1958 Paraguayan general strike
Encyclopedia
In August 1958, a general strike
was organized in Paraguay
. It was the first national general strike in the country. The strike was called by the Confederación Paraguaya de Trabajadores
('Paraguayan Workers' Confederation', CPT), with demand such as a 30% raise in salaries, a general declaration of amnesty, a lifting of the state of emergency, a more equitable economic policy, securing the freedom to participate in political and trade union activities and the holding of a constituent assembly
.
The strike was organized in the backdrop of an internal power struggle within the Colorado Party
, between the civilian wing led by Epifanio Méndez Fleitas and the Colorado elements in the armed forces led by General Alfredo Stroessner
. The CPT leadership was closely connected to the Méndez Fleitas faction.
Pro-strike committees were formed in preparation for the strike, one 96-member committee was organized by the CPT and others were set up by the CPT affiliate unions. Acción Católica also voiced support for the strike. Around 10,000 workers gathered on August 26, 1958 for a meeting at the CPT central office in Asunción
were a four-member strike committee was elected.
The strike call had caught the Alfredo Stroessner government by surprise. Initially it responded by offering the CPT a 15% salary raise, an offer that the four-member strike committee rejected. By mid-night August 26–27, 1958 the general strike was called. The response on behalf of the state was swift. A workers' rally was dispersed by police. The CPT headquarters were surrounded by army and police forces. Over 200 trade union leaders, mainly from CPT, were arrested during the protests. Even the CPT general secretary was arrested (who, as a member of parliament
, enjoyed parliamentary immunity
). Offices of trade unions were closed down. Communist
leaders such as Antonio Maidana, Julio Rojas and Alfredo Alcorta were captured and would remain jailed for two decades.
Following the strike, the Paraguayan labour movement found itself in shatters and without a functioning leadership. The government seized control over CPT. Exiled trade unionists in Argentina
reorganized a 'CPT-Exile' (CPT-E) in response. Partially as a consequence of the crackdown on the strike and the closure of legal means to voice protest, many labour movement activists came to consider that armed struggle was the sole measure of organizing resistance to Stroessner.
General strike
A general strike is a strike action by a critical mass of the labour force in a city, region, or country. While a general strike can be for political goals, economic goals, or both, it tends to gain its momentum from the ideological or class sympathies of the participants...
was organized in Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
. It was the first national general strike in the country. The strike was called by the Confederación Paraguaya de Trabajadores
Confederación Paraguaya de Trabajadores
The Paraguayan Workers Confederation or CPT is a national trade union center in Paraguay. It was formed in 1951 with close ties to the Colorado Party. In 1958, after a general strike, many unionists were exiled, and formed the CPT-E, a CPT in exile....
('Paraguayan Workers' Confederation', CPT), with demand such as a 30% raise in salaries, a general declaration of amnesty, a lifting of the state of emergency, a more equitable economic policy, securing the freedom to participate in political and trade union activities and the holding of a constituent assembly
Constituent assembly
A constituent assembly is a body composed for the purpose of drafting or adopting a constitution...
.
The strike was organized in the backdrop of an internal power struggle within the Colorado Party
Colorado Party
Colorado Party can refer to two South American political parties:* Colorado Party * Colorado Party...
, between the civilian wing led by Epifanio Méndez Fleitas and the Colorado elements in the armed forces led by General Alfredo Stroessner
Alfredo Stroessner
Alfredo Stroessner Matiauda, whose name is also spelled Strössner or Strößner , was a Paraguayan military officer and dictator from 1954 to 1989...
. The CPT leadership was closely connected to the Méndez Fleitas faction.
Pro-strike committees were formed in preparation for the strike, one 96-member committee was organized by the CPT and others were set up by the CPT affiliate unions. Acción Católica also voiced support for the strike. Around 10,000 workers gathered on August 26, 1958 for a meeting at the CPT central office in Asunción
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
were a four-member strike committee was elected.
The strike call had caught the Alfredo Stroessner government by surprise. Initially it responded by offering the CPT a 15% salary raise, an offer that the four-member strike committee rejected. By mid-night August 26–27, 1958 the general strike was called. The response on behalf of the state was swift. A workers' rally was dispersed by police. The CPT headquarters were surrounded by army and police forces. Over 200 trade union leaders, mainly from CPT, were arrested during the protests. Even the CPT general secretary was arrested (who, as a member of parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, enjoyed parliamentary immunity
Parliamentary immunity
Parliamentary immunity, also known as legislative immunity, is a system in which members of the parliament or legislature are granted partial immunity from prosecution. Before prosecuting, it is necessary that the immunity be removed, usually by a superior court of justice or by the parliament itself...
). Offices of trade unions were closed down. Communist
Paraguayan Communist Party
Paraguayan Communist Party is a communist political party in Paraguay. PCP was founded on February 19, 1928. Later it was recognized as a section of the Communist International. It was brutally suppressed during the military regimes of the country. It gained legality for a brief period in 1936 and...
leaders such as Antonio Maidana, Julio Rojas and Alfredo Alcorta were captured and would remain jailed for two decades.
Following the strike, the Paraguayan labour movement found itself in shatters and without a functioning leadership. The government seized control over CPT. Exiled trade unionists in Argentina
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...
reorganized a 'CPT-Exile' (CPT-E) in response. Partially as a consequence of the crackdown on the strike and the closure of legal means to voice protest, many labour movement activists came to consider that armed struggle was the sole measure of organizing resistance to Stroessner.