Adopted at the eleventh federation congress,
November 5-6, 2005, Sherbrooke, Quebec

The struggle toward libertarian communism must be brought about by the whole of the working class, the workplace and labor unions are an essential point of agitation and struggle. Anarchist-communists must organize within the ranks of labor unions, active in this struggle as both advocates of social revolution and as fellow workers in a collective battle against exploitation.

Class struggle is by no means confined to workplace. Class conflict occurs everyday in neighborhood-based battles for decent housing, the fight for welfare, the battles for access to quality education, the struggle against prisons and police brutality, in the arena of popular culture, and especially against racism, sexism, and other oppressions that stratify and divide the working class. However, as anarchist-communists, we have a particular strategic interest in workplace struggles due to the ability to directly challenge the material interests of the capitalist class

Independent rank-and-file tendencies within existing unions, coupled with workplace resistance groups, solidarity networks, and, eventually, workplace assemblies and coordinating councils, provide a glimpse at the kind of self-managed workers movement needed to not only effectively challenge the employers, but also develop the unity and revolutionary class consciousness needed to overthrow the capitalist social order.

L'Union régionale du Québec de la NEFAC a produit deux affiches anti-électorales pour la campagne électorale fédérale. Intitulées "Politichiens", l'une dit simplement "Votez bien, votez rien" tandis que l'autre dit "n'attendons rien d'eux, seule la lutte paie" et "Notre pouvoir est dans la rue, pas dans les urnes". Évidemment, les affiches sont "copyleft"... N'hésitez pas à les télécharger et à les afficher par chez-vous.

Agir dans le mouvement, ou le commenter de l’extérieur ?

Déborder les bureaucraties syndicales ou se contenter de les dénoncer ?

Pour le dixième anniversaire des grandes grèves de Décembre 95, le mensuel Alternative libertaire publie un dossier spécial, dont un large extrait d’une interview de deux militants, acteurs du mouvement social de 1995 sur Rouen.

Cette interview, ici complète, donne une bonne illustration de la pratique syndicaliste révolutionnaire développée par les militant(e)s d’AL. Elle montre surtout que changer les pratiques, changer le syndicalisme, ce sont des choses qui se construisent sur le long terme, pas à coups de slogans gauchistes, et qui peuvent être longtemps souterraines avant d’éclater au grand jour comme ce fut le cas en Décembre 95.

	Jean-Michel Dauvel, 46 ans à l’époque, était agent de conduite au dépôt de Sotteville-lès-Rouen, et secrétaire de la CFDT-Cheminots Haute-Normandie. Il est aujourd’hui militant de SUD-Rail.
	Pascal Devernay, 43 ans à l’époque, était agent du transbordement nuit au centre de tri postal de Sotteville-lès-Rouen, et membre du bureau régional de SUD-PTT.

An interview of Nicolas of the Workers Solidarity Network with Patrick from Firebrand and the Portland local Northwest Anarchist Federation

Patrick: What is the goal of the Workers Solidarity Network?

Nicolas: We try to promote solidarity within the labour movement. This is a broad statement but it is applied in different forms like strike solidarity, direct action case work and helping with union drives. We want to prove to ourselves and workers in general that it’s possible to fight the bosses with or without an established union. Fundamentally, what’s needed is to make a list of demands and grievances and act upon them collectively. This can be done in a traditional union framework or in non-conventional frameworks that some struggles require.

PARTY BÉNÉFICE POUR CAUSE COMMUNE

Samedi 17 Décembre
21h00
2035 St-Laurent
Montréal

////DJ Pastis////
////DJ Redstrike////
////DJ Sabotage////

Punkrockn’roll-Reggae
Dub-Soul-Hip Hop

CAUSE COMMUNE
http://nefac.net/blog/59

Bonjour!

Le Collectif anarchiste La Nuit (NEFAC) et la librairie autogérée La Page Noire vous invitent à la projection du film "Matewan".

Quand: vendredi le 16 décembre à partir de 19h00
Où: à la Page Noire (412, 3e avenue à Limoilou, entre la 4e et la 5e rue).

Réalisé par John Sayles (USA, 1987), "Matewan" est un classique du cinéma engagé américain. Dans les années ‘20 à Matewan (Virginie), la vie des mineurs est sous la coupe de la toute puissante Stone Mountain Coal Company. Toute la ville appartient à l’entreprise. Lorsque les patrons décident de couper les salaires, d’affamer les ouvriers et de les réduire au silence, c’est l’affrontement.

