REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES. DECLASSIGED Authority Statele Her Mohr By ME, NARA Date 2498 Enclosure No. 3, despatch No. 311, dated February copy LIGA DE RECONCILIACIÓN San José, Costa Rica Apartado 1483, San José.
January 30, 1931 Mr. Edward Caffery, American Consul, San José.
Dear Mr. Caffery: In answer to your letter of January 23, 1931 am afraid the information have on labor conditions in Costa Rica is somewhat sketchy. can, however, give you a little data on the organized labor movement here, which, from what can learn, is weaker than in any other Central American country.
The Union General de Trabajadores de Costa Rica was organized in June, 1930. The officers were Matias Matamoros (Carpenter) as Seåretary General, Jesús Perez (Mason) as Secretary de Acuerdos, and John Stahl (Office worker)
as Secretario de Correspondencia.
It outlined the program as follows: To strengthen and intensify labor organization. Immediate objects. a) Agricultural colonies. b) Minimum wage.
Seven hour day, or five day week. a) Reduction in rents.
The most important union in the federation and the only one which has seemed able to keep going over any considerable length of time, is that of the cappenters and cabinet workers. There is also, believe a union of the bakers.
As to history, understand that from 1922 to 1925 there existed a former Labor organization, composed of nters, coachmen, printers, tailors, painters, masons and bakers. But the movement was drawn into politics and for that reason was broken up. In the last congressional campaign you may remember, an alliance of workers and peasants. which, however, failed to poll sufficient votes to elect any candidate.
Some months ago, understand the Union General de Trabajadores affiliated themselves with the Confederacion Sindical Latino Americana with headquarters at Montevideo, Uruguay, and not with the Panamerican Federation of Labor at Washington. This action, am informed, was due to the influence of one or two law students. The Confederación Sindical Latino Americana is at least partially Communist in