ILC INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER
Number 9
January 13th, 2003
Contents:
- Presentation
- Communiqué of the ILC: Theyve answered the appeal for an Emergency
Conference Against War
- Letter from W. Sauders (Vancouver) to the general secretary of ICFTU
- Pakistan: Letter from G. A. Chaudhry, general secretary of APTUF, to
the organizers of Asian Social Forum
- France: The Republic Must Remain United and Indivisible
- January 24th and 25th, the French Workers Party Holds its Congress
- Venezuela: Washington's Hand at Work
- Documents Published in the ILC International Newsletter
*****
Presentation:
At a time when, according to the press, "The United States is
concentrating a force around Iraq that could surpass 150,000 men, while
the British have sent a naval group towards the Gulf to support their
aerial forces already present in the region", this week we are
publishing a communiqué from the ILC reporting on the preparation for
the Emergency Conference on the 23rd and 24th of January "No to war,
no to the massacre that is being prepared."
As you can see, position statements have been sent to us from all
continents, from labor activists and union members responding in the
same spirit to our conference:
"No, a thousand times no to this war which only serves the interest
of the exploiters and the oppressors! No, a thousand times no to this
war! War against all of the people of the entire world, including the
working class and their organizations in the United States, France,
Germany and Great Britain, whose rights and conquests are threatened
with elimination by the same governments at the service of the
multinationals that threaten the destruction of the Iraqi people and all
of the people of the regionŠ
"The working class has always said no to war. It is our job to once
more, whatever tendencies and the sensibilities in the labor movement
may be, whatever the disagreements may be, to unite the force of the
workers, of their organizations, of the supporters of democracy, to stop
the war and save the Iraqi people".
This is the purpose of the Conference on January 23rd and 24th.
Send us your messages and contributions...
**********
Communique of the international Liaison Committee of Workers and Peoples
Paris January 11th 2003-
The International Liaison Committee of Workers and Peoples decided to
convene an emergency international Conference to be held on January 23rd
and 24th:
No to war! No to impending slaughter!
Right when the threats of war against Iraq are getting more and more
precise, when the Bush administration has just mobilised 200,000
reservist soldiers, working class activists, trade unionists,
organisation leaders are responding to the International Liaison
Committee's appeal, stating they will attend the emergency conference
against war and exploitation.
From the United States shop steward delegates will attend. Among them,
Clarence Thomas (longshore workers, trade unionist), who thus explains
why he will participate:
"It is important for representatives from the U.S. labor movement
to be present in Paris at the Emergency International Antiwar Conference
to let working people around the world know that the politicians in the
United States who are preparing a bloody war against the people of Iraq
do not speak in our name. We refuse to allow Bush and the warmongers to
use our grief resulting from 9/11 as a cry for war.
"It is also important for workers everywhere to know that those in
the U.S. labor movement -- including the leadership of the AFL-CIO --
who have not taken a stand against this war do not speak in the name of
the entire U labor movement.
"Since last summer there has been steady growth in labor opposition
to war against Iraq from local unions, central labor councils, state
federations and other groups, and a few high-ranking labor leaders have
also spoken out individually. Even the 21,000-member Teamsters local in
Chicago voted recently to oppose the war, despite the fact that the top
Teamsters' leadership is openly supporting Bush's policies toward Iraq.
"Still, though things are changing, there are still too many people
in the U.S. labor movement who -- in the aftermath of the unfortunate
events of 9/11 -- are reluctant to take a stand against the war for fear
of being labeled "unpatriotic."
"Though many do understand that the 'War on Terrorism' is being
used to attack our collective-bargaining power, they fail to see that
the same thing is true of the war against Iraq and U.S. foreign policy
in general. Gene Bruskin, secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO's Food and
Allied Trades department, put it well in his Oct. 7 letter to AFL-CIO
President John Sweeney, when he wrote:
"'I do not believe, however, that Bush's War policies are designed
to increase domestic security. They are, rather, a Trojan Horse for his
pro-corporate domestic and international agenda. His War of Terror and
War on Iraq have little to do with promoting security for the U.S.
citizenry. Rather, his foreign policy is designed to serve the same
corporate interests that drive his domestic policy, making the world
safe for U.S. multinationals. In the era of globalization, the two
cannot be separated.'
"As a longshore worker who has been involved in a protracted
struggle against the Pacific Maritime Association, the Bush
administration and a whole array of multinational corporations such as
Walmart (all members of the West Coast Waterfront Coalition), I want to
let the international labor movement know that all of these forces tried
to break our union -- and that none of this would have been possible
without the "War on Terrorism" and the impending war on Iraq.
"Both the USA Patriot Act and the war on Iraq are moves by the Bush
administration to take away not only our civil and human rights -- but
also our trade union rights, in the name of national security interests.
To attack unions, which represent a fundamental democratic institution
in any society, is to move in the direction of a totalitarian society.
"I will be in Paris to tell the story of our struggle for a decent
contract and to explain how everything that was thrown at us in the ILWU
-- indeed, everything today that's happening to our unions -- has
everything to do with the war effort.
