20, 1978 Copy of letter sent to the Presidents of major unions

							                                                      20,   1978

                   Copy of letter sent to
               the Presidents    of major unions
           along with attached     copy of memorandum
           on the Chilean    trade union situation




As you may know, in recent weeks the Chilean government has undertaken a
new round of drastic actions against Chilean organized labor. In politihal
terms, unions of both the left and of the center have been affected by
these actions. While U.S. banks and corporations were committing to
Chile almost $i billion in new investments and loans for the past 12-
month period ending in August of this year, important church figures in
that country were expressing less confidence over what was taking place
in their country. Auxiliary Biship Enrique Alvear of Santiago noted
that "While seeking to create an image of labor freedom for export, in
practice the conditions for freedom do not exist." The vicar of the
pastoral program for workers, Alfonso Baeza, referring to the manipulated
trade union election of October 31, said "submission to elections unde~
present circumstances shows a lack of respect for workers."

We have used a number of sources in preparing the attached document
which details what is now taking place in Chile. In preparing this
document, we have relied on conversations with high State Department
officials, various publications put out by the AFL-CIO, the UAW and
other U.S. union sources, as well as material coming from Chile. As far
as we know, the enclosed information is accurate and as up to date as
feasibly possibly, considering the difficulty of getting materials out
of Chile.

In light of the fast approaching November 26, 1978 ORIT meeting in Lima,
Peru, and the pledge given by AFL-CIO President George Meany and other
trade union leaders, we believe that this memorandum could be well used
as a basis for any statements that individual unions are preparing on
the present crisis in the Chilean trade union movement. Our hope is
that the enclosed information will be of assistance to whatever efforts
are now being contemplated by the U.S. trade unions acting together to
indicate their solidarity with their Chilean colleagues, who are asking
that an international boycott be called until Pinochet relents in his
current round of persecution of their battered trade union movement.

                                 Sincerely yours




                                 Direct-6-~