By William Neuman, New York Times, Oct. 6/7, 2013

CIUDAD GUAYANA, Venezuela — Rival union groups squared off outside this country’s biggest steel mill last week, arguing over whether to continue a lengthy strike at the government-run plant. Each faction blasted its message at top volume over loudspeakers, trying to drown the other out. Pushing and shoving ensued, along with dueling renditions of the national anthem.

And then the region’s chief government official, a former general, showed up with another set of loudspeakers to tell everyone that they should all just go back to work. The workers shouted him down, too.

President Nicolás Maduro has insinuated that the strike at the company with about 14,000 workers is part of an American plot to destabilize the country, and last week he expelled the top American diplomat in Venezuela and two other embassy officials amid dark warnings of a conspiracy. As evidence Mr. Maduro pointed to a visit the diplomats made to this industrial city last month, when they met with labor leaders and members of the political opposition.

But he offered no proof that the diplomats’ visit had anything to do with the strike, which was already under way. Union leaders adamantly denied any link to the embassy.[....]

Photo credit & caption:  Meridith Kohut for The New York Times; Workers voting last week to continue a strike at the steel plant, while a rival union group was calling for the strike to end.