ILC
INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER No. 66
A dossier
of weekly information published by the
International Liaison Committee of Workers and Peoples (ILC)
February 17th, 2004
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PRESENTATION:
All the pretexts put forward a year ago to start a murderous war
against the people of Iraq appear to be false in the eyes of the entire
world.
The coalition of American unions US Labor Against the War (USLAW) has
called for a large day-long protest mobilization against the war on
March 20, 2004 to say:
"The world continues to say no to war!"
We reproduce their appeal on page 2.
In response to the appeal by Rubina Jamil, president of the Working
Women's Organization (WWO) and general secretary of the All Pakistan
Trade Union Federation (APTUF), "to make March 8, 2004 a day of
mobilization for the rights of women workers", the Women's
Commission of the International Liaison Committee of Workers and Peoples
has established a questionnaire in order to determine the consequences
of twelve years of the Maastricht treaty in the different countries of
Europe "for the defense and the conquest of the rights of women
workers." It invites you to reply (see page 7).
The campaign for the liberation of the Romanian mining trade unionist
Miron Cozma and his imprisoned comrades has increased. This week we are
publishing the list of campaign endorsers from France, Mexico as well as
a letter of the international Committee for the liberation of Miron
Cozma to the committee of union liberties of the International Labor
Organizations (ILO) (see page 8).
Support this campaign.
Support the fight of the International Liaison Committee
Subscribe, have others subscribe to ILC International Newsletter
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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
p. 1.: Presentation
p. 2.: USLAW appeal to protest against the war in Iraq March 20, 2004
U.S.
p. 3.: Communiqué of the Socialist Party regarding the télecoms.
Switzerland.
p. 4.: After the resignation of Schröder from the presidency of SPD.
Germany
p. 5.: For a meeting of gas and electricity workers of Europe and a
letter of the French militants.
p. 6.: March 8, 2004. Commission of Women Workers of the ILC to
correspondents of European countries. Questionnaire.
p. 7.: Women Workers Commission of the ILC.
Defense of T. Mengue, labor militant imprisoned in Cameroon.
p. 8.: Taking of positions for the defense of Miron Cozma and the
unionists of Romania.
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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
Tel: (33 1) 48 01 88 28 e-mail: eit,ilc@fr,olean.com
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IRAQ
A communiqué from the campaign "against the occupation, and for
labor rights in Iraq."
Dear comrades and friends,
Via this letter we inform you that an international trade union
delegation of the "International Campaign against the occupation
and for the labor rights of workers in Iraq" will meet in Geneva,
Switzerland with the Director General of the ILO, Juan Somavia. The
purpose of this delegation was announced publicly this week by Gene
Bruskin, national coordinator of US Labor Against War (USLAW); Hacene
Djemane, secretary general of the International Confederation of Arab
Trade Unions (ICATU), and Daniel Gluckstein, coordinator of the
International Liaison Committee of Workers and Peoples (ILC).
According to the spokespersons for these three organizations who have
launched this international campaign, the objective of this delegation
is to inform the Director General of the ILO, Juan Somavia, of the
results of the fact-finding tour undertaken by a commission in Iraq at
the beginning of October, and especially, to intervene for the
ratification, the undertaking and immediate application in a sovereign
Iraq of the ILO Convention No. 87 (on the freedom of association and the
right to organize in the union of their choice) and of the Convention
No. 98 (on the right of collective bargaining). Financially support the
delegation of March 15, 2004 to the office of the ILO in Geneva.
Checks to the order of the CMO
Addressed to: International Liaison Committee of Workers and their
Peoples
87, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Denis - 75010 Paris- France
Bank order (IBAN): FR76 3093 8000 34000 5122 7000 317 - LUBPFRPP
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U.S. LABOR AGAINST THE WAR
Calls for Large Labor Turnout for March 20 Global Antiwar Protests
On March 20, the one-year anniversary of the U.S. bombing and
invasion of Iraq, millions of people across the globe will once again
take to the streets to say,
"The world still says NO to war!"
A year ago, on February 16, more than 12 million people the world over
took to the streets to oppose the war on Iraq. It was the largest
antiwar mobilization in history.
These millions were right. This was a war based on lies. There is no
evidence Iraq was involved in 9-11. Iraq posed no imminent threat to the
United States. No weapons of mass destruction have been found there.
Bush lied ... and U.S. troops and innocent Iraqi civilians died.
Hundreds of U.S. soldiers have sacrificed their lives; thousands
have been injured - physically or emotionally scarred for life. Tens of
thousands of Iraqi civilians have suffered casualties and death. All
this suffering for what? To make Iraq safe for Halliburton, Bechtel and
a host of other corporate cronies of the Bush administration!
One year of U.S.-led occupation of Iraq has only brought chaos and
disaster to that country.