"I feel it is important to speak about these issues, even though
our own International, the ILWU, has not yet taken a position against
the war.
"We in ILWU Local 10 have a long history of being in the vanguard
on a whole number of issues, such as the anti-apartheid movement. It was
a rank-and-file action that led to the refusal by Local 10 to unload
cargo emanating from South Africa. Subsequent to that, the International
got on board.
"Local 10 is the local of Harry Bridges, the militant founder of
the ILWU. I will be in Paris at this international antiwar conference to
let working people know that the legacy of Harry Bridges and the
fighting tradition of the ILWU are alive and standing tall.
***
From Pakistan: The All Pakistan Trade Union Federation announces that
they intend to prepare new demonstrations against war in the days to
come. They write:
"We circulated the appeal to the Emergency International Conference
convened in Paris on January 23rd and 24th. We shall gather endorsements
before it is convened as a demonstration of our steadfast support to
that appeal. We wish to appeal to rallies and we wish to invite other
trade unions, in Lahore and other towns in Pakistan to reassert our
opposition to a war against Iraq's innocent people" A delegate will
attend the conference.
From Bangladesh, when American multinationals are trying to extend their
control over gas production, when the martial law is, in fact enacted in
Dacca the country's capital, on December 27th, the Workers Democratic
Party organised a rally against the war the Bush intends to unleash
against the Iraqi people.
The rally appealed to all the trade unions, the people's parties and,
peasant organisations, and to women's, intellectuals', and young people's
organisations of India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka to unite in the
struggle against this unjust war. A delegate from Bangladesh will be
present in Paris on January 23rd and 24th
A delegate from India will be present; It was in Bombay that the
initiative to launch an appeal against war, for peace among the peoples
of India and Pakistan for the sovereignty of nations was taken. "Despite
its democratic proclamations, US imperialism has a long history of
support to dictatorships, as long as they serve its greed for profit.
The People of Bangladesh experienced that in 1971; Today, India,
Pakistan and Bangladesh would sooner or later be preyed on by American
imperialism if it reaches its goal", says one of the union
activists.
Trade unionists from the Philippines and Australia forwarded their
endorsement.
In China, right when the war is looming, the Liaoyang activists who have
been jailed for 10 months, are on trial and two of them face the death
penalty. The Hong-Kong anti-war coalition decided to send a
representative to the conference.
A leader of the metalworkers union of Korea will participate in the
conference. He states: "We decided to participate in the
conference. My comrades totally agree with the pre-requisites of the
conference, because they bear a close relationship with the issue of
North Korea".
Right when the Ivory Coast is under siege and threatened with collapse,
trade unionists, representatives from numerous African countries will
attend (Ivory Coast, South Africa, Togo Chad); they intend to say NO to
war, NO to the ruin of our continent.
In Mexico, a conference is being prepared, it will give a mandate to a
delegation to the emergency conference.
In Chile, a CUT leader will attend. An anti-war campaign is under way.
In a first stage, an appeal was countersigned by 900 endorsers who gave
their names to be published, among them many union leaders. A delegation
to the President of the Republic is being prepared: it will state:
"no money for war"
Union members of Brazil's CUT, members of parliament, leaders of the
Workers' Party will be with us.
In Rumania, union leaders, rank and file are circulating an appeal
"against the United States aggression policy across the world,
against the war in Iraq and against Rumania joining NATO"
In Spain, a delegation will be present. It is supported by a letter to
the president of the Spanish government Jose Maria Aznar, launched by
union members that say: " Not one Euro, not one soldier for the war
in Iraq". That letter supports the appeal of the San Francisco
AFL-CIO to the January 18th day of mobilisation against war.
Trade unionists from Great Britain are preparing a delegation to Tony
Blair. A delegation will be present in Paris.
German trade unionists, member of the SPD will participate in the
emergency conference. An appeal to SPD Bundestag deputies is being
circulated: "It is not too late: maintain a firm final NO to
war". The appeal concludes on "Take a public stand. You will
thus join the resistance movement throughout the world, and especially
among American people against the Bush administration. We gave you a
majority vote. You have the power to forbid German approval of the war!
The tide can turn. Without any wavering and heeding the determination of
German people: NO to war! German soldier participating in interventions
abroad must be withdrawn! The treasury must recover the 1.6 billion
Euros expenses they cost."
As of this writing, delegates from 30 countries have confirmed they will
participate in the international emergency conference against war and
exploitation.
They will participate in the January 24th internationalist rally at the
Mutualite Hall in Paris.
The international emergency conference against war will begin on January
23rd at 10 a.m. in Paris. It will close on Friday 24th by the end of
afternoon.
A report meeting will take place in the evening.
For application and all questions of organisation, contact the
International Liaison Committee.
Entente Internationale des Travailleurs et des Peuples - 87
rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis 75010 Paris France
Tel: (33 1) 48 01 88 28 E-mail eit.ilc@wanadoo.fr
Cheques should be made payable to CMO
**********
Letter from W. Sauders (Vancouver) to the general secretary of ICFTU
Guy Ryder,
General Secretary, ICFTU
Dear Brother Ryder
It was with alarm and disappointment that I received your latest
bulletin calling for the international community "to redouble its
efforts to ensure complete and unfettered access for UN arms inspectors
in Iraq". While care is taken to mention that this should all occur
within the mandate of the United Nations, I think it is more than a
little overblown to say that "people the world over have tremendous
expectations for member states to act in cohesion in response to the
threat posed by Iraq".
