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Adriana Rosenzvaig started the 18th Meeting of the Executive Committee of UNI Americas with that declaration last April 7th in Montevideo, Uruguay. The Regional Secretary, together with UNI Americas President Rubén Cortina, referred to the political panorama that has been shaking Latin America and the effect it has been having on its workers.

Despite the fragility that democracies are suffering due to anti-popular policies, UNI America continues advancing meaningfully. The fight against Chile’s fragmentation, the labors’ organizations and the growth of trade unions in Colombia, along with the creation of trade and security federations in Peru, are some of the achievements of an organization that had never been as strong as it is today. The Regional Secretariat gave special emphasis on keep on working.

“It is very important to unite desire of struggle with strategic power. We have consolidated in the region by achieving strong sectors, and although we are living in a politically fragile period, we have to keep on working with great energy and leadership”, he claimed.

Philip Jennings, UNI Global Union’s General Secretary, detached that the rights conquered in the last 10 years have been achieved by progressive policies of popular governments, and not by chance.

“The political decisions had a progressive tone that included advancing in social policies and that was not by chance. Today, we look forward into the future and see a new cycle with various threats, such as the criminalization of Newspaper La Protesta for organizing workers, or people expulsed from countries for doing social and union work”, referring to the expulsion of UNI Americas’ coordinator, Orhan Akman, in Peru.

The Executive Committee adopted a statement of support and solidarity in favor of the fellowman and rejected Chilean government’s baseless decision to expel and prohibit Akman’s reentrance in the country.

“UNI Americas has a fundamental role in protecting democracies and human rights in times of changes. We are an organization that always step ahead with faith and reliability, despite the context”, concluded the General Secretary.

Roberto von der Osten, CONTRAF’s President, referred to the political situation in Brazil. “We have had the longest democratic period until today. However, now the media, the elites, and the landowners have three goals: destabilize and overthrow Dilma Rousseff’s government. There will be no coup!” he strongly stated.

After a great ovation in solidarity with fellow Brazilians, the Executive Committee approved a motion in support of democracy and against the institutional coup in Brazil.

Argentina’s political situation was also one of the outstanding themes during the meeting. The Executive Committee approved a resolution expressing concern about Argentina’s political situation, and also in solidarity with the trade union movements; it demanded the national and international competent organisms to make the detrimental measures against workers’ rights null and void.

With regards to the next Regional Conference that will take place in Medellin, Colombia, UNI Americas affirmed to follow the processes of peace and that it will embrace the peoples’ causes; it also claims never to give up.