Unemployment among Iraqi workers has reached 70%. There are no
unemployment benefits. Wages for most Iraqi workers have been frozen at
$60 per month, while all bonuses, profit sharing and subsidies for
housing and food have been eliminated.
Iraqi workers have been denied the right to organize unions of their
choice. While claiming to bring democracy to Iraq, the U.S.-run
Occupation Authority continues to enforce a 1987 Hussein-era law that
prohibits unions in the public sector and state enterprises where most
Iraqis work. The Occupation Authority just issued a new decree, Public
Order 39, allowing 100% foreign ownership of Iraqi businesses and the
repatriation of profits.
Iraq teeters on the brink of malnutrition, chaos and civil war while
multinational corporations scramble to divide up Iraq's national
resources and wealth - the same corporations that violate workers'
rights, fight unions, and downsize, outsource and export jobs in the
United States.
CALL for LABOR TURN OUT on MARCH 20
US Labor Against the War calls on organized labor and all working
people to join veterans, military families, students, senior citizens,
religious leaders, immigrant rights and other social justice advocates
and millions of others on March 20th to protest the war and occupation
in the mass demonstrations in New York, San Francisco and many other
cities across the U.S. and around the world.
Join us in expressing our opposition to the "Patriot Act" and
erosion of our rights in the name of "fighting terrorism."
Join us to demand an end to the mass detentions and deportation of
immigrants in the name of "national security."
Join us to say NO to vast cuts in vital domestic social programs to pay
for massive increases in military spending.
Join us to demand respect for labor and human rights in both Iraq and
the United States.
Join us in demanding that the U.S. government respect national
sovereignty and uphold the right of self-determination for all peoples,
beginning with the people of Iraq.
Join is in demanding that the U.S. government solve disputes by
diplomacy not war, strengthen international treaties, reject preemptive
military aggression, and promote global economic and social justice
rather than the race-to-the-bottom, job-destroying, discriminatory
practices favored by multinational corporations.
Together, let's send a message loud and clear - "NO to occupation,
NO to war profiteering, NO to labor rights violations! Bring the troops
home now!"
USLAW also calls upon all trade unionists, labor and antiwar activists
in the United States to support our Campaign for Labor Rights in Iraq.
Urge your elected representatives to join Reps. Sam Farr, Barbara Lee,
Dennis Kucinich and others in demanding the Bush Administration respect
labor rights in Iraq and here at home.
Join USLAW on March 20th in labor contingents at demonstrations in a
city near you.
END THE OCCUPATION!
BRING OUR TROOPS HOME NOW!
MONEY FOR JOBS, HEALTH CARE AND SCHOOLS,
NOT FOR PROFITS & WAR!
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EUROPE
For peace, democracy and the rights of workers,
For the free and democratic union of the free nations of Europe
Some necessary background information
- The European gathering "for peace, democracy and the rights of
workers, for the free and democratic union of the free nations of
Europe" was convened on the occasion of the meeting in
"defense of the ILO conventions and the independence of union
organizations" that met on June 15, 2003 in Geneva at the
initiative of the International Liaison Committee of Workers and their
Peoples.
- The European meeting was held on September 20 and 21, 2003 with the
delegations from the following countries: Albania, Germany, Belgium,
Spain, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Sweden,
Switzerland and the Ukraine.
The Russian delegate was refused a visa and could not attend the
meeting.
- The European meeting decided on the constitution of a liaison bureau,
- On the basis of a declaration submitted at the European meeting, this
liaison bureau will organize a correspondence committee which will
publish every fifteen days four pages in the ILC International
Newsletter, the weekly publication of the International Liaison
Committee of the Workers and Peoples. It will include information on
European institutions sent by their correspondents in each country.
The liaison bureau of the European meeting is made up by the following
people:
Germany: Becker Henrich; Hening Frey; Belgium: Larsimont Philippe;
Spain: Luis Gonzalez, Manuel Arroyo Martin; France: Pierre Besse,
Michele Delaine, Clarisse Delalondre, Olivier Doriane, Marc Gauquelin,
Daniel Gluckstein, Luc Lamy, Denis Langlet, Jean-Claude Loew,
Jean-Charles Marquiset, Véronique Pépers, Joachim Salamero, Aimé Savy,
Marie-Claude Schidlower, Gérard Schivardi, Daniel Shapira, Michele
Simonnin; Great Britain: Charalambus Charlie, Cholewka Stefan; Greece: Hélene
Astériou; Italy, Lorenzo Varaldo, Ugo Croce; Portugal: Carmelinda
Pereira; Romania: Constantin Cretan, Marian Tudor; Serbia: Pavluvsko
Imsirovic, Jacim Milunovic, Modrag Perovic; Switzerland: Alexandre Anor,
Luc Delay, Grazziano Pestoni, Michel Guillot; Sweden: Sixto Iturra,
Robert Johansson; Ukraine: Vitaly Koulik.
