|
|
A dossier of weekly information published by the Introduction: This issue of the ILC International Newsletter is twelve pages and is the last issue of 2008. The next issue will be published on January 7, 2009.
Greece: The people and youth stand up: "For the banks, money; for youth, bullets. Our time has come." You will find a report from our correspondents in Greece and an interview with Themiskolis Kotsifakis, Secretary General of the Federation of Secondary Teachers (OLME), member of the Executive Board of Trade Union Committee for Education. Ireland: After the Irish No to the Treaty of Lisbon, the EU wants to impose a new referendum. We are publishing a contribution by Ciaran Campbell, leader for a sector of the union MANDATE. Kazakhstan: You will find below a call for solidarity: 13 workers (including five women) from the factory IHMZ have started a hunger strike. They call upon all democratic forces to show support for the workforce through material and financial support. Venezuela: The labor movement demands "Investigation on the murder of our fellow UNT union activists and severe punishment for the guilty." Philippines: We are publishing the following text: "Solidarity with the staff of the University of the Philippines and with their union." Germany: For the nomination of candidates in federal elections, activists of the SPD issue a call towards "all of our elected officials and all candidates." Mexico: We are publishing a call for solidarity of the National Union of Mineworkers, Steelworkers and assimilated the Mexican Republic (SNTMMSSRM) for the release of Carlos Pavon Campos and Juan Linares, leaders of the union. Support the ILC and its newsletter! ------ Table of Contents p. 1: Introduction ----- Contact Informations internationales **************************
"Change!" "Change!" was one of the slogans of the Obama campaign. And it was the slogan of millions of workers, young people, and especially Blacks, who brought Obama to the presidency on November 4 and gave the following content to that demand for change: Stop the war in Iraq and in Afghanistan, stop the layoffs, establish a single-payer healthcare system, enact a law that will give every worker throughout the United States the right to join the union of their choice by signing a union-recognition card. ...
----- "The Challenges Are Enormous"
------ "The Nationalization Demand is Gaining Ground"
We are continuing this week to publish news from our correspondents on the movement of young people and workers in Greece. The first part of this text was published last week (No. 315). "The police are rampaging against the young" (title of a TV news-story Tuesday evening) "On Monday evening the situation turned into the Apocalypse: all television showed devastating images of downtown Athens, where some thirty buildings were in flames. The police had long since lost control of the situation and, indeed, were almost nonexistent. Although the clashes have been violent, youth violence has not been indiscriminate: banks, department stores, and luxury cars were targeted. Despite this chaos, professors at universities and high school continue to provide support to youth. It must be said that the teachers have long been opposed to privatization efforts undertaken by the government in 2006, and there was a strike for months in the universities. Much of the population is also disgusted to see that the police have not effectively prevented the destruction of property of individuals. Tuesday at noon, a new call for demonstrations brought together secondary school teachers, students, school, colleges and even elementary school students. The slogans are clear: "Resignation of the Minister of Interior and Minister of Public Order", "Resignation of the government of murderers!" "No to state repression ", "Disarmament Now of the Police," or "For the murders, the government is guilty, the fight is for permanent education and democracy." "Money for education, not bankers or F16s, and schools, not bombs." The event was unable to approach the Parliament on Syntagma Square and was repressed by the police after some demonstrators had launched Molotov cocktails and projectiles against the police. But this time, against the cops, were not hooded youths, but teachers, parents, students, and pupils (sometimes very young). Their slogan is "Our only weapon is the street!", however the police were equipped to push them back, and did so roughly, using tear gas. The only response from the government yesterday was violence: several amateur films showed that on Tuesday afternoon, outside the funeral of young Alexis, the cops did not hesitate to fire into the air in a residential area, when people were outside or on their balcony. A newspaper has on its frontpage a photo of a cop, taken Sunday evening, brandishing his weapon at protesters. We even saw a video of the police picking up rocks and throwing them back at the young. There is no solution in this context offered to young people and Greek society: the government only offers them, three days after the murder of a young 15 year-old, repression and brutality." ----- Young people take a stand At the call of the two trade unions, workers and young people united in a strike that paralyzed Greece on December 10 On Wednesday, December 10, there was a massive general strike in Greece. It was called by the two main confederations of the country: