ILC INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER NO. 122
A dossier of weekly information published by the International
Liaison Committee of Workers and Peoples
March 15,2005
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To contact us:
ILC International Newsletter
International Liaison Committee of Workers and Peoples
87, rue du Faubourg Saint Denis 75010 Paris, France
PRESENTATION:
This issue is dedicated to the struggle for land, bread and peace.
It continues to promote the international campaign in support of the
Open Letter of the National Union of Workers of Venezuela (UNT) to the
ILO Workers' Group. We include below a new list of signatories to this
appeal. There is also an interview with Marcela Maspero, national
coordinator of the UNT, as well as the resolution adopted unanimously by
the CGTP trade union federation in Peru.
From Brazil, we learn that only 40,000 families have received land out
of the two million needy families listed by the Sampaio Commission.
Senator Ana Julia Carepa (Workers' Party) said: "In this country,
they have applied a 'false' process of agrarian reform."
In Zimbabwe, the government of Mugabe in response to the mobilization of
the population has, over the past few years, adopted measures to
distribute land. That is why the U.S. administration has included it in
"the axis of evil."
The Socialist Party of Azania/South Africa (SOPA), has issued an appeal
for the defense of Zimbabwe and the right of the Black population to
take over their land.
In Germany, the level of unemployment has overtaken the official figure
of five million -- the highest since the war (6,128,000 in 1932). This
is the European country that has most suffered the offensive against
social conquests imposed by the Schröder government in application of
the policies of the European Union. In this regard, Opel-IG Metall
explains that it is not only the social state but also the survival of
trade unions that is at stake.
We publish the appeal adopted in Paris at a meeting organized by the
Women's Commission of the ILC on the occasion of International Women's
Day of March 8.
This issue of the ILC International Newsletter appears on the eve of the
World Conference of the ILC. We will be publishing further reports in
our next issues.
Subscribed to the ILC International Newsletter
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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Page 1: Presentation
Page 2: International campaign in support of the Open Letter of
the UNT to the ILO Workers' Group .
Venezuela: Interview with Marcella Maspero, UNT coordinator
Page 3: Peru: The national council of the CGTP rejects the
complaint of Fedecamaras
Page s 3 - 7: List of signatories in support of the UNT appeal
Page 8: Brazil: The landless survive in poverty
Page 9: Madagascar: The life of employees in the free zone
Page 10: Germany: Correspondence in regard to the Sommer
interview in Spiegel.
Opel: "Where are we after the big strike?"
Page 6: Zimbabwe: "The black people fight for their land and
their sovereignty"
The SOPA of Azania defends Zimbabwe
Page 7: Women's Day March 8: Conclusions of the Paris meeting.
Page 8: Bangladesh: Women's Day March 8: photographs of the
demonstration.
Subscriptions
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VENEZUELA
International campaign in support of the Open Letter of the National
Union of Workers (UNT) of Venezuela to the ILO Workers' Group.
Interview with Marcela Maspero, national coordinator of the UNT
On the occasion of the meeting of the ILO Governing Body, that will be
held March 8 through 24, 2005, we have asked Marcela Maspero, national
coordinator of the UNT to provide us with the latest information on the
complaint presented against the government of Venezuela by Fedecamaras
(employers' association). The complaint will be reviewed on March 23.
Q: The ILO Governing Body will examine the complaint lodged by
Fedecamaras on March 23. What is the UNT's position?
MM: Venezuela is living through the best times for trade union
freedoms. Proof of this is the birth of the UNT.
During the process of change, for the very first time in the history of
this country, over 1,000 trade unions have been created. The
percentage of trade unionists has increased by 50% since 1999, rising
from 12% to 18% of salaried workers.
We now have discussions on collective bargaining in the country's
principal energy sectors such as oil and electricity as well as for
employees and workers in public administration; in state-owned factories
(iron and aluminum); in health care and education. The same goes for the
private sector. All this contradicts the employers' affirmations that
there are no trade union freedoms.
We also have the official mechanisms that allow the application of
collective bargaining agreements in cases where the employers refuse to
apply them.
You must understand that the ones who are presenting the complaint are
the very ones who do not respect trade union freedoms in our country.
For example, after the firing of 100,000 workers associated with the
bosses' lockout, the Ministry of Labor ordered the re-hiring of 70% of
the workers, which has been contested by the bosses. I ask you the
following question: What is the social responsibility of the owners that
form part of Fedecamaras who organized a lockout with a political
objective that led to the firing of 100,000 workers?
Finally, I remind your readers, about the fact that in Venezuela there
exists since 2003 a decree protecting against layoffs that is regularly
violated by those who have lodged a complaint before the ILO in
reference to the supposed anti-trade union practices of the government.
Q: What should be done from now until March 23?
MM: It is necessary to accelerate the international solidarity
campaign with the UNT and Venezuela by the International Liaison
Committee of Workers and Peoples. It is necessary to advise on the
statements of position taken by trade union leaders and trade unions
everywhere, to publish and distribute this information.
It is also important to ask the ILO to make these documents public, such
as the memorandum of the UNT, the position adopted by the government,
the complaint lodged by the employers that is still unknown, so that
each one can form an opinion, with full knowledge of the case.
- Compiled by Luc Deley
ILC, Switzerland
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PERU
The National Council of the CGTP trade union federation has unanimously
voted in favor of rejecting the Complaint of Fedecamaras (Venezuela).
Resolution adopted by the National Council of the CGTP (Peru)
At the 12th session of the National Council of the General
Confederation of Workers of Peru (CGTP), gathered on March 4, 2005,
having been informed of the Open Letter to the ILO Workers' Group,
signed by the leaders of the National Union of Workers of Venezuela (UNT).
Unanimously, at the session of the National Council of the CGTP, voted
in favor of rejecting the Fedecamaras proposal (employers' association
of Venezuela) and its allies (the IOE) before the ILO Governing Body
that will meet on March 6 to examine the complaint by an investigative
commission on the situation of trade union freedoms in Venezuela.
We know that Venezuela ratified ILO Conventions 87 and 98. This is the
reason that the 'investigative commission' could affect the national
sovereignty of the workers and the peoples of Venezuela.