To contact us:
International Liaison Committee of Workers and their People, 87, rue du
Faubourg-St-Denis 75010 Paris
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SWITZERLAND
Communiqué of the Swiss Socialist Party:
The liberalization of the last telecom kilometer of connection is
inopportune, the public doesn't want it!
[Below we publish a press release of the Swiss Socialist Party
that was sent to us by our Swiss correspondents. The Commission of
Transportation and Telecommunications of the National Council of the
Swiss government has rejected the liberalization of the final kilometer
of telephone connection of Swisscom . This de-linking of the local tie
to the national telephone grid would have, if approved, signified the
opening to private capital bidding of Swisscom, the longstanding public
operator.
[We believe this information may be useful to all our correspondents in
Europe, just at the moment when the European Commission has indicated,
in regard to electronic communications, "We are determined to
continue the pressure on the member states that have not always
fulfilled their obligations to transpose into national legislation the
new European Union directives on deregulation," and which, on this
basis, decided to bring France before the European Court of Justice for
non-transposition of the European postal directives of 1997 and 2002
into French law.]
Success for PS [Socialist Party] in the matter of the revision of the
law on telecommunications:
The Commission on Transportation and Telecommunications (CTT) of the
National Council has decided not to pursue the matter of the revision of
the law on telecommunications.
The socialists have long criticized the project to break up the local
link from the national, publicly operated grid. Such a move would have
had grave consequences for Swisscom as well as for the peripheral
regions. A large majority of the CTT has sided with the PS. The
liberalizations that question the quality of the public service are
inopportune, and the public is right to reject it.
The CTT of the National Council decided in Berne today to propose to the
full assembly not to undertake the revision of the law on
telecommunications (LCT). The PS applauds this vote. The PS had, from
the beginning of the discussions, largely distanced itself from the
proposals of the Federal Council, to the point of rejecting all efforts
to liberalize the final kilometer of connection.
This measure, if approved, would have opened up to private bidders
Swisscom's public enterprise of 4 million telephone users. The PS
rejected the argument that Swisscom represented a monopoly that had to
be suppressed on the grounds that Swisscom already faced competition
from Cablecom.
The consequences of such a de-linking would have been considerable: the
mission of universal public service conferred on Swisscom would have
been notably weakened by the massive increase of pressure in terms of
costs, all of which would profited its competitors. It would have
resulted in a concentration of capital investments in regions where the
private clients are more numerous, to the detriment of the peripheral
regions that are judged less profitable. The breakup of Swisscom was
doubly incomprehensible insofar as the Swiss Confederation, as the
majority stockholde in Swisscom, would do better to encourage Swisscom
to develop new marketing strategies rather than undermine the patrimony
of the public enterprise. In the meantime, the maintenance of a
universal public service, which does not disadvantage certain more
remote regions, is in the country's best interest.
There is one regret, nevertheless, that must be aired in regard to this
meeting of the CTT. Given their decision not to discuss the matter of
the law on LCT, the dispositions taken earlier by the CTT in relation to
the protection of public assets will not go into effect. That is why the
socialist delegation in the CTT has proposed to introduce measures that
will benefit the consumers independently of the law on
telecommunications. This did not unfortunately gather a majority of
commission members to their point of view. The question will be
submitted to the assembly again.
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GERMANY
After Gerhard Schröder's resignation as president of the SPD
Chancellor Gerhard Schröder announced on February 6, after a
surprise press conference, that he was resigning from the presidency of
the SPD (the Social Democratic Party) in order to
"concentrate" on his duties as chancellor. He proposed Franz Müntefering,
president of the parliamentary group, to replace him. An extraordinary
meeting of the SPD has been called for the end of March.
It would be hard to understand the causes and the urgency of such a
decision if one did not review the events of the past week in Germany. A
veritable revolt of the SPD against the policies of counter reforms of
the Schröder government had gained, one by one, all sections of the
party.
What Schröder had undertaken, that he himself qualified as "the
most important reform process in the history of post-war Germany"
the former rightist chancellor, Helmut Kohl, could never have imagined
to attempt. The weight of the SPD, the DGB, of their federations and
their millions of followers prevented him from touching the health care,
social security, unemployment compensation, and collective conventions?
The European Union and the financial capitals attributed this role to
Schröder. A spokesman for the SPD recognized "The limits of
tolerance was reached."
Over 43,000 members of the party returned their cards in 2003. Even the
president of the DGB, traditionally tied to the SPD, was compelled to
declare at the end of January, under the protests of its adherents:
"The sympathy for the government is under many aspects finished ()
The limit of the bearable, has long ago been surpassed."
