Paraguayan Regional Workers' Federation
The Paraguayan Regional Workers' Federation (Spanish: Federación Obrera Regional Paraguaya, FORP) was the first union federation in Paraguay, founded in 1906. Though originally pluralist, from its first years it saw a strong anarcho-syndicalist presence. FORP was a sister organization of the Argentine Regional Workers' Federation (Spanish: Federación Obrera Regional Argentina, FORA); in fact, its preamble is similar to that of the FORA's 4th Congress. The FORP supported most of the union and strike actions that took place in Asunción and in the interior of the country, until it was finally dissolved in 1915.
| Full name | Paraguayan Regional Workers' Federation |
|---|---|
| Native name | Federación Obrera Regional Paraguaya |
| Founded | 1906 |
| Date dissolved | 1915 |
| Head union |
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| Office location | Asunción |
| Country |  |
Background and origins
The first workers and artisans unions appeared in Paraguay during the 1880s, with the creation of the Sociedad de Socorro Mutuo “Santa Cruz”, which only accepted workers. On October 22, 1882, the "Los Artesanos del Paraguay" Mutual Aid Society was founded, which allowed the membership of heterogeneous elements of society, be they workers, artisans, or intellectuals. However, these unions did not last long because of the caudillismo and political interventionism of the time. In 1882 the “Los Verdaderos Artesanos” Mutual Relief Cosmopolitan Society was founded, a spin-off from “Los Artesanos del Paraguay” and the first labor union in the country.
Then, during the 1890s and the beginning of the 1900s, several trade unions were formed that demanded, among other things, the 8-hour workday and the increase in wages. Among those organizations were the Central Station Railroad Union (1889), the Bakers Union (1893), the Hairdressers Union (1898), the Carpenters Union (1901).
The first attempt at unity of trade union movements occurred in 1893 with the creation of the Cosmopolitan Association. In 1897, it was succeeded by the General Workers 'Association. In 1904, it was again succeeded by the General Workers' Center. All these associations did not last long, due to government repression, and the fact that the union movement was only just forming in the Paraguay.
Foundation and reorganization of FORP
The FORP was born in 1906 when three general unions met: the Society of Graphic Workers, the Resistance Union of Carpenters and the Union of Coachmen, later joined by several other unions. José Serrano was elected the federation's first General Secretary, The statutes that were drafted in the founding Congress of FORP are very similar to those of FORA, that is, with a clear anarcho-syndicalist tendency. In 1913, after the persecutions of the Albino Jara government, FORP decided to reorganize itself. In a new congress, they adopted the same solidarity pact of 1906 and elected José Cazzulo as General Secretary.
FORP published several newspapers in its time, among which were "El Despertar" (1906), "Germinal" by Rafael Barrett, and Bertotto, who worked closely with the Federation in 1908, "El Alba", "La Rebelión", "Towards the Future" (1910), "La Tribuna", and "La Protesta" (1915).
In 1915, the FORP took a more reformist line, and began endorsing political compromises, before finally dissolving that same year. But a group of the FORP's younger intellectuals decided to found the Regional Workers' Center of Paraguay (Spanish: Centro Obrero Regional del Paraguay, CORP), to continue the fight for workers' rights.
Bibliography
- Duarte, Ciriaco. Syndicalism in Paraguay. Asunción.
- Speratti, Juan (1984). The Revolution of February 17, 1936. Asunción: Salesian Technical School.
- Gaona, Francisco. Introduction to the Social and Union History of Paraguay.