that of private workers, the GSEE, and the public sector workers, ADEDY. Our correspondents have reported on the strike. The strike is by workers of ministries, prefectures, administration, education (public and private schools), health and communications, as well as transport. All flights of Olympic Airlines and Aegean have been canceled; Athens international airport was blocked, as well as maritime connections. Called on by Prime Minister, Caramanlis, to cancel the call to the rally in Athens, the two confederations have maintained a rally on Syntagma Square, the place of Parliament. Many unions are there. Workers in the electricity sector, of Railways, of water services, telecoms, etc. were there. The banner of the organization of public sector workers of Piraeus (the post, water, telecommunications, railways, electricity) said: "Defend Social Security , health, education: Organize yourself! Together, we can offer solutions." Those responsible for the economic crisis must pay, not workers through lay-offs!" declared the workers of tourism. Another banner reads, "Against high prices, wage increases immediately!". In the speeches of leaders, it was raised that there is billions available to banks and obligations to the European Union. The president of the GSEE warned that if government policy does not change, it will fall, and called for another rally before Parliament on Monday December 22, the day of the adoption of the budget. Spyros Papaspyrou, president of the ADEDY, talked about the government plan to rescue banks and said that the vast majority of society is sinking into poverty. The leaders denounced the ongoing privatization, austerity plans, the fiscal tightening and the ongoing reform of pensions. They demand "money for people and not for banks." The movement among young people or students, was solid throughout the country. They continue the occupation of their schools. In Athens, several processions flocked to the gathering, including a demonstration of 4,000 students, teachers, and young workers, who left the National Museum. Teachers are there with their unions. Youth groups chanted "For banks: money; for youth: bullets: Our
time has come." Indeed, the general strike, rallies and demonstrations on December 10 have taken place in a continuous wave since the murder on Saturday, December 6, of young Alexis. On Thursday 11, at a youth event in Athens in late morning, the students called for a rally at Panepistimio (university) at 6pm, where riot police withdrew, to the applause of people present at sidewalk cafes. On Friday at 12 noon, a demonstration called by the unions of students, teachers and students together brought out 4,000 people in Athens; Thessaloniki had 800. Young people face police on Syntagma Square. On Saturday 13, 300 students gathered in the early afternoon to Syntagma to honor the memory of the dead teenager. A little later, 2,000 students and young workers massed at the foot of Parliament, defended by a cordon of riot police. The face to face lasted more than an hour. Rallies were also called on December 14, 15 and 17. The 16 student meetings were scheduled before December 18 of the parade of students and teachers against violence and police cuts in public budgets for the release of youths arrested by the police. Not a day passes without the revolt of young people being expressed. ------ "The death of the teenager made the anger rise to the surface" Interview with Themistoklis Kotsifakis, Secretary General of the Federation of Secondary Teachers (OLME), member of the Executive Board of Trade Union Committee for Education. Can you introduce your organization and the situation in Greece? Our organization is affiliated to the confederation of Greek workers and public employees, the ADEDY. It is also a member of the European Trade Union Committee for Education (CSEE). We welcome you with pleasure. We are interested by all actions that go against the policy of the European Union and we look for ways to respond to this policy. Today, in Greece, we face an economic policy that is very hard for the workers. With the economic crisis, the situation worsens. Wages are lower here than elsewhere in Europe: Greek teachers are the most poorly paid. The education budget is very limited: we are the 13th country in military expenditure and the 27th for education. The government considers education as a commodity, it wants to privatize many sectors. It develops such public-private partnerships for construction and management of schools and the incorporation of companies and sponsors - such as Microsoft - in schools. At the same time, it privatizes public services, air transport, ports, telecommunications ... As regards the universities, the government tried two years ago to amend Article 16 of the Constitution, which guarantees their public nature. But the mobilization of students and teachers has prevented privatization. What do you think of the revolt of the youth? The death of the youth led the anger to rise to the surface. This is anger of youth who face unemployment, the weakening of the education system, the devaluation of diplomas. The youth feel that the future is uncertain, feels victim and said: "The banks receive the money, young people receive the bullets." Monday saw a spontaneous movement of students with their teachers who came forward. The young man shot dead was one of theirs. They quickly notified by SMS. Without a directive, students left their schools to protest, others have occupied schools, others have attacked the police stations. All this has converged with the strike of December 10: their struggle has taken a political turn. Trade unions believe the government must go. The protests will continue in the coming days. On Thursday December 18, a rally is being organized for the entire public sector. On Monday the 22nd, Parliament must approve the budget: a minimum budget for workers, little money for education and health, but lots of money for the military. What are the demands of your union? The main demands of our union are: * Increase the education budget to the tune of 5% of GDP at least (3%
