CNT-f Faces Eviction

CNT-F FACES EVICTION FROM LONG-TERM HEADQUARTERS

     The CNT-f is the larger of the two anarchosyndicalist/revolutionary syndicalist union federations in France. They have traditionally been called the 'CNT-Vignoles' after their headquarters at 33 rue Vignoles in Paris. They have survived a previous attempt to evict them in 1996, but now they are facing a fresh attack from the Mayor of Paris.

     The following is their statement on the events. The original French version can be here. You can follow events from either their website or from the site of their newspaper Combat Syndicaliste. These events seem reminiscent of the eviction of the Spanish CGT from their headquarters at 18 Via Laietana in Barcelona back in 2011. Hopefully this time around the good guys will win against the government.

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EVICTION AT 33 RUE DES VIGNOLES

     In a recent letter the City of Paris has come to unilaterally terminate the ongoing discussions about the continuation of the CNT in its historic location at 33 Rue des Vignoles. We were also "invited" to leave on the pretext of carry out 'rehabilitation' work.

     Previously in 1996 the then-Mayor Tiberi voted for the demolition of 33. She had to retreat in the face of mobilization of the local residents, associations and the CNT.

     We, paramedics, masons, primary school teachers, labourers, nurses' aides, truck drivers, teachers' aides, metal workers, architects, technicians, journalists, postal workers, etc. who form the CNT unions in region of Paris:

     We who in this XXnd arrondissement walk in the footsteps of the Paris Commune and those of the Bourses du Travail of the CGT in the beginning of the 20th century:

     We who at 33 Rue des Vignoles walk in the footsteps of our older brothers and sisters of the Confederacion Nacional de Trabahadores, anti-fascists, survivors of the Nazi camps, the Resistance and the liberation of Paris:

     We who continue the struggle for the emancipation of the working world at the beginning of the 21st century:

     We who to maintain this place in acceptable conditions while the City of Paris has done nothing for almost 20 years:

     We will resist again. Yesterday in the face of Tiberi it was the violence of bulldozers. Today with Delancé it is the violence of King Money.

     This CNT has called a public meeting for information, solidarity and support from all who want a living Paris, a revolutionary Paris.
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15 hours: Information on the status of 33

18 hours: Concert with Serge Utgé-Royo

20 hours: Convivial meal
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INTERNATIONAL LABOUR FRANCE:
GENERAL STRIKE IN FRANCE DRAWS OVER TWO MILLION:


Today's one day general strike in France in protest over the government's proposed pension "reforms" drew considerably larger crowds in the demonstrations than the previous effort in June. Once more there are considerably different estimates from different people, with numbers ranging from 1.1 million (government figures) to close to three million (union sources). Even if you take the lower figure this is a considerable increase from the about 800,000 who took part in June. What this means, however, for either the workers or the Sarkozy government is unclear. Here's a brief report of the demonstration from the BBC.
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PENSION RALLIES HIT FRENCH CITIES
More than one million French workers have taken to the streets to protest against austerity measures planned by President Nicolas Sarkozy's government.

The rallies came as a 24-hour national strike disrupted flight and rail services, and closed schools.

Activists are angry at government plans to overhaul pensions and raise the retirement age from 60 to 62.

Union leaders say more strikes and protests are possible if the government fails to give an adequate response.

"If they don't respond and they don't pay heed, there'll be a follow up, and nothing is ruled out at this stage," Bernard Thibault, leader of the large CGT union, told a rally in Paris.

France's retirement age is lower than many countries in Europe, but analysts say the issue is polarising politics in the country.


Labour Minister Eric Woerth introduced the pensions bill to the National Assembly, warning of dire consequences if it did not pass.

"If we don't modify our pension plan, then tomorrow there will be no money left to pay the French pensions," he told parliamentarians.

Commuter woe

Under current rules, both men and women in France can retire at 60, providing they have paid social security contributions for 40.5 years - although they are not entitled to a full pension until they are 65.

The government says it will save 70bn euros (£58bn) by raising the retirement age to 62 by 2018, the qualification to 41.5 years, and the pension age to 67.

President Nicolas Sarkozy says reforms are needed to cope with an ageing population and the country's budget deficit.

EUROPE'S RETIREMENT AGES
France - 60
UK, Italy - 65 for men, 60 for women
Germany, Netherlands, Spain - 65
Greece - 65 for men, 62 for women
The government is also looking to find 100bn euros of savings in three years, and is planning cuts in the civil sector.

Some secondary-school teachers went on strike on Monday, protesting against plans to cut 7,000 jobs in education.

State railway operator SNCF said fewer than half of its TGV high-speed services were running, and there was a greatly reduced service on many other lines.

Eurostar said its trains between France and London would operate normally.

Some air-traffic controllers walked out, forcing the cancellation or delay of about a quarter of flights from Paris airports.

Air France said it was operating all of its long-haul flights as planned, but short and medium-haul flights had been affected.

Migrant laws

Amid the disruption caused by strikes, the Interior Ministry said 1.1 million people had joined Tuesday's protests but unions claimed the figure was more than double official estimates.

The figures make Tuesday's protest bigger than a previous one in June, where more than 800,000 people took part.

Huge crowds braved stormy weather across southern parts of France, while demonstrators in Paris and the north enjoyed autumn sunshine.

In Paris, protesters shouted through loud-hailers: "Slave-driving? No, no, no. Working more? No, no, no. Fair reforms? Yes, yes, yes."

Protester Michel Prouvier told AFP news agency: "We're going to have old people living in the street."

Activists were also keen to maker a wider point, angry at the recent deportation of about 1,000 Roma (Gypsies) and a host of proposed laws which they say unfairly target immigrants and minorities.

"Pensions are a pretext for protesting against the Sarkozy system," said Adji Ahoudian, a Socialist Party activist.

Among those concerns is a proposal banning the full face veil worn by Muslim women, which was passed by the lower house in July but is now up for debate in the Senate.

Senators are also expected to debate a controversial new security law which would see recent immigrants stripped of French citizenship if they committed serious crimes such as killing a police officer.

The law would also allow electronic tagging for foreign criminals facing deportation.
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Here's how this strike was seen by the British Lib Com site.
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Mass strikes in France over proposed increase to retirement age
7th September 2010 - In response to the government's proposal to raise the pension age from 60 to 62, French workers have held widespread strikes that brought severe disruption to the French economy.

French unions have claimed that up to three million people have taken part in street protests amid a national strike against France's economic policies.

Police gave an estimate of 1.2 million people at rallies nationwide.

Schools have been closed and public transport disrupted, with demonstrations held in about 200 towns.

Unions are demanding more is spent to protect workers in the recession. Unemployment has reached two million and is expected to rise further.

Union members marched towards the Place de la Nation in Paris behind a banner that read: "United against the crisis, defend employment, spending power and public services."

"They have a profound sense of social injustice," said Jean-Claude Mailly, head of the large Force Ouvriere union, "and that, I think, is something that neither the government nor the employers have understood."

Benoit Hamon, a spokesman for the French Socialist Party spokesman said France was experiencing similar problems to other countries, but that the situation was being made worse by President Nicolas Sarkozy.

"We have a president who aggravates the crisis by making the wrong economic and social choices, by his deafness regarding the general dissatisfaction," said Mr Hamom.

"He refuses to give answers regarding layoffs, regarding the cost of living, regarding the way to objectively avoid the rise in job losses in the public sector or in the public health system."

Marches were also being held in Marseille, Lyon, Grenoble and many other towns and cities.

Noel Kouici, demonstrating in Marseilles, said protesters had a "grudge" against the government.

"Of course we are angry against the government when you see the way they serve the banks and leave the people starving and losing their jobs," he said.

But the deputy mayor of Marseille, Roland Blum, told the BBC the government had done a lot to help people.

"Of course I understand the distress of people who've lost or are going to lose their jobs, but what I think is necessary is that we all work together," he said.

There protests were largely peaceful but minor scuffles were reported in several cities later in the evening.