Il semblerait qu’un bref communiqué sur notre 12e congrès ai été mal interprété par des camarades d’outre-mer. Une rumeur circule en effet voulant que la NEFAC ai décidé de prendre position pour l’indépendance du Québec. Nous sommes les premiers surpris de l’apprendre! Si nous avons effectivement adopté un texte de discussion sur la question nationale québécoise, nous n’avons pas pris position en faveur de l’indépendance. Nous demeurons toujours aussi férocement anti-nationalistes que par le passé. Afin de dissiper tout mal-entendu, nous diffusons aujourd’hui le texte de discussion adopté par le congrès de la NEFAC.

Solidairement

Le secrétariat international de la Fédération des communistes libertaires du Nord-Est (NEFAC).

* * *

Dear comrades,

It appears that a brief communique on our 12th conference has been badly misunderstood by a few international comrades. A rumor is circulating saying that NEFAC decided to take a position in favor of Quebec Indepedance. We are surprised to learn this! If we indeed adopted a discussion paper on the issue of the Quebec National Question, we did not take a position in favorof independance. We are as anti-nationalists as ever. In order to put the record straight we are distributing the text that was adopted at our recent conference.

Alternative libertaire publie sur deux numéros un long texte des camarades du Mouvement libertaire cubain qui répondent par des réflexions bienveillantes à la fois critiques et constructives à la dernière Déclaration politique des zapatistes.

Reflections from an Anarchist Communist Perspective

A member of the Chilean OCL deals, in general, with the problems posed by concrete class struggle and popular organisation for anarchist communists. It aims to raise a number of questions -in an orderly and systematic fashion- that are important and necessary to think of a revolutionary alternative in a concrete place in a concrete time.

Solidarity with those who struggle in Argentina!

We call on all organizations of the people, of the workers, students and anyone who is interested in the struggle for justice in the world, to show their solidarity with the people's movements in Argentina. The brave piqueteros who at the moment are facing persecution by the Argentinian government and its repressive machinery. And in particular a militant of one of these movements who was wrongfully arrested.

Download your copy of this month's STRIKE!
Featuring...

• Liberals Gut the Welfare Diet Program
  
• 81 Reasons to Oppose the New Youth Superjail
  
• Defying the Rule of Law: Lessons Learned from the BC Teachers Strike
  
• CUPE 3903 Cracks Open York University
  
• Crap Boss of the Month Award
  
• Stop the Extradition of Gary Freeman!
  

brought to you by Punching Out Collective, Toronto NEFAC

The Northeastern Federation of Anarchist-Communists held its 12th congress this past weekend (Nov. 5-6) in Sherbrooke, Québec. Approximately 30 members were in attendance representing anarchist-communist groups from Québec City, St-Georges de Beauce, Sherbrooke, Montréal, Toronto, Boston, New York, New Jersey and Baltimore.
Read the rest

La Fédération des Communistes Libertaires a tenu son 12ième congrès la fin de semaine dernière (5-6 nov.) à Sherbrooke au Québec. Approximativement 30 membres étaient en présence, provenant de groupes communistes libertaires de Québec, St-Georges de Beauce, Sherbrooke, Montréal, Toronto, Boston, New York, New Jersey et Baltimore.
Lire la suite

French youth take part in a protest against the government's handling of recent urban unrest in France, at Place Saint Michel in Paris, November 16, 2005. (Franck Prevel/Reuters)

[A communique from our comrades at Alternative Libertaire. Translation thanks to Sketchy Thoughts.]

Within a week the riots that started in Clichy-sous-Bois as a result of the deaths of Ziad and Banou have spread to other suburbs around Paris, and now throughout the country. This is the unavoidable result of five years of Sarko-show [a reference to Minister of the Interior Nicolas Sarkozy], eight years of security legislation, and thirty years of social decline.

Read also:

• France: No to the state of emergency! No to colonial war! (communique from AL)

• We are all part of the rabble (communique from the Paris Region CNT-f)
• If You Sow Misery, You Will Reap Anger (CNT Education sector on French riots)
• No justice, no peace! (communique from the Federation anarchiste)

[Communiqué d'AL.]

En une semaine, les émeutes initiées à Clichy-sous-Bois par la mort de Ziad et Banou se sont propagées à d’autres villes de banlieue parisienne puis finalement à tout l’hexagone. C’est le résultat inévitable d'au moins cinq années de sarko-show, huit années de durcissement sécuritaire et plus de trente années de dégradation sociale.