today); ----- Briefs Privatizations To respect the stability pact and meet the European directives, the Greek government has already initiated the privatization of public services: the Telecommunications (OTE), electricity (DEH), the airline (Olympic Airlines), the activities of container ports, and announced that the Railways (OSE), financial services post (Hellenic Postbank) and management of recreational four ports of the country. Health For weeks, the pharmacists complain that the state owes them nearly 140 million. As a result, the beneficiaries of the credit union officials must advance the cost of treatment. Hospitals arrive at the end of their reserves. Equipment suppliers orthopedic follow the same path. They refuse to deliver their products to public hospitals as the state will not pay the 700 million it owes them. And the Greek government will pay 28 billion to save the banks! Warning letter from the European Commission to Greece The Minister of Economy, George Alogoskoufis said Friday December 5 that the economy in Greece could, again, go under supervision of the European Union. Earlier in the week, the European Commissioner for the European economy, Joaquin Almunia, was accused of sending a warning letter to the Greek State in January 2009 for excessive deficit in the year 2007. Fishermen against EU directive Fishermen have blocked the entry ports of Piraeus and Thessaloniki at the end of the first week of December. They do not accept the application of a new European directive, which is to be implemented in early 2009 and which obliges them to fish more than 1, 5 nautical miles of the coast at a depth of more than 50 meters. *************************
The Fight Goes On! Ireland's recent resounding 'No' vote to the Lisbon Treaty (12th June
2008) is in danger of being deconstructed as Europe's political elite
scramble to reason and force another referendum. Recent reports suggest
that the Irish electorate will have another referendum on this treaty
in October 2009, but given the current Irish government's Despite campaigning in an incredibly hostile environment the Irish left - the People Movement, Sinn Fein, left wing led trade unions, etc - were intent on ensuring that their main constituency of the working class were appropriately informed when casting their vote. It was their prerogative to demonstrate that the Lisbon Treaty amongst other things spelt out business interests over workers, encouraged the very real potential to create market force conditions across all of Europe's public sector, afforded the obvious lack of real democracy for Europe's peoples, intended to provide increased taxation policies, promoted ever increasing EU militarization, etc. Ireland's very powerful business constituency, Irish Business and Enterprise Confederation (IBEC), along with all of the country's constitutional political parties , barring one - Sinn Fein - and their respective leaders rolled in behind the 'Yes' campaign. Even the Irish Labour Party misread their electoral base's position and views on the Lisbon Treaty as they not only evinced their support for the treaty but further, rounded on those that dare to not only campaign against it but even seek an informed debate as to why the Irish should vote no. Similarly a number of Irish trade unions emphatically advised their memberships to vote 'Yes' based on the treaty's inclusion of the social charter, but in doing so the same constituents failed to recognize the history of Ireland's political and business elite to workers and their movements, which must have figured large with their many members when exercising their vote. Successive Irish governments' positions towards trade union recognition and collective bargaining is irreconcilable with their stated position in 1954 when they signed up to their first treaty - the ILO - which provides for freedom for collective bargaining, and further as a signatory to the Good Friday Agreement, which enshrines the European Charter of Human Rights also providing for free collective bargaining. But when major Irish trade union SIPTU at the time of the Lisbon Treaty referendum was prepared to recommend to its 250,000 plus members a 'Yes' vote if the Irish government would enshrine in law at the recent social partnership negotiations, compulsory trade union recognition and thus collective bargaining, it was, as expected, shunned by the Irish government. This is irreconcilable with the government's approach to afore-said treaty obligations and other Irish social constituents, most namely the farmers' organizations - Irish Farmers Association (IFA) -- who sought and won some form of governmental veto in future European