Massive Ecuador rally commemorates workers, advances Revolution

Workers filled the streets of Guayaquil to commemorate the massacre of 1922 and to show support for the proposed labor law reforms. (Photo: Christian Gonzalez)

A massive rally, attended by a hundred thousand Ecuadoreans, was held in Guayaquil today to commemorate the 92nd anniversary of the 1922 massacre of workers where approximately 1,500 people were killed. The rally was organized by the federal government and also served as a launch of proposed reforms to Ecuador's labor laws.

In November of 1922, the city of Guayaquil was paralyzed due to a general strike that had garnered the support of a large segment of the working class of Ecuador. On November 14, 1922 several trade union leaders were arrested. In response the trade unionists, accompanied by family and supporters rallied and marched to demand their release. The government of the day responded by ordering an attack on a peaceful rally in an attempt to break the back of the labor movement.

A minute of silence to remember those killed in 1922 was observed by those attending the rally. The President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, participated in today's events, alongside Vice-President Jorge Glas, the President of the National Assembly, Gabriela Rivadeneira. The Minister of Labor Relations, Carlos Marx Carrasco also spoke, saying “We want a new [type of] trade unionism. We are with you building the present and future of the Homeland. We want a trade unionism that thinks about all of the Homeland.”

President Correa later posted a tweet which said “Thank you to the country, What a marvelous demonstration of citizenship, support and conviction for our Revolution.”

Ecuador was recently witness to the creation of the United Workers Trade Union Federation (CUT) that unites working class organizations and trade unions in the country, the CUT is the first of its kind in the country. The newly-formed CUT held a gathering on trade unionism on Friday with its counterparts from Argentina, Cuba, Uruguay and Brazil.

The CUT affirmed its support for the new labor laws being proposed by the government, in contrast to some sectors of the Ecuadorean trade union movement who have allied themselves to the opposition. Those opposed to the labor reforms intend to hold a march of their own on November 19.

The labor law reforms will include at the very least 20 distinct items designed to enhance workers' rights, particularly those of workers who have been historically excluded from protections under the law. Among the proposals is the elimination of fixed-term contracts and better protections for women who take maternity leave. The reforms also intend to give the Ministry of Labor greater powers to intervene in defense of workers' interests.

The government of Correa successfully reduced child labor from 12 percent in 2006 to 2.6 percent in 2013 and Ecuador currently enjoys the region's lowest unemployment rate at 3.9 percent.

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