Juan José Gorriti Valle
Secretary General of the CGTP
President of the Andean Labor Council
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We have already published in ILC International Newsletter No. 120 the
signatures from the United States, Brazil, Chile, France, Canada, Spain,
Iraq, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Mauritius, South Africa, India, Burundi and
Germany. Below are some additional representative signatures in support
of the UNT Open Letter.
Argentina : Andrea Oliva - Asociación Gremial de docentes
universitarios de la Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de
Buenos Aires.Tandil. (Adunce) Cecilia Gramajo - Asociación Gremial de
docentes universitarios de la Universidad Nacional del Centro de la
Provincia de Buenos Aires.Tandil. (Adunce) ;
Peru : Erwin Salazar V., Presidente CGTP-Lambayeque; Demetrio
Ruiz Ríos, Presidente Coordinadora nacional Azucarera ; Genaro Ledesma
I. FOCEP; Delsy Francisca Melgarejo Chamorro, Regidora Municipalidad
Distrital de Comas ; Arturo Reaño, Secretario de organización
CGTP-Lambayeque;; Elás Arellán Obregón, secretario general del
sindicato de obreros de leche UPA ; Rolando Breña Pantoja, Partido
Comunista del Perú (Patria Roja): Victor Oliva Miguel, PSR ; Daniel
Alor Minaya, Partido Comunista (PCP) ; Federico García H. Frente
Popular; Yomar Meléndez Rosas, MNI ; Nilver López Ames, MNI; Ana María
Cabezas, Comité Malpica ; Alfredo Imaña Barrantes, Comité Malpica ;
Armando Vidal C. PSR; Juán Contreras Mendoza, MNI; Miguel Imaña B.,
Comité Malpica ; Luís Arana Seguín, Comité Malpica; Mario Mendoza
Zafro, PCP Patria Roja ; Norma Aguirre Marquina, Movimiento Humanista ;
Gloria Falconí Zapata, MNI ; Alfredo Contreras Y., Partido Comunista
(PCP) ; Delfina Paredes A. Comité Malpica; Victor Apolaya, Fuerza de
Izquierda Socialista ; Dora Soto Aguilar, SITRAMUN; Victor Cruz Aguilar,
SITRAMUN - Lima; Pedro Montoya Ramírez, despedido SEDAPAL Pablo Tito ;
secretario de defensa de CGTP-Puno ; Roberto Ventura, Presidente Comisión
Organizadora Congreso FESIDETA ; Armando Rodríguez, docente
universitario ; Valentín Escobar Quispe, secretario de organización
SUTUSM ; Walter Bustamante R. SITRAMUN - Lima ; Pablo Méndez, SUTUSM ;
Robin Elguera C., Sec de asuntos municipales SITRAMUN- lima ; Alejandro
Hinostroza, Sec general SITRAMUN-Lima ; Aldo Ugaz Osorio, Comité de
Lima por PT, Vitarte ; Jimmy Calla Colán, Poeta (Comité Malpica) ;
Walter R. Briceño P., Comité Malpica ; Manuel Lajo Lazo, Comité
Malpica, Humberto Torres B. Abogado ; Jorge Poma, Comité Malpica ;
Pablo Cholán, Comité Malpica ; Abelino Mar Arias, agricultor ; Denis
Merino C., Comité Malpica; Raul Wienner, Comité Malpica ; Manuel Qouría
S. Comité Malpica ; César Risso H. Comité Malpica; Guillermo Bolaños
B.Periódico El Trabajo. Giulianna Aguirre Zevallos.
Ecuador : Confederación de Trabajadores del Ecuador - CTE -
Eduardo Alcívar, Presidente Encargado ; Red Nacional de Trabajadores de
la Energía Eléctrica del Ecuador, ENLACE - Edgar Ponce, Presidente
Nacional Comité de Empresa de los Trabajadores de la Empresa Eléctrica
Quito - Jorge Martínez Secretario General.
Suisse : Alexandre Anor, député Grand Conseil, canton de Genève
; François Schenk Gottret, députée du Grand Conseil, canton de Genève
; Simone Girodo, responsable syndicaliste SSP Genève ; Luc Deley,
responsable syndicale SSP Genève ; Ramon Cardona: Federacion Sindical
Mundial ; Representacion Naciones Unidas y la OIT en Ginebra.
Russia : Igor Gotlib - co-ordinator of the regional branch of the
"Alternatives" movement St.Petersburg (Leningrad).
Côte-d'Ivoire : Flan Zran Senan - SYNASEG SGA - Abidjan.
Italie : Lorenzo Varaldo, membro direttivo UIL scuola Torino ;
Guido Montana Docente universitario Torino ; Gabriella Daniele, Delegata
sindacale CGIL commercioTorino Ugo Croc, Intesa Internazionale Torino ;
Gianni Guglieri, Delegato UIL chimic Torino; Rita Defeudis, Sindacalista
CISL scuola Magenta Milano.