I don't believe that people "the world over" feel that way at
all. I certainly don't and neither do the delegates representing over
65,000 trade unionists affiliated to our Labour Council. If that feeling
exists at all, it probably exists mostly in the United States and
largely in response to an endless barrage of propaganda on the issue
designed to "manufacture consent" for an invasion of Iraq.
A lot of the rest of us "people the world over" think that the
United States is playing a dangerous political game over Iraq in pursuit
of a narrow national interest centered around their need to control the
supply of oil in the middle east.
The ICFTU position goes entirely in the wrong direction. It does little
more than serve as soft propaganda for the U.S. pro-war position.
Most of the world community outside of the ICFTU does not agree with the
U.S. position on Iraq. Surely in this period of imminent war with Iraq,
a much more progressive position for an international trade union
organization would be to emphasize the dangers of war for working
people, the suffering of the people of Iraq, the volatility of the
middle east and the aggressive self-serving nature of the U.S. position
on Iraq.
If the ICFTU is to have any real hope of playing a leading role in the
world trade union movement, you will have to do much better than this
half-baked position.
Fraternally,
William Saunders, President
Vancouver & District Labour Council
Vancouver, Canada
**********
Pakistan:
Letter from G. A. Chaudhry, general secretary of APTUF, to the
organizers of Asian Social Forum
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your invitation to take part in Asian Social Forum to be
held in Hyderabad, India.
I read some of the preparatory documents for the forum -- at least those
I was able to get.
They raised some questions, which I wish to share with you
First I would like to raise some questions with you in relation with
World Social Forum India Policy Guidelines, which seems to be the basis
on which rests the Asian Social Forum.
Many formulations in the Guidelines made me feel that the precise points
I raise are not related only to an isolated statement.
The first question I wish to raise is related to point 12 of the
guidelines.
Of course, society comprehends many categories, sections, and tradesŠ
But it is divided in classes. There are all sorts of wage earners
but all have in common that they earn their living by selling their
labor; "industrialists and businessmen", be they national,
local or international, exploit labor.
The interests of these two classes are contradictory. It is on that
basis that the labor movement was founded, that trade union movement
developed as organizations defending the workers.
I don't see how we can defend our jobs, our wages, our gains, fight back
against the dismantlement of the labor code and the threat it represents
for our basic rights and organizations in an alliance with
"Industrialists and businessmen".
I am of course nor opposed to discuss with "Industrialists and
businessmen". I do that often in the course of negotiations between
the trade unions as representatives of the employees and of the
representatives of the employers -- but not in a friendly forum.
Point 4. Begins by recalling that we are faced by a " process of
capitalist globalization commanded by the large multinational
corporations and by the governments and institutions at the service of
those corporations' interests".
It is then stated that we must ensure that "globalization in
solidarity will prevail as a new stage in world history. This will
respect universal human rights and those of all citizens -- men and
women -- of all nations and the environment and will rest on democratic
international systems and institutions."
May I ask you what are those "democratic international systems and
institutions"? Are they to be the result of a
"reform" or of a democratization of institutions such as the
World Bank, the IMF, the WTO, the UN, all of which are originally linked
to Imperialism?
What is meant by "globalization in solidarity", solidarity
between who and whom? The oppressed and the exploited with the
exploiters? Or the solidarity in struggle of the exploited and the
oppressed against the exploiters?
What brings about the questions to my mind is not only the points I have
just raised but also the permanent references to the "civil
society". What is the "civil society"? The whole
society with the exception of state institutions. But the society
is not only formed by different components, it is primarily divided into
classes with contradictory interests.
That is why the working class needs its own organizations, primarily
trade unions organizations, which exist as representatives of the class
interests of the workers (in the broad sense of employees, wage-earners)
and not as a component of a "civil society".
Point 17 returns to that topic, saying that as a framework for the
exchange of experiences, the World Social Forum encourages understanding
and mutual recognition among its participant organizations and
movements".
What could mean "mutual understanding" and
"recognition" between movements protecting the interests of
the industrialists and business class, and the working class
organizations, both regarded as "movements and organizations of
civil society".
In the program of the Forum there is a section titled on "Peace and
Security".
Within it there are many remarks, which are positive. But what raised a
question for me is the fact that in that section the question of Iraq
was not even raised? The world itself is missing, as are missing
American Imperialism and Bush. There is no mention of Afghanistan.
How it is possible to discuss the problems of "peace and
security" while remaining silent on the main focus of imperialist
aggression, the preparation of a murderous war against the people of
Iraq?
It seems to me that a main problem today is how to mobilize in our
continent and worldwide unconditionally against that war.
I also have a question about the way the Forum is supposed to function.
Point 6 of Policy Guidelines states: "[T]he participants in the
Forum shall not be called to take decisions as a body whether by vote or
acclamation, on declaration or proposals for action that would commit
all or the majority".
