Venezuelan officials clash with journalists' union and demand vacation bonus for state workers

PSUV secretary and interior minister Diosdado Cabello attacked the National Press Workers' Union (SNTP), calling it “recontramiserable” and saying it is “more discredited than the OAS.” He accused the union of defending a political line that costs money and criticized media coverage of recent earthquakes, asserting he is “the villain” who tells the truth. The National College of Journalists responded with a statement demanding Cabello stop insulting journalists.

In the state of Mérida, the Confederation of Workers of Venezuela (CTV), led by coordinator Carlos Guerrero, presented a third formal request to the regional governor seeking a meeting to address labor issues. The union demanded that the unique vacation bonus be paid to workers of the state governor’s office, noting that employees have been excluded from the benefit for three years, creating inequality compared with staff of national ministries. The CTV called on national authorities, including the Ministry of Finance and ONAPRE, to allocate resources for the bonus payment.