The major shock occurred in Borken, in Northern Hesse. There, the SPD is
at home, in this town where many work at Volkswagen or at IG-Metall is
prosperous and the party is disciplined. Müntefering-the only leader of
the SPD that Schröder can send anywhere-had come to explain the
situation in Berlin. The hall was full. He was received with cries of
"Traitor!" and was only able to reach the podium after many
efforts but was unable to pacify the audience. Everywhere voices were
raised demanding a radical change of course, and abandonment of the 2010
Agenda.
The employers association is trying to take advantage of this situation.
It demanded of the metalworkers a "softening of the branch
accord" permitting it to increase the working hours from 35 to 40
without wage compensation, in the framework of individual agreements
passed by the labor delegates. "A worker does not need a labor
(union) if his wages and working hours are negotiated by partners of the
enterprise," said an indignant leader of IG-Metall in Rhénanie.
The metalworkers were annoyed. At a time they are in the midst of the
renegotiation of collective bargaining. 310,000 metal workers went out
on strike.
What did Schröder decide? He named Müntefering-nicknamed "the
cleaner"-in his place to the presidency of the party, which he
occupied after the resignation of Oskar Lafontaine in 1999 to quash all
opposition in the party, to normalize it.
Müntefering's first act: he declared there would be no change of
course, that he couldn't have it. But if one judges by what happened at
the regional congress in Bochum, he was far from lifting the glass to
his lips.
What happened at the regional congress in Bochum?
The Land of Rhenanie-North - Westphalia remains the richest, the most
industrial Land of Germany. It is traditionally the most important
bastion of the SPD.
Gerhard Schröder had announced that he would be present along with
Franz Müntefering. He was there. Anxious to explain the change in the
leadership of the party, one month from the extraordinary congress
called for March 21 and 22, Schröder and Müntefering planned to clear
the way for the continuity.
There was no question of undermining the "reform" policies
planned by the government. There was no question of directing the SPD
against the government and its policies; speaking to Schärten,
president of the SPD at the very important Land de Rhénanie-North -
Westphalia that had despite everything reaffirmed the need to lower des
increase in premiums on sick benefits and retirement funds of the
company, Schroder had "heatedly" invited him to limit himself
to "occasional criticisms" compatible with a policy of support
for the government.
Symmetrically, Clément, Minister of Economy, vice-president of the
party, was asked not to interfere with Schröder's concessions, which
consisted in making the owners pay a tax on professional formation. The
official parliamentary left was aligned. Andrea Nahles, formerly
responsible for Jusos, lined up squarely behind the leadership. The
press was pleasedto underline the discretion of the opposition.
Nevertheless and despite the fact that Müntefering had gathered them
together before the congress, O. Schreiner, president of the workers'
commissions of the SPD, and M. Sommer, president of the DGB, repeated
their priorities, clearly with some prudence.
For Schreiner, the necessary unity of the party could no longer avoid
the question of "a profound change of course of the health
reform". While Sommer, indicated that he saw no other solution than
to "increase the pressure" of the union to obtain "the
removal of this course of reform."
This being the case, Schröder and Müntefering were largely applauded.
How to understand this situation? On Sunday the Frankfurter Allgemeiner
emphasized "the state of shock" of numerous militants after
the blow of the announcement of Schröder's resignation, eight days
earlier. "They saw an abyss opening under their feet," as they
read this paper. A state of mind confirmed by the discussions in the
very congress.
I am in agreement with you. One is obliged to ask this question:
"How did we get here?" One is obliged to say: "How can we
continue this way?" "It is obvious, the installation of a
forfeit of 10 euros for every doctor's visit, that cannot come from us,
SPD. That can only come from the CDUI am in agreement, one must come
back over this matter, as with the health care reform. But is it
judicious to consider the question of the global retreat from the 2010
Agenda? What we need now, is peace within the party. Perhaps we should
concentrate on more immediate measures?"
Well, "You say that nothing is lost as yet, that we can put the
party back on its feet, win communal elections in seven months with this
change of direction. You have some gall to pose the problems in those
terms. I no longer know what to say. I know it is going to be difficult,
but I agree to pose the problems this way."
**********
For a European Meeting of Energy Workers
In the course of written exchanges between French and Serbian
unionists, the proposal to convene a meeting of European energy workers
was made.
This initiative proposes to gather all those who are against the opening
to private capital bidding of the public gas and electricity sector
imposed by the treaty of Maastricht of the European Union, which leads
to privatizations.
This meeting is fully in sync with the continuation of the Conference
against deregulation and for the rights of workers in Berlin in February
22 to 24, 2002, and is particularly timely as the annual meeting of the
ILO fast approaches.
This initiative does not substitute itself for any of those of union or
political organizations on an international level, and does not compete
with anyone. All initiatives of this kind are complementary.
After the Berlin conference, numerous testimonies by European unionists
have indicated the growing resistance of European workers particularly
against privatizations, and against the policies of the European Union.
[See back issues of the ILC International Newsletter.]