In other words, the participants can take no decision. I always
understood democracy as the need to reach through free discussions a
decision by themajority.
One last question: point 15 of the Guidelines speaks about the necessity
" of resources mobilised from external resources".
We are all aware that through the experience of our day-by-day activity
in our unions how difficult it is, especially under the circumstances
prevailing in our country, to organize national meetings, pay for the
trips and so on. I suppose it is in the right of all participants to
know that what are those "external resources".
I also raise questions because I believe that there are at least three
major issues that must be discussed within the labor movement so that
decisions can taken together:
1. The trade unions movement must unite to be the driving force in
expressing, nationally and at the level of the continent, centralizing
and uniting the struggle against the murderous war that Bush intends to
launch against the people of Iraq.
2. The trade union movement must decide on how to organize, unite and
fight to stop the general offensive against the working class, our
rights and our organizations.
3. The trade union movement must unite to oppose war between India and
Pakistan, to call upon all the peoples of this sub-continent to regroup
against their effective and common enemies: the imperialist plunders and
all the exploiters. That is the meaning of the appeal endorsed by our
Federation and other trade unions.
6.
I am expecting your answer.
Yours truly,
Gulzar Ahmed Chaudhry
General Secretary
All Pakistan Trade Union Federation
**********
France:
The Republic Must Remain United and Indivisible
No to the revision of the Constitution
In the month of February of 2003, the revision of the French
Constitution (already adopted by separate votes in the National Assembly
and the Senate) will be submitted to Parliament meeting in session. This
revision is part of the preparations for a "European
Constitution" announced for the end of 2003.
Among our diverse political, union and philosophical responsibilities
and commitments, we are indefatigably committed to the Republic and to
the unity of the nation. For this reason we are today launching a call
of alarm: the revision of the Constitution must be rejected. The
Republic must remain united and indivisible.
Yes, the situation is very serious:
If this revision were adopted, Article 1 of the Constitution would
stipulate that from that point on, the Republic, maintaining the role of
"united and indivisible" would nonetheless see "its
organization decentralized". What does this mean? Mr. Raffarin has
responded very clearly to this question in a letter directed to the
mayors of France on November 15th. In it he indicates that "the
justice system, defense, war veterans, public spending, taxes, customs,
and labor inspection naturally depend on the competence of the
State". All of the other central administrations of the State -
from National Education to Infrastructure, from Transportation to
Sanitation, etc.- would be the object, instead, of what Mr. Raffarin
calls the "transfer of powers that will take place in the coming
months". Thus, broad sectors of what up to now depended on laws
common to all citizens, will in the future be transferred to another
environment, which the revision indicates could differ according to each
case: here transportation will depend on the region, there on the
department, somewhere else on the inter-municipality: here education
will depend on one application, there another, etc.
The text of the law anticipates to this end, that under the pretext of
"experimentation", it will be possible to repeal a common law
in all landscapes. The same governmental text recognizes that "the
practice of experimentation" entails enormous risks "of
confronting the principle of equality". It's the least that could
be said! The law has guaranteed up until now equal rights for the
citizens of the Republic. The destruction of this law signifies the
break-up and dismantling of rights and equality; it is contrary to the
principle of the Declaration of the Rights of Man of 1789: "the law
is the expression of the general will...it should be the same for
all".
The united and indivisible Republic must cede its position to a
fragmented and defeated France: we do not accept this! The law that
guarantees equality of rights for all citizens would disappear at the
benefit of "laws", regulations and edicts, different from one
region or department to another, from one "country" to
another. Over this fragmentation local powers would rise, in which local
mafias would fight for the largest part of the "manna" of
European funds, and the dividends of local resources.
This revision of the Constitution attacks the pillars of democracy and
the social rights acquired in our country more than two centuries ago.
The unity of the Labor Code (which guarantees to all workers in the
country, without distinction, rights which are codified in law) would
fly to pieces. Just as would the collective bargaining contracts, the
statutes, the unity of the regime of social protections and public
services. To what end? To deny the workers of the cities and the
country, and all citizens, the guarantees won in the framework of the
nation and which, atomized in the local and regional spheres, would be
reduced to nothing. Also in set in their sights are the principle
democratic conquests, which are the secularity of the schools and the
State, and even the existence of our 36,000 city councils and their
liberties, the inheritance of the French Revolution.
Also threatened by this assault is the very existence of independent
trade unions and trade union confederations. These were formed in
relation to the reforms won by labor and union actions and which
occurred in the framework of the nation. Today they find themselves
faced with an ultimatum: they must renounce all defense of the existing
rights and guarantees on the national scale and participate as
"co-legislators" in the elaboration of the supposed
"European social rights" (the lowest common denominator for
competition with the level of "entering countries" in which
wages are five times lower than those in France) and to contribute their
subsidiary translation on the scale of the "regions" and the
"countries".
Nobody can call it deception: this revision of the Constitution is based
on the framework of the European Union, founded on the Maastricht
Treaty. The explanation of its motivations is made explicit, putting
emphasis on the necessity of generalizing the subsidiary principle, by
which the European directives must be applied in all instances and at
all levels.