Lire aussi:

• France: Non à l’état d’urgence ! Non à la guerre coloniale ! (communiqué d'AL)

• Nous sommes tous de la racaille (communiqué CNT Région parisienne)
• Qui sème la misère récolte la colère (communiqué CNT Fédération éducation)
• Emeutes et répression partout en France : Pas de justice, pas de paix ! (communiqué de la Fédération anarchiste)
• « Crevez en Paix mes frères, mais crevez en silence, qu'on ne perçoive que l'écho lointain de vos souffrances ... » (communiqué du Mouvement de l'immigration et des banlieues)
• Quand « ils » sèment la misère, « ils » récoltent la colère... (communiqué de la Coordination des Groupes Anarchistes)

by Michael Schmidt, Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Federation (Southern Africa)

Anarchist communism has evolved over the past 140 years as a fighting working class tradition of revolutionary warfare against all forms of exploitation. Its aim is the creation of the freest and most equal society possible, balancing individual and collective interests in as fair a way as possible. But our detractors, both of the left and the right question whether anarchism is strong enough to work in practice.

Volume 1, Issue 3 November 2005
Anarchist Atlanta is the monthly newsletter of the Capital Terminus Collective, created to spread news of projects we're working on, other campaigns our individual members are involved in, and general class struggle news in our area.

• State Terrorism from Atlanta to Oaxaca
• Close the School of the Americas!
• Anarcho-Communism A-Z: the letter "C"
• The Resurrection City Seven
• Working Groups: Counter-Recruitment, Women's Health, Media

Download and Distribute

Du 17 au 19 novembre prochain, la droite religieuse québécoise et canadienne se donne rendez-vous à l'Oratoire Saint-Joseph de Montréal à l'occasion du congrès " La vie et la famille : source d'espérance ".

As of Monday, November 7th, the 5,000 Transport Workers Union Local 234 and 320 United Transportation Union Local 1594 members returned to work. A tentative agreement with SEPTA was unanimously approved by Local 234 Executive Board voting. The Local 234 Executive Board recommended ratification of contract by membership. Ratification Vote of the Tentative Contract is to be held Tuesday, November 15, 2005. 7AM to 7PM. The new contract provides 3 percent raises each year and requires employees to contribute 1 percent of their base salary toward health care premiums, Local 234 spokesman Bob Bedard said Monday. "In return, management will contribute 1 percent to health care based on their salaries," he said.

Le numéro 8 de Cause commune, le journal de la NEFAC au Québec vient de sortir des presses. 3000 exemplaires de ce journal sont distribués gratuitement par des militantEs libertaires, membres ou non de l’organisation. Cause commune se veut un tremplin pour les idées anarchistes, en appui aux mouvements de résistance contre les patrons, les proprios et leurs alliés au gouvernement. Si le journal vous plaît et que vous voulez aider à le diffuser dans votre milieu, contactez le collectif de la NEFAC le plus près de vous.

Un pdf à basse résolution --format tabloïd-- est disponible.

Au sommaire du no 8 (format HTML)

• Négociations dans le secteur public : Le cirque a assez duré!

• L’OURAGAN KATRINA ET SES RÉPERCUSSIONS
• L’anarchie de A à Z : « H » comme HOMOPHOBIE
• UNE HONTE! “Dénonciation syndicale de l'insalubrité d'une prison sans un mots sur les conditions de détention”
• Chronique syndicale : SUR LES LIGNES
• Les anti-choix se réunissent à Montréal : Avortons leur congrès!
• LE RIDICULE NE TUE PAS! Le délire de Falardeau

Comme ce fut le cas un peu partout à travers le monde, la deuxième guerre mondiale a considérablement ralenti le développement des idées anarchistes au Québec. Les liens entre l’Europe et l’Amérique du Nord sont pratiquement coupés pendant toute la durée du conflit. Au Québec, on assiste à un retour au conservatisme. Après avoir perdu le pouvoir en 1939, l’Union Nationale remporte la victoire aux élections de 1944. Le chef du parti, Maurice Duplessis, dirige les destinées de la province jusqu’en 1959, l’année de sa mort. Sous son «règne», les libertés fondamentales sont constamment violées, avec la bénédiction du clergé catholique, sous fond de maccarthysme. Dans une lettre à l’anarchiste français Émile Armand, Paul Faure décrit en ces termes le climat politique auquel les «réfractaires» (libertaires compris) font face pendant la «Grande Noirceur» : «Depuis plus de 40 ans que je suis dans ce pays, je constate que le mouvement des idées n’a jamais été aussi bas. Mais par contre, la réaction ne s’est jamais manifestée avec autant de vigueur (...), la chasse aux «rouges» va se déchaîner en hystérie. La situation [est] tragique». Malgré ce climat répressif, l’après-guerre sera marquée par le développement d’un groupe fortement inspiré par les idées libertaires : les automatistes. RéuniEs autour du peintre Paul-Émile Borduas, une quinzaine de jeunes artistes n’hésiteront pas à confronter le lourd climat clérical et fascisant qui marque cette période plutôt «sombre» de l’histoire québécoise.