Mexique : Además del Sindicato de trabajadores de la universidad
autónoma de México (STUNAM), firman: Belisario Aguilar Olvera, Miembro
del comité ejecutivo del Consejo nacional de trabajadores (CNT) ;
Gustavo Hernández, Miembro del comité ejecutivo de la sección 34 del
Sindicato nacional de trabajadores del Seguro Social (SNTSS) ; Blas
Arias García, Representante de jubilados del Sindicato mexicano de
electricistas (SME) ; Jesús González Navarro, Integrante de la Comisión
de Trabajo del SME ; María Antonia Pérez Sosa, Representante de la
Asociación de catedráticos de escuelas particulares (ACEP,) estado de
Querétaro ; Paris Torres Vásquez, Dirigente del Sindicato de
Trabajadores Académicos del Colegio nacional de estudios profesionales
(CONASEP), estado de Baja California ; Saúl García Pacheco, Dirigente
del Sindicato de Profesores del Colegio de Bachilleres, estado de Baja
California ; Carmina Valenzuela Secretaria General del Sindicato de
Trabajadores de la Paramunicipal DIF (Mexicali, Baja California) ;
Manuel Guerrero Luna, En representación de Jesús Gómez T., Secretario
General del Sindicato de Burócratas de Mexicali, Baja California ; Rubén
Calleros, En representación de Víctor Rocha, Secretario general de la
Sección 35 del Sindicato nacional de trabajadores ferrocarrileros de la
República Mexicana (Baja California) ; Mario Gómez, Miembro del comité
ejecutivo del SPCOBACH (Baja California) ; Belén Favela, Representante
de los trabajadores de la maquiladora Flor de Baja (Baja California) ;
Lorenzo Cortez, Representante de jubilados de la sección 35 del
Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores Ferrocarrileros de la República
Mexicana (Baja California) ; Luis López Rodríguez, Representante del
Colectivo de Apoyo a los Trabajadores (Baja california) ; Juan Ignacio
Villamar C., Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la
Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Preparatoria 8. ;
José Luis Ortiz Martínez, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de
trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
Preparatoria 1. ; Graciela Martínez Cruz, Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). FES-Cuautitlán ; Lázaro Ledesma Ruiz, Delegado sindical en
el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). FCA División Educación Continua ; Felipe López López,
Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad
nacional autónoma de México. (STUNAM)FES Iztacala ; José Francisco
García González, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de
la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Centro de
ciencias de la atmósfera ; Gabriel Quijano Rosas, Delegado sindical en
el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). DGSG. ; Emilio Benítez A., Delegado sindical en el Sindicato
de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
DGSG. ; Alberto Arreola Olmos, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de
trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
DGSG. ; Sergio Serrano G., Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de
trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
Instituto de investigaciones en materiales. ; Pascual Hernández Martínez,
Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad
nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Preparatoria 3. ; Cutberto
Dorado Mendieta, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la
Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Campus Juriquilla,
Querétaro. ; Daniel Balderas L.,Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de
trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
Centro de enseñanza para extranjeros. ; Jorge Antonio Trejo, Delegado
sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma
de México (STUNAM). Preparatoria 1. ; Gustavo Urbina López, Delegado
sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma
de México (STUNAM). Preparatoria 2. ; Luis enrique Vázquez García,
Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad
nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Oficinas sindicales. ; Claudia
Verónica S., Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la
Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). ENEO. ; Graciana
Reyes Islas, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la
Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). ENEO. ; Rosalinda
Esparza G., Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la
Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). DGSM. ; Marcelino
González, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la
Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). DGSG. ; Alicia Luna
S., Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad
nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). DGOSE. ; Antonio Cisneros,
Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad
nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Biblioteca Nacional. ; Ismael
García Pacheco, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la
Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Instituto de
investigaciones jurídicas. ; Cuauhtémoc Guzmán Romero, Delegado
sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma
de México (STUNAM). Facultad de ciencias políticas y sociales. ;
Gabino Gómez B., Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de
la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Facultad de
ciencias políticas y sociales. ; Porfirio Aguirre E., Delegado sindical
en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de
México (STUNAM). Preparatoria 3. ; Juan Manuel Hernández, Delegado
sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma
de México (STUNAM). Preparatoria 3. ; Enrique Luna Palma, Delegado
sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma
de México (STUNAM). FES Acatlán. Arturo Pérez S., Delegado sindical
en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de
México (STUNAM). Instituto de Ecología. ; Ma. De Lourdes Quesada,
Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad
nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Dirección general de proveeduría.
; José Carlos Galvi F., Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de
trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
DGDE. ; Alberto Sánchez R., Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de
trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
Juriquilla, Querétaro. ; Eduardo Villagrán, Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). DGP. ; Antonio Hernández, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato
de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
Ciencias. ; Norma Espíndola C., Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de
trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
Ciencias. ; Hortensia Olivares B., Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de
trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
CCH Naucalpan. ; Silvestre Bautista Rojas, Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). Sala Nezahualcóyotl. ; Sergio Ayala T., Delegado sindical en
el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). Local de registro. ; Ricardo León M., Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). ; Ulises Mora Castelán, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de
trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
Universum. ; Guillermo Pillón G., Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de
trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
CVSI Cuautitlán ; Yolanda Martínez, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato
de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
CUSI. ; Alfredo Ramos Venegas, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de
trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia. ; José Alberto Morett S.,
Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad
nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Centro de ciencias genómicas. ;
Heriberto Marbán, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de
la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Centro de
ciencias genómicas. ; Nicolás Sarabia O., Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). CRIM. Cuernavaca, Morelos ; Linaloe Hurtado López, Delegado
sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma
de México (STUNAM). Centro de ciencias físicas. ; Arturo Escobar Juárez,
Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad
nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Instituto de Biotecnología. ;
Lourdes Cazadero Rocha, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de
trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
IBT Cuernavaca, Morelos. ; Ramón García Hernández, Delegado sindical
en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de
México (STUNAM). Instituto de investigaciones filológicas. ; Eugenia Téllez
González, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la
Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Instituto de
investigaciones filológicas. ; Mirna D. Hernández Martínez, Delegado
sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma
de México (STUNAM). Facultad de Química. ; Gonzalo Valdez Díaz,
Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad
nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Facultad de Química. ; Gonzalo
Valdez Díaz, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la
Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Facultad de Química.
; Miguel Ortiz Rosado, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores
de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Facultad de Química.
