UPD QUITS UNTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90M00005R000800050046-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 2, 2013
• Sequence Number: 46
• Publication Date: November 22, 1986
• Content Type: CABLE

Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/04/02 : CIA-RDP90M00005R000800050046-4
5,ECRET
CICISPES
MSGNO 96 (STXX) *11/22/86* *15:12:57.9.9*
ZCZC 20:11:42Z (ST)
EMI DTG : 86112214250580
86 2930336 ----~R --------------------------------------xc 2930336
TOR: 221918Z NOV 86 SAN SA 14833
-----------------------------------------------
RR RUEAIIB
ZNY SSSSS ZOC STATE- ZZH
STU7455
RR RUEHC
DE RUEHSN #4833/01 3261809
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
R 221806Z NOV 86
FM AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6851
INFO RUEHIA/USIA WASHDC 0131
RUEOEHA/USCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTS PN
1:
S E AN SALVADOR 14833
EZ2:
DEPT PASS DOL/ILAB
DEPT ALSO FOR T.J., CLEAR, INR/GI
USIA FOR AR/CENTAM
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: ELAB, ES
SUBJECT: UPD QUITS UNTS
1. (C) SUMMARY
THE POPULAR DEMOCRATIC UNITY (UPD) LABOR GROUPING HAS
DROPPED OUT OF THE LEFTIST LABOR UMBRELLA GROUP UNTS,
LEAVING UNTS COMPOSED ALMOST ENTIRELY OF FMLN-CONNECTED
UNIONS. THIS IS A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT IN FAVOR OF
DEMOCRATIC LABOR. UPD WAS A 150,000 STRONG LABOR
GROUPING SUPPORTED BY AIFLD, WHICH SIGNED THE
1984 SOCIAL PACT WHICH HELPED BRING PRESIDENT DUARTE
TO OFFICE. UPD COLLAPSED IN 1985 BECAUSE OF POWER
STRUGGLES AND WAS REPLACED IN EARLY 1986 BY UNOC.
HOWEVER, THE VESTIGES OF UPD (1,500 MEMBERS) JOINED
UNTS -- IN EFFECT, GIVING THE LEFT A DEMOCRATIC
FACADE TO MANIPULATE INTERNATIONAL LABOR AND OPINION.
LINTS UNIONS HAVE ACCUSED UPD SE RETARY GENERAL
S E CET
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RAMON MENDOZA OF "SELLING OUT," AND HAVE CHARGED
AIFLD, THE EMBASSY, AND THE PDC WITH ATTEMPTING TO
DESTROY UNTS (A CHARGE WE ACCEPT). MENDOZA HAS
RECEIVED DEATH THREATS AS A RESULT OF HIS DECISION
TO LEAVE UNTS. THE EMBASSY HAS ARRANGED SECURITY.
(S) THE BOTTOM LINE OF THIS PROCESS IS THAT THINGS
ARE MOVING OUR WAY. IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS U.S.
INTERESTS HAVE BEEN GREATLY SERVED BY THE OVERALL
TRENDS IN SALVADORAN LABOR. UNTS NOW STANDS DENUDED
OF ITS DEMOCRATIC FACADE AND WE HAVE ABOUT AS CLEAN
AND NEAT A DIVISION BETWEEN DEMOCRATIC AND COMMUNIST
LABOR AS WE ARE EVER LIKELY TO GET IN EL SALVADOR.
WE HAVE 250,000 (UNOC, CTS, UPD) ON OUR SIDE, THEY
HAVE 55,000 OR THEIRS (UNTS). AIFLD, WHICH HAD
GREAT MISGIVINGS IN WASHINGTON ABOUT THE UPD STRATEGY,
SHOULD DIRECT ITS POLICY AT HOLDING OUR SIDE TOGETHER,
WHILE CONTINUING TO PICK OFF UNTS MEMBER UNIONS
ONE-BY-ONE. UNTS HAS STRONG SUPPORT FROM NON-AFL-CIO
UNIONS IN THE US (AFSCME) AND WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE
SUFFICIENT FINANCIAL BACKING TO MAKE IT A THREAT TO
DEMOCRATIC LABOR. THE HISTORY OF SALVADORAN LABOR OVER
THE PAST FOUR YEARS DOES NOT SUGGEST THAT WE SHOULD
EXPECT THE SPLITS, IN-FIGHTING AND IDEOLOGICAL COMPETITIO
TO END, EVEN THOUGH WE NOW HAVE, THANKS TO AIFLD,
AN ENORMOUSLY STRONG POSITION.