In Paris, police used tear gas to disperse small groups of youths who were setting fire to rubbish bins and throwing bottles.

It is the second time in two months that major demonstrations have been held, following a similar display in January which drew about a million protesters.

Beleaguered industries

The strikes began on Wednesday evening on transport networks.

An employee assists commuters at Gare Saint-Lazare train in Paris (19 March 2009)
French commuters face a limited rail service because of the strike

The national rail operator, SNCF, cancelled 40% of high-speed trains and half of regional services.

A third of flights out of Paris's Orly airport have been cancelled, while a tenth of France's electricity output has been shut down with workers on strike.

However, buses and the Metro rail system in Paris were running normally, thanks to a new law enforcing a minimum transport service during strikes,.

But with many schools and public buildings shut for the day, the number of workers travelling into the capital was reduced.

Private-sector firms were also expecting a depleted workforce, with staff from the beleaguered car industry, oil and retail sectors taking part in the strike.
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It is, of course, easy to expect too much from such ephemeral wonders. A one day general strike is, after all, nothing but a do it yourself opinion poll with a lot of noise. It has exactly zero immediate effect other than a brief loss of production which, in the case of public enterprise, is often a gain rather than a loss of revenue. As the following article from The Economist points out such symbolic actions have forced the government to back down on the issue of pensions at least once in the past (1995). Whether that will be the case this time is uncertain. President Sarkozy has sunk to record levels of unpopularity, but the reasons are not confined to this one issue or even to a collection of issues related to his neo-liberal agenda. Like most conservative ideologues who preach "morality for the masses" his government has more than its fair share of sleaze and scandal, and this has weighed heavily on his administration.


On the other hand, as the following points out, Sarkozy is constrained by political considerations to at least appear to "give a little". In this he has unlikely allies in the form of the larger union federations, the CFDT and the CGT, both of which are quite happy with their present position in French society and who are unlikely to want to toss the dice in the air in terms of a fundamental rearrangement of same. All the ingredients are there for a compromise whereby both sides declare victory while hoping for electoral gains in 2012. Talk of further general strikes are merely bargaining chips for these unions to "appear" to be useful for their members and in the case of the CFDT for its bedfellow the Socialist party. If the unions were serious about pushing their advantage they would definitely set a general strike for September 29 to coincide with the one planned in Spain and lobby their fellow continental unions for a European wide general strike on that day. Not just talk about it and bluster.


The French anarcho-syndicalist union the CNT (CNT Vignoles) participated in the general strike, but they see the limitations of such actions. Recognizing the ephemeral nature of such protests they have recommended a gradual build up of general assemblies at workplaces. Such general assemblies, independent from the union bureaucracies, would not be tied to any institutional benefits from the state and would be much more effective organs of resistance. They lack the flash and noise of one day demonstrations but unlike the mayfly-like lifespan of such protests they are enduring methods for people to resist the government and its corporate masters.


Something to consider. In any case here is The Economist article.
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French politics
The retiring type

Sep 8th 2010, 9:27 by The Economist PARIS


FRANCE is bracing itself for more disruption after 1.1m-2.7m demonstrators took to the streets, in hundreds of towns across the country, as part of a 24-hour national strike against President Nicolas Sarkozy’s pension reform. The turn-out was better than trade-union leaders had hoped for, and far higher than a previous day of action in June. Train drivers, teachers, post-office staff, air-traffic controllers, and other mostly public-sector workers, some wheeling children’s buggies, others banging festive drums, took part. Flush with their success, union leaders are now hoping to press the government for further concessions.

Mr Sarkozy wants to raise the minimum legal pension age from 60 to 62 years. This is a relatively modest change by the standards of some other European countries, which are pushing the retirement age up to 65 or even 67. The government forecasts that retirement at 62 will reduce by €18.6 billion the €42 billion state pension-fund shortfall expected by 2018. Tax increases, including a raise in the top income-tax rate from 40% to 41%, will make up a further €4 billion; the rest will come from general government spending.

Yet the reform is symbolically important. France has not touched the legal retirement age since the early 1980s, when it was cut to 60 years. Previous governments have tinkered with contribution rules to try to make the numbers add up, but never dared to meddle with retirement at 60. Back in 1995 Alain Juppé, prime minister under President Jacques Chirac, was forced to withdraw a more modest pension reform after weeks of chaos on French streets.

Union leaders and the opposition Socialist Party, which is also against the reform, argue that the government cannot afford to appear deaf to such this week's show of public opposition. Martine Aubry, the Socialist boss, called the reform “unfair”, and called on the government to “go back to square one”, and withdraw the legislation, which is currently going through parliament. “If we are not listened to, there will be further protests,” declared Bernard Thibault, leader of the powerful Confédération Générale du Travail. Union chiefs now need to decide whether to call another national strike this month. Some are talking about another one-day strike later this month, when parliament is due to vote on the reform.

Mr Sarkozy is in an awkward corner. His popularity has dropped to record lows. His own political camp is restless, and some deputies fear he has lost his political touch. The Socialist Party is freshly confident, and has started to believe in its chances of election at the next presidential poll in 2012. Mr Sarkozy says he will not budge on the retirement age. But he will be tempted to give some ground, in order to thwart further disruption. Certain concessions at the margin, over issues such as special rules for those who have done hard labour (pénibilité), would not necessarily make for a bad deal. But to go too far would only save him trouble in the short run. It would do nothing to restore his credibility as a reformer and a leader ready to take unpopular decisions, without which he has no chances of re-election in 2012.

MOUVEMENT ANARCHISTE INTERNATIONAL -FRANCE/INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-FRANCE:
CONTRE LA RÉPRESSION D'ÉTAT À POITIERS/AGAINST STATE REPRESSION IN POITIERS:

L'histoire et attrait qui suit est de CNT-F anarcho-syndicaliste./The story and solidarity appeal that follows is from the anarcho-syndicalist CNT-F.
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Contre la répression d'État à Poitiers:

Contre la répression d'État à PoitiersLa Fédération CNT des travailleurs de l'éducation s'élève contre la répression féroce qui s'abat sur des camarades à Poitiers depuis le 10 octobre.





Suite à la manifestation contre l'enfermement et la construction de la prison privée de Vivonne, dix-huit personnes, dont certains militants, ont été arrêtées et placées en garde à vue. Certaines ont même été arrêtées alors qu'elles n'avaient pas participé à la manifestation ! Jugées en comparution immédiate – nom juridique de la justice expéditive – trois d'entre elles ont été condamnées à de la prison ferme.





Pour faire taire le mouvement social, l'État a choisi arbitrairement trois boucs émissaires innocents et utilise ce prétexte pour ficher tous les militants locaux. Hortefeux réactive la peur de l'ennemi intérieur et en profite pour faire passer des nouvelles lois liberticides : « inventaire des lieux de vie communautaire où se regroupent des mouvances anarchistes potentiellement violentes », « identification très précise des groupuscules qui organisent ces incidents », dissolution de ces groupes.





La Fédération CNT des travailleurs de l'éducation invite à créer des comités de soutien aux inculpé-e-s ou à rejoindre ceux qui existent déjà. Nous dénonçons un État qui utilise les violences policières, les lois scélérates et une « justice » d'exception pour détruire toute contestation sociale. Nous continuerons à lutter contre l'enfermement, nous continuerons à participer à des manifestations contre toutes les violences économiques, sociales et politiques. Nous serons toujours dans les luttes et y développerons l'autogestion et la solidarité contre la peur et l'injustice.