; Inocencio Castillo, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores
de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Centro de
investigación sobre la tierra. ; Artemio León Pérez, Delegado
sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma
de México (STUNAM). Jardín Botánico. ; Laura O. Martínez, Delegado
sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma
de México (STUNAM). CCH Naucalpan. ; Jaime Medel, Delegado sindical en
el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). Biomédicas. ; Daniel Rodríguez, Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). Biomédicas. ; Pedro Hernández, Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). Comisión escalafón. ; Guadalupe Rodríguez Pérez, Delegado
sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma
de México (STUNAM). Clínica Odontológica ; Alejandro S. Olivares Peñalva,
Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad
nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). ENEP Aragón. ; Calor López López
Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad
nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). ENEP Aragón. ; Miguel Negrete
Aguilar, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la
Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Preparatoria 6. ;
Fernando Nava Rosales, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores
de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Preparatoria
6. ; Jorge Díaz C., Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores
de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). IFC ; Ángel
Cruz, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la
Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Preparatoria 9. ;
Gualterio Cortés, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de
la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Preparatoria 9 ;
Herlindo Cortés S., Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores
de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Preparatoria ;
Remedios Bernal Zamora, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de
trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
FES Zaragoza. ; María Critina Castillo López, Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). Dirección general de bibliotecas ; Benito Cristóbal,
Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad
nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Preparatoria 5. ; H. Luciano C.,
Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad
nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Tienda UNAM Metro CU. ; Leonel
Sarabia T., Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la
Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Facultad de
Odontología. ; María Teresa Saldivar C., Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). Facultad de Odontología. ; José Daniel Noguez Ramírez,
Facultad de Psicología. Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de
trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
Miguel Quezada Vilchis, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de
trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
DGSCA. ; Juana Amaya Pérez, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de
trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
Química. ; José Jiménez R., Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de
trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
DGSG. ; Marisela R. Ulloa, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de
trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
ENAP. ; Salvador Oregón L., Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de
trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
DGSG. ; Enrique Montoya Pérez, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de
trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
Dirección de danza. ; María Zoila Rodríguez G.; Delegado sindical en
el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). FCA. ; Ricardo Ramírez Rojo, Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). Clínica Ecatepec. ; Lilia Esther C., Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). ; Marcos Velásquez Pérez; Delegado sindical en el Sindicato
de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
CADET. ; Gloria Morales P., Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de
trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
TV UNAM. ; Ma. Del Carmen Pérez Breña, Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). Odontología. ; Guillermo Jaime Navarro, Delegado sindical en
el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). Dirección de personal. ; Héctor Duarte Duarte, Delegado
sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma
de México (STUNAM). Dirección general. ; Ángel Rebollo R., Delegado
sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma
de México (STUNAM). ADPEUNAM. ; Roberto Ceballos, Delegado sindical en
el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). Filosofía y Letras. ; Ma. Luisa Segura Zaragoza, Delegado
sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma
de México (STUNAM). Jardín de niños. ; Raquel Guevara, Delegado
sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma
de México (STUNAM). Comisión de registro. ; Yolanda Guevara R.,
Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad
nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Campus Morelia. ; Rodrigo Ubaldo
C., Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad
nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Comisión autónoma de
vigilancia. ; Cruz Zacarías Gómez, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato
de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
Preparatoria 1. ; José Estrada R., Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de
trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
Posgrado de ingeniería. ; María eugenia Pérez, Delegado sindical en
el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). DGEP. ; María Leonidas Martínez, Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). Preparatoria 2. ; Severino Orozco, Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). FCA. ; Amparo García del Valle; Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). FCA. ; José Luis Rivera D., Delegado sindical en el Sindicato
de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
CCH Vallejo. ; Filemón Contreras, Instituto de Astronomía. ; Luis Vázquez
Villalobos, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la
Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). CCH Vallejo. Académicos.
; Ángel Benhumea, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de
la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). DGP. ; Arturo
Hidalgo S., Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la
Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). DGP. ; Francisco
Anaya, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la
Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). CCH Azcapotzalco. ;
Francisco Javier Velásquez Morales, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato
de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
Difusión Cultural. ; Esperanza Ponce, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato
de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
FCA. ; Adán Herrera Martínez, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de
trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM).
Facultad de Medicina. ; Gonzalo Montesinos H., Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). Geología. ; Genoveva Rosales M., Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). CCH Vallejo. ; Felipe González Maldonado, Delegado sindical
en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de
México (STUNAM). CCH Vallejo. ; Celso Hernández Rojas, Delegado
sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma
de México (STUNAM). CCH Vallejo. María Teresa Cadena G., Delegado
sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma
de México (STUNAM). Palacio de Minería. ; Gloria Diana Salsa, Delegado
sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma
de México (STUNAM). Clínica los Reyes. ; Eduardo Molina Martínez,
Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad
nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Facultad de Economía. ; Héctor
Casanova, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la
Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM) ; Juan Morales
Castillo, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la
Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Preparatoria 4. ;
Sandra Solorio, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la
Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Dirección general
de bibliotecas. ; Ma. Del Refugio Mora, Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). DGB. ; Amalia Tovar Victoria, Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). FESI ; Xóchitl Monjaraz Rincón, Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). FES CC-I ; Florentino Romero H., Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). FES Cuautitlán. ; Manuel Peza López, Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). FES Cuautitlán. Campo 1. ; Juvenal Velásquez A., Delegado
sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma
de México (STUNAM). FES Cuautitlán. Campo 1. ; Delfino Mayor A.,
Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad
nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Clínica Cuautepec. ; Nicolás
Mendoza Romero, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la
Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Preparatoria 9. ;
Gabriela Gutiérrez, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores
de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Facultad de
ciencias política y sociales. ; Guadalupe Cabrera Vega, Delegado
sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma
de México (STUNAM). CCH Oriente ; Georgina González, Delegado sindical
en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de
México (STUNAM). ; Norma Rodríguez L., Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). FES Iztacala. ; Guadalupe Ramírez F., Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). FES Iztacala. José Alejandro Núñez A.; Delegado sindical en
el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). Biblioteca Nacional. ; Adrián Ramírez B., Delegado sindical
en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de
México (STUNAM). CEIEPO. ; José Guadalupe Zurita O., Delegado sindical
en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de
México (STUNAM). CEIEPO. ; Héctor Alvarez Olmos., Delegado sindical en
el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). Filmoteca ; Teresa Luna Abriz, Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). DGADy R ; Víctor Manuel Mendoza, Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). Teatro. ; Felipe González Meza, Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). Facultad de Economía. ; José M. Fernández, Delegado
sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma
de México (STUNAM). Preparatoria 7. ; Daniel Ramírez J., Delegado
sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma
de México (STUNAM).Palacio de Medicina. ; Enrique Briceño F., Delegado
sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma
de México (STUNAM). Biblioteca Nacional. ; José Amaya Romero, Delegado
sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma
de México (STUNAM). Instituto de investigaciones económicas. ; Jaime
H. Juárez, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la
Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). ENEP Aragón. ;
Genaro Lopez P., Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la
Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Facultad de medicina
veterinaria y zootecnica. Ma. Sonia López G., Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). ; Ma. Esther Valero, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de
trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM)..
