Víctor Manuel Gutiérrez

Who is Víctor Manuel Gutiérrez?

Víctor Manuel Gutiérrez Garbín was a Guatemalan labour leader. Gutiérrez, a school teacher by profession, was head of the Confederación General de Trabajadores de Guatemala. Gutiérrez has been referred to as the most important labour leader in Guatemala from 1944-1954.

Gutiérrez was a member of the Communist Party of Guatemala. In 1950 he split from PCG on issues relating to the social composition of the Central Committee of the party, and he founded the Guatemalan Revolutionary Workers Party. In the fall of 1951 he travelled to Berlin for the World Federation of Trade Unions General Council Meeting and later to Moscow. On returning to Guatemala, Gutiérrez dissolved PROG on February 2, 1952 and rejoined PCG. The 2nd congress of PCG, held the same year, elected Gutiérrez to the party Central Committee.

Gutiérrez remained a CC member of PGT until his death. On March 3, 1966 he was, along with other PGT leaders, arrested. He was subjected to torture and he was killed on March 6.