2. (S/NF/NC) MENDOZA'S DECISION CAME AFTER MONTHS OF
TALKS HE HAD WITH LABATT AND AIFLD'S COUNTRY DIRECTOR.
AIFLD HAS AGREED TO GIVE THE UPD FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
END SUMMARY.
3. (U) UPD LEAVES UNTS
- --------------------
ON NOVEMBER 16, THE "POPULAR DEMOCRATIC UNITY" (UPD)
FORMALLY WITHDREW FROM THE LEFTIST LABOR UMBRELLA GROUP
"NATIONAL UNITY OF SALVADORAN WORKERS" (UNTS). THE UPD
EXPLAINED IN NEWSPAPER ADS THAT IT WAS FORCED TO DROP OUT
BECAUSE MEMBERSHIP IN UNTS "INVOLUNTARILY LIMITED THE
BROAD, PLURALISTIC, UNIFYING WORK AND THE GROWTH OF THE
UPD." THOSE SIGNING THE AD WERE:
-- RAMON ARISTIDES MENDOZA, UPD SECRETARY GENERAL AND
LEADER OF THE GENERAL AGRARIAN CENTRAL (CEGAS),
-- HECTOR SANTIAGO, SALVADORAN CAMPESINO ASSOCIATION
(ACS),
-- JESUS MARROQUIN, CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WORKERS UNION
(UTIC),
-- MOISES CASTILLO, FACTION OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF SALVADORAN INDIANS (ANIS),
-- DIONILA DE FLORE, NATIONAL AGRO-INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION
(ANCA), AND
-- FRANCISCO ZALDANA CABRERA, PHASE I LAND REFORM
INSTITUTE UNION (SETISTA).
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4. (C) MOISES CASTILLO IS A MEMBER OF THE ADRIAN
ESQUINO LISCO FACTION OF ANIS. CASTILLO SIGNED THE AD
LAST WEEK, BUT WHETHER HE HAS QUIT UNTS IS UNCLEAR AS
HE DID NOT SHOW UP FOR A NOVEMBER 16 MEETING TO
S E C R E T SECTION 02 OF 03 SAN SALVADOR 14833
DEPT PASS DOL/ILAB
DEPT ALSO FOR T.J., CLEAR, INR/GI
USIA FOR AR/CENTAM
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: ELAB, ES
SUBJECT: UPD QUITS UNTS
FORMALIZE UPD'S WITHDRAWAL. ESQUINO LISCO HAS SAID HE
WILL REMAIN IN UNTS.
5. (U) LINTS CHARGES MENDOZA WAS BOUGHT
- ------------------------------------
AT A NOVEMBER 17 PRESS CONFERENCE, LEADERS OF THE UNTS-
AFFILIATED NATIONAL UNION OF CAMPESINOS (UNC) ACCUSED
THE UPD OF SELLING OUT TO AIFLD. UNC ALSO CHARGED THE
GOES WAS TRYING TO BRING THE UPD BACK INTO ITS FOLD AND
REVIVE THE SOCIAL PACT. THE FPL-CONTROLLED TEACHERS
UNION "ANDES 21 DE JUNIO" CLAIMED AT A NOVEMBER 20 PRESS
CONFERENCE THAT MENDOZA "WAS UNABLE TO RESIST PRESSURES
FROM THE U.S. EMBASSY, AIFLD, AND THE PDC, AND THAT HE
HAD ONCE AGAIN ACCEPTED THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER."
ANDES SECRETARY GENERAL JULIO CESAR PORTILLO ACCUSED
AIFLD, THE EMBASSY, AND THE GOES OF TRYING TO DESTROY
UNTS.