Facultad de Medicina. ; Juan Sánchez V., Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM). Dirección general de personal. ; Consuelo Barrientos P.,
Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad
nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). C. M. de Calid y Ef. ; Pedro López
Silva, Delegado sindical en el Sindicato de trabajadores de la
Universidad nacional autónoma de México (STUNAM). Instituto de
investigaciones sociales. ; Armando Gómez, Delegado sindical en el
Sindicato de trabajadores de la Universidad nacional autónoma de México
(STUNAM).. FES Zaragoza. ; Germán Méndez Lugo, Miembro del Grupo
Interno Coordinador (GIC) del Sindicato independiente de trabajadores de
la Universidad autónoma metropolitana (SITUAM). ; Francisco Larios
Carrera, Comisionado, Sindicato independiente de trabajadores de la
Universidad autónoma metropolitana (SITUAM). ; Juan Santiago R.,
Delegado, Sindicato independiente de trabajadores de la Universidad autónoma
metropolitana (SITUAM). ; Pedro Guzmán A., Delegado, Sindicato
independiente de trabajadores de la Universidad autónoma metropolitana
(SITUAM). ; Francisco Santiago R., Delegado, Sindicato independiente de
trabajadores de la Universidad autónoma metropolitana (SITUAM). ;
Demetrio Méndez, Delegado, Sindicato independiente de trabajadores de
la Universidad autónoma metropolitana (SITUAM). ; Benito Galván
Morales, Exmiembro del comité ejecutivo del Sindicato independiente de
trabajadores de la Universidad autónoma metropolitana (SITUAM). ; José
Luis Hernández rojas, GIC- Xochimilco, Sindicato independiente de
trabajadores de la Universidad autónoma metropolitana (SITUAM). ;
Genaro Carrasco Archundia, Delegado, Sindicato independiente de
trabajadores de la Universidad autónoma metropolitana (SITUAM). ;
Amelia Escandón Solís, Delegado, Sindicato independiente de
trabajadores de la Universidad autónoma metropolitana (SITUAM). ;
Armando Pasos Cabrera, Comisionado, Sindicato independiente de
trabajadores de la Universidad autónoma metropolitana (SITUAM). ; Andrés
Lozano, Secretario general de la delegación sindical D-II-UP-3 (SNTE) ;
Alejandro Hernández Falcón, Secretario de organización de la delegación
sindical D-II-UP-3 (SNTE) ; Matías Galván López, Miembro del comité
ejecutivo del Sindicato nacional de trabajadores del Colegio de
Bachilleres (SINTCB) ; Graciela Romo Medina, por la Asociación de Comités
del Pueblo (Baja California) ; José Guadalupe Montoya, Presidente del
comité municipal del Partido de la Revolución Democrática (Mexicali,
Baja California) ; Gema López Limóne Ignacio Gastélum Ruiz, Miembros
del Movimiento por un Partido de los trabajadores democrático
independiente (Baja California) ; Luis Alfonso Vargas, Partido de los
Comunistas (Baja California) ; Alejandro Andrade Zepeda, Asesor agrícola
de la comunidad Vasco de Quiroga, estado de Michoacán ; Humberto Martínez
Brizuela, Coordinador nacional del Movimiento por un Partido
independiente democrático de trabajadores ; Carlos Lagunas Villagómez,
Consejero académico, Universidad pedagógica nacional (UPN) ; Héctor
Fernández,, Profesor, consejero académico suplente (UPN).
******************
BRAZIL
The landless peasants who receive land are destitute
Of the two million families requesting land listed by the Sampaio
Commission only 40,000 families have received land
The agrarian question is the principal question in Brazil. It is a
vital question for two million families as listed by the Sampaio
Commission, established by the government.
The Minister of Agrarian Reform, Miguel Rossetto, has set up obstacles
in the application of land distribution to the landless for over two
years. Even those who have received land are condemned to survive in
precarious circumstances as denounced by the Pastoral Land Commission.
You can judge for yourselves.
A note from the Pastoral Land Commission, an organization linked to the
Catholic Church, active in support of the Agrarian Reform, has revealed
the precarious situation in which approximately 40,000 families who
received land are living, out of the two million who demand land
according to the numbers established by the Sampaio Commission.
In her declaration to the commission after a visit to Maraba (Para,
southeastern Brazil), the superintendent of the National Institute of
Colonization and Agrarian Reform (INCRA, dependent on Rossetto's
ministry. Ed. Note), Bernadete Ten Caten declared that the 380 projects
for installation of the landless in the southern part of the state,
"between 80% and 90% do not even possess a wheel barrow to help
them farm the land." According to Senator Ana Julia Carepa
(Workers' Party), "A 'false' agrarian reform has been applied in
this country."
Trade unionists from around the world signed the Open Letter to the
President of Brazil, Lula and Miguel Rossetto, Minister of the Agrarian
Reform. The letter originated with Baldemar Velasquez, President of the
FLOC (Federation of Agricultural Employees) of the AFL-CIO, and Alan
Benjamin and Eddy Rosario of the ILC.
Sign and invite others to sign the letter to Lula and Rossetto
This letter appeared in the ILC International Newsletter issues Nos. 113
and 120.
Send your signed letters to:
Miguel Rossetto
Ministerio da Reforma agraria
Esplanade dos Ministerios, Bloco A
Brasilia, DF, Brazil
Luis Inacio 'Lula' da Silva
Presidencia da Republica
Palacio Planalto
Praca dos Tres Poderes
Brasilia, DF, Brazil
Copy to:
OWC: ilcinfo@earthlink.net
or Julio Turra: julioturra@cut.org.br
********************
MADAGASCAR
The life of employees in a factory situated in the Free Zone
Correspondent
I work in a factory situated in the Free Zone. I am a trade
unionist.