CNT FTE

Toulouse, le 17 octobre 2009

Contacts de la CNT FTE : http://www.cnt-f.org/fte/ (site), fede-educ@cnt-f.org (mail), 06 26 50 01 36 (téléphone).
Précisions sur les condamnés :

- Patrick, quatre mois fermes, quatre mois avec sursis et 800 € d'amende pour violence sur commissaire ; Sam (trésorier de la CNT éducation 86), un mois ferme, cinq mois avec sursis pour violence sur commissaire ; Jean-Salvy, un mois ferme, cinq mois avec sursis pour violence sur officier de police ; Nathalie et Charles, deux mois avec sursis pour détention de feux d'artifices ; Serge, six mois avec sursis, deux ans de mise à l'épreuve et 2 850 € d'amende pour dégradations volontaires de biens privés ; Léo, six mois avec sursis pour dégradations volontaires par incendie et jets de pierres ; Candice, six mois avec sursis et 950 € d'amende pour dégradations volontaires sur un bien d'utilité publique. Par ailleurs, le parquet a fait appel pour quatre d'entre eux.



- Procès à venir : le 5 janvier 2010, une mineure (14 ans) pour rébellion et refus de prélèvement ADN à Limoges ; le 23 février 2010, Angel (CNT éducation 86) et Sarah pour refus de prélèvement ADN (et refus de prise de photos et d'empreintes pour Angel).

Renseignements :

- Le comité poitevin contre la répression des mouvements sociaux ( http://antirepression.unblog.fr/ ) appelle à un rassemblement lundi 19 octobre à 17h30, place d'Armes, Poitiers.




- Un blog de soutien pour Sam et Jean-Salvy : http://soutiensametjeansalvy.over-blog.org/Pour signer l'appel à leur libération : http://5237.lapetition.be/ <http://5237.lapetition.be/

Pour contacter le comité de soutien : soutiensametjeansalvy@gmail.com

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And in English.

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Against state repression in Poitiers:

Against state repression in Poitiers

The CNT Federation of Education Workers protests the harsh punishment that has fallen on comrades in Poitiers since October 10.





Following the demonstration against the closure and the construction of the private prison in Vivonne, eighteen people, including certain militants, have been arrested and placed in custody. Some have even been arrested when they did not attend the demonstration! Judged at first appearance - legal name 'expeditious justice' - three of them were sentenced to prison.





To silence the social movement, the state has arbitrarily chosen three innocent scapegoats and uses this pretext to implicate all local activists. Hortefeux (Molly note=I just can't translate this. My Larousse and two online translation services gave me no help. I assume it means something like "quickly" ie "pants on fire" because of the "feux" part or perhaps something like "slyly" or perhaps something totally different. Perhaps a francophone could help me out here )reactive fear of the internal enemy and used it to push through new 'libericidal' laws ie "an inventory of places of community life that bring together the potentially violent anarchist mileau", "a very precise identification of the small groups that organized these events," and the "dissolution of these groups".





The CNT Federation of Education Workers calls for the creation of support committees for those charged or joining existing ones. We denounce a state that uses police violence, the wicked laws and a biased "justice" which aims to destroy all social protest. We will continue to fight against the closure, we will continue to participate in demonstrations against all violence, economic, social and political. We will continue to struggle and develop self management and solidarity against fear and injustice.


CNT FTE


Toulouse, October 17, 2009


Contacts of the CNT FTE: http://www.cnt-f.org/fte/ (site), fede-educ@cnt-f.org (mail), 06 26 50 01 36 (phone).


Details of the prisoners:


- Patrick, sentenced to four months, four months suspended sentence and a fine of 800 € for assault on a police officer, Sam (treasurer of the CNT education 86) a month in prison, five-months suspended sentence for assault on a police officer, Jean-Salvy, a month in prison, five-month suspended sentence for assault on a police officer; Nathalie and Charles, two-month suspended sentence for possession of fireworks, Serge, six months suspended sentence, two years probation and € 2 850 d fine for malicious damage to private property, Leo, six months suspended sentence for deliberate damage by fire and throwing stones, Candice, six months suspended sentence and 950 € fine for deliberate damage to public property of . Moreover, the prosecution has filed an appeal for four of them.


- Upcoming trials: January 5, 2010, a minor (14 years) for rebellion and rejection of DNA sampling in Limoges, February 23, 2010, Angel (CNT education 86) and Sarah for refusing DNA collection (and refusing photos and fingerprints for Angel).


Information:


- The committee Poitevin against repression of social movements (http://antirepression.unblog.fr/ ) calls for a rally Monday, October 19 at 17:30 Place d'Armes, Poitiers. - A support blog for Sam and Jean-Salvy: http://soutiensametjeansalvy.over-blog.org/ To sign the call for their release: http://5237.lapetition.be/


To contact the support committee: soutiensametjeansalvy@gmail.com

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-FRANCE:

VICTORY FOR FRENCH CNT IN METALWORKS ELECTIONS:

The CNT of France (CNT Vignoles) is the larger of two French anarchosyndicalist union federations that bear the same name. The basic difference between them and the CNT AIT of France is that the latter refuse to participate in any of the union elections (of which there are many- see later) that are periodically held in French workplaces. There is much debate about whether the CNT's participation is a good or bad thing, but only results can determine which it is. As least in one place the CNT has managed to gain considerable popularity amongst a section of workers without compromising its principles. The following is a translation from the French, and it recently appeared as a notice of the CNT Seine-Maritime.

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Workplace elections in metalalurgy in Seine-Maritime:

Communique of the CNT Seine-Maritime

http://www.cnt-f.org/cnt76/

Elections in the metal business ( John Crane shop)

An impressive victory of the CNT in colleges 1 and 2, that is the lesson we can draw from these elections where the CNT presented itself for the first time in the company.

College 1

With a high turnout of almost 90% in the first round of elections to the Works Committee, the CNT obtained in the workers college61.70% of votes, in fron of the FO with 34% of the vote and the CGT came in dead last with 4.2%. Only the CNT will be elected in this college. This is not a marginal vote or a protest vote but rather is a vote of union density for which the work was performed beforehand. The turnout speaks volumes about the workers' desire for change . College 2

With a turnout of 83.33% in the first round of workplace elections , the CNT leads with 50% of the votes in the college of professionals, in front of the FO which obtained 36% and CGT at 14%. The CNT received an elected delegate and an alternative delegate. Ditto for the FO.

The CNT and CGT did not present candidates in the third college, the managers. In this college the FO was very much ahead of the GGC and the CFDT.

With the new law of union representation, the CGT and CFDT are not considered representative, not having achieved more than 10% of the votes cast, in contrast to the CNT and the FO. By analyzing these results we find that the union density of the CNT was made among the workers and professionals. FO was especially distinguished in settings where their representativeness was undeniable. (the managers-Molly )

The big losers of this election were the CGT and CFDT, which no longer have the conclusive presumption of representativity.

Militants of the CNT thank everyone and all those who worked on this success that will , we are convinced, appeal to others.

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MOLLY NOTES:

A few things are in order if the above is to comprehensible to a North American reader. First of all the pattern of union representation throughout most of Europe, including France, is not the "one workplace, one (or none) union" that we are familiar with here. This has both good and bad points. The good is that, by law, each workplace with over 50 employees must have a 'Works' Council' and any with over 10 employees must have at least one of what is called a 'Workforce Delegate'. The latter are somewhat analogous to a 'shop steward', but not exactly as the delegate need not be a union member. This also means that pretty well all French workplaces have at least some of the protections only afforded by an union shop on this continent. The bad is that bargaining with employers all too often gets mired in simultaneous bargaining amongst the unions themselves as the functions of various bodies are unclear. The competing unions also often make solidarity a difficult thing to achieve, as there is great temptation for one union to try and undercut the other. The final bad is that the complicated system now in place was a response to the radical demand for 'self-management'. It is no such thing, and the fact that it was brought in as if it was tends to taint the very idea of self-management in people's minds. The criticism of people such as the CNT AIT that these bodies function as much for the transmission of management orders and molifying the workforce as they do to protect the workers has at least some validity. The solution of waiting until there is interest in a general assembly of the workers, however, leaves the unionists with very little to do between industrial disputes. It is only at those times that a majority of workers might be interested in scuh things, and when the dispute fades so do the assemblies, whatever the desires of the more militant.