These include the month-long strike in Serbia, and the growing
mobilization of workers and their unions, which forced the Serbian
government to back down from the planned separation of the public
electrical service into three branches, a process of privatization which
we all have encountered in our own countries.
Also included is the correspondence of the factory council of the
municipal enterprises of Duisburg in Germany, noting the intense
campaign throughout Germany (over 100 towns or municipal enterprises
responded to their initiative) against the separation of the energy and
heating sectors. A cry of alarm went up against this happening in
Germany as it has in the United States and New Zealand.
Also included is the rejection to the opening of private sector
competition, proposed by the summit of European heads of state in
Barcelona in March 2001, in which the population of Switzerland, at the
initiative of the trade unions, rejected the law proposing to liberalize
the electric sector in a referendum on September 21, 2002.
This formidable example of the resistance of workers and the Swiss
people shows that resistance is possible against the directives of the
European Union, that nothing is inevitable.
Resistance was also shown in France by the fight of electrical and gas
workers to respect the January 9, 2003 vote in which they rejected the
modifications the regime of retirement, and expressed their support for
the defense of the civil service status of electricians and gas workers,
their refusal to open capital and privatizations, and the rejection of
the opening to private sector takeovers planned for 2004 and 2007.
For the purpose of planning the European meeting of workers and union
members of the energy sector, French militants in this sector have
drafted a letter which indicates the situation in France after the
treaty of Maastricht. (see below).
**********
FRANCE
Letter from the French militant Electrical and Gas Workers
To the Workers and militants of the Energy sector of Europe
At the beginning of 2004, France was at a turning point.
The European Union was insisting that the guarantee of the state be
suppressed by EDF-GDF.
We, electrical and gas workers, with our unions, have been fighting
against privatization for the past ten years. The privatization of
energy poses profound questions that notably concern national
construction, democracy, and security.
This problem arises in all the European Union countries, and in those
who could form part of the EU expansion, namely the Eastern European
countries. This arises equally in the numerous countries where United
States imperialism wants to dominate.
We have been impressed notably by what the workers of Mexico and
Bangladesh said, by opposing respectively the privatization of
electricity and gas in their respective countries under the slogan,
"Our country is not for sale!"
The same occurred in Bolivia, where the Bolivian government was
overthrown when they wanted to privatize gas: "Goni return where
you belong to your IMF, to the United States."
That is why we consider it necessary to discuss this balance sheet of
Maastrich, which has been applied for the past eleven years and is an
instrument for the privatization of public services. We consider it
indispensable to discuss the consequences of the expansion of the
European Union.
On our side we have started to do surveys on the subject of deregulation
of the electrical and gas sectors in France.
Some dates:
… April 8, 1946: Nationalization law.
… September 1992: Maastrich treaty: opening to private bidding of the
energy sector (and other public services such as the postal services)
… December 1996: The European Union adopts the electric directive N.
92-96/CE in application of article 129B of the Maastricht treaty.
… February 10, 2000: transposition law voted by the French parliament.
The government of the plural left transposes to French law the N.
92-96/CE directive, thus opening the electrical sector to bidding and
putting into question the national status of personnel (articles 45 and
46 of the law); article 46 deals exclusively with retirement benefits.
… 2000: The committee for social dialogue of the sector is created.
For the energy sector this committee includes the following partners:
heads of the union of electrical industries and the federations of EMCEF
and EPSU, of the ETUC (European federations of mine workers, chemical,
energy and European federation of public services).
… November 2000: in the matter of social European dialogue "the
social partners have established a common declaration on the social
implications of the former electrical market." (note: Europa.eu.int)
… Gas directive.
… Application of the gas directive without a vote of parliament.
… June 2001: questioning the national status of personnel by the
application of decrees of the directive 10/02/2000: placement of the
branch negotiation concerning all the employees of the sector, whether
public or private.
… March 2002: Summit in Barcelona. The European Union demands the
total opening of the electric sector and insists on the acceleration of
the process of reform of retirement in France. Messrs. Chirac and Jospin,
present at this summit, both ratified this offensive against retirement
and public services.
… 2002: In the framework of the social sector dialogue of the EU
"the social partners-Europeans (bosses and unionists of the ETUC
(see above)-have approved a joint declaration on the social implications
of the restructuring of the electric sector for the candidate countries.
… January 2003: agreement of methods for the social negotiations in
the framework of the evolution of enterprises, without forgetting the
initiatives taken by the committees of sectorial social dialogue of the
EU together with the federations of the ETUC and bosses.
Evolution of EDF-GDF: in 1992 and today
… Status of personnel: placement of the branch (decrees of June
2001)
… Retirement: special plan of retirement attacked by "document of
conclusions" finalized on December 9, 2002.
… Number of wage earners: 110 000 at EDF at the end of 2003 (8 000
jobs lost after three years).
… Transport: creation of the Electrical Transport Network by EDF.
