Anarcho-Syndicalism 101: newswire/7058

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I-07: May Day in Paris
by indymedia/de Previously published: http://www.indymedia.org/de/2007/05/884966.shtml	07 May 2007
Anarcho-syndicalists and revolutionary unionists from all over the world met in Paris from April 28th to May 1st 2007 in Paris for a conference. Following the conferences of San Francisco (i99) and Essen (i02), the CNT-F i07 took place with the goal of starting to build links between different organisations and unite workers of different countries, to struggle and take action through organising international solidarity.
PARIS: WORKERS OF THE WORLD, UNITE! i07 in Paris: In the world, a class is fighting back! Anarcho-syndicalists and revolutionary unionists from all over the world met in Paris from April 28th to May 1st 2007 in Paris for a conference. Following the conferences of San Francisco (i99) and Essen (i02), the CNT-F i07 took place with the goal of starting to build links between different organisations and unite workers of different countries, to struggle and take action through organising international solidarity. The weekend included discussions and debates in syndicalist meetings (eg. 'Revolutionary syndicalism, anarchosyndicalism and institutions', 'Precarity at work'), branch meetings (building industry, education etc.) and thematic discussions (eg. 'Struggle against imperialism and neo-colonialism', 'Migration'). The anarchist/anarcho-syndicalist/syndicalist block at the 1st May demonstration had over 4000 participants from every corner of this planet. International Workers Day was celebrated all over the planet with anti-capitalist demonstrations. International Solidarity Activists came to Paris from all over the world! Unfortunately some people from Africa and Palestine couldn't attend because they were refused a visa. The following countries and organisations were represented: AFRIQUE/AFRICA Algérie/Algeria (SNAPAP), Maroc/Moroco (UMT, CDT, ANDCN, paysans pauvres, FDR-UDT), Tunisie/Tunisia (CGTT), Guinée/Guinea (CNTG, CEK, SLEG), Cameroun (CSP, CGT Liberté), Côte d'Ivoire/Ivory Coast (CGT-CI), Djibouti (UDT), Congo RDC (LO), Mali (Cocidirail, Sytrail), Bénin (FNEB, UNSTB, AIPR), Burkina Faso (UGEB, CGT-B, AEBF), Madagascar (FISEMARE) ASIE/ASIA Bangladesh (NGWF, Sans-Terre), Palestine/Palestinia (Refugee camp Dheisheh, PFU, DWRC), Turquie (ACI), Sibérie/Siberia (SKT) AMÉRIQUES/AMERICA Colombie/Colombia (SINALTRAINAL, Estudios libertarios, Anarchist Black Cross), Mexique/Mexico (APPO (Oaxaca), Chiapas, Atenco), Argentine, Etats Unis d'Amériques/USA (IWW), Brasil/Brésil (Anarchist Federation of Rio) EUROPE Portugal (AC interpro), Pologne/Poland (IT, CK-LA), Italie (USI, Unicobas), Grèce/Greek (ESE), Royaume-Uni/UK (SolFed), Irlande/Eire (Organize), Allemagne/Deutshland (FAU), Espagne/Spain (CGT, CNT, Solidaridad Obrera), Suède/Sweden (SAC, SUF) OCÉANIE/OCEANIA Aotearoa (Nouvelle-Zélande/New Zealand) Meetings The meetings took place on Saturday/Sunday 28/29 April. Many fruitful discussions were had and plans made for future actions and campaigns. The meetings included regional meetings, branch meetings as well as thematic discussions and debates. Syndicalist meetings High cost of life, wages, housing Undoubtedly workers around the world know a true lowering of their purchasing power and must face more and more difficulties around housing, transportation and food. Facing this, some social movements are developing with vindications going from simple demands for respect of fundamental rights to the requirement of a true redistribution of wealth: as capitalism produce more and more wealth, is redistribution more and more unequal? Outsourcing, redundancies, unemployment Capitalist globalisation brings more and more changes whether under the form of outsourcing, shooting down unprofitable factories, mergers and so on. What international reaction can we have in front of this critical situation for the workers of the world? Co-operatives The co-operative system of production can be an alternative to the dominant economical system as a way of self-organisation of the workers as well as a weapon of the syndicalist struggle, notably for the repossession of closing factories... Representativity, law, syndicalist freedom and antisyndicalist repression First of all we will look over at different situations in each country present (syndicalist existence rights in companies or at a national level, right to strike, attacks against syndicalist freedom). This will bring us to look at the perspectives of struggles and of common means of actions to reinforce syndicalist rights. Revolutionary syndicalism, anarchosyndicalism and institutions How can we combine our day-to-day struggles and our revolutionary vision of syndicalism? How far can syndicalism go without loosing its independence toward the State and the bosses? What is the relationship