are frantically attempting to fully ignite World War 3 across the world, the anti-imperialist struggle must also be global. The people united by the spirit of proletarian internationalism will surely win.”
General Secretary Villagrán said, “Delegation has explained the global situation—and the situation in the ‘ROK’—very well,” adding, “We understand the military strength of Russia. We also understand well the imperialist forces’ attempts to provoke war. The push to amend the constitution in Ecuador to allow foreign military bases is part of war preparations.”
He continued, “We must continue fighting for justice and democracy, and we must oppose the illegitimate interference of imperialism in our internal affairs. We must struggle to defend the sovereignty of each nation,” and declared, “We will join the anti-imperialist struggle together with the Platform. We support the struggle of the people of the ‘ROK.’ We will fight together with workers across the world.”