… Distribution: closing of agencies, payment centers, announcement of
the lowering of personnel
… Creation of the common distribution operator.
… End 2003: Announcement of the creation of the operator of the
network and distribution.
… July 2004: opening 70% of the electricity market.
… 2004: provision by the government to opening of capital bidding
process
… Total opening to private bidders foreseen for 2007.
We propose you manage the survey on deregulation of the energy sector in
your country.
It seems to us that the question of the policy advanced by the European
Union, in the cadre? Frame? Of the Europe of Maastricht, is crucial for
the defense of public energy services.
We launch this appeal to all salaried and militants of the sector, with
the proposition of having a conference to confront our surveys.
Paris, Wednesday, February 11, 2004
Make this letter known. Please reply.
**********
ILC WOMEN'S COMMISSION
The Commission of Women of the International Liaison Committee of
workers and peoples address all the correspondents in Europe:
March 8th, 2004
Repeal the treaty of Maastricht and the European directives!
Defend and re-conquer the rights of women workers
Rubina Jamil, president of the WWO (Working Women Organization),
secretary of the APTUF (All Pakistan Trade Unions Federation) of
Pakistan calls for making March 8, 2004 a day of mobilization for the
rights of women, against deregulation, flexibility, precarious
employment, and respect for the conventions of the ILO. The ILC
International Newsletter published in its No. 65 issue, Rubina Jamil's
appeal for March 8, 2004. One reads therein: "Together, last year,
we have during the course of the Emergency Conference against war and
the exploitation organized by the International Liaison Commitee of
workers and peoples, on the eve of the war against the Iraqi people,
launched an appeal to make March 8, 2003 an international day of
mobilization. "No to war, no to the genocide of the Iraqi people,
for peace, for democracy, for social justice, for the rights of women
workers."
This year, at the time when "total war" seems impending
against all peoples, I ask you to reinforce our union.
I appeal to you to establish in each of your countries, the consequences
for women, of the policies driven by the IMF, the World Bank,
international institutions, the European Union, the FTAA, NAFTA, ASDEAD,
NEPAD.
I urge you to make March 8, 2004 a day of mobilization.
… Against war, for democracy, against the communitarian
confrontations, for peace, for the sovereignty of nations.
… To support the delegation which will be present at the ILO next
March 15 "for the rights of the workers of Iraq."
… For the rights of working women.
… For the ratification and respect of the ILO conventions, which
constitute on an international level and particularly in my own country,
support for national legislations of the rights and guarantees for women
and all workers.
… For the defense of workers' rights against globalization, the
multinationals, privatization, and deregulation.
The Commission of Women of the International Liaison Committee of
workers and peoples, addresses all those who have prepared and supported
the European Meeting that met in Paris on September 20 and 21 last, to
say "No to the European Constitution."
After the failure of the inter-governmental conference of December 13,
2003 we have all pursued in the appropriate manner, our campaign
"for the repeal of the Maastricht treaty and the European
directives, against regionalization and for the sovereignty of
nations."
The last bureau of the European liaison committee on January 24, 2004
discussed having another European encounter.
The Commission of Women of the ILC invites you to prepare for March 8th, 2004
In response to Rubina Jamil's appeal in our different European countries
We invite you take a survey on the consequences of 12 years of
Maastricht on the women of your respective countries.
For your assistance, the Commission suggests the following
questionnaire.
We will publish before March 8, 2004 in a bulletin, the contributions we
will have received.
All answers, even if partial, will help us to address together the
act of accusation of the European Union in all the countries of Europe
whether or not they are members of the European Union and to make it
known on March 8, 2004, in an appropriate form to each country.
Questionnaire:
… Directive 76-207-CEE "relative to the professional equality
between women and men."
What consequences in your country? Has your government transposed this
directive? Has it denounced the ILO conventions prohibiting night work
for women in the industry? Has it re-established night work for women in
the industry? Do you have figures, surveys, testimonies?
Are there other consequences of this directive on the particular rights
of women? (retirement plans, others)
… Directive 92-85-CEE concerning "the security and the health of
pregnant workers, delivering or breast feeding at work"
Has your government transposed this directive? Has there been a
modification of laws, reglamentary dispositions concerning the
protection of maternity (length of maternity leave, maternity
compensation, discrimination a l'embauche?, leave for pregnant women,
medical supervision of pregnancy and infants)
… Directive 94-33-CEE "relative to the protection of youth at
work."
Has this directive been transposed? Is there a modification of laws
prohibiting child labor? If yes, what are the consequences for the
children, their scholarization, their right to instruction and diplomas?
… Privatization of public services. What consequences for the women?
Childcare, daycare centers, etc.
… "Reforms" of social protection, of health systems?
What consequences on women's health and that of their children?
… Is there a modification, where the right of contraception exists, a
la IVG?
… Deregulation, remise en cause des statuts, conventions
collectives???