between syndicalism and politics? European union Statement of different social situations and reforms at different level. Possibility of a concrete co-ordination of struggles at this level facing a «europeanisation» of laws and rights of the workers. Public services and privatisation World-wide public sector is being privatised. What kind of resistance for what kind of public service? Precarity at work Neoliberalism means precarity, the circle precarity of the workers which is being a work force with no rights. It's about time to fight back? Branche meetings Everybody met in branch meetings on Saturday afternoon. The networking will connect workers for future struggles and strengthen the international solidarity. The following meetings took place: Building industry (Fédération SUB-CNT), Culture and media (inculding archeology) (Fédération CCS), Education (Fédération Education), Agriculture and Environment (Fédération des travailleurs de la terre et de l'environnement), Health and social industry (Fédération Santé-social), Trade and food industry (SCIAL RP), Transportation (inculding railroad) (CNT Nancy), Cleaning industry (Nettoyage RP et 69),- Steel industry and car industry (CNT 93), Telecom industry (postal services, telecom, etc) (Fédération PTT), Computer workers (Syndicat de l'industrie informatique RP) and Homecare workers(Fédération Santé-social/UL Poitiers). Thematics meetings Migrations This debate will be mostly on how can laws permite the development of the exploitation of migrants workers. From their, how do we organise a syndicalist fight back ? Ecology Energy, industrial pollution, agriculture (GM props, etc), growth and degrowth. How to define a social ecology ? How shall syndicalism approaches ecology ? Womyn What struggle for womyn today? Antifascism How can we organise the resistance against the global rise of fascism today? Chiapas We will talk about the project of an international meeting in Chiapas (Mexico) brought up by the EZLN for 2008. They would the participation of countries with whom they have little or no contacts with. Prison Around the world the conditions of detention are getting worse (over crowded cells, tortures, etc). Not to mention the economical exploitation of prisoners mostly used as extremely cheap work force. How to denounce prison as a true tool of repression of the ruling classes? What alternative for tomorrow? Worldwide campaign against Coca-Cola This multinational company is the symbol of global capitalism: from murdering syndicalists in Colombia to spoliation of resources. An international campaign started to promote the boycott of the products of this company. Struggle against imperialism and neo-colonialism How syndicalism can and should bring up the struggle for self-determination of the peoples? Youth How is the best way to bring class consciousness to the youth? Why and how? Confederal meetings Meetings with the delegates of the various syndicalist organisations took place on Monday morning. Mediterranean Zone Meeting Specific meeting about the creating of a syndicalist solidarity group in the Mediterranean area. Proposition of methodology (which, obviously, can be modified). A general assembly on the global analysis of the situation on both side of the Mediterranean sea (the potential participants should send in advance their written presentations in order to have more time to discuss). In a second time, group meetings on : struggle against unemployment and precarity, liberties and syndicalist rights, privatisation, relocating companies and multinationals, women, the youth and syndicalism, immigration and labour market, syndicalist formation, communication networks, the defense of the common good (water, earth, etc...), struggle of the poor peasants, the Amazigh people. Then, we will return in general assemblee with minutes of each group meetings and collective conclusions (what sort of campaigns, common declarations...) G8 Meeting in Germany, what are we doing? The next G8 meeting will take place in Germany, in Rostock, in the beginning of June 2007. We will discuss the perspectives and how to mobilise for the event. International Meeting An international meeting on 30th April brought hundreds of people together on 'Place de la réunion'. Speakers from Siberia, Guniea, Atenco and Palestine reported on their current struggles. 'Le Choeur du Peuple' (the peoples choir) performed songs from the Paris Commune and a song about Nestor Makhno (he is buried just around the corner in the Père-Lachaise Cemetery). The CNT-F organised a fantastic cultural program too with several concerts taking place over the weekend at the CNT's local and other places in Paris. See you at the next conference! [NOTE: The I-07 Discussion Forum can be found at http://www.redblack.org/i07forum/index.php ]
See also: http://www.indymedia.org/de/2007/05/884966.shtml

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