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ILC INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER NO. 88
A dossier of weekly information published by the International
Liaison Committee of Workers and Peoples
July 20, 2004
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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:
* On August 15, 2004 a referendum will be held in Venezuela, imposed
by FEDECAMARA (Venezuelan employers organization) supported by
the United States and the oil multinationals, in order to unseat the
legitimate government of Hugo Chavez. All over the Americas, from north
to south, workers and militants reject this attempt at unseating the
Venezuelan government and support the political battle for 'NO' to the
referendum.
This week we publish on Pages 2 and 3:
- The unified appeal for "The defense of the Venezuelan peoples'
sovereignty, against United States interference, for the victory of the
'NO' to the referendum" submitted by a delegation of the
International Liaison Committee of Workers and Peoples (ILC) that went
to Caracas on June 21-25 and met with political, trade union and the
Venezuelan popular movement leaders, as well as advisers to President
Chavez.
- An open letter addressed to President Lula of Brazil that indicates:
"Your responsibility is to tell the Bush government: don't meddle
with Venezuela!"
* The 25th Convention of the California federation of the AFL-CIO, that
represents over two million members, was held on July 13 and 14 last.
During this convention the California federation made two extremely
important decisions: a motion inviting the AFL-CIO "to demand the
immediate end to the occupation of Iraq" followed by an amendment
in favour of affiliation to US Labor Against the War (USLAW), that were
accepted by an overwhelming majority. You will find a report on the
proceedings on page 4.
*Also in this issue:
- The call by the General Confederation of Workers in Peru (CGTP) to a
national strike on July 14: "Everybody join the national strike!
Enough misery! Out with Toledo and the IMF!"
- An appeal sent to us by the All Pakistan Trade Union Federation
(Pakistan) to support the workers of COLORKING PRINTING PRESS who fight
for the creation of their own trade union (page 6).
Support and spread the word about the ILC struggle
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TABLE OF CONTENTS.
p. 1: Presentation
pp. 2, 3, and 4: The unified appeal of the ILC "For the defense of
the sovereignty of the Venezuelan peoples against the United States
interference, for the victory of 'NO' to the referendum."
Open letter to President Lula of Brazil (Venezuela)
p. 5: The 25th Convention of the Federation of California of the AFL-CIO
demands "the end to the occupation of Iraq" (United States)
p. 6: Peru: National strike of July 14 called by the CGTP.
p. 7: An appeal by the All Pakistan Trade Union Federation (Pakistan)
p. 8: Labor fraternity (Turkey)
*Subscriptions
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VENEZUELA
- For the Defense of Venezuela's Sovereignty and an End U.S.
Intervention in Venezuela!
- For the Victory of the "NO" in the Recall Referendum of
August 15!
The united-front Appeal below was presented by a delegation from the
International Liaison Committee of Workers and Peoples (ILC) to
Venezuelan political and trade union leaders, as well as to advisers to
the government of Hugo Chávez, in Caracas this past June 21-25.
The Appeal also was presented at a plenary session of the newly formed
National Workers Union (UNT) on June 24. At that meeting the ILC
delegation took note of the identical goals we share with the UNT trade
unionists around the slogans of "U.S. Hands Off Venezuela!"
and defense of Venezuela's sovereignty against all forms of interference
by the U.S. government in the internal affairs of our sister nation.
The recall referendum aimed at revoking the mandate of duly elected
President Hugo Chávez has been set for August 15th. We in the ILC join
our sisters and brothers in Venezuela in calling for a victory of the
"NO" vote on August 15th. If we were Venezuelans, we would
vote "NO!" No to U.S. intervention! Sovereignty for the
Venezuelan people and nation! The oil and the land belong to the
Venezuelan people!
The continuous provocations and threats by the Bush administration
against the inalienable right of the Venezuelan people to decide their
own destiny are aimed at overthrowing a government that was elected
freely and legitimately by the Venezuelan people.
Why is the U.S. government hell-bent on this course?