What are the consequences for women? Part time work imposed, development
of the precarité? Cite possible figures.
**********
INTERNATION LIAISON COMMITTEE OF WORKERS AND PEOPLES
COMMISION OF WOMEN WORKERS
Appeal to women workers of the world over:
On the occasion of International Women's Day, March 8th, 2004
Let us organize delegations to the Cameroon embassies in every country
to demand:
Unconditional, immediate liberation of our sister and comrade,
Mengue Thérèse Béatrice, trade unionist of the CAMRAIL railways
Arbitrarily thrown in jail over 8 months ago!
Dear Comrades,
Our sister and comrade, Mengue Thérèse Béatrice, a trade union
activist of CGT-Liberté is employed by Cameroon railways, (CAMRAIL).
She has been arrested again arbitrarily on July 2003 and sent to
Kondengui jail because of her trade unionist activities in Cameroon, a
Republic situated between Nigeria and Gabon, on the Atlantic coast of
Africa.
Mengue Thérèse Béatrice is the mother of six children, the youngest
only two and a half years old and the oldest 18.
For months she endured unbearable pressures that endangered her sanity
and her health. She has been seriously ill for the past month and a half
and the current state of her health is of great concern.
What is Mengue Thérèse Béatrice accused of? Quite simply defending
through union activism, the rights of workers at CAMRAIL.
To counter her activities, a frameup scheme as fomented against her
several months before, leading to her lay off along with 7 other of her
comrades, on March 19, 2003 and her first arrest and incarceration at
the police station of CAMRAIL, at Yaoundé. She had been falsely accused
of embezzlement by CAMRAIL and was not released until April 23, 2003,
the day on which her husband, Benoît Essiga, president of the
CGT-Liberté, having come to visit her, was detained in her place.
After her arrest and despite the fact that the judicial instruction of
the District Attorney did not find any charge against her, she was
nevertheless arbitrarily kept in preventive detention.
We do not accept this.
We insist on the immediate and unconditional liberation of Mengue Thérèse
Béatrice.
The ICFTU (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions) which had
already denounced this repressive wave against unionists of CAMRAIL,
through a letter from their secretary general Guy Ryder, has again
protested this new arbitrary arrest of Mengue Thérèse Béatrice and
has insisted on her liberation in a letter addressed to the President of
the Republic of Cameroon:
Telegrams and statements of support should be addressed to:
Mr. Paul Riya
President of the Republic of Cameroon Presidential Palace Yaoundé
(Cameroon) Fax: (237) 222 08 70
The Minister of State in charge of Justice, Garde des Sceaux Fax: (237)
223 00 05
Mr. Nkili Robert Minister of Employment, Work and Social Security Fax:
(237) 223 09 40
----------
Copy of Letter from Gus Ryder (ICFTU)
TUR/FW
September 8, 2003
Mr. President:
Re: False accusations against Mr. Benoit Essiga and Mrs. Thérese Béatrice
Mengue
We have just learned that the authorities of Ngounou have recently
rejected the false accusations against 13 of 14 employees of CAMRAIL. We
believe the management at CAMRAIL acted with the collusion of certain
government authorities, no doubt with the objective of destabilizing the
central union CGT-Liberté.
We address this pressing appeal for you to intervene with the competent
authorities to ensure that the false accusations against Mr. Benoit
Essiga and his wife, Mrs. Thérese Béatrice Mengue be equally voided.
We also request your intervention so that all the victims of harassment
on the part of CAMRAIL are reinstated to their jobs at this company.
The affiliates of the ICFTU are closely following the evolution of the
dossiers of these victims and decry the anti-union attitude of the new
management at CAMRAIL. The very image of the Republic of Cameroon is at
risk in the absence of a quick and satisfactory resolution in favor of
the victims. We remind you that the incarceration and the physical and
more harassment of unionists because of their union activities,
constitutes a flagrant violation of international legislation in the
matter of union rights and notably a grave lack of respect for ILO
Conventions 87 and 98. which Cameroon has ratified respectively in 1960
and 1962.
Awaiting your positive and rapid reaction, please receive, Mr.
President, our most respectful sentiments.
Secretary General ICFTU
----------
Despite this letter of the ICFTU, the Cameroon authorities, which are
anxious to destroy the CGT-Liberté because of its independence, have
been deaf up to the present to the multiple actions undertaken by the
workers and democratic movements on a world scale. This makes it all the
more necessary to increase the campaign, by taking positions,
delegations to embassies and consulates of Cameroon, notably through the
initiative of the ILC and the International Committee against
repression. (Cicr).
We do not accept the injustice perpetrated on this union militant,
living symbol of the fight of women workers of Africa for their dignity,
against the injustice and the situation of misery, famine and ruin
imposed on workers and the people of Africa by the policies dictated by
powerful forces and international institutions like the FMI and the
World Bank.