URGENT SOLIDARITY NEEDED:
SUPPORT THOSE ARRESTED PROTESTING NEO-NAZIS IN TOLEDO, OH!

This is an emergency request for bail money for people arrested at the anti-Nazi demonstration in Toledo, OH. Please Western Union money to Chris Fox in Kent, OH. Call him at 330-389-0891 once the money is wired.

Activists demonstrate against the Minutemen in Rock Island.

On Saturday, October 15th, a group of 25 people from Montreal drove down to Rock Island, QC, which sits right on the Quebec-Vermont border. The reason for their visit - the Minutemen were patrolling the Derby Line border crossing, and groups of anarchists, socialists, and leftists on both sides of the border were determined to stop them!

The minutemen are a volunteer group of vigilantes who patrol the borders of the USA in an attempt to stop migrants from crossing. They began their patrols on the US-Mexican border in April, 2005, and launched their campaign at the US-Canadian border on October 1st.

While they claim not to be racist and just "protecting their country", the politics of the Minutemen can be described as veiled fascism. They portray any immigrant or refugee as a threat to national security, and there have been known incidences where they have humilated, harassed, and beaten migrants - all while thwarting their attempts to seek some form of safety and sanctuary in the USA.

77% of BCTF's 38,000 teachers voted to agree with the mediator's recommendation and end the strike. Schools re-open on Monday (10/24/05). Recommendations included $20 million increase in the government's commitment for learning conditions in the current fiscal year and additional money for class size reductions and special-needs issues; as well as $40 million "towards harmonization of salary grids throughout the province. Provincial Education Minister Shirley Bond said the government is willing to discuss class size and composition as well as other issues. Next spring, contracts talks will begin.

The last couple of days have seen rotating strike action in different regions of British Columbia. On Friday (10/21/05), the third party mediator between the Government and BCTF came out with recommendations for both sides. In response, the BC Federation of Labour cancelled their protest actions on Friday in the most populated region of BC, the lower mainland [which includes Vancouver]. Notable, CUPE went ahead--40,000 of their members are on strike in the region. Later in the day the BCTF leadership announced they would "reluctantly" recommend to the membership acceptance of the recommendations of the mediator, and the government followed by agreeing to unconditionally to the terms the mediator set forth.
Despite government threats, thousands walked off the job in support of striking teachers on Monday (10/17/05). Businesses were up in arms at the refusal of BC workers to adhere to the law. "People must obey the law", Jerry Lampert from the Business Council of British Columbia warned, "or we are on the short or long road to anarchy in this province, and we just can't afford that". Lampert's comments, cited by speakers at the rally, provoked the laughter of thousands of striking teachers and their supporters. When faced with the gross disavowal of worker's rights, thousands have shown that the law is illegitimate not the strike.

Victoria, October 17, 2005

Work sites were shut down through cross-picketing throughout the city, including unionized workers in both the public and private sectors. Busdrivers, mail carriers, and construction workers were just a few of the workers who joined the teachers in solidarity. NAF members took part, cross-picketing a number of sites. Posters were plastered across the downtown core calling for a general strike.

Federation Nationale des Enseignates et des Ensignants du Quebec (FNEEQ-CSN) and Confederation des syndicats du Quebec (CSQ) support the BC strike. Ontario Teachers Federation has lent $10 million to the BCTF to support the strike - in numbers that's 50 days of strike support money.

Northwest Anarchist Federation (NAF) plastered the city core with several hundred posters Sunday night: Teachers! Students! People of BC! Stop the Campbell Government!

Popular Assemblies Now! "The escalation of job action depends on the diffusion of participation and communication across the membership as whole, reaching out to other workers and the broader community. This can best be accomplished through the constitution of decentralized networks and organization." - NAF, Unfinished Business #3

NAF has also organized a mass public forum on the strike for Sunday, 1:00 PM October 23rd the Da Vinci Centre 195 Bay St.

BACKGROUND: Operation Sold Out II: The Failed General Strike in British Columbia (April-May 2004)