The reason is that the Chávez government prevented the privatization of
Venezuela's oil and returned PDVSA (Venezuela's national oil
corporation) to the Venezuelan people, thereby defying the interests of
the large multinational corporations (mainly oil conglomerates) that for
decades have pillaged the natural resources that belong to the people.
The reason is that the Chávez government distributed land to the
landless peasants, thereby defying the interests of the large landlords
who own the bulk of Venezuela's lands.
The reasons that provoke the wrath of the U.S. government, the
multinational corporations, and the privileged elites of Venezuela
against the Chávez government are, in fact, the very reasons that must
lead us to intensify our campaign across the continent in solidarity
with the ongoing struggles of the Venezuelan people.
We call upon all our sisters and brothers across the Americas to endorse
and promote widely the united-front Appeal below in Defense of the
Venezuelan People and their Sovereignty. It is crucial that we step up
this solidarity effort because on August 15th it is not only the fate of
the Venezuelan people that is at stake. On that date, the fate of all
workers and peoples across the Western Hemisphere is on the line.
In Solidarity,
Julio Turra,
Member of the ILC Delegation to Venezuela and
Member of the National Executive Committee of the CUT Trade Union
Federation (Brazil)
**********
INTERNATIONAL APPEAL:
STOP U.S. INTERVENTION IN VENEZUELA!
We -- trade unionists and activists across the Americas who are
committed to the ongoing struggle for the sovereignty of the peoples,
for democracy and for social progress -- issue this solemn appeal.
At a time when the most serious threats, hateful provocations and
attempts of subversion are carried out daily against our sister nation
of Venezuela, against its sovereignty and against the Venezuelan people,
we call for:
- Unconditional support for the Venezuelan people, its workers and its
youth!
- Unconditional support for a free and sovereign Venezuela!
- The Venezuelan people, and only the Venezuelan people, have the right
to determine their government!
- Venezuela's oil belongs to the Venezuelan people, not to anyone else!
Nations are not for sale! Oil must be defended!
Since Hugo Chavez was elected in 1998 as the legitimate president of
Venezuela, the people and nation of Venezuela have been hounded by
provocations, threats and attempts at coup d'etat -- all aimed at
overthrowing the government which the Venezuelan people elected freely.
The main objective of those behind these acts of subversion is to take
over the immense oil riches that belong to the Venezuelan people and
nation.
2001-2002: Four so-called "general strikes" were set in motion
and financed by Venezuela's powerful employers' association, the
Fedecamara.
April 11-14, 2002: First attempt at a coup d'etat. The New York Times,
one of the leading newspapers in the United States, revealed that the
U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela, who had arrived only a few days before the
coup d'etat, was the first and one of the few diplomats to visit the
"government" of Carmona Estanga, who was installed in power by
the perpetrators of the coup. During his visit, the U.S. Ambassador was
accompanied by two high-ranking U.S. military officers. This followed on
the heels of a barely camouflaged intervention over many months by U.S.
agents in Venezuela oriented toward preparing the coup d'etat. The New
York Times also mentioned the close and open relations between the
so-called "opposition" and the U.S. State Department,
especially Secretary Otto Reich.
December 2002-February 2003: Another so-called "general
strike" -- again instigated by Fedecamara, the employers'
association, sent the country into chaos, with multiple violent
confrontations that resulted in the deaths of dozens of people. These
violent demonstrations were staged by the "opposition" forces
-- that is, by the large landlords and big business owners, by the
powerful, all of whom came down from the wealthy neighborhoods of
Caracas to express their rejection of the Chávez government.
Why this commitment by the champions of the old order to remove the Chávez
government? It is because the people of Venezuela, the downtrodden and
dispossessed, have decided to take their destiny into their own hands.
The millions of Venezuelans who work for meager wages or who are part of
the large army of unemployed in the crowded shantytowns have made it
known they wish to live freely and to have a job at a living wage so
that their families can live decently. They want to rise out of their
squalor and to get their country out from under its submission to the
IMF debt and Washington's orders.
Venezuela has been targeted by the U.S. government because of its
tremendous oil wealth. It is the third largest supplier of oil to the
United States and one of the principal members of OPEC alongside another
major oil-producing country, Iraq, which has been ransacked and
devastated by a heinous war and occupation unleashed by Bush and the
U.S. government.
