Uruguayan trade unionism is currently experiencing an extraordinary situation, something like a golden era. When the political party alliance Frente Amplio (FA) [Broad Front] took office in 2005, its power resources increased significantly. The FA’s electoral success was also the result of a long-term strategic relationship between the Plenario Intersindical de Trabajadores – Convención Nacional de Trabajadores (PIT-CNT) [Inter-union Workers’ Plenary – National Workers’ Convention] and this political force, to which the trade unions contributed their mobilising and organising capacity. But even though trade unionism has been strongly favoured during the three FA administrations, it does not depend on this alliance. In the past, unions have shown a strong commitment towards unification, high resistance capacity even in difficult times, good organisational structures and high articulating capacities with other actors, and nevertheless maintained their autonomy. It was precisely those factors and characteristics which turned the trade union movement into an indispensable »dream partner« of the FA. It is also true that the Uruguayan trade unionism has been able to develop within a rather exceptional context in Latin America, since it is grounded on the traditions of a welfare state sustained by a major framework of democratic institutions. This means that trade unionism has, with the exception of the authoritarian and dictatorial periods, always been regarded as a legitimate actor in the country’s institutional framework.
Full-length Story(PDF): Uruguay: Building Trade Union Power
http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/iez/13845.pdf
The fall and rise of Uruguay’s trade unionsby Álvaro Padrón and Achim Wachendorfer
https://www.fes.de/index.php?eID=dumpFile&t=f&f=31098&token=c6b3dfd923ad165a158b765dfa7d2e1c606888c2
Caída y auge del sindicalismo uruguayo by Álvaro Padrón and Achim Wachendorfer
https://www.fes.de/index.php?eID=dumpFile&t=f&f=31099&token=7ebdea9a01e0e487b7f7551b00f544456e9016ee
Uruguay: caminos hacia la construcción de poder sindical by Álvaro Padrón and Achim Wachendorfer
https://www.fes.de/index.php?eID=dumpFile&t=f&f=31091&token=0c86fcf247be6a8bf284e9bcb3c7096e9783b740
Álvaro Padrón and Achim Wachendorfer
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