6. (C) DEATH THREATS AGAINST MENDOZA
- ----------------------------------
UPD LEADER MENDOZA BEGAN RECEIVING DEATH THREATS
SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE THE UPD'S ANNOUNCEMENT. ON
NOVEMBER 19, LABATT SPOKE WITH NATIONAL POLICE CHIEF
RODOLFO ANTONIO REVELO, WHO PROMISED TO PROVIDE
MENDOZA PROTECTION.
7. (S/NF/NC) IN JUNE, MENDOZA TOLD LABATT THE UPD
WAS UNCOMFORTABLE IN UNTS BECAUSE OF ITS FMLN
CONNECTIONS. MENDOZA EXPLAINED THAT UNTS WAS GIVING
THE UPD MONEY, AND HE FEARED THE UPD COULD NOT SURVIVE
WITHOUT INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE. LABATT THEN HOSTED
A SERIES OF MEETINGS BETWEEN AIFLD COUNTRY DIRECTOR
CLEMENTE HERNANDEZ AND MENDOZA. THE TWO REACHED AN
AGREEMENT WHOSE CONDITIONS WERE:
-- UPD WILL NOT PUBLICLY ATTACK AIFLD OR THE DEMOCRATIC
LABOR UMBRELLA GROUP UNOC;
-- UNOC WILL NOT PUBLICLY ATTACK THE UPD;
-- NEITHER UNOC OR THE UPD WILL PIRATE EACH
OTHER'S MEMBERS;
-- THE UPD HAD TO BREAK OFF PUBLICLY FROM UNTS; AND,
-- AIFLD WILL PROVIDE UPD 15,000 COLONES (DOLS 3,000)
AS INITIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE UPD.
S E C R E T
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THE AGREEMENT WENT INTO EFFECT AFTER HERNANDEZ CONVINCED
AIFLD IN WASHINGTON TO SIGN OFF ON IT.
8. (C) MENDOZA WILL NOT, AT LEAST IN THE NEAR FUTURE, -
BRING THE UPD INTO UNOC. HE HAS INDICATED, THOUGH, HIS
WILLINGNESS TO COLLABORATE WITH UNOC ON ISSUES WHERE UPD
AND UNOC INTERESTS COINCIDE.
9. (C) AGEMHA MAY ALSO QUIT UNTS
- ------------------------------
IN SEPARATE CONVERSATIONS ON NOVEMBER 20, MENDOZA
AND ANOTHER SOURCE TOLD LABATT THAT THE FINANCE MINISTRY
UNION (AGEMHA) SECRETARY GENERAL HERMAN COLATO HAS
ALSO DECIDED TO DROP OUT OF UNTS. LABATT HAS BEEN
UNABLE TO CONFIRM THIS WITH COLATO, THOUGH IN A
CONVERSATION NOVEMBER 15 -- THE DAY BEFORE UPD'S
ANNOUNCEMENT -- COLATO SAID HE WOULD ATTEND THE CISPES-
UNTS CONFERENCE. COLATO HAS DESCRIBED HIMSELF AND
MENDOZA AS THE "MODERATING FORCE" IN LINTS, AND MENDOZA'S
DECISION COULD POSSIBLY SPUR COLATO TO TRY TO LEAVE
UNTS. WE ARE ALSO FAIRLY SURE MENDOZA WILL TRY TO
ENTICE COLATO INTO THE UPD. COLATO, HOWEVER, DOES NOT
HAVE THE GRIP ON AGEMHA THAT MENDOZA HAS ON THE UPD,
AND AN ATTEMPT BY COLATO TO PULL OUT OF UNTS COULD COST
HIM HIS LEADERSHIP POSITION IN AGEMHA. ALREADY, THE
MORE RADICAL ELEMENTS IN AGEMHA HAVE ACCUSED COLATO
OF "SELLING OUT TO THE U.S. EMBASSY" BECAUSE HE
ACCEPTED AN AID-SPONSORED TRIP TO THE U.S. WE SUSPECT
COLATO WILL FIND IT PRUDENT TO REMAIN IN UNTS FOR NOW
S E C R E T SECTION 03 OF 03 SAN SALVADOR 14833
DEPT PASS DOL/ILAB
DEPT ALSO FOR T.J., CLEAR, INR/GI
USIA FOR AR/CENTAM
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: ELAB, ES
SUBJECT: UPD QUITS UNTS
AND PULL OUT LATER IF HE THINKS IT FEASIBLE.