We, the below signed, with respect for the diversity of our commitments,
send out this call:
NO TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION
We could object that the Fifth Republic even from its origin has been
based on a Constitution that, in many senses, is opposite to the demands
of democracy: this is true. The labor and democratic movement had,
already in 1958, condemned this Constitution, that a late president of
the Republic described as "a permanent coup d'état", before
he was elected and respected that institutional framework.
It is also true that many reforms adopted by the successive governments,
as much by the right as by the left, have already opened breaches in the
unity of the Republic, from the 1982 laws to those of 1999, occurring
through the "Matignon process" on Corsica. Nevertheless, at
least until now, and precisely because of working and democratic
resistance, all attempts to completely dismantle the unity of the
Republic have failed, the most famous being the referendum of 1969.
Today, within the framework of the accelerated march towards a
"Regional Europe" and of the directives of the International
Monetary Fund and the World Bank, they are trying to end, by way of this
constitutional reform, the unity of the Republic, the unity of the
nation, and democracy itself.
WE WILL NOT LET THEM DO IT!
Because we want:
- Equality of rights for all citizens before the law,
- Institutional secularity of the Schools and the State,
- Public services, public education, public hospitals, etc. that
continue to be guaranteed to all in republican equality.
- A Labor Code, social laws, and equal guarantees for all, whatever the
location in the territory of each inhabitant may be: from the retirement
regime to health insurance, from unemployment insurance to family
assistance, from the Postal Service to transportation and energy...
- The respect for the principle which appoints the French language
as the language of the Republic and of education. From the maintenance
of the 36,000 municipalities, to all public services and the guarantees
which they translate, at the level of each municipality, equality for
all in the Republic.
We say:
UNITE WITH US!
TOGETHER, WE SAY:
The Republic must remain united and indivisible!
No to the revision of the Constitution!
We propose as the first initiative the organization of a delegation to
all deputies and senators who have to vote on the revision of the
Constitution in February of 2003.
First signatories to the text: "The republic must continue to be
united and indivisible"
Yves Allain, mayor of Saint Michel of Plélan (22); Xavier Amor,
metalworkers unionist, municipal advisor of Aubervilliers (93); Patrice
Bargibant, ASSOCIATIF and political activist (75); Roger Bauvert,
unionist (80); Gérard Bouisson, mayor and general advisor of Villeneuve
les Maguelone (34); Robert Brun, unionist in the construction sector
(35); Daniel Couty, unionist (92); Mario Crocenzo, unionist (54); Jean
Delarue, municipal advisor of Mureaux (78); Gérard Delépine, surgeon
(93); Nicole Delépine, doctor (93); Daniel Delrez, regional advisor,
Republican Iniciative (57); Christian Demeautis, unionist, free thinker;
Olivier Doriane, member of national leadership of the Workers Party(75);
Jean-Claude Fiack, ex-mayor of Kuntzig (57); Christian Fleury, mayor of
Bonnétable (72); Patrick Florimond, Associatif official (54); Didier
Fouché, mayor of Soulitré (72); Maria Fretun-Gonzalez, municipal
advisor of Aubervilliers (93); Jeanine Gani, ex-municipal leader of
Mureaux (78); Guy Gibout, honorary mayor of Joinville le Pont (94);
Daniel Gluckstein, national secretary of the Workers Party (75); Yves
Gonzales, municipal advisor of Caux (34); Bernard Goursaud, mayor of
Brie sous Matha, departamental official of MODEF (17); Gisèle Grange,
Quality Control official for AST Lyon (69); Charles Gras, metalworker
unionist (59); Dominique Gros, university professor of the Dijon
University (21); Jean-Louis Guérin, unionist, longshoreman (35); Emile
Guikov, surgeon (94); Georges Hage, deputy representative (59); Marc Hébert,
anarcho-unionist (29); Georges Hoffman, ex-federal secretary of the
Socialist Party of Bas-Rhin, CSLR (67); Michel Jakubczyk, unionist (57);
Daniel Jeanin, mayor of Montenois (25); Claude Jenet, unionist (84);
Jean-Jacques Karman, general communist advisor (93); Marie Karman,
comercial director, municipal advisor of Aubervilliers (93); Kalina
Krzywolak, archeology student (94); Pierre-Jean Lambert, unionist (35);
Patricia Latour-Combes, municipal advisor of Aubervilliers (93); François
Le Pivert, profesor, unionist (22); Gilbert Lebescond, metalworker
unionist (93); François Livart, unionist (93); Jean-Claude Loew,
chemical worker unionist (91); Barbara Markowska, podiatrist (94);
Jean-Charles Marquiset, unionist, Communist Encounter (91); Jean-Marie
Matisson, professor (24); Georges Morin, agricultural engineer, free
thinker (75); Marie-Thérèse Mutin, regional advisor of Bourgogne;
Jean-Paul Neau, unionist (49); Marc Perrier, municipal advisor of Saint
Malo (35); Yann Perrotte, unionist (50); Henri Poumayrac, mayor of La
Caunette (34); Guy Poussy, honorary general advisor (94); Joachim Salaméro,
unionist, free thinker (33); Gérard Schivardi, mayor of Mailhac (11);
Angelo Sciabbarrasi, postal worker unionist (34); Guy Seiler, municipal
advisor of Villeneuve les Maguelone (34); Pierre Soulat, ex-mayor of Achères
(78); Rose-Marie Sterge, municipal advisor of Chevily-Larue (94); Béatrice
Sylvain, unionist (89); Henri Van Damme, professor ESPCI (75); Cyrille
Venet, doctor (38); Rodolphe Verger, psyciatric specialist nurse,
unionist (35); Fred Zeller, writer, painter (75).