That is why in the framework of the commemoration of the international
day of women workers on March 8, 2004, the day of mobilization against
war, for peace, for democracy, the rights of women workers, day of
international solidarity, we appeal to women workers, all the
organizations of workers and democratic movements throughout the world,
to multiply the delegations to the embassies of Cameroon in the
countries where they exist and to take positions with the Cameroon
authorities to demand:
The unconditional and immediate liberation of Mengue Thérese Béatrice,
unionist at CAMRAIL.!
Send your statements to the Cameroon Embassy in France to:
13 rue d'Auteuil - 15016 Paris - Fax: 01 46 51 24 52
The undersigned demand the Cameroon authorities:
The unconditional and immediate liberation of the comrade Mengue Thérese
Béatrice, employee and unionist at CAMRAIL, arbitrarily arrested for
her union activities and incarcerated at the Kondengui prison since July
10, 2003.
The arrest and permanent persecution against the union militants of the
CGT-Liberté at CAMRAIL.
***********
ROMANIA
The campaign for the liberation of the Romanian union miner, Miron Cozma,
imprisoned since 1999 for his activities as an exemplary union leader
We publish the endorsements that have arrived thus far.
In France:
Informed of the situation of M. Cozma, the federal congress of the
CGT-Force ouvriere,
which met the previous week at Villepinte, in its general resolution
approved by the delegates "offers their total support for union
leaders who currently are suffering the pains of imprisonment for having
insisted on simple respect for accords signed by governments of
countries which are on the eve of entering Europe."
On their part the congress of the UFICT-CGT mines and energy, meeting in
Tours, received a delegation of Romanian militants who came to plead the
cause of M. Cozma. A motion was voted in favor of his liberation and
that of other condemned unionists.
The same position taken by the national union of CGT-FO of the press, of
the edition and the publicity; National union CGT of geology-geophysics;
Union FO Telecom USCM Toulouse; Union CGT-FO EDF Energie Sud-Ouest;
Union FO-AP-HP Toulouse;Unions of employees and functionaries; CGT-FO
Toulouse; FO Service de Santé-Gpt department 94; Union FO institute
Gustave Roussy Villejuif; Union FO CHI Crétiel.
In Mexico:
Jorge Jimenez, member of the executive committee of section 50 of
the national union of the health ministry; Fernando Serrano Monroy,
secretary general of the union of academic personnel at the university
of sciences and arts of Chiapas (SPAUNICACH); Rusel Aguilar Brindis,
member of section 7 of the national union of education workers (SNTE)
and director of secondary technical school; Carlos Hernández Chávez,
member of the coalition of INEGI workers; José Mendez, professor at the
College of Bachilleres; Lauro Martínez Trejo, member of section 7 of
the SNTE; David Cupertino Cameras, representative of his region in
congress of section 7 of the SNTE; Edil Vázquez Ovando, secretary of
the unique union of administrative workers of the University of Science
and Arts in Chiapas; Gustavo Grajales Lopez, president of the retirement
fund of section 40 of the SNTE; Adriana Mercedes Carranza, member of
SPAUNICACH; Gustavo Santanaz, member of section 7 of the SNTE; Julio
Castañeda, secretary of worker relations of the unique electricity
workers of the Mexican Republic (SUTERM, Chiapas); Jorge Luis Galámez
Estrada, secretary of the propaganda organization of the union of
workers at Cecytech; Arturo Díaz Alegría, worker at the Federal
Electricity Commission (SUTERM); Emir Camacho Montesino, member of
section 40 of the SNTE; Pascual Yuing Sánchez, member of section 7 of
the SNTE.
The Committee of union freedoms of the International Labor
Organization (ILO) will meet in the framework of the Administration
Council of the ILO on March 11 and 12, 2004.
Letter sent by the International Committee on behalf of the
liberation of Miron Cozma and his comrades:
To the Committee of union freedoms of the ILO:
February 11, 2004
Madam, Sir,
It is in the name of the International Committee for the liberation of
Miron Cozma and his comrades that I direct this letter to the Commission
of union freedoms of the ILO in order to complain about the violation of
Miron Cozma's rights, a Romanian union miner. Mr. Cozma was arrested,
judged and condemned to 78 years in prison. At the present time he is
serving an 18 year term in prison.
The attached dossier provides the findings of an international
commission, which met in Romania and established that Miron Cozma was
judged and condemned for his unionist activities. The two conventions 87
and 98 of the ILO particularly concern and recognize the right to
organization and free negotiation, which have been violated in the case
of Miron Cozma, even though they have been ratified by Romania.
It is the reason why in the name of the International Committee, that I
permit myself to address your Commission in this matter.
Please receive our distinguished salutations.
For the International Committee
Emmanuel Chalard
I support the International Committee for the liberation of Miron Cozma
and his comrades
In my name..In the name of my organization
Name
Address.
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