10. (C) THE CLAT-AFFILIATED SALVADORAN WORKERS
CENTRAL (CTS), WHICH WAS BRIEFLY A MEMBER OF UNTS,
WILL PROBABLY FORM A LOOSE ALLIANCE WITH THE UPD
WITHOUT FORMALLY JOINING IT. THE CTS RECENTLY
REPLACED ITS ERRATIC SECRETARY GENERAL MIGUEL ANGEL
VASQUEZ WITH THE MORE MODERATE FELIX BLANCO. BLANCO NOW
FACES INTERNAL PROBLEMS IN THE CTS AS UNTS IS TRYING
TO STEAL SOME CTS UNIONS. BLANCO WILL PROBABLY DECIDE
THAT BRINGING THE CTS BACK INTO THE UPD (THE CTS
BELONGED TO THE UPD UNTIL 1985) MAY AGGRAVATE HIS
INTERNAL PROBLEMS.
11. (C) COMMENT
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THE UPD'S DEPARTURE LEAVES UNTS COMPOSED ALMOST ENTIRELY
OF UNIONS HEADED BY FMLN MEMBERS OR SYMPATHIZERS. THE
WITHDRAWAL STRIKES A BLOW TO UNTS DISPROPORTIONATE TO
THE SIZE OF THE UPD, WHICH HAS NO MORE THAN 1,500
MEMBERS. THE NAME UPD HAS INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL
PRESTIGE WHICH CARRIES OVER FROM THE DAYS WHEN THE
UPD WAS 150,000 MEMBERS STRONG. UNTS AND ITS ALLIES
HERE AND ABROAD HAVE POINTED TO UPD SUPPORT OF THE
PDC IN THE 1984 AND 1985 ELECTIONS AND HAVE EMPHASIZED
UPD MEMBERSHIP IN LINTS WAS "PROOF" THAT UNTS WAS A
"PLURALISTIC, DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION."

12. (C) THE UPD'S DECISION TO LEAVE UNTS IS ESPECIALLY
TIMELY AS IT COMES ON THE EVE OF THE NOVEMBER 22-23
CISPES-UNTS "CONFERENCE FOR PEACE" WHICH OVER 100
AMERICANS ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND. (CISPES -- COMMITTEE
IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF EL SALVADOR -- IS A
U.S. FMLN SUPPORT GROUP.)
13. (C) ALSO OF MAJOR IMPORTANCE IS THAT UPD
LEADER RAMON MENDOZA IS ONE OF EL SALVADOR'S SMARTEST
LABOR LEADERS. HE WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE AN
IMPORTANT PLAYER ON THE LABOR SCENE FOR YEARS TO COME.
HIS GREATEST SHORTCOMINGS ARE HIS BOUNDLESS AMBITION
AND THE DIFFICULTY HE HAS IN SHARING POWER WITH OTHER
UNION LEADERS. HIS DREAM IS TO LEAD A LABOR POLITICAL
PARTY, THOUGH HIS FRIENDS HAVE CONTINUALLY ADVISED
HIM THIS PLAN IS IMPRACTICAL.
14. (S/NF/NC) WHILE WE ARE OVERJOYED BY THE UPD'S
WITHDRAWAL FROM UNTS, THE PROCESS BY WHICH MENDOZA
REACHED HIS DECISION POINTS TO THE SAD FACT THAT IT
IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR A SALVADORAN UNION OF ANY
IMPORTANCE TO SURVIVE WITHOUT ASSISTANCE FROM FOREIGN
DEMOCRATIC OR LEFTIST SOURCES.
DLOUHY
END OF MESSAGE SECRET
EZ3
TEXT
KW:461.1,461.2
NNDD
Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/04/02 : CIA-RDP90M00005R000800050046-4