The ITF HQ’s in London
4 March 2014 – The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) has condemned continuing attacks on transport workers in Venezuela. The attacks have reached their height during recent anti-government demonstrations.
ITF Americas regional secretary, Antonio Rodríguez Fritz, explained: “Our affiliated union the Federación Bolivariana de Trabajadores y Trabajadoras del Transporte (FBTTT) has reported injuries (one a knife wound) to 36 workers and 200 passengers on the Caracas Metro. All were associated with so-called ‘peaceful’ demonstrations carried out by rightwing groups aiming to destabilise the country and bring down Venezuela’s President Maduro.
“During these events demonstrators have attacked transport workers, passengers, rolling stock, and the headquarters of the Ministry of Transport – at which shots were fired.”
ITF president Paddy Crumlin added: “The ITF abhors these cowardly assaults on transport workers and passengers. We trust that the Venezuelan authorities will be able to protect them, and go on to identify and punish those responsible for these crimes and also those leading the destabilisation campaign that has thrown up these attacks.”