agriculture policies. At a recent Communist Party of Ireland forum on Social Europe, left wing Queens Counsel, John Hendy, of London's Institute of Employment Rights, summed it up when he said 'unless you have collective union recognition and rights then there is no such thing as workers rights'. Against such a backdrop the Irish working class, ably supported and led by those on the left, were properly informed and thus appropriately measured in voting no to this treaty. Despite derisory denunciations by business leaders, politicians and their media organs, the working class vote was instrumentally crucial in attaining a 'no' vote. Whilst the right wing business focused on 'no' group Libertas - run and funded by multi-millionaire businessman, Declan Ganley - which was heralded by the media as the face of the No campaign, it ignored the fact that this group had little, if any, grassroots support. Following the referendum vote an Irish Times/ MRBI poll of the campaign showed how the debate was fractured along social class lines: a. The Yes vote registered a majority only with better-off voters, while there was a big majority for the No side among the working class. This is further emphasized when a recent post referendum research by IMS Consultants Millward Brown on behalf of Ireland's Dept. Of Foreign Affairs announced the following findings in September 2008:- 1. Turnout for the Lisbon Treaty was 53%, well in excess of the 35% who voted on the first Nice Treaty. The decisive issue was the increase in No voters as a proportion of the electorate (from 18% at Nice 2 to 28% in June 2008). 2. The key demographic groups in terms of opposition to the treaty were, 25-34 year olds (59%), the C2 and DE socio-economic groups - blue-collar working class - (63% and 65%) and women (56%). 3. 26% of No voters mentioned treaty specific elements that were of concern to them, 20% cited general issues around the referendum, whilst 16% mentioned issues specifically to do with loss of power/independence. 4. The socio-economic group C2DE were more likely to feel their jobs and pay may be under threat from immigration. 5. When asked directly, respondents cited the issue of workers' rights as being 'very important' more often than any other issue relating to Ireland and the EU. Retaining control over public services in the future was similarly cited.
Irish rejection of the Lisbon Treaty is a victory for everyone who opposes a Europe dominated by big business. It is also a victory for everyone who opposes the new militarism that is creeping over Europe. Many of the 490 million people in Europe who were deprived of their right to vote on this Treaty will and should also be delighted. In rejecting Lisbon, Irish voters have struck a blow for democracy and demonstrated their solidarity with their fellow Europeans, but now that the vote is history, it would appear that the Irish and EU political leaderships are hell bent on ensuring it is immaterial, as they seek a means to foisting another referendum on the Irish people. Unless the treaty is fully renegotiated as is the current Irish government's mandate based on the fact the Irish people voted 'No', it remains the case that the Irish working class will again have to mobilise to prevent another EU diktat. The fight goes on! **************************
Struggle for survival Before perestroika, Pervomaïskoe, Kazakhstan East, was a model city, with developed infrastructure, built around an exceptional IHMZ, which processed rare materials, including 10 tons per month of niobium. There were 3,800 workers. Today Pervomaïski looks like Stalingrad during the Second World War. There are problems with pipes and cold water, there is no heating or hot water, people in big buildings heat their spaces by burning firewood. Since the year 2000, the factory has frequently changed ownership. It is with its third owner. Each investor is the same: it receives funding from the state, accumulating debts, went bankrupt and sold to a new investor. In September 2006, the factory fell into the hands of the construction company of Astana "Biogroupe" headed by AJ Rakhimaev, whose president is Omar Askhat Assanovitch. The president of IHMZ is T. K. Kojakhmetov. Since December 2007, production fell from 15 to 20% of its volume and earlier in March it was totally suspended. 26 million tenga are owed to the workers. 44.5% of shares belong to the government that, however, does nothing to save the factory. Yet, in the opinion of a group of experts of the Russian "Severstal", which did an audit of the plant this year, it can be extremely profitable if properly managed and the necessary investments are made. We understand how this will end, if the company remains in the hands of "Biogroupe". The initiative group of workers of the city made a request to hold a meeting on September 7, 2008. They were met with a refusal. They made a second request on September 15. Having suffered a new refusal, they held an unauthorized meeting attended by 200 people. At the end of this meeting, they demanded the payment of back wages and the re-opening of the plant as soon as possible.Representatives of the company and local authorities came, they made promises.Workers have waited patiently. But any patience they had came to an end. On December 9, 13 workers at the factory (including five women) began a hunger strike. Their demands are unchanged: the payment