**********
January 24th and 25th, the French Workers Party Holds its Congress
The congress of the Workers Party will be held after the Emergency
International Conference and meeting on January 24th.
As you can see, the congress is being held in a particular situation of
preparations for war against the people of Iraq and a social war against
the workers undertaken by all governments.
In effect, how otherwise would one interpret that on the one hand the
government increases the military spending and on the other hand,
accelerates the general offensive with which it is trying to reduce to a
minimum the workers retirements, with the pretext of the call for the
"reestablishment of the balance of the social accounts as of
2004".
Furthermore, how otherwise to interpret the institutional reforms that
have as their objective the legalization of inequality of rights, with
which labor costs will be reduced?
How can we resist in the face of this military machinery against the
workers?
Supporters of democratic rights of all the tendencies have decided
to launch a "call for a united and indivisible Republic, no to the
revision of the Constitution".
The revision is part of the process that leads to the regionalization of
Europe and the preparation of a "European Constitution".
On January 9th, when rejecting the conclusions that put their system of
retirement in danger, the workers of Electricity of France (EDF) and Gas
of France (GDF), showed that it is possible to resist, that it is
possible to reject the dictates of the Europe of Maastricht. It is a
victory for the entire working class.
To resist is to resist all aspects of a policy through which all
governments, no matter which, attack the workers and the youth.
This is the problem that is raised throughout the labor movement and the
solution to which the Workers Party would like to contribute with its
proposals.
If you wish, you can send a message to the Workers Party congress,
before January 23:
87, rue du faubourg Saint Denis. Fax (33) 01 48 01 88 22.
**********
Venezuela: Washington's Hand at Work
By ANDREU CAMPS
For the past 30 days, the "Coordinación Democrática" -- or
Democratic Coordinating Committee -- has been attempting to paralyze
Venezuela, particularly its oil industry. The goal of this organization
is to force President Hugo Chávez, who was duly elected to office in
December 1999, to step down. The situation of heightened social
confrontation is reaching the breaking point.
Demonstrations and counter-demonstrations are a daily occurrence,
especially in Caracas and its greater metropolitan region, where close
to one-third of the country's population lives.
The Spanish daily newspaper El Pais (Jan. 4), in an article that
reported two deaths and dozens of wounded in a recent street clash,
described the situation as follows:
"This latest confrontation revealed once again that the divide
among Caraqueños aside from being political is markedly social, even
geographic. The great bulk of the anti-Chavista crowds come from many
different places, though mainly from the Eastern district (the wealthier
neighborhood). The pro-Chavistas come from the southern sector of the
city, which is flanked with popular neighborhoods and shantytowns, where
President Chávez maintains a strong following."
What's involved here, therefore, is a veritable confrontation among
social classes in Venezuela.
At the center of the multiple demonstrations held over the past weeks in
Venezuela lies the strike of the PDVSA -- that is, the nationalized oil
company of Venezuela. The nationalization of this corporation took place
in the 1970s, providing the OPEC -- the cartel of oil-producing
countries that was formed to negotiate better prices for each barrel of
oil -- with much of its vigor.
PDVSA has a payroll of 40,000 workers -- to which one must add an
additional 60,000 workers involved in subcontracting or derivative
industries. It is the second largest oil company in the world in terms
of output, and the fifth in the world in term of exports. Its net worth
is approximately US$130 billion.
PDVSA accounts for 29% of Venezuela's Gross Domestic Product, 50% of the
state's income, and 80% of its exports. Its maritime fleet is
responsible for 13% of oil imports into the United States. So, clearly,
what's at stake with Venezuela's oil is of prime concern to the
multinational corporations and to the governments and institutions in
their service. It is no wonder, therefore, why so many people see
Washington's had behind the unfolding events in Venezuela.
In this regard, the PDVSA strike -- just like the "general
strike" decreed by the anti-Chávez opposition -- has very
particular characteristics.
First, the employers -- through their organization, the FEDECAMARAS --
pledged and are delivering on their pledge, to pay the striking workers
the totality of their salaries during the course of the
"strike." Moreover, the "strike" mainly involves the
top administrative personnel of the company. It is a "strike"
that was imposed on the workers without any assembly or consultation.