How complicated is the system ? Let's begin with the fact that, at least in France there are not one but three different types of workplace elections (four if you count the haggling with the boss and with other unions when there is actual bargaining involved). The elections for 'Industrial Tribunals' are for bodies whose function is to rule on disputes arising from interpretation of contarcts already made. Think of them as something like permanently sitting Conciliation Boards, with greater scope and more judicial power. They are comprised half and half of representatives of employers and employees. Sounds like a formula for deadlock ? It is strongly supported by the larger, more bureaucratic, unions who take it as test of their national popularity, but draws little attention from the average worker. The elections are not connected with any particular workplace and mail in ballots are considered legitimate. The industrial activity of the country is divided into 5 'electoral colleges', managerial and professional staff, industry, commerce, agriculture and miscellaneous. Seen as something of a porkbarrel for the placement of union loyalists who will be from that point forward without any responsibility to the average worker, the last round of elections in late 2008 had a participation rate of 25.5% !!

The fact that the larger bureaucratic unions favour these elections as the test of "representativeness" (what is referred to in the CNT communique above) may be significant. The new law on "industrial democracy" adopted on August 20, 2008 no longer takes the Industrial Tribunal elections as the test of this. At the present time 5 union confederations are considered as "recognized" in terms of national bargaining. The dinosaurs such as the CGT, CFDT and FO (see below) are gradually losing out in the elections for 'Works Councils' and 'Workforce Delegates' which the new law recognizes as the test for such recognition. Both of these lections take place at workplaces, and those elected to them are much more under the supervision and control of the electors than the those in the Industrial Tribunals. These elections, accordingly, draw a far higher turnout- as can be seen from the figures in the CNT communique above.

The 'Workforce Delegates' mentioned above are tasked with bringing grievances to management, to the government Labour Inspectorate and to the Industrial Tribunals if a request to the employer concerning the infringement of the rights and freedoms of an employee is refused. Sorta like shop stewards, but a bit more complicated and not necessarily connected to any particular union (though the delegate may indeed be elected under a 'Union banner'). All enterprises with more than 10 employees is required to have Workforce Delegates. An admirable system if it works well, which it does not always do.

Then there are the elections for the 'Works Councils'. this is what the CNT communique above was talking about. These councils are required in every business with more than 50 employees. The councils consist of the elected representatives of the workers, along with the chief manager of the enterprise who acts as the chair but whose voting capacity is limited. Representatives appointed by the 'representative' trade union also sit in a non-voting capacity. The Council is in charge of the company welfare and cultural programs. It has the responsibility of formal bargaining in the case of profit sharing plans, but its role on other matters is supposed to be purely consultative. Actual bargaining is supposed to be done by the unions, but in practice it is often done by the Councils, and agreements between them and management can have the force of law. Different unions also have different ideas of what the roles of the Councils, the union organizations and actual general assemblies of the workers involved should be. Thus, where anarcho-syndicalist unions such as the CNT or libertarian inclined unions such as the SUD (see below) are popular the process will bend towards a more open involvement of the workers while where dinosaurs such the CGT are involved there will bea lot of backroom deals involved. The actual dividing lines between the powers and responsibilities of the unions and of the Councils varies quite considerably from place to place and from time to time.

If all of this sounds like it is maddeningly complex that is only because it is. With true Gallic rationalism France has created a sort of Rube Goldberg apparatus where the parts whirl madly in all directions and what is actually happening is not always clear. The very complexity, and its tendency to far too often work against rather than for the workers, has led to a certain cynicism about the very concept of 'self-management'. If this is what it is all about then the idea may not be so attractive after all. Perhaps that was an actual intent amongst some of the more clear thinking designers of the system as it was cobbled together from various traditional forms and various laws through the years.

Leaving such questions aside for the moment the fact that libertarian influenced unions such as the SUD and outright anarcho-syndicalist ones such as the CNT are gaining influence in the more democratic and responsive parts of this system can mean nothing but good. But let's conclude this with a little sketchy giude to French unions. I deliberately leave out of the following those "unions" that are undisguised bosses' federations. The (R) after the name of an union indicates that it is presently one of the recognized union federations. And you thought the system of workplace elections was complex ?

1)The CGT. (R)The Confédération générale du travail. Made up of more or less "ex" commies who have broken formal ties with the ever shrinking Communist Party but who have certainly retained every sneaky bureaucratic bad habit that Marxism Leninism ever encouraged...and these are many. Like many other previously communist union federations the functionaries of the CGT managed to survive the collapse of their political party by the sort of masterful cunning that only a lifetime spent in dealing in the shadows gives one.

2)The CFDT. (R)The Confédération française démocratique du travail. Basically a social democratic federation, but with the fissiparousness so characteristic of French politics made up of a number of mutually antagonistic factions.

3)FO.(R). Force ouvrière. Speaking of "factions"...historically a coalition between right wing unionists and (presumably right wing) Trotskyists. Historically held together more by hatred of the Communist Party than anything else. A worthy sentiment for sure, but hardly a "complete program". Having a hard time holding together now that the mutual enemy is in its dotage. Undoubtedly even more faction ridden than the CFDT.

4)CFTC.(R) The Confédération française des travailleurs chrétiens. The French Confederation of Christian Workers. God's shop stewards ??? Social Christian in orientation which can mean a great number of different things in different places. Nowhere near as sinister as the so-called "unions" that evangelists have tried to set up on this continent-especially Alberta. Something of a social club for that small proportion of the French population who actually take Catholicism seriously. A constant presence, undoubtedly under the special protection of St. Joseph.

5)The CFE-CGC (R). The Confédération française de l'encadrement-Confédération générale des cadres. Hardly belongs as an "union", but recognized as such. Membership made up of managers and executives. Its existence very dependent upon the desire of the French state to have everything in perfect 'rational' order.

6)The SUD. Solidaires unitaires démocratique. Newer, more radical, union federation with a membership of varying sympathies from left social democrat, to left socialist, to ecologist to anarchist. Works closely with other 'social movements'.

6)The UNSA. The Union nationale des syndicats autonomes. Another right wing union for white collar workers. Basically the same as the CFE-CGC, but perhaps less exclusive.

7)The CNT. The Confédération nationale du travail. What can I say...the good guys.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR/LE SYNDICALISME INTERNATIONAL:

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE SPANISH CGT/LE SEIZIÈME CONGRÈS DE LA CGT ESPAGNOLE:

The following report about the recent 16 Congress of the Spanish CGT is from the French anarchosyndicalist CNT (CNT Vignoles). The Spanish CGT is far and away the largest anarchosyndicalist union federation in the world today. There is also a link to a recent interview with Jacinto Caecero, the present confederal secretary of the CGT.

Le rapport ci-après au sujet de la récente 16ème congrès de la CGT espagnole est de la France anarchosyndicalist CNT (CNT Vignoles). La CGT espagnole est de loin la plus importante fédération syndicale anarchosyndicalist dans le monde d'aujourd'hui. Il existe également un lien vers une interview récente avec Jacinto Caecero, le présent sectretary confédéral de la CGT.

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XVIème congrès de la CGT espagnole : Construire la grève générale !!!:
jeudi 18 juin 2009, par S.I.
Nos camarades de la CGT espagnole ont tenu le premier week end de juin, à Malaga, leur XVI ème Congrès confédéral.

A cette occasion, des représentant-es de la CNT étaient présent-es au même titre que des militant-es d’autres organisations anarcho-syndicalistes : IWW (Grande Bretagne), Initiative des travailleurs (Pologne), USI (Italie), SAC (Suède).

Globalement, la CGT suit la ligne stratégique de développement syndical qu’elle avait amorcé en 2001 lors du Congrès de Valladolid. On peut même constater que le nombre de syndicats à Malaga (160 syndicats dont 105 ont assisté au congrès représentés par 400 délégué(e)s) était en hausse par rapport aux Congrès précédents.