of back wages by having the factory run by the State or giving it to a conscientious and responsible investor. It said today that pressure is being put on the relatives of the hunger strikers who work elsewhere, in an attempt to "deter" further action. The rumor (perhaps unfounded) is that a provocation is being prepared. A group of drunk hooligans would burst into the room where the hunger strikers are at, start a fight and the police would arrest everybody. It is possible that this is just an unfounded rumor, but we have seen much worse provocations. We call on all democratic forces to show the workforce their material and moral support; Fraternally Send the your notes to: President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev Abichevitch www.akorda.kz Akim of Adylgaz VKO Sadvokassovitch Bergenev www.akimvko.kz Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Karim Massimov Kajimkanovitch To support: ------ "A tragedy has occurred in the town of Satpaev" 39 miners died in an explosion in a mine belonging to the company Kazakhmys. Rabochie Izvestiya (independent newspaper of activists of all stripes in different republics of the Soviet Union) interviewed in its issue No. 3 Ivan Mikhailovich Bulgakov, trade union leader and head for Kazakhstan's eastern Unified Social Democracy. We publish this document. - Ivan Mikhailovich, what do you think of the latest tragedy in Satpaev? It does confirm not only the inhumanity of the policy of the firm, but the links that unite criminal Kazakhmys and the state. The tragic events continue to be repeated in the business of the company and each time, the government covers up. The latest accident, which claimed the lives of six men, was claimed to be caused by the victim's negligence, according to the Commission of Inquiry. It is perfectly absurd, the mine was not up to standards, someone is responsible! Everyone just about confirm that the conclusions of the commission
are misleading. - Returning to Kazakhmys. There are many multinationals. How does it differ from others, whose balance sheets are not particularly bright? The firm has always shown a total disregard for its workers and Kazakhstan is regarded as a cash cow, while benefiting from guaranteed impunity at the highest level, these are its founding principles. Returning to the recent past. When Kazakhmys moved to East Kazakhstan, it set up at the factory of special brigades for the recovery of "usable scrap." I've never heard this expression used like this in any other company, it does not exist. This task was to dismantle metal and in order to re-use the metal parts that are usually considered unusable. In addition, at the time, the centralized delivery of the equipment
was rarely used. The company was content to spend sums to buy usually
defective parts, even if their use endangered human lives. - Do you think the firm is simply ineffective or that it is damaging to the economy? How do you think that Mr. Kim became a millionaire in record time? A ton of copper was 1 400-1 500 dollars. Now it is up to 8,000 dollars. And wages have remained virtually the same. You can see that the company has a lot of money, but there was never enough for the safety or the introduction of "human" (...) conditions. They think only now, pocketing a maximum and divvying out the profits like in a Banana republic. But, of course, the workers think and understand that Kazakhstan cannot remain forever in the hands of an incapable government, under a flawed political system. One day, our people will put an end to companies that pillage." ***************************
Three trade unionists are murdered Hugo Chavez calls for the nationalization of the company Alpina, whose bosses are suspected of ordering the murder On the night of November 27, three union leaders of the National Union of Workers (UNT), members of the Socialist Left, were assassinated in the State of Aragua. (Venezuela is a federal state composed of 23 States, headed by elected governors.) These union leaders had just taken part in a rally to defend the workers of the factory Alpina. They were murdered by a group of killers, and it seems that the owners of this plant are to blame. The union movement in Venezuela demands: The truth concerning the murder of three fellow UNETE and severe punishment for those responsible The assassination of Richard Gallardo, Luis Hernandez and Carlos Requena, leaders and workers of Aragua, coordinators of the National Union of Workers, raises the dramatic question of the helpless situation in which the labor movement and the masses find themselves. This is not the first time activists and union leaders have been victims of the bosses' persecution by armed gangs. But it is the first time we have seen a massacre planned in cold blood and with the intention to impose a punishment to a trade union movement deemed to be "too militant." In other circumstances, there have been assassination attempts against leaders in conflict with union bosses and the threats have multiplied. Recently, a lethal weapon was used to attack trade union leaders. Bands in the service of the bosses or the union bureaucracy used armed violence against activists and leaders of UNETE. In the countryside the situation is even worse. Nearly 200 activists and peasant leaders have been murdered by paramilitaries in the pay of landowners. There are dozens of unpunished killings of