At this factory, the boss threatens workers by using the word
'sanction'. Often one observes the discrimination practiced by the
foreman against the workers (skin color or clothing.) If there is a lot
of work to do, sick people do not have the right to seek medical
assistance. You must finish all the work before going to the hospital.
WAGES
At this factory in the Free Zone the salary is 9 euros a month. The
working hours are short and do not correspond to the heaviness of the
task. In Madagascar people work 40 hours a week or more. So, based on
production quotas, the calculation is not clear. Sometimes the quota
increases, sometimes it decreases, depending on the work to be
performed.
HEALTH
Health care in the Free Zone is not sufficient. The employees pay a
monthly contribution for medical care and medication but the medication
distributed by the doctors is not satisfactory. Many of the sick are not
completely cured. Therefore they have to go to another hospital or pay
for a private consultation with a doctor. For example, for general
fatigue, the doctor prescribes aspirin. There is no adequate treatment.
That is why I want to be a delegate to the ILC World Conference in
Madrid in order to help the workers.
********************
GERMANY
"The trade unions must continue to be trade unions"
Germany is probably the European country that has suffered most the
offensive against social conquests through the Schröder government's
application of the policies of the European Union.
In ILC International Newsletter No. 121 we published a letter to Sommer
to which we reference in the following article.
Some figures: the level of unemployment has overtaken the government's
official figure of five million. This is the highest level since the war
(6,128,000 unemployed in 1932). Chancellor Schröder doesn't find this
figure "surprising" and considers that this offers "five
million supplementary reasons to proceed with the reforms," and
therefore suppress unemployment insurance, and force all who benefit
from social security to work for a euro an hour (1).
At the same time the Deutsche Bank has announced the elimination of
6,400 jobs and a profit of 2,500 million euros.
Health reform has led to a saving of 9,.500 million euros. How? Since
its introduction, at the beginning of 2004, due to a tax on doctor
visits, these decreased by 8.7%. The entire country is outraged while at
the same time equally incredulous: "How is it possible that a
government led by the SPD does this to us?"
The SPD suffered a new electoral defeat in Schleswig-Holstein and
decisive elections are to be held in May in Renania and Northern
Westphalia. The president of the DGB, Sommer, gave Spiegel and interview
on February 14, 2005.
During this interview he revealed what he had never said: "I
admit that the basis of a social state were greatly modified by a
demographic evolution, persistent and massive unemployment and
globalization. This is the reason why it is necessary to have an intense
discussion on the tasks the social sate can assume in the future and the
restructuring that it is necessary to apply. Consider the Hartz IV: this
reform completely changed the nature of unemployment insurance. Anyone
who cannot find work for over a year, will not find their standard of
living guaranteed by the Social State, but will simply be protected from
poverty."
To a question posed by Spiegel he replied: "Some weeks ago,
this was qualified as a clear cut decision of the social policyŠI do
not withdraw my criticism, but take note of our commitment along this
line that is irreversible."
Trade union activists sent a letter to Sommer, published in ILC
International Newsletter No. 121 titled: "Irreversible? Our trade
unions must continue to be trade unions," and in conclusion
stated:: "Some years ago, it would have been unimaginable in
Germany that this would be the course taken by Schröder. Some years ago
it would also have been unimaginable that the president of the DGB,
Vicepresident of the ICFTU, would have thus capitulated.
The trade unions are our organizations. We will not permit them to
become instruments for the destruction of our conquests, we simply
cannot allow this. We need both, the organizations and the conquests. We
will maintain them firmly! Once again: we can only draw up a balance
sheet and recognize that the destruction of the foundation of our
conquests directly destroys the vital foundations of our organizations.
When IG Metall explains, with good reason, in its action program that it
is not only the social state but the very survival of trade unions that
is at stake, then it's time. One conditions the other: through the
defense of our conquests, at the same time we defend the existence and
independence of our organizations that unite us and vice versa.
-------
Opel: "We fight for the defense of each and every job!"
Six months after the spontaneous, wildcat strike at the Bochum factory,
where are we? Everyone in Germany remembers the spontaneous strike that
blew up in mid-October, at the Opel factory in Bochum. The management of
General Motors Europa had just announced its plan: a reduction in
production costs of 500 million euros and the suppression of 12,000 jobs
in Europe (10,000 at the Opel factories in Germany). General Motors had
decided to relocate the production at Zafira to Gliwice in Poland Š and
since there was an extra factory in Germany, on October 14 during the
afternoon shift, three shops went on strike and eventually the movement
spread throughout factory. The massive strike lasted six days, uniting
the workers and the trade union delegates who waited in vain for a
definite and clear summons from the IG-Metall management (1) to all the
factories of the group. We heard there were negotiations. Where do we
stand six months later?
On March 5, the Frankfurten Rundschau wrote the following under the
headline of "Relief at Opel, but there's no joy." On Friday
the management and directors of the company presented a "contract
with a future" that guarantees employment at Opel." A
contract that the paper sums up this way: "There will be no
layoffs for economic reasons until the end of 2010; the Russelsheim
factory will build the Opel Vectra and the Saab9-3; the Bochum factory
will build the five-door Astra; the Kaiserlautern parts factory
continues to operate." The same article also indicates the
overall compensation asked from the personnel: "A reduction in
Christmas bonuses as of 2006, more scheduling flexibility, no salary
increases for 2004 and 2005, raises reduced by 1% from 2006 through
2010."
Another article in the same newspaper titled "Fear
persists," reads as follows: "Even after the new
contract the workers at Opel are living under permanent insecurity. The
head of the board at Opel-Russelsheim says he has been instrumental in
frustrating the managers in the dispute between Russelsheim against
Trollhattan in Sweden. The solidarity of the personnel and the factory
counsels would have failed in this situation. Naturally, we have been
forced, despite everything, to leave some feathers. That Opel in Germany
should lose approximately 6,000 jobs is 'painful'." Some
feathers, you said! The article continues: "More flexible than
the Opel factories doesn't exist anywhere. A lasting guarantee of
maintaining the locality in Bochum, there is nothing, only in the short
term ,is admitted by the head of the Board of Directors of the Bochum
factory: In the future there will be a permanent conflict for our
survival."