The fate of our sister nation of Venezuela, of our sisters and brothers
in Venezuela, is bound up with the fate of our entire continent, from
north to south, from Alaska to Patagonia!
Through the open veins of our American continent, submitted to plunder
over decades by imperialism, flows the blood of workers and youth of the
whole continent, of the landless peasants in Brazil, of the miners in
Bolivia, of the enslaved workers in maquiladoras in every country.
Either by force, by coup d'etats or by devastating dictates from the IMF,
the World Bank and the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), the U.S.
government wants to impose its protectorate as the only alternative for
the workers and for all the peoples.
We the undersigned say: Enough is Enough!
- Stop the U.S. intervention in Venezuela!
- Stop all attempts at a coup d'etat, stop all attempts at subverting
the will of the people!
- Only the peoples have the right to choose their destiny!
We call upon all workers, youth, and supporters of democratic rights and
self-determination, from north to south, to endorse this appeal and to
take whatever initiatives are deemed necessary to make these common
demands prevail.
- Unconditional support for the people, the workers and the youth of
Venezuela!
- Unconditional support for a free and sovereign Venezuela! The
Venezuelan people, and only the Venezuelan people, have the right to
determine their government!
- Venezuela's oil belongs to the Venezuelan people, not to anyone else!
- Chiclayo, Lambayeque (Peru), June 12, 2004
June 12, 2004, Lambayeque, Peru
The first signatories:
PERU : Segundo Castillo Linares, Association of Unemployed Workers,
Chiclayo ; Juan Marin Leyva, teachers trade union (SUTEP), Chiclayo ;
Luis Guevara Santa Cruz, sugar cane workers trade union Cayalti,
Chiclayo ; Elias Avellan Obregon, General Secretary, milk trade union
UPA, Lima ; Emilio Barreto Vizcarra, university professor, Arequipa ;
Erwin Salazar Vasquez, President, CGTP Lambayeque, Chiclayo ; Guillermo
Bolaños, sculptor, Lima ; Juan Quiñones Miranda, Federation of Popular
ASsociations, Chiclayo ; Luis Arturo R. Tapia, CGTP Lambayeque, Chiclayo
; Genaro Rodriguez, university professor, ADUNI, Lima ; Hector Delfin
Tapia Alvarado, peasant community, San Jose, Chiclayo ; Paul Martinez
Mundaca, President, ACHONPE, Chiclayo ; Walter Becerra Hernandez,
SUT-MDL V, Chiclayo ; Daniel Vasquez Alcantara, Federation of Popular
Associations of Lambayeque, Chiclayo.
ECUADOR : Guillermo Santana, OSRT, Quito ; Jaime Novillo Romero,
committe of veterans and retired workers electricity EMELEC, Guayaquil ;
Agustin Ramon Aviles, Treasurer, committee of veterans and retired
workers electricity EMELEC, Guayaquil; Justo Lima Mendoza, committee of
veterans and retired workers electricty EMELEC, Guayaquil ; Yolanda Añazco,
permanent committee for the defense of womens rights ; Kruskaya Sánchez,
international commission of women workers, AIT-Ecuador ; Etza Jara,
Association of contemporary writers ; German Huayamave, committee of
veterans and retired workers of the E.E.E. ; Kleber Arevalo Miñan,
President de ENLACE ; Jose Limaico, President of the artistic and
industrial society of Pichincha ; Ernesto Marchan, Secretary general of
the electricity company workers EMELEC ; Emilio Bowen, committee of the
electricity company EMELEC.