militants of the popular movement, carried out in retaliation, often for a single tag painted on the wall of the headquarters of a famous television station, a fierce opponent to the government. This is not just any murder. It is increasingly clear that this is a policy of violent confrontation that is growing by the formation and activity of armed groups that tomorrow will be used against all revolutionary political process under way. It follows that the denunciation of these crimes must be linked to the mobilization for incarceration and punishment of the intellectual and material perpetrators, and for the dismantling of paramilitary armies. The assassination of three leaders of UNETE means that a battle that must be completed by the movement of Venezuela, for the right to organize workers. Large mobilizations that took place in cities throughout the country, especially in Aragua, demonstrated the willingness of the working class to end the killing of its activists and leaders. The declaration and commitment of President Chavez to clarify the facts and punish those responsible are a starting point for the workers' struggle in defense of their legitimate right to organize. President Chavez said that "all companies where there are problems with the workers (...) must be retrieved, nationalized, take them to the national power, the popular power, social power, to build new businesses of social property. That is socialism, the social ownership of means of production. " Yes, it is essential to take measures in defense of the nation to ensure a true democracy exists with socialism! And for this, further measures to break with imperialism are a necessity to advance the revolution in Venezuela. We express our solidarity to the families of comrades Richard Gallardo, Luis Hernandez, Carlos Requena and the trade union movement in Venezuela! It is not a crime that will go unpunished! ----- Elections in Venezuela On November 23, there were held municipal elections and gubernatorial elections. The United Socialist Party of Venezuela, led by Chavez, and two other parties supporting the government have received a majority in 18 of 23 states. But the pro-imperialist opposition has kept the state of Zulia, whose capital is Maracaibo, the main oil producer, and the state of Miranda, whose capital is Caracas. The extreme polarization of the election result shows that workers and the majority of the oppressed people of Venezuela demand from the Chavez government a firm and determined stand in the direction of the nationalization of all strategic sectors to break the back of the reaction. ************************
ILC APPEAL Solidarity with the workers of the University of the Philippines and their union, Paris December 13, 2008 The ILC has become aware of the alarming situation at the University of Nueva Ecija in the Philippines. At a press conference, the union-Lagman WUPFSA of teachers and staff of the university denounced the involvement of the army in their labor dispute and the harassment that followed. According WUPFSA-Lagman, a certain Sergeant Edgar Dimalanta, belonging to the Bureau of Civil Affairs of the 71st Infantry Division had uttered veiled threats and pressures on labor as well as members of the union in order to force them to participate in a meeting he had convened. In an incident that took place on November 25, Sergeant Dimalanta told Melquiades Guevarra, vice president of the union, that soldiers would visit the homes of union members who refused to participate. Corazon Gonzalez, president of the union, said: "The facts clearly demonstrate that the university administration headed by Guillermo T. Maglaya Sergeant Dimalanta uses threats to try to break the union and to sabotage the negotiations to achieve a collective agreement. " The right to join the trade union of one's choice and the right to collective bargaining rights are inalienable rights codified in ILO Conventions 87 and 98 that are internationally recognized. The ILC calls on all trade unionists to express their solidarity with the staff of the University of the Philippines fighting with their union for a collective agreement. The union employees of the University of Nueva Ecija Philippines should exercise their rights without interference from the military or any other authority whatsoever. Send messages of solidarity to: corazoncruzgonzales@yahoo.com ***********************
"We call on all our elected officials and all the candidates ..." At the nomination of candidates in federal elections in September 2009, militants of the SPD addressed their candidates. The SPD is in the process of appointing its candidates for federal elections to be held next September. A Social Democratic activist, in hospitals, has taken the initiative to go with his colleagues to the conference of local industry (Cologne-Mülheim/Leverkusen in North Rhine-Westphalia). "In the series of preparatory meetings that we attended in November, we have wanted to get from you specific answers to critical questions (...), at a time when thousands of workers are laid off, at Opel in Bochum , Ford and Deutz AG, Cologne, and now at Thyssen 2 100 - and that three weeks before Christmas! And everyone knows that this is only the beginning of layoffs that will also concern us. While there are already 200,000 people in Cologne, including many single people with children, elderly and children, who depend