This is what a member of the Board dares to call a "contract
with a future." Where do we stand?
A national economy on the brink of the abyss
The third article on the same subject. The fact is brutal: "The
decline of Opel!" "The full stop ordered from Detroit causes
the loss of 12,000 jobs in Europe; in Germany this means almost 25% of
the last 335,000 jobs left. Those that remain will suffer important
financial losses. The price of the rescue operation is high. 9,000 will
soon be out in the street. And the rest will earn significantly less.
This has consequences for the competition. Soon, Opel will be operating
with 15% lower personnel costs than those of Volkswagen. Consequently
the pressure on personnel will also increase there.
A spiral of decadence is in progress, it is the real danger of an
agreement such as Opel's. What may appear reasonable at one company may
push the entire national economy to the brink of an abyss."
It is the entire automobile industry in Germany and Europe that
finds itself exposed to the worst blows.
Four days later, the Frankfurter Rundschau was back on the
subject: "In Bochum, the personnel has been called by the Board
of the company to approve, via a referendum, the new agreement. If they
don't, this puts everything in doubt. In Russelscheim and Kaiserlautern,
the Boards have already given their approval without consulting the
base."
Is this the role reserved to trade unionism throughout Europe by the
Euroean Union and the ETUC? Of course, it can't last.
Correspondent
(1) The Steel Workers' Federation of the DGB
*******************
ZIMBABWE
The Black people fight for their land and their sovereignty
Why does Bush want to overthrow the Mugabe government?
Situated in the southern part of Africa, on the border with South
Africa, Zimbabwe is one of those African countries laid waste by misery.
In response to an intense mobilization -- in particular by the former
combatants of the war of liberation -- the government of Mugabe has
adopted over the past years, a series of measures that contributed to
the distribution of lands. This was immediately denounced by Washington
and other imperialist capitals as an aggression "to private
property and freedoms." Immediately, Zimbabwe was included by Bush
in the category of "countries in the axis of evil."
What is the reality?
The long struggle for liberation of Zimbabwe was hard and bitter
both for the country and its people. Hundreds and thousands of victims
died under the colonial domination of British racists. They had taken
over the land and its natural resources, subjecting the Black people of
Zimbabwe to the most hateful and most infamous domination ever known.
Years of war of liberation led, in 1980, to the overthrow of the racist
government of Ian Smith. The forces of liberation were about to enter
Salisbury (the capital, now Harare). It is at this time when British
imperialism, which had been indifferent up to this time to the sorry
fate of the Black majority, decided to intervene. In negotiations named
Lancaster House, British imperialism was allowed to once again save a
regime that was going to be crushed.
The negotiations of Lancaster House were a "magic trick"
through which the Black majority found themselves deprived of their
lands and their freedom.
Certain dispositions allowed the continuation of the same economic
relations under the colonial regime of Ian Smith. Once more, the
privileges and the positions of the whites continued to be the norm. The
farmers and the white landowners continued to exert a total and absolute
influence on the life of the Black people. Freedom and independence that
the people had fought for were postponed and relegated to an
undetermined date.
One percent of the white colonial landowners continued to control 95% of
the farm lands, while the millions of Blacks, deprived of their own
lands, were condemned to live in shockingly miserable conditions.
Correspondent
----------
AZANIA
An appeal by the Socialist Party of Azania (SOPA) for the defense of
Zimbabwe and the right of the black majority to claim their own land
In an appeal for the defense of the country, of the workers and the
people of Zimbabwe, worker activists of Azania (South Africa), at the
initiative of SOPA (Socialist Party of Azania) explained the following:
"This could not last. It is impossible, in fact, for the people
of Zimbabwe to fully gain their freedom without at the same time gaining
access to and control their lands and its natural resources. The people
of Zimbabwe, the "combatants" of the national war of
liberation, the workers' trade unions that are not subordinated to the
plans of imperialism, the Black farmers and the landless peasants are
rising up today -- just as their counterparts are doing in Brazil,
Venezuela and elsewhere.
"They are rising up to demand their lands -- lands that were
ransacked and stolen from them. They refuse to accept the fraudulent
"voluntary seller and voluntary purchaser" program. They are
defending their stance with great courage, despite all attempts by
imperialism to destablilize the Zimbabwe government over this question.
"They all are rising up in the struggle for the unity of the
peoples of Zimbabwe and the sovereignty of their nation, their country.
...
"The U.S. administration has included Zimbabwe and Mugabe among the
countries comprising the so-called 'axis of evil.' Zimbabwe has been
labeled the 'high mark of tyranny.' It is for all these reasons, among
others, that we call for the defense of the Zimbabwe nation and for the
right of the Black majority to regain ownership and control of the lands
and their resources. We denounce loudly and unconditionally the policies
waged by the imperialist forces aimed at destabilizing the Mugabe
government. ...
"Though we do not endorse all the policies of the Mugabe
government, we know full well that the defense of the Zimbabwe nation
and the defense of its government against imperialism are at the center
of the the struggle for the anti-imperialist united front. We therefore
issue this appeal for the defense of Zimbabwe, because in so doing we
are advancing the struggle to prevent humanity from edging further
toward the precipice of barbarism, which is what imperialism is
preparing for all of us."
-- Correspondent
----------
AIDS, the "useful Africa" and the "useless Africa"
At the rate things are going, AIDS will affect 43 million Africans
in the next few years.
The figures are contained in a UN program report. With over 80 million
people affected, the continuation of the pandemic would lead the peoples
of this continent to an unmentionable disaster. "The Africans
see more and more people affected by the virus, there is little
medication and life expectancy in Botswana is down to 37 years," reports
Sidibe, director of the Onusida program of the UN.
The simple continuation of the extent of the present AIDS "will
exhaust the resources and weaken the infrastructures of the continent.
An infernal spiral," he explains.