BRAZIL: Julio Turra, CUT Nacional; Jorge Luis Martins, CUT
Nacional; Lujan de Miranda, CUT Nacional; Francisvaldo Mendes, CUT
Nacional; Vereadora Mazé Favarão, PT, Municipal Chamber of Osasco, São
Paulo; Gilberto Maringoni - journalist; Altamiro Borges - journalist;
Walter Matos, CUT Amazonas; Gardênia Baima, CUT Ceará; João Bosco,
CUT DF; Roberto Cupolillo, CUT Mina Gerais; Carlos Recacho, CUT Paraná;
Maurício Rosa, CUT Santa Catarina; Luiz Gomes; CUT Alagoas; Josenildo
Vieira, CUT Pernambuco; João Batista Gomes, CUT São Paulo ; Roberto
Machini- Director of the bankers trade union of Bauru e Região. ; Roque
Ferreira - Director of the CNTT- CUT and trade union of railroad workers
of Bauru, MS e MT.; Caio Dezórzi (UEE-SP); João Paulo e Vinícius
Martins (DCE-Unesp/Fatec); Fábio Sorriso (DCE UFSCar); Alex Minoru (DAMB-IA-Unesp);
Leslie Loreto e Daniella Gorayebs (GFAU-USP); Alexandre Linares
(CA-Social Sciences- Santo André Foundaton); Luiz Bicalho (DF) -
Director of SINDSEP - Brasília; Roberto Luque- (CE) - Director of
SINTSEF Ceará; Edith Cândida (SP) - Director of CONDSEF; Jacqueline
Albuquerque (PE)- Director of FENAJUFE ; Áureo dos Santos (SP) -
Director of SINSPREV ; Edison Cardoni - Director of SINDSEP Brasília
(Central Bankl)
UNITED STATES: Dan Kaplan, Executive Secretary, AFT Local 1493
(I.D. only), Berkeley, CA; John O'Connor, Secretary-Treasurer, American
Federation of Musicians Local 1000, New York, NY; David Walters, Member,
IBEW 1245 (I.D. only), Pacifica, CA; Alan Benjamin, Co-coordinator, OWC,
San Francisco Labor Council, San Francisco, CA; Ed Rosario,
Co-coordinator, OWC, San Francisco Labor Council, San Francisco, CA;
Millie Phillips, Editorial Board, The Organizer, San Francisco, CA; Marc
Rich, House of Representatives, UTLA; Delegate, LA County Federation of
Labor, Los Angeles, CA ; Tim Stinson, Labor Party, San Francisco, CA ;
B. Ross Ashley, SEIU Local 1, Toronto, Ontario, Canada ; Krista Husar,
Dialogue Review, San Francisco, CA ; Chris Kaihatsu, Community
organizer, Chicago, IL.
I join and support this appeal>
Name: ....................
Address:
..................................................................................................
E-Mail: ............................
Status: .........................
Manner in which my signature is presented: I accept my signature be
published:
Yes ..... No .....
I financially support this initiative: 5 _ r, 10 _ r , 20 _ r ,others
.................
Check to the order of "CMO", mention " Venezuela
Campaign" - Send to: l'Entente internationale des travailleurs et
des peuples, 87, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Denis, 75010 Paris (France).\
**********
Information on the U.S. Trade Union Movement
Largest State Federation of Labor in U.S. Calls for
"Immediate" End to U.S. Occupation of Iraq
San Diego, CA: On Tuesday, July 13th at its 25th biennial
convention, the California Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, representing
more than two million members, voted overwhelmingly to call upon the
AFL-CIO to "demand an immediate end to the US occupation of Iraq,
and to support the repeal of the Patriot Act and the reordering of
national priorities toward the human needs of our people." The
California federation is the largest in the AFL-CIO, with more than
one-sixth of its members.
The action was inspired by a strong antiwar resolution submitted by the
San Francisco Labor Council, but as reported by the resolutions
committee to the convention, it called only for an "expedient"
end to the occupation. When debate opened, State Labor Federation Vice
President Nancy Wohlforth (who is also national Secretary-Treasurer of
the Office & Professional Employees International Union and national
leader of Pride at Work), proposed to restore the original demand for
"immediate" end to the occupation. Her motion was seconded by
Walter Johnson, Secretary-Treasurer of the San Francisco Labor Council.
On a voice vote by the more than 400 delegates, an overwhelming majority
voted in favor of the stronger demand. The strength of that vote appears
to reflect the depth of anger which union members have toward the Bush
administration's "pre-emptive" war and occupation in Iraq
where more than 850 U.S. troops have been killed and more than 5000 have
been wounded since the invasion last year.
