Venezuelan union leader sentenced to 7 years in prison, lawyer says [ Socialists reject Unions! ]

A prominent union leader was sentenced to seven years in prison Monday on charges stemming from a strike that temporarily paralyzed Venezuela's state-run iron mining company, his lawyer said. The ruling raised concerns among human rights activists who accuse the government of President Hugo Chavez of misusing the legal system to curb the power of organized labour, particularly unions at state-operated companies. Defence lawyer Italo Atencio said a judge sentenced Ruben Gonzalez on charges including unlawful assembly, public incitement to commit crimes and violation of a government security zone during the 2009 strike at CVG Ferrominera Orinoco CA, better known...