The president of PDVSA, Ali Rodriguez, who is also a minister in the Chávez
government, described the strike in the following terms: "This
strike is above all a political strike against the president and against
the people. It has been organized by the very same people who
orchestrated the military coup of April 2002. The spokespersons of the
strike are people like Luis Giusti [former president of PDVSA during the
second government of Caldera]. They are all people who have been
outspoken about the need to privatize PDVSA." (El Pais, Jan. 4)
It goes without saying that to the extent PDVSA is a nationalized
enterprise, the government has every right to appoint its top
administrative officers and to exert control over the functioning of the
company. But this is precisely what the current administrators of PDVSA
refuse to accept. For example, they refuse to accept the quotas
negotiated by OPEC with the goal of raising the price of oil, thereby
acting outright as spokespersons for the U.S. administration, whose main
concern is to increase Venezuela's oil production.
It is in the interest of the Venezuelan workers and people that this
imperialist interference in the internal affairs of Venezuela come to an
end!
The Bush administration has systematically targeted and acted in a
belligerent manner toward the government of Chávez and its policies.
The Bush family, which is tied directly to major oil interests, was
directly implicated in the organization of the first coup attempt
against Chávez on April 11, 2002. Just a few days before this coup
attempt, the U.S. press reported that George Bush Sr. visited the
Venezuelan multimillionaire Cisneros, who was one of the instigators and
financial backers of the coup.
According to the U.S. and international press, the contacts between the
coup perpetrators and the U.S. Embassy in Caracas were ongoing.
Moreover, in the last few months, the White House press secretary, Ari
Fleischer, has spoken openly about the course Venezuela needs to follow
-- according to the U.S. government. On Dec. 13, he stated that
Venezuela needs to hold early presidential elections, which requires
that the Venezuelan Constitution must be changed. On Dec. 16, Fleischer
called openly for a national referendum in Venezuela over whether Chávez
should remain in power or not.
At the same time, through the aegis of the Organization of American
States (OAS), now headed by former Colombian President Cesar Gaviria
Trujillo, increased pressures are being exerted on the Venezuelan
government to accept holding a referendum or early elections.
When Luis Inacio "Lula" da Silva took office in Brazil on Jan.
1, 2003, he officially met with Chávez. The Washington Post published
an editorial on Jan. 2 calling on Lula to act as a mediator in the
Venezuelan crisis.
Without a doubt, it is in the interest of the entire Venezuelan nation
-- of its workers and people -- as it is in the interest of all the
peoples of the continent, that this imperialist interference be halted,
so that the Venezuelan people can have the full freedom and sovereignty
to control their own energy resources -- which implies that PDVSA should
be maintained as a nationalized oil company.
*****
Addendum on the Role of the "Socialist International"
The trade union bureaucracy of the Confederation of Venezuelan Workers
(CTV) is in large part at the origin of these anti-Chávez
demonstrations. It is important to remember that this bureaucracy is
linked politically to the "Acción Democrática" (AD) party,
which is a member of the Socialist (or Second) International, and to
AD's former leader, Andrés Pérez. It should be recalled as well that Pérez,
at the beginning of his second term in office in February 1989 ordered
the brutal repression against the people of Caracas, who arose in a
massive uprising against the hikes in the cost of public transportation.
That repression left many dead and hundreds injured.
(Andreu Camps is a journalist with the weekly Informations Ouvrieres, or
Labor News, the publication of the French Workers Party.)
**********
Documents Published in the ILC International Newsletter
No. 0, November 4, 2002
… Declaration from the O Trabalho tendency of the Workers Party of
Brazil on the presidential election (October 27). Intervention by Julio
Turra at the meeting of the Executive Board of the CUT, October 31 of
2002.
…
… SOPODE Newspaper in Germany (grouping of union activists and social
democrats) publishes interviews with SDP leaders and unionists:
"the government of the SDP that wants the workers".
…
No. 00, November 12, 2002.
… Call from the North American Committee "Not in Our Name"
formed by artists and intellectuals. Call from the Support Committee in
France.
…
… Italy Fiat: The protest broadens.
…
… Ukrainian youth against the war.
…
… Brazil: Markus Sokol sends his intervention to the Executive body of
the Workers Party after the election of Lula to the presidency of the
republic.
…
… Germany: the newspaper SOPODE sends us the Ver.di union resolution
in which they reject the governmental proposals concerning unemployment
insurance and labor rights.
…
No. 1, November 19, 2002
… Letter from G.L. Bruskin, Secretary General of the UFCW to J.
Sweeney, AFL-CIO President on the threat of war (USA)
…
… No to War (France, Italy)
…
… Interview with Gaby Clavier, Public Relations official for the UGTG
of Guadeloupe, on the strike at Texaco, the petroleum multinational
(Guadeloupe)
…
… 8,000 job positions threatened in the Postal Service. The monthly
newspaper of the Union for Labor Policies publishes its opinion.
(Switzerland)
…
… Debate in the labor movement on the visit of a team of IMF
officials. (Brazil)
…
… International Call for support from trade unionists in response to
the appeal from Liaoyang. (China)
…
No. 2, November 27, 2002
… Extracts from the Free Tribune of the Caribbean: towards the
Caribbean Conference.
