A Transnational History of the Latin American Workers' Confederation, 1938–1963

In Favour of a Workers' Homeland

Patricio Herrera

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Year: 2025
• Print ISBN:
  9783031984464
• eBook ISBN:
  9783031984471
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Latin American & Caribbean History
• Index: History

This book examines the efforts of the Confederation of Latin American Workers (CTAL) in generating workers’ unity across the continent from 1938-1963. Emerging in 1938 during a period of geopolitical instability, CTAL was systemically and actively preoccupied with the problems that affected workers in Latin America, consistently carrying out concrete actions to protect working-class interests. In doing so, CTAL initiated a process that led to the strengthening of union organisations and the promotion of a common language to defend the social and labour demands of the working class across the continent. This was particularly important due to the complex economic and political repercussions of the Second World War: namely, the high cost of basic necessities, and restrictions on collective and individual liberties. By the end of 1944, CTAL had consolidated its position as a continental union, inserted itself into international debate with organisations such as the ILO, and received widespread support from other labour organisations, including those in the USA and Canada. By analysing how international politics affected workers’ movements across various countries, this book offers a transnational, historic overview of the working class in Latin America.

Table of contents

• Labour in History and Society
• A Transnational History of the Latin American Workers' Confederation, 1938–1963
• Acknowledgments
• Contents
• List of Tables
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Continental Worker Unity, 1935–1938
• 3. The CTAL Sets in Motion Its Continental Union Project 1938–1943
• 4. American Labor Conferences: Cooperation, Networks and Conflict Between the CTAL and the ILO, 1936–1946
• 5. Between Hope for a “Better Future” and the Defeat of CTAL Unity (1944–1963)
• 6. Conclusions
• Appendix A: Photographs
• Appendix B: Unity Pact of Workers of the Americas: To the Workers of the Cities and the Rural Areas
• Appendix C: Message to the Proletariat of Latin America
• Appendix D: Biographies of the Worker Leaders Who Endorsed the Unity Pact
• Sources and Bibliography
• Author Index
• Index