Agrupación de Trabajadores Latinoamericanos Sindicalistas

"Agrupación de Trabajadores Latinoamericanos Sindicalistas" was a Latin American trade union confederation, founded in Mexico, in 1952. The organization was formed by the Argentinian CGT, Mexican CROM and other trade unions. ATLAS intended to organize a 'third way' in the Latin American labour movement (different from the pro-U.S. ORIT and the pro-communist CTAL), arguing that Latin American trade unions should build unity without 'external' interference.Rubio, José Luis. "Las internacionales obreras en América". Madrid: 1971. p. 85-86]

CGT had been barred from addressing the founding conference of CIT (forerunner of ORIT), due to their criticism of U.S. trade union policies. The leader of the CROM delegation, Luis Napoleón Morones, had protested this move at the CIT conference. Moreover, CGT was barred from joining ORIT once it was formed. Vincente Lombardo Toledano, leader of CTAL, on the other hand sought unity in action between CTAL and ATLAS (which like CTAL took up anti-imperialist positions), a move which was rejected by ATLAS.

In 1954 the Venezuelan pro-Pérez union federation CNT joined ATLAS.Alexander, Robert J. "Rómulo Betancourt and the transformation of Venezuela". New Brunswick, cop. 1982. p. 338]

ATLAS disappeared as a functioning organization in 1955, with the overthrow of Juan Domingo Perón in Argentina. The CGT and ATLAS offices where stormed by the junta forces in November, and closed down. There were some later intents to revive ATLAS, but without major success.

References

See also

*José Alonso, Argentine representant of the CGT present at foundation