The Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) has continued its involvement in workers’ and popular struggles in recent days, focusing particularly on the electricity crisis and opposition to proposals that threaten labour rights.
Communist Party of Venezuela supports protests against blackouts and defends workers’ rights
On 27 October, PCV members joined a demonstration in Caracas against prolonged electricity blackouts. The march began at Plaza BriĂłn in ChacaĂto and proceeded towards Plaza Venezuela under the slogan “They take our oil and leave us in darkness.” The mobilisation was called by the Committee of Victims of the Blackouts, established by political, social and trade-union organisations, including the PCV, Comunes, Bandera Roja-Resistencia, the Unitary Workers’ Central of Venezuela (CUTV) and the National Front for the Struggle of the Working Class.
The committee is demanding compensation for household appliances damaged by power cuts and a reliable electricity supply. Its representatives have also criticised the distribution of electricity, arguing that priority is being given to oil-producing areas and major investment projects while communities in other parts of the country endure lengthy interruptions. The PCV had helped promote the committee’s formation and the national day of protest.
The party’s newspaper, Tribuna Popular, also reported on 29 October a joint statement by four independent trade-union confederations—UNETE, CODESA, CGT and CUTV—opposing negotiations taking place within the so-called Labour and Social Consensus Roundtable. The unions argue that the process does not adequately represent the wider labour movement and could be used to legitimise the weakening of workers’ rights.
Their criticism focuses particularly on proposals for labour legislation that they say could institutionalise wage bonuses in place of proper salaries and undermine social benefits, collective agreements and pensions. The organisations called for the recovery of the constitutional minimum wage, recognition of bonuses as part of regular remuneration, respect for collective bargaining and an end to the persecution of independent trade-union leaders.
The four confederations also called for unity among workers in the oil industry, health and education sectors, public administration, the basic industries of Guayana and private-sector workplaces. They reported having requested intervention by the International Labour Organization to press the Venezuelan state to implement commitments made during the Social Dialogue Forum of 29 April 2026, particularly concerning wages, freedom of association and collective bargaining.
The latest edition of Tribuna Popular, published on 26 October, also carried the party’s analysis of the political situation, including demands for accountability over the use of anti-terrorism courts against workers and trade unionists, repeal of the Law Against Hatred, and greater transparency in public finances.