Au delà des motions structurelles, trois grands thèmes traités ont attiré tout le sérieux et l’attention des congressistes : la prostitution et la possible syndicalisation des travailleurs-euses du sexe, le salaire minimum et les perspectives d’avenir et de renforcement de la Confédération.
La CGT aujourd’hui est prise au sérieux. Forte de près de 60 000 adhèrent-es, elle a une réelle capacité de mobilisation pour mener des actions, lancer et gagner des grèves comme ce fut le cas en 2008, par exemple, dans le secteur du nettoyage (Madrid) ou dans les transports (autobus de Barcelone).

En ces temps de crise, la CGT promet en tout cas de tout mettre en œuvre pour aller vers une grève générale interprofessionnelle afin que la peur change de camps et qu’enfin "payent les riches et les banquiers" .
Hortensia et Jérémie pour le SI de la CNT.

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"Il faut fuir le chant de sirène du capitalisme"
Dans un interview qu’il a accordé au journal de la CGT, Rojo y negro, Jacinto Caecero, secrétaire confédéral, revient sur la campagne que mène la CGT contre la crise capitaliste et ses effets désastreux en Espagne avec son cortège de licenciements de masse et un taux de chômage proche de 20% qui ne cesse d’augmenter.
Lire la suite

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XVIth Congress of the Spanish CGT: Build the general strike!:

Thursday 18 June 2009, S.I.

Our comrades in the Spanish CGT held their sixteenth Confederal Congress on the first weekend in June, in Malaga .

On this occasion, representatives from the CNT-es were present as well as militants from other anarcho-syndicalistorganizations: IWW (Great Britain), Workers Initiative (Poland), USI (Italy), SAC (Sweden).

Overall, the GGT follows the line of union development strategy that began in 2001 at the Congress of Valladolid. One can also note that the number of unions in Malaga (160 unions of which 105 attended the conference represented by 400 delegates) was up from the previous Congress.

Beyond the structural motions, three main topics were covered with all the gravity and the attention of delegates: prostitution and the possible unionization of sex workers , the minimum wage and the future prospects of strengthening the Confederation .

The CGT is now taken seriously. With almost 60,000 members , it has a real ability to mobilize for action, initiating strikes and winning as was the case in 2008, for example, in the cleaning sector (Madrid) or in transport ( Barcelona buses).

In these times of crisis, the CGT totally promised to make every effort to move towards a general strike in order to fear changes camps and also to "make the rich and the bankers.pay" Hortensia and Jeremiah for the SI of the CNT.

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"We must escape the siren song of capitalism" In an interview he gave to the newspaper of the CGT, Rojo y negro, Jacinto Caecero, Confederal Secretary, reviews the campaign carried out by the CGT against the capitalist crisis and its disastrous effects in Spain with its attendant redundancies mass and an unemployment rate near 20% which continues to grow.

Read more

LE TRAVAIL INTERNATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL LABOUR:

APPEL INTERNATIONAL POUR UN 1ER DE MAI DE LUTTE DE CLASSE/INTERNATIONAL APPEAL FOR A CLASS STRUGGLE MAY DAY:

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Journée de la premiere du Mai

Voici un appel d'un réseau international d'organisations pour une anarchosyndicalist Journée du Mai de la lutte des classes. Mai 1er, bien sûr, a toujours été une célébration de luttes du travail

mais, au cours des dernières décennies, il est devenu une simple célébration des partis politiques.

Le anarchosyndicalists penser autrement. Le travail ne peut jamais s'émanciper par la politique, mais uniquement par la lutte économique.

Cette coordination a eu lieu avant, mais c'est la première fois qu'il a le soutien de syndicalistes de 5 continents. Cette propagation de l'idée est à la fois important et gratifiant.

May Day

Here`s an appeal from a network of international anarchosyndicalist organizations calling for a May day of class struggle. May day, of course, has always been a commemoration of labour`s struggles, but, in recent decades, is has become only a celebration for political parties.

The anarchosyndicalists think otherwise. labour can never emancipate itself by politics but only be economic struggle.

This coordination has been held before, but this is the first time that it has the support of unionists from 5 continents. This spread of the idea is important and gratifying.

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Appel international de la CNT pour un 1er Mai 2009 de lutte de classe-:

Pour regarder et écouter la version "vidéo" de l'appel : aller sur le site web de la CNT (http://www.cnt-f.org/) et lancer la vidéo qui se trouve sous le texte d'appel.

- Pour télécharger ou exporter cette vidéo sur votre site : http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x90p4a_appel-international-cnt-pour-un-1er_news

- Pour télécharger l'affiche et la version "tract" de l'appel : cliquer sur les pièces jointes accompagnant ce message.
NOUS NE PAIERONS PAS LEUR CRISE !!! :
La crise actuelle du capitalisme met aujourd’hui les travailleurs devant deux options bien définies : continuer de subir un système économique et social inégalitaire et autoritaire, ou construire des résistances pour imposer une redistribution réelle, juste et égale, des richesses et faire respecter nos acquis, nos droits et nos libertés.

Nous, syndicalistes révolutionnaires, anarcho-syndicalistes et syndicalistes de luttes de classe, avons clairement fait notre choix. Nous refusons de continuer à négocier nos défaites et, au contraire, nous voulons organiser nos victoires. Pour cela, les grèves générales interprofessionnelles et reconductibles, comme elles s’esquissent actuellement dans certains pays, sont nécessaires pour faire plier nos dirigeants économiques et politiques. La solidarité internationale sans faille de tous les travailleurs, du Nord comme du Sud, de l’Ouest comme de l’Est, est le garant pour ébranler le système politique et économique capitaliste qui écrase sauvagement et quotidiennement nos droits et nos libertés...

Il est de la responsabilité des organisations syndicales combatives de tout faire pour renverser le rapport de force et mettre un terme au chantage à la crise et aux politiques de destruction sociale qui l’accompagnent. L’heure n’est plus aux complaintes sur les « excès du libéralisme » ou à la « réforme par la négociation », l’heure n’est plus à l’alternance politique, l’heure n’est plus au « dialogue social » truqué et complaisant , non, l’heure est à la mobilisation !

Parce que nous estimons que l’exploitation a assez duré, parce que nous en avons marre de travailler toujours plus vite et plus dur pour augmenter leurs profits, parce que nous réclamons le droit à une santé, à une éducation et à des transports publics et de qualité, parce que nous réclamons le droit pour tous de circuler librement dans un monde sans patries ni frontières, pour toutes ces raisons et bien d’autres encore, nous appelons à la construction d’un syndicalisme de classe, révolutionnaire, anticapitaliste et anti-autoritaire, anticolonialiste et anti-impérialiste, seul capable de renverser le rapport de force.

Car nous affirmons, sans détour ni complexe, que le fondement de toutes les crises économiques, sociales, écologiques ou internationales n’est autre que le capitalisme. Car nous affirmons que derrière la logique de profit se profile une logique de mort. Arrêtons le capitalisme tant qu’il en est encore temps ! Luttons par la lutte syndicale et sociale pour imposer un autre modèle de société, plus libre et plus juste, pour que notre avenir ne soit pas notre présent en pire !
Les signataires :
CNT (France) / Solidaridad Obrera (Espagne) / Action social syndical internationaliste - ASSI (Espagne) / Central des travailleurs suèdois - SAC (Suède) / Luta Social (Portugal) / ASOINCA (Colombie) / CGT (Espagne) / Organisation Démocratique du travail - ODT (Maroc) / Initiative des Travailleurs - IP (Pologne) / Union syndicale italienne - USI (Italie) / SISA (Italie) / Fédération ouvrière de base - FOB (Argentine) / Association nationale des diplômés chômeurs du Maroc - ANDCM (Maroc) / Espace syndical démocratique - ESD (Maroc-Rif) / USTKE (Kanaky) / NGWF (Bangladesh) / Conseil des Lycées d’Algérie - CLA (Algérie) / Collectif des Femmes Kabyles - ACFK (Kabylie) / ESE (Grèce) / SINALTRAINAL (Colombie) / Confédération du secteur public - CSP (Cameroun) / CGT CI (Côte d’Ivoire) / Industrial workers of the World - IWW (États Unis et Grande Bretagne) / Commission syndicale Voie Démocratique (Maroc) / Union nationale syndicale des travailleurs béninois - UNSTB (Bénin) / CGT B (Burkina Faso)

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Here is the English translation, courtesy of a Molly Trans.

