Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (Colombia)
Encyclopedia
Confederación Nacional del Trabajo ('National Confederation of Labour') was a central trade union
confederation in Colombia
. CNT was formed in 1953, with support from the military government of General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla
. CNT was built up along the lines of the Argentinian
peronista unions, and CNT was affiliated to the Agrupación de Trabajadores Latinoamericanos Sindicalistas
(ATLAS, which was led by the Peronista unions of Argentina). CNT received financial aid from ATLAS. Moreover, CNT received direct support from the Colombian Ministry of Labour through the minister Aurelio Caicedo Ayerbe
. CNT was given access to issue propaganda through public radio stations.
CNT was actively involved in building the political movement constructed to support the rule of Rojas Pinilla, National Action Movement (MAN). CNT and MAN were projected as the constituents of a 'Third Force' in Colombian politics, confronting the two old dominant parties of the country. With a strong anti-oligarchical
discourse, Rojas Pinilla sought to utilize CNT and MAN to mobilize popular opinion against the traditional elites and their political parties.
At the same time as the government mobilized support to CNT it curbed the activities of the two main trade union centres of the country, the Liberal Confederación de Trabajadores de Colombia and Conservative
Unión de Trabajadores Colombianos
. The launching of CNT provoked reactions from the opposition side, and a civic opposition front was formed. By the end of 1955 the pressure from the Roman Catholic Church
, the Conservatives and UTC forced the government to close down the CNT.
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
confederation in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. CNT was formed in 1953, with support from the military government of General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla
Gustavo Rojas Pinilla
Gustavo Rojas Pinilla was a Colombian politician, military officer, General of the Army and President of Colombia between 1953 and 1957.- Biographic data :...
. CNT was built up along the lines of the Argentinian
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
peronista unions, and CNT was affiliated to the Agrupación de Trabajadores Latinoamericanos Sindicalistas
Agrupación de Trabajadores Latinoamericanos Sindicalistas
Agrupación de Trabajadores Latinoamericanos Sindicalistas was a Latin American trade union confederation, founded in Mexico, in 1952. The organization was formed by the Argentinian CGT, Mexican CROM and other trade unions. ATLAS intended to organize a 'third way' in the Latin American labour...
(ATLAS, which was led by the Peronista unions of Argentina). CNT received financial aid from ATLAS. Moreover, CNT received direct support from the Colombian Ministry of Labour through the minister Aurelio Caicedo Ayerbe
Aurelio Caicedo Ayerbe
Aurelio Caicedo Ayerbe was a Colombian lawyer and diplomat. He served as the 14th Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations and as Ambassador of Colombia to the Holy See.-Personal life:...
. CNT was given access to issue propaganda through public radio stations.
CNT was actively involved in building the political movement constructed to support the rule of Rojas Pinilla, National Action Movement (MAN). CNT and MAN were projected as the constituents of a 'Third Force' in Colombian politics, confronting the two old dominant parties of the country. With a strong anti-oligarchical
Oligarchy
Oligarchy is a form of power structure in which power effectively rests with an elite class distinguished by royalty, wealth, family ties, commercial, and/or military legitimacy...
discourse, Rojas Pinilla sought to utilize CNT and MAN to mobilize popular opinion against the traditional elites and their political parties.
At the same time as the government mobilized support to CNT it curbed the activities of the two main trade union centres of the country, the Liberal Confederación de Trabajadores de Colombia and Conservative
Colombian Conservative Party
The Colombian Conservative Party , is a conservative political party in Colombia. The party was unofficially founded by a group of Revolutionary Commoners during the Revolutionary War for Independence from the Spanish Monarchy and later formally established during the Greater Colombia...
Unión de Trabajadores Colombianos
Unión de Trabajadores Colombianos
Unión de Trabajadores Colombianos was a central trade union confederation in Colombia.UTC was founded by the Jesuit elements of the Roman Catholic Church in June 1946, as the Liberal-led Confederación de Trabajadores de Colombia was in a weakened state. UTC was based on Catholic social doctrine...
. The launching of CNT provoked reactions from the opposition side, and a civic opposition front was formed. By the end of 1955 the pressure from the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, the Conservatives and UTC forced the government to close down the CNT.