Also in a scenario named "options without concession, the number
of orphaned children by AIDS will be doubled in the next 20 years."
"The problem is that there is a lack of means-70% of the African
population live on less than a euro a day," declared the UN
representative. Nevertheless he said, "The explosion of AIDS in
Africa is not inevitable."
Certainly it is not 'inevitable'. It is the result of a deliberate
policy to which the IMF had given us a clue: there is "useful
Africa and "useless Africa." The first is that of oil reserves
and natural resources (gold, manganese, uranium, copper cobalt) on which
the big imperialist powers had laid their hands on and fought over. The
other, the "useless Africa," is the peoples. This is what the
International African Tribunal will denounce and call to combat on in
Madrid on the eve of the ILC World Conference.
*******************
Women's Day March 8, 2005-03-25
March 8, 2005 in Paris: Final conclusions of the meeting
March 8, 2005:
On the occasion of International Women's Day, women, mothers,
workers, high school students, university students, unemployed, and
trade unionists meeting at the Labor Exchange Hall in Paris at the
invitation of the Women's Commission of the International Liaison
Committee of Workers and Peoples against war, exploitation and
oppression, for political democracy issue the following appeal:
It can no longer continue like this!
We have decided to address all women, our colleagues, our neighbors and
our friends.
Poverty is prevalent in all countries in the European Union and in
France. Women and children are the first victims. What is the origin of
this? The development of flexibility, temporary employment, part-time
work, and house work. Who is responsible for this? The successive
governments that apply "the directives for employment
policies" of the European Union, which advocates a generalized
deregulation in the name of "new work contracts more attractive to
employers."
It can no longer continue like this!
What are the consequences? According to DARES (Labor Ministry):
"between 1994 and 2003, the exposure of employees to the majority
of risks and efforts tended to increase." The recourse to Saturday
work has increased for workers and employees, Sunday work is
progressing, especially in industry and night work affects 13% of
employees, develops in industry and progresses at 2% especially for
women workers, six points more for qualified women workers and four
points for unqualified women workers.
Today is March 8 and we have heard many speeches on women. But as you
well know, the situation continues to deteriorate for women and children
and the entire population.
It happens in every field:
The right to work at a real salary, the right to health care, social
security, pensions, the right to lodging, the right to education and a
future for our children:
All that has been conquered by our elders is being destroyed!
We address all women. What do we want?
-The return of the prohibition of night labor for women in industry.
The return of night work for women in industry, banned in France
since 1892, was re-established by the plural left (SP-CP) government in
application of the European Directive "Equal treatment for men and
women (76-207)." Hundreds and thousands of women work at night in
industry, despite its effect on their health and family life.
- No to layoffs and relocations!
The entire fabric of industry is threatened. In the name of
"the free circulation of capital and merchandise" millions of
new layoffs and relocations are programmed. A European Commissary
declared: "To stop relocations, by artificial norms, would work
against the competitiveness of companies!" We do not want to be
sacrificed on the altar of "company competition."
- No to imposed part time work! We want a real job with a real
salary!
Imposed part time work has its origins in a European directive of
December 15, 1997, based on an agreement between the ETUC and European
employers. 30% of women work part time, 3,250,000 with a miserable
salary. How can you live on 700 euros and often on much less?
-We don't want to return to the times when women died by the
hundreds. We do not want the women, the newly born to pay with their
lives for the economies demanded by the European Union.
It is in the name of the stability pact that one out of every three
maternity wards were closed in Ile de France (In the Paris region. Ed.
Note). It is in the name of the economies demanded by Maastricht, that
the Douste Blazy applied the "Hospital 2007" plan that
continues to accelerate the closure of beds and services. The plan
foresees for the AP-HP of Paris, the closure of the Saint Vincent de
Paul Hospital, the re-grouping of maternity wards in "mega
maternities" for 5,000 births a year and the closure of other
maternity wards.
It is always in the name of the economy that they propose a one-day
hospital stay for women and newborns (JO) or a two-day stay (J2)!
- We want to defend gynecology and the free access to a gynecologist.
It's our right to health!
We want to defend the right to consult a doctor, a specialist of our
choice, reimbursed by social security. We do not want to have a
"treatment doctor" imposed on us. We want a return to the
social security of 1945.
-We don't want that, in order to "reduce the charges on the most
requested services" women are obliged to turn to the IVG home care,
decided on in application of Law 2001.
Women and young girls would have to abort outside a medical
establishment, without any guarantee of security, without recourse to a
doctor and psychologist in a situation where they are helpless. Alone,
at home, on public transportation, at school or at work. (No time off
for illness is foreseen.)
- Throughout the country, thousands of high school students are in
the streets saying>: "Don't touch our baccalaureate, we want the
same baccalaureate for everyone." They are our children.
They want to retain the baccalaureate as a national and anonymous
title, they want to defend the same rights for all of us and we, the
mothers, can only support them. The Minister of Education realizes this
but only says, "due to the European demands on education." The
Fillion plan is the destruction of our titles, the closure of our
institutes for professional education, our children are thrown out of
school.
-We want our children to have a place in kindergarten. We want them
to have a place in pre-school.
We want them to have access to, thanks to public education, the
right to an education and national titles. We don't want the most
fragile of them to be sacrificed, we want rights for them, specialized
teachers and qualified personnel.
This is what we don't want and this is what we do want.
We have gathered hundreds of testimonials and all agree: we can no
longer live in this situation and there is only one responsible for
this, the European Union and its Constitution. That is why the
Constitution cannot be approved!
This is the reason why as of today, March 8, each one among us
decides to address his neighbors, friends, colleagues in order to sign
the Vow of January 22, to organize in our communities so that the NO
vote to the European Constitution triumphs.
We have decided to participate at the meeting on April 16 at the
Mutualite convoked by the National Committee for the NO to the European
Constitution.
ON MAY 29, LET US VOTE, VOTE NO TO THE EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION!
Sign and invite other so sign the Vow of the Place de la Republique
adopted on January 22 by 15,000 demonstrators convened by the National
Committee for the NO vote that is organizing a demonstration on
Saturday, April 16, 2005.
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