Strike Culture: Labor movements in Honduras.

When it comes to labor movements, Honduras is no stranger. Most of the subjects that are put under social scrutiny have been polarized to a point where logic seems to play second role to power. Now, facing a global energy crisis and its subsequent economic problems, (Costs of basic foods, fuels, minimun wages, Etc.) we are bound to see more movements, hopefully keeping them nonviolent and with positive outcomes. History has taught us that these movements are massive players of social change.

Social power, both by the government and organized civil groups is a very strong card to deal, often, the general population pays the immediate price of these civilized "battles", regardless of the subsequent benefits that are being sought by the parties involved.
Over the years, civil protest walks, transportation blockades and hunger strikes have become better organized and media covered. Amazing leaders, both true to the cause or expert mass manipulators, have come to learn and use the power of the mases. A month of "Teachers on strike" or a full week of "Public Health workers strike" has been almost an annual tradition in Central American Countries; while most participants agree that stopping a child's education every time the country educational officials quarrel with the Syndicate Leaders, or a stop of all major surgery operations for a week in public hospitals, is in fact a tremendous blow to the country's already challenged population, most are under the impression that not supporting their syndicate or the quarreled idea is personally more damaging, specially when the subject is about raising their salaries. See: Minimum wages in Central America. The same can be said about public transportation, fuel subsidizing, the national public university (UNAH), and many key groups in Honduras's social development. But again, History has taught Honduras, that this way of "Dealing with issues" is powerful...

Honduras Laboral.org , documents the History of labor movements; It beggins a very interesting historical summary of labor movements with the mines of "San Juancito" part of the "Rosario Mining Company" back in 1869, where inhumane working conditions caused the first strikes and subsequent incarceration and governmental repressions. It also states that the same governmental repressions were seen on major strikes involving the banana production and Railroad industry back in the 1920's.

Civil Movements became more popular, even with country authorities pushing them back. After the creation of the "Federación Sindical Hondureña, FSH" (Honduran Syndicalist Federation) in 1929, groups started to become a major threat to large multinationals working in the country. The great strike of 1932 became a nation wide movement that lead to the solution of minor issues between laborers and the United Fruit Company and the partial resolution of a salary reduction.

In 1933, Tiburcio Carias Andino became president. Most Honduran historians agree that he was put in power through the large transnational's political influences. When it came to Carias's civil movement policy, things got ugly; Carias was a dictator for 16 years, all labor organizations were declared "illegal" and their leaders where either captured, assassinated or expulsed from the country.

Civil movements where only paused, but not stopped. In 1944 civil groups re-organized in Guatemala and planned to take Carias out of power. The movement called itself the "Partido Democrático Revolucionario de Honduras" and since then, civil groups became an important key player in Honduran history:

-The creation of the "Comitee Coordinador Obrero" (Labor Coordination Comity) in 1949, banned by the "War Minister" of the time, replaced by the "Comité de Unidad Sindical" (Comity for Syndicate Unity) who in turn promoted the the strike of 54. (Recognized as one of the most influential labor movements in Central America).

-The first banana labor unions.

-The General Strike of 65

-In the 70's, the labor movements became key players in the connection and development of important issues that later resulted in a very dark period of Honduras: The 80's, or the time of the "Desaparecidos". Where many people where assassinated or "Disappeared" due to their political beliefs.

-1990's violence was reduced, ( Think about the connection between the end of the Cold war in all of this). But it seems corruption was enhanced, as many of the movement leaders where accused of being "payed off" by government authorities that wanted to promote free trade.

Corruption seems to be a small problem compared to the challenges the labor movements have faced in Honduran history, and the pride and dignity that comes out of fighting for what you think is right, is an invaluable investment in Honduran culture. Hopefully, readers of this Honduran article, have a clearer Idea of the powerful roots behind this countries "Strike Culture".