Federación Nacional Sindical de Trabajadores Salvadoreños
Encyclopedia
The Federación Nacional Sindical de Trabajadores Salvadoreños (FENASTRAS) is a trade union
centre in El Salvador
. It was founded in November 1972 to bring unity to the country's labor movement, but did not achieve formal legal recognition until 1974. Initially consisting of eleven unions in diverse industries, FENASTRAS grew into the country's principal organized labor front and is affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation
.
In the 1980s, during the country's civil war, FENASTRAS' San Salvador
headquarters were located two blocks from the National Police headquarters, and its activities were heavily monitored by the security forces. The Salvadoran and United States
governments' regarded FENASTRAS as a political front for rebel Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front
(FMLN) guerrillas and thus the organization was a target for harassment and even violent attacks during the civil war. Today, FENASTRAS recognizes that it came under the "influence" of the FMLN.
FENASTRAS' headquarters were bombed on February 22 and September 5, 1989, without loss of life. On October 31 of that year, a more powerful bomb, placed near the building's lunchroom, was detonated when the hall was packed for the mid-day meal. Forty unionists were wounded and nine were killed, including the organization's General Secretary, Febe Elizabeth Velazquez.
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...
centre in El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
. It was founded in November 1972 to bring unity to the country's labor movement, but did not achieve formal legal recognition until 1974. Initially consisting of eleven unions in diverse industries, FENASTRAS grew into the country's principal organized labor front and is affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation
International Trade Union Confederation
The International Trade Union Confederation is the world's largest trade union federation. It was formed on November 1, 2006 out of the merger of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the World Confederation of Labour...
.
In the 1980s, during the country's civil war, FENASTRAS' San Salvador
San Salvador
The city of San Salvador the capital and largest city of El Salvador, which has been designated a Gamma World City. Its complete name is La Ciudad de Gran San Salvador...
headquarters were located two blocks from the National Police headquarters, and its activities were heavily monitored by the security forces. The Salvadoran and United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
governments' regarded FENASTRAS as a political front for rebel Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front
Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front
The Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front is, since 1992, a left-wing political party in El Salvador and formerly a coalition of five revolutionary guerrilla organizations...
(FMLN) guerrillas and thus the organization was a target for harassment and even violent attacks during the civil war. Today, FENASTRAS recognizes that it came under the "influence" of the FMLN.
FENASTRAS' headquarters were bombed on February 22 and September 5, 1989, without loss of life. On October 31 of that year, a more powerful bomb, placed near the building's lunchroom, was detonated when the hall was packed for the mid-day meal. Forty unionists were wounded and nine were killed, including the organization's General Secretary, Febe Elizabeth Velazquez.
External Links
- http://www.fenastras.org, webpage of Federación Nacional Sindical de Trabajadores Salvadoreños.