on social services, who benefits from the package of 500 billion to rescue banks and the package 50 billion which has been decided to "help investment? Does this help hospital patients, rail users, educators, children, parents, or workers? (...) Isn't the "alternative" the nationalization of private banks to ensure that the public finds the financial means necessary to guarantee the savings and resolves the impasse of the financial companies? (...) We call on all our elected officials and all candidates for Cologne to listen to the mandate they have received or are seeking: - To say no to the December 17 law of finance for hospitals, leading to the hospitals in Mülheim and Leverkusen to refuse even greater number of patients and to say that operations can not be done or should be postponed. - To put forward a bill that turns temporary contracts into contracts with regular conventional protection, thus defending the collective agreements of the DGB trade unions and allowing a ban on precarious jobs. - To demand the repeal of the 500 billion plan to rescue banks and speculators, and to demand that these sums be transferred to a program of public financing of free places in kindergartens and for the withdrawal of university tuition fees for investment in education and health. " *********************
Renault workers demonstrate in Valladolid More than 25 000 workers from three factories Renault in the region
of Castile and Leon and factories subcontracting, but other automakers
affected by the economic crisis demonstrated Saturday at Valladolid
in the north of Spain, to demand the retention of jobs. Car manufacturers have announced in recent months, as elsewhere in Europe and the world, layoffs and periods of unemployment. Union representatives Nissan factories in Barcelona and Avila were also involved in the event. ************************** MEXICO Solidarity with mineworkers against trade union repression In the previous issue (315) we published a press release from Mexico demanding the release of imprisoned mineworkers. Now we are publishing details of this repression and contact information for sending your protests letters. The National Union of Mineworkers, Steelworkers, Steelmakers and Allied Workers of the Mexican Republic (SNTMMSSRM) is being subjected to a fierce government offensive by Felipe Calderon of Mexico and the Mexico Monopoly Mining group that seeks to destroy the union. The crime the union is accused is defending the rights of workers to decide who their leaders should be and what should be their collective agreement. On December 4, Carlos Pavon Campos, Secretary for Political Affairs of the miners' union, was arrested in Mexico City. He was immediately transferred to the city of Monclova, Coahuila State (in the North), on charges of alleged fraud at the expense of the company. The day before, Juan Linares Montufar, president of the Main Committee of Vigilance of the union who was arrested in the city of Morelia, Michoacan state, then moved to Mexico City. A few weeks ago, the government "froze" bank accounts of the union. On December 9, a judge said no to the miners' strike of mine Cananea, Sonora, who along with workers in Sombrerete, Taxco, have been on strike for over a year to defend their working conditions and the existence of their union. The employers' association rejects any negotiations. Today the news reported that 50 mineworkers in the Cananea mine had arrest warrants issued for them. The crackdown against the union began under the Fox administration (2000-2006) through the creation of "white unions" to oppose the National Union with legal proceedings against Napoleon Gomez Urrutia, president of the union, who was forced to seek political asylum in Canada. The crackdown has intensified under the government Felipe Calderon and reached a level of absolute arbitrary force, outside legal norms, with the appointment of Francisco Gomez Mont Urrueta, who was the company's legal assessor. The government aims to break the will of those fighting to defend the freedom of association and workers' conquests. The government does not tolerate the union's demand that the circumstances of the deaths in the Pasta de Conchos mine (State of Coahuila) be clarified and the union's demand for the recovery of the bodies of the deceased workers in this mine, which have been buried for months. More importantly, actions against the union of mineworkers are an outline of what the government is preparing with its labor counter-reform regarding the work it wants to impose in 2009 as announced by the Secretary of Labor. This aims to eliminate labor rights, to exert even greater pressure on the unions to impose individual and test contracts and facilitate lay-offs. The defense of the Mexican mineworkers union requires the support of mineworkers in all countries, the defense workers at the international level, and we ask for solidarity with the mineworkers. We urge you to demand of the Mexican government: * The immediate release of Carlos Pavon Campos and Juan Linares Montufar,
leaders of the Union of mineworkers. You can send petitions to: PLIC. Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa, PLIC. FERNANDO Francisco Gomez MONT Urueta PDR. José Luis Soberanes Fernández Please send a copy letters to: eltrabajo@gmail.com , 78470 Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse
|
Open World Conference of Workers