…
… Call from the participants of the International conference dedicated
to the 85th anniversary of the October Revolution. (Kiev, Ukraine)
…
… Call to Youth of the world (IRY): "no to war"
…
… Preparatory Bulletin for the International Conference in Defense of
Public Education (June of 2003)
…
… General Labor Federation of Burkina Faso: declaration on the events
in the Ivory Coast.
…
No. 3, December 2, 2002
… Letters from the families of American soldiers "see the photo
of my son Joe" (United States)
…
… November 26th, strikes and demonstrations for unity and for the
satisfaction of the people's demands (analysis from the editorial of
Informations Ouvrieres) (France)
…
… Restructuring project for the Postal centers is delayed in the face
of the threat of strikes (Switzerland)
…
… Dave Patton, member of the national leadership of the British
Firemen's Union, reports on the union's strike and calls on the
International Liaison Committee (Great Britain).
…
… Pakistani Trade Union Federation holds its congress and reports on
the conclusions.
…
No. 4, December 9, 2002
… The ILC Commission of Working Women sends us the Appeal from Women
Against the War and its first signatories
…
… The Workers Platform published an editorial from which we printed
the extract, "No to War" (Belgium)
…
… 250 thousand workers demonstrate in Naples (by La Repubblica)
…
… Movement of the "demonstration of 500 for trade union
independence", members of the ILC, formed by activists of the CGT
and the CGT-FO, sent us their bulletin. We published one of the
articles, "Against the 'social Europe'". (France)
…
… Editorial from Informacion Obrera: The oil spill: the government is
responsible for it (Spain)
…
… The Defense Committee for the Liberation of Claude Amengavi, formed
by activists and unionists, sent us the report of the trial. (Togo)
…
… Tivin Silva, secretary general of the People's Liberation Front
(JVP) of Sri Lanka tells us about the positions of his party on the
situation in the country. (Sri Lanka)
…
No. 5, December 16, 2002
… Press Review: "This is a war for oil!"
…
… On the issue of the Florence Social Forum in Italy, the Fourth
International (one of the currents of the ILC) sends us extracts of its
analysis
…
… Germany: The editorial board of the newspaper Sopode emits the
declaration: "Alert!, Where are they leading our country?"
…
… Mexico: our correspondents prepare for the Continental Conference
Against the FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas) and For Labor rights
for All
…
… The Workers Party of Algeria sent us a press review on the labor
mobilizations
…
No. 6, December 23, 2002
… 16 members of the North American congress, diverse organizations and
nearly 200 personalities wrote to Bush to demand that he withdraw any
unconstitutional proposal with regards to Venezuela.
…
… Press Conference in Paris of the Collective of French intellectuals,
researchers and artists to support the American call: "Not in our
Name" Interview with Hillary Keagan, secretary of the New York
"Not In Our Name" committee (from the Newspaper Informations
Ouvrières-France of December 20, 2002)
…
… 2 thousand French soldiers "ready to open fire" in the
Ivory Coast /Cote d'Ivoire (press review by Informations Ouvrieres of
France)
…
… Presentation by Markus Sokol on Dec. 17 to the National Executive
Committee Meeting of the Brazilian Workers Party (PT) on Lula's Cabinet
Appointments
…
… A delegation of railroad workers has an interview with the
representative of the General Delegation of energy and transportation of
the Brussels Commission.
…
… China: the struggle continues for the freedom of the imprisoned
union members and for the workers demands (extracts from Carta de
Informacion from the investigation commission in China).
…
No. 7 December 27, 2002
… Special edition in which we published the Call for the Emergency
International Conference Against the War, January 23 and 24, in Paris,
France.
…
… "No to war and exploitation", Call from the ILC for an
International Conference.
…
… Manifesto Against the War and Exploitation", adopted in
Barcelona in January of 1991,on the eve of the Gulf War, by the
delegates of the Open World Conference.
…
No. 8, January 6, 2003
… Answers to the Appeal for an International Emergency Conference
Against War - from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Romania
…
… Claude Ameganvi's Trial: the unjust verdict in Togo
…
… Regionalization in Italy
…
… Caribbean Conference: motions and resolutions. Towards the
conference against FTAA
…
In each one of the issues of the ILC International Newsletter, we have
published a list of publications of the International Liaison Committee
of Workers and Peoples, with the purchase price. We have also published
a calendar of conferences and meetings of the ILC.
Don't want to miss the documents to come? Subscribe!
Calendar of ILC Meetings
January 23 and 24, 2003
Emergency International Conference Against the War (Paris, France)
April of 2003
International Conference of Railroad Workers Against Privatization and
for the Re-nationalization of the Railroads
(Paris, France)
March 8, 2003
International Day of Women Against the War and for the Defense of Rights
May of 2003
Continental Conference of the Americas Against the FTAA
(Sao Paulo, Brazil)
June of 2003
International Conference of unionists for the Defense of the Conventions
of the ILO
June of 2003
International Conference in Defense of Public Education
For more information:
ILC International Newsletter
International Liaison Committee of Workers and Peoples
87, rue du faubourg Saint-Denis-75010
Paris-France
Tel. (33 1) 48 01 88 28
Email: eit.ilc@wanadoo.fr
Back to Home Back
to ILC Newsletter Index
|
Open World Conference of Workers