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International Appeal of the CNT for a class struggle May day -:

To watch and listen to the "video" of the call: go to the website of the CNT (http://www.cnt-f.org/ ) and start the video below the text of appeal.

- To download or export this video on your site: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x90p4a_appel-international-cnt-pour-un-1er_news

- To download the poster and the "tract" of the call: click on attachments accompanying this message.

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We will not pay their crisis!:

The current crisis of capitalism is now the workers with two clear options: continue to suffer an economic and social system of inequality and authoritarianism, or to build resistance to impose a redistribution real, just and equal, of wealth and enforce our achievements , our rights and our freedoms.

We, revolutionary unionists, and anarcho-syndicalist class struggle unionist, have clearly made our choice. We refuse to continue to negotiate our failures and, on the contrary, we want to organize our victories. For this, the general and renewable strikes , as they currently attracting attention in some countries are required to make our economic and political leaders bend. The unwavering solidarity of all workers, both North and South, the West as well the East is the guarantor for undermining the capitalist political and economic system that brutally crushes and our rights and freedoms daily... It is the responsibility of combative trade unions to do everything possible to reverse the balance of power and put an end to the crisis and blackmail and its policies of social destruction that accompany it. The time is not only for complaining about the "excesses of liberalism" or "reform through negotiation," the time has come for political change. This is no time for more "social dialogue "rigged and complacent, no, it's time to mobilize!

Because we believe that exploitation is now hard enough, because we have always tried to work faster and harder to increase their profits, because we demand the right to health, education and public transport and quality, because we demand the right for all to move freely in a world without nations or borders, for all these reasons and more, we call for the construction of a class unionism, revolutionary, anticapitalist , anti -authoritarian, and anti-imperialist, this only being able to reverse the balance of power.

Because we affirm, firmly without detour or complexity, that the foundation of all economic crises, social, environmental or international is none other than capitalism. We affirm that behind the logic of profit is a logic of death. Stop capitalism while there is still time! Struggle by the trade union and social struggle to impose a different model of society, freer and more just, so that our future will not be our present or worse!

Signatories:

CNT (France) / Solidaridad Obrera (Spain) / International Trade Union Social Action - ASSI (Spain) / Swedish Workers Central - SAC (Sweden) / Luta Social (Portugal) / ASOINCA (Colombia) / CGT (Spain) / Demoratic Labour Organization - ODT (Morocco) / Workers Initiative - IP (Poland) / Italian Trade Union - USI (Italy) / SISA (Italy) / Federation ouvrière Basic - FOB (Argentina) / National Association of unemployed graduates in Morocco - ANDCM ( Morocco) / Democratic Union Space - ESD (Morocco-Rif) / USTKE (Kanaky) / NGWF (Bangladesh) / Council of Colleges of Algeria - CLA (Algeria) / Collectif des Femmes Kabyles - ACFK (Kabylie) / SEA (Greece) / SINALTRAINAL (Colombia) / Confederation of the Public Sector - CSP (Cameroon) / CGT CI (Ivory Coast) / Industrial Workers of the World - IWW (USA and Great Britain) / Democratic Trade Union Commission (Morocco) / National Union the of Workers of Benin - UNSTB (Benin) / B CGT (Burkina Faso)

SYNDICALISME INTERNATIONAL-FRANCE,ESPAGNE,MAROC/INTERNATIONAL SYNDICALISM-FRANCE,SPAIN MOROCCO:

SOLIDARITÉ AVEC L'ANDCM MAROCAINE/SOLIDARITY WITH THE MOROCCAN ANDCM:

Voici un appel de la CNT-F française, la CGT espagnole et autres pour une journée de solidarité avec l'ANDCM marocaine. Here is an appeal from the French CNT-F, the Spanish CGT and others for a day of solidarity with the Moroccan ANDCM.

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Maroc : journée internationale de solidarité avec l’ANDCM le 16 mai 2009:
La Coordination syndicale euromagrhebine (à laquelle adhèrent, entres autres, la CNT, les syndicats autonomes algériens et la CGT espagnole) propose de transformer le 16 mai 2009 en une journée internationale de lutte contre le chômage, la précarité et l’exclusion sociale, en soutien avec l’Association Nationale de Diplômés/ées en chômage du Maroc (ANDCM).

Le 16 mai 1993, Moustafa El Hamzaoui, militant de l’ANDCM, a été kidnappé, torturé et assassiné dans le commissariat de police de Khenifra.

Depuis lors, l’ANDCM a fait de cette date une journée qui maintient vivante la flamme de la lutte pour laquelle Mustafa El Hamzaoui a livrée sa vie.

Depuis lors, l’ANDCM, bien que n’étant pas légalisée, malgré la répression continue contre ses militants, maintient sa lutte pour le droit au travail et à s´organiser librement et pour une transformation démocratique réelle de la société marocaine.

A l’heure où le chômage et la précarité ne cessent d’augmenter, où les politiques fiscales ne bénéficient qu’au Capital, où les privatisations des entreprises et des services se multiplient, où on privatise les bénéfices et on socialise les pertes, il est plus nécessaire que jamais de globaliser la résistance, promouvoir des alternatives à la crise du capital.

C’est pourquoi nous appelons toutes les organisations impliquées dans la lutte contre le chômage, la précarité et l’exclusion sociale à participer 16 mai à Khenifra avec l’ANDCM à la journée de lutte en mémoire de Moustafa le Hamzaoui, ainsi qu’à effectuer des actions et des rassemblements devant les ambassades et les consulats marocains, exigeant la reconnaissance légale de l’ANDCM et le châtiment des coupables de l’assassinat de Mustafa El Hamzaoui.
Agustin COSTA (Coordination syndicale Euromaghrebine)

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Morocco: International Day of Solidarity with the ANDCM May 16 2009:

The Euromagrhebine union coordination ( to which adheres , among others, the CNT-F, independent Algerian unions and the Spanish CGT) has proposed transforming the 16 May 2009 an international day of struggle against unemployment, precariousness and social exclusion, in support of the National Association of Unemployed Graduates in Morocco (ANDCM).

On 16 May 1993, Moustafa El Hamzaoui, a militant of the ANDCM, was kidnapped, tortured and murdered in the police station in Khenifra.

Since then, the ANDCM made this date a day which keeps alive the flame of the struggle for which Mustafa El Hamzaoui has delivered his life.

Since then, the ANDCM, although not legal, and despite the continued repression against activists, maintains its struggle for the right to work and to organize freely and for a genuine democratic transformation of Moroccan society.

At this time when unemployment and insecurity are increasing, where fiscal policies benefit capital, where the privatization of enterprises and services is growing, where we privatize profits and socialize losses, it is more necessary than ever to globalize resistance and promote alternatives to the crisis of capital.

That is why we call on all organizations involved in the fight against unemployment, precariousness and social exclusion to participate on the May 16 in Khenifra with the ANDCM to in the day of struggle in memory of Moustafa Hamzaoui, and perform actions and rallies in front of Moroccan embassies and consulates , demanding the legal recognition of ANDCM and punishment of the perpetrators of the murder of Mustafa El Hamzaoui.

Agustin COSTA (Euromaghrebine Trade Union)

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-ALGERIA:

AUTONOMOUS SYNDICALISM IN ALGERIA:

The following article has been all over the "anarcho-net" in the past few days. I have taken the English version below from the Anarkismo website. The original interview was conducted in French and published at the site of the French CNT (CNT-Vignoles).

