Paraguayan Journalists’ Union Launches Training to Strengthen Labor Rights and Union Action

September 12, 2024 – Paraguay – 

The Sindicato de Periodistas del Paraguay (SPP) has launched a strategic training program aimed at reinforcing union strength and promoting collective labor rights within the media sector. Held in September 2024, the three-day workshop brought together 21 union delegates and executive members from seven media organizations across the country. Supported by Union to Union and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the training marked a significant step toward consolidating journalist-led labor activism in Paraguay.

The program focused on three key areas. The first addressed the broader trade union landscape in Paraguay. Led by Fernando Rojas, president of the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores-Auténtica (CUT-A), and labor leader Mirta Arias, the session examined challenges facing national labor movements, including fragmentation among central unions and the need for unified action. The discussion underscored the importance of aligning journalistic labor with national workers’ struggles.

The second component traced the SPP’s historical and ideological development. Former union leader Mariela González and journalist Jimmy Peralta reflected on the SPP’s evolution, leadership structures, and past achievements. Their insights provided context for the union’s current strategies and helped participants connect present challenges with past resistance.

The third focus area emphasized legal protections and collective bargaining. Union lawyer Jorge Rojas Rotela provided an overview of Paraguayan labor law and highlighted the critical role of collective agreements in improving working conditions for media professionals. This legal grounding is key to empowering union members to negotiate better protections and challenge exploitation in the newsroom.

Beyond individual sessions, the workshop fostered peer-to-peer dialogue about the shared obstacles journalists face—including precarious employment, censorship, and threats to press freedom. The event is part of a wider IFJ-supported regional strategy to enhance union capacity, build solidarity across sectors, and advance democratic labor practices in journalism.

With plans for future training sessions and increased advocacy efforts, the SPP is positioning itself as a leading voice in labor rights for media workers in Paraguay. The initiative reaffirms the union’s commitment to equipping journalists not only to report the news but also to defend their rights within the newsroom and beyond.

Reference – 

Paraguay: SPP promotes training to strengthen trade union action – IFJ