The following is both disturbing and inspirational. It is disturbing because it shows what barriers workers have to overcome in much of the world to organize and defend their rights. It is also disturbing because so much of the "left" in the industrialized world is dead set against helping their comrades in other, poorer countries because of "third worldism" and identification with power. It is a long and sad story.

It is inspirational because this is yet one more story of the human spirit that overcomes barriers and effects change despite all the efforts of those in power. It is additionally inspirational because of the part that anarchist ideas play in this. The following has been slightly edited for English spelling.

The story.....

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Autonomous syndicalism in Algeria: the example of the CLA:
Achour Idir is an organizer with the autonomous Algerian trade union, the Conseil des Lycées d'Algérie (CLA, Council of Secondary Schools of Algeria). He is 30 years old and lives in Algiers. In a country where there remain the stigmata of a Party-State, maintaining one's autonomy is not an easy thing. This is an interview with a class-struggle militant, who identifies with the red and black ideals of disobedience and resistance. [Français] [Castellano]
Q.Achour, can you tell us about your organization?
A.The CLA is a trade union operating in the education sector and basically groups together secondary-school teachers, though in principle it takes part in the struggles of all sectors. The CLA was founded in 2003 and bases itself on three principle demands:
**100% pay rises for teachers
**the creation of a statute for teachers
**a decent pension after 25 years service.

Today, the CLA represents over 15,000 teachers. The world of Algerian syndicalism in the education sector is bureaucratized and corrupt, so the CLA is indeed a credible reference point as far as our positions and involvement in the class struggle are concerned.
Q.What struggles have the CLA been involved in so far?
A.When the CLA was formed in 2003, it led a strike based on the three points I mentioned earlier. The strike lasted 3 months and met with some success, managing to obtain a pay rise of 5,000 dinars [tr. note: around €50 at today's rates] for all education workers.

Another movement of a similar sort was an initiative of the CLA in 2005 within the "Intersyndicale de l’éducation", a coalition of the more combative unions in the education sector. The movement gathered pace again in 2006, in 2007 and in 2008, but this time spread to the "Intersyndicale de la fonction publique", grouping not only the education unions (such as SATEF) but also those of the civil service (like SNAPAP).

In the summer of 2008, we led a very difficult strike of teachers on temporary contracts, and the strikers did not hesitate to go on hunger strike for 45 days. But without result. They are thinking of renewing the hunger strike during the spring holidays, beginning on 19th March.
Q.Can you tell us something about the trade union scene in Algeria?
For a long time the trade union setup in Algeria revolved around a single Central - the UGTA. The Union Générale des Travailleurs algériens (UGTA - General Union of Algerian Workers) was founded on 24th February 1956 and was the first Algerian trade union. It arose out of the national liberation movement, though it was not dominated by the revolutionary politicians. Its founding members were basically Algerian syndicalists from the CGT (Confédération Générale du Travail) and the CFT (Confédération Française des Travailleurs). It is important to underline that the UGTA evolved on the fringe of the political movement. This autonomy would last only up to the country's independence. Following that, it became part of the State apparatus in Algeria, controlled by those in power. It is the only legal body that the government recognizes.

In contrast to this integrated syndicalism, there is also what is called autonomous syndicalism, of which the CLA is a part. But this other type of syndicalism does not have an easy life, as freedom to operate is very limited in Algeria. All strikes initiated by labour organizations which are not part of the authorities' plans are systematically declared to be illegal. Syndicalists are arrested by the armed forces and imprisoned. We cannot find premises for our unions, nor is our union recognized for the purposes of representation.

The powers are under no illusions about this. The Intersyndicale de la fonction publique represents the combative line of Algerian syndicalism. This leads the Algerian powers to use original stratagems to discredit us. It is not unknown for them to create their own "autonomous" unions, copies of the truly autonomous ones. In fact, there is a CLA clone, a SNAPAP clone. They hope to create confusion in this way.
Q.Is there an anarcho-syndicalist or libertarian tradition in Algeria?
A.There is no trade union that openly describes itself as anarcho-syndicalist. However, there are many anarcho-syndicalist militants who are members of the various unions. Maybe we are not so many, but we do exist.
Q.Can you sum up for us the social situation in Algeria?
A.The social situation is marked by extreme levels of poverty. As a general rule, most families have an income that covers their expenses for only 15-20 days a month. For the last ten days or so they have to scrape by as best they can. Many workers are in serious debt.

The unemployment rate is approaching 17% and is even higher among young people.

In the public sector (a sector which is still dominant in "socialist" Algeria), many employees are on temporary contracts. Corruption is legalized at all levels of the State.
Q.Although most of the Algerian economy is under State control, there does exist a private sector. What is the situation with unions in this area?
A.Syndicalism in the private sector is non-existent. This is due basically to the fact that private sector workers are on short contracts. Indeed, they often work illicitly, without any contract, undeclared. These workers are thus in a very fragile position. They are afraid of losing their jobs if they were to get involved in setting up a union.
Q.Any closing words, Achour?
The CLA gives its solidarity to all union struggles on a national and international level. We support all those causes which aim to create greater social justice. We also strongly believe that only struggle pays. On with the class struggle!

Interview by Jérémie Berthuin of the International Secretariat of the CNT. Translation to English by FdCA International Relations.
Related Link: http://www.cnt-f.org/international/

MOUVEMENT ANARCHISTE INTERNATIONAL-FRANCE/INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-FRANCE:

LA CNT EN LA GRÈVE GÉNÉRALE DU 19 MARS/THE CNT IN THE GENERAL STRIKE OF MARCH 19:

Voici des vidéos de la CNT en la grève générale./Here are some videos of the CNT in the general strike.

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vidéo des cortèges CNT de Paris et de Lille le 19 mars‏:
Quelques images du cortège CNT lors des manifestations organisées à Paris et à Lille à l'occasion de la grève générale du 19 mars 2009. N'attendons pas le 1er mai pour organiser la suite. A la base et dans l'unité, construisons la grève générale reconductible !

Vidéo :

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8qcsl_manif-cnt-19-mars-necessite-recondu_news

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VIDEO OF THE CNT CONTINGENT IN PARIS AND LILLE ON THE 19TH OF MARCH:

Some pictures of the CNT contingent at events organized in Paris and Lille on the occasion of the general strike of 19 March 2009. Don't wait for the 1st May to organize . At the base and in unity, build the renewable general strike !

Video:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8qcsl_manif-cnt-19-mars-necessite-recondu_news

MOUVEMENT ANARCHISTE INTERNATIONAL-FRANCE/INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-FRANCE:

GRÈVE GÉNÉRALE EN FRANCE/GENERAL STRIKE IN FRANCE:

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Pour la deuxième fois cette année en France, les syndicats ont appelé à une grève générale pour protester contre les politiques du gouvernement Sarkozy. Le problème est que les grands syndicats souhaitent limiter la grève pour le type d'une journée de protestation que les gouvernements européens ont appris à ignorer. D'autres syndicats ont des idées différentes, d'autant que 75% environ de la population française est d'accord avec l'idée d'une action industrielle pour faire pression sur le gouvernement. Voici l'appel de la CNT-F anarchosyndicaliste pour une plus ouvert "grève renouvelable».

For the second time this year labour unions in france have called a general strike to to protest the policies of the Sarkozy government. the problem is that the larger unions wish to restrict the strike to the sort of one day protest that European governments have leaned to ignore. Other unions have different ideas, particularily as about 75% of the French population agrees with the idea of industrial action to pressure the government. Here is the call from the anarchosyndicalist CNT-F for a more open ended "renewable strike".

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Dès le 19 mars, préparons la grève générale reconductible !:

Communiqué confédéral du 18 mars 2009

Ce que les luttes victorieuses de Guadeloupe et de Martinique, celles en cours à La Réunion et l’absence de résultats des fortes mobilisations de la journée d’action du 29 janvier ont montré, c’est que face à un patronat qui profite de la crise pour piller l’argent de nos impôts, face à un gouvernement qui est plus que jamais au service des puissances d’argent, arc-bouté sur l’idéologie capitaliste, une journée de grève ne suffira pas.

La CNT appelle tous les travailleurs et les travailleuses, avec ou sans emploi, à grossir le plus possible les rangs le 19 mars, afin d’exprimer l’opposition la plus massive à la mafia légale qui sévit du CAC 40 à l’Élysée. Mais parce que les entreprises et leur gouvernement ne voudront rien lâcher sans pression, sans que nous leur imposions un vrai rapport de forces, il faut d’ores et déjà organiser la suite.

Déjà la colère gronde dans l’Hexagone. Après avoir jeté, comme de vulgaires variables d’ajustement, les milliers de précaires en CDD ou intérim et les salariés des sous-traitants, les entreprises profitent de la crise pour licencier à tour de bras, y compris quand elles réalisent des profits records comme TOTAL ! Ces mêmes entreprises bénéficient des milliards d’exonération, de recapitalisations sortis comme par magie du chapeau de Sarkozy, alors que depuis 20 ans, on nous parle du déficit de la Sécu, du « poids »de la dette, de la « nécessité de faire des réformes », de diminuer le nombre de fonctionnaires, de couper dans les budgets des retraites, des hôpitaux, de fermer les agences postales ou les lignes SNCF « non rentables », etc. Quand il s’agit de subventionner le patronat, le gouvernement trouve toujours des sommes astronomiques, mais les travailleurs eux devraient serrer les dents et se serrer la ceinture ?

Pour les travailleurs, chômeurs, précaires, de ce pays, et de bien d’autres, la coupe est pleine, et les mesurettes sociales annoncées par Sarkozy n’étoufferont pas leur colère. Cette colère que les directions syndicales veulent à tout prix contrôler par des « journées d’actions » qui leur permettent d’être reçues à Matignon une fois le travail repris. Comme en Guadeloupe et en Martinique, comme dans les universités ou les usines fermées, nous devons nous organiser à la base en assemblées générales souveraines, dans les entreprises, les départements, pour construire la grève générale reconductible sans laquelle nous ne pourrons pas les faire plier.

COMME AUX ANTILLES, IMPOSONS LA RÉPARTITION DES RICHESSES !

GRÈVE GÉNÉRALE RECONDUCTIBLE !

Confédération nationale du travail (CNT)

http://www.cnt-f.org/

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Here's the English translation of the above.

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From March 19, prepare the renewable general strike !:

Confederal Communiqué of 18 March 2009

What the victorious struggles of Guadeloupe and Martinique, those currently ongoing in Reunion and the lack of results from the strong mobilization of the day of action from January 29 have shown that we face management that takes advantage of the crisis to loot money from our taxes, facing a government that is more often than not in the service of the power of money, insisting on the capitalist ideology, and a one-day strike will not suffice.

The CNT calls on all workers, with or without jobs, to swell as much as possible among the ranks on March 19 to express opposition to the massive legal mafia that has plagued the CAC 40 in the Élysée. But because companies and their government will not surrender anything without pressure, without us imposing a real balance of power, it is necessary from now on to organize the follow up.

Already anger is brewing in France. After dropping as vulgar variable adjustments the thousands of precarious, temporary or interim employees and subcontractors, firms benefit from the crisis as a licence to fire more hands, including when they are making record profits like TOTAL! These same companies benefit from billions of tax exemptions, and recapitalizations, pulled as if by magic out of the Sarkozy's hat , while for 20 years they have told us of the social security deficit, the "weight" of debt, the need for reforms, to reduce the number of staff, cut budgets in pensions, hospitals, post offices close or "unprofitable" SNCF lines and so on. When it comes to subsidizing the employers, the government always finds astronomical sums, but the workers themselves should bite the bullet and tighten their belts?

For workers, the unemployed, and the precarious in this country, and many others, the cup is full, and the small social measures announced by Sarkozy don't stifle their anger. That anger that the union bosses want at any cost to control by "days of action" that allow them to be received at Matignon once work is resumed. As in Guadeloupe and Martinique, as in universities and closed factories , we must organize at the base sovereign general assemblies, in companies, departments, to build the renewable general strike without which we can not make them bend . AS IN THE ANTILLES, IMPOSE THE REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH!

RENEWABLE GENERAL STRIKE!

National Labor Confederation (CNT)

http://www.cnt-f.org/

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At least in terms of numbers today's general strike appears to be on a larger scale than that of January, as can be seen from the following article from the British newspaper The Guardian. Whether a single day strike can, however, actually force the government to make substantial changes in its policy is doubtful, as the CNT remarks above.

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Record numbers join anti-Sarkozy protests:
Angelique Chrisafis in Paris
The Guardian, Friday 20 March 2009
Record numbers took to the streets of France yesterday in the biggest demonstrations since Nicolas Sarkozy's election, to protest about his handling of the economic crisis.

Unions estimated that more than three million people took part in demonstrations across the country, in the second general strike over the economic crisis in two months. Police put figures at about 1.2 million. With one in three people supporting the protest, it had the highest public backing for a strike in a decade.

Sarkozy maintains he is the only man who can face down street protests and plough on with his project to reform France, but he is facing an array of different demands and growing anger. Teachers and doctors protested against his long-standing reform plan, saying public-sector job cuts would kill schools and hospitals. University staff are continuing their seven-week strike against higher education reform with sit-ins and occupations.

Private-sector employees, including supermarket cashiers, bank clerks and car workers, took to the street over poor pay, factory closures and the return of a traditional French scourge: unemployment, now rising at its fastest rate in 10 years.

On the Paris march, Roland Bonnot, a primary teacher from Dijon, said that in the suburb where he taught, parents were under constant fear of unemployment after the announcement that a mustard factory was closing. "Children are now picking up on the anxiety and not performing well at school," he said.

The general strike disrupted transport, schools, airports, government offices and even state theatres. Unions demanded job protection, an increase in the minimum wage and a U-turn on Sarkozy's early move to cut taxes for the mega-rich. But the government has insisted there will be no concessions.

The government is concerned about the increasingly radical nature of protesters, with Sony factory workers holding a chief executive hostage over redundancies last week. Some French protesters are looking to the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, where a six-week general strike and one death eventually forced the government to back down and raise wages.

With its large public sector, generous welfare system and rigid banking system, France has not yet suffered as acutely as Britain or Spain from the financial crisis. But a wave of mass redundancies sparked the protests.

Sarkozy has focused on a €27bn stimulus plan through public and private investment instead of boosting consumers' pockets with major tax-cuts or higher welfare spending. He argues that without investment leading to job creation, France, with an already weak private sector and stuttering economy, will not be able to recover as fast other countries.

After the last general strike in January, Sarkozy moved to defuse tension by introducing certain tax cuts and welfare payments for the poorest families. Unions said it was not enough, but the president's advisers this week said there would be no more immediate measures.

"Sarkozy says there's no money for the public sector, that state coffers are dry, then he miraculously finds money to bail out the car industry," said Olivier Langillier, a nurse at the Paris march.

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How realistic is what the CNT proposes ? On first glance very much so. The one day, largely symbolic, protests favoured by the traditional unions are pretty well certain to evoke only a minimal amount of concessions from the government. The big question is whether the people will become angry enough to bypass the instructions issued by the established union bosses. It has happened before, and it can happen again. If such a scenario comes to pass the idea of a "renewable general strike" is a brilliant way to proceed. Move now M. Sarkozy, or we strike again tomorrow. Return to work and see what the result is and strike again and again if necessary. In such a situation the government would indeed have even greater reason to fear the "increasingly radical nature of protesters", as the momentum for other and greater actions, such as factory occupations and alternative networks of distribution, would build with each renewal of the strike. The big question about the realism of what the CNT proposes revolves around just how angry people in france are today. THAT is certainly a great unknown.

In the meantime to see the news from the perspective of the CNT-F look to the links section of this blog under the heading of the Confederation nationale du travaille.