A second amendment was then introduced by John Dalrymple, Executive
Director of the Contra Costa County Central Labor Council, and Alan
Benjamin, delegate from OPEIU Local 3 in San Francisco, to affirm the
California Labor Federation's intent to "explore affiliation with
and help actively support and promote U.S. Labor Against the War (USLAW)...."
USLAW is a national network of labor organizations opposed to U.S.
policy in Iraq that has more than 80 affiliated national and local
unions, regional labor bodies, labor antiwar committees, and allied
labor organizations. This amendment was also adopted by an overwhelming
majority, and was followed by an even larger majority vote for adoption
of the resolution as amended.
The California federation also adopted without modification a resolution
demanding transparency and accountability by the AFL-CIO in its
international programs. It urged the AFL-CIO and its Solidarity Center
to "exercise extreme caution in seeking or accepting funding from
the U.S. government, its agencies and any other institutions which it
funds," such as the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), for its
work in Iraq or elsewhere. It warned that doing so could "give the
appearance, if not the effect, of making the AFL-CIO appear to be an
agent of the U.S. government and its foreign policies," which, it
warned, "may taint the good reputation of the Federation in the
eyes of the labor movements in other countries and draw into question
the motivation and true independence of the Federation in its
international affairs."
The convention called upon the AFL-CIO "to fully account for what
was done" in Chile, Venezuela and other countries where the AFL-CIO
funneled NED funds to opponents of the elected government. In the case
of Chile, that led to the military coup and overthrow of the
democratically elected government of Salvador Allende in the 1973, which
brought to power the Pinochet dictatorship, and in the case of
Venezuela, to the attempted but unsuccessful overthrow of the government
of Hugo Chavez in 2002. It called upon the federation to give a country
by country accounting of its activities and to "renounce any ...
tie that could compromise our authentic credibility and the trust of
workers here and abroad that would make us paid agents of government or
of the forces of corporate economic globalization."
The convention called upon the AFL-CIO to fund its international
programs and activities, whenever possible, with funds generated
directly from its affiliates and their members.
That resolution had been submitted by the central labor councils of San
Francisco, Monterey Bay, the South Bay and Plumbers and Fitters Local
393, in San Jose.
The two-day convention resumes and will conclude on Wednesday.
Issued by U.S. Labor Against the War
1718 M Street, NW, #153
Washington, DC 20036
**********
VENEZUELA
Venezuela is the world's fifth largest exporter of oil
Report by Manuel Sanchez for Venezuelanalysis.com
"Venezuela is the world's fifth largest exporter of oil and the
state oil company PDVSA provides 14% of the oil imported by the United
States.
The authorities reacted to a decision made by a United States government
agency decreed that the Venezuelan state-owned oil company "had
expropriated assets belonging to the Science Applications International
Corporation (SAIC)" a firm based in San Diego, CA.
On Monday, the OPIC (A U.S. overseas private investment company), an
agency of the U.S. government set up to study the political risks
incurred by U.S. investments in foreign countries, published a decision
accepting the validity of the "expropriation" allegations of
the assets of the SAIC against the PDVSA.
It allocated a financial compensation brought by the U.S. government.
The SAIC maintains narrow ties with the Pentagon, the CIA and the
National Security Agency (NSA), because many former defense and
information sectors are on its board of directors and its revenues,
estimated at three billion dollars a year, come from a majority of U.S.
government defense and information contracts.
In 1996, before Hugo Chavez became President of Venezuela, as the PDVSA
was being gradually privatised, the SAIC and the PDVSA formed an
association under the name of Negocios y Tecnologia S.A. (INTESA). The
two businesses signed a five-year contract, renewable on both sides by
mutual agreement.
The president of the Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA, Ali
Rodriguez Araque, declared on Monday that the Venezuelan oil company had
decided not to renew the contract with the U.S. company SAIC, after an
audit by the Gartner Group, that concluded the PDVSA did not benefit
from this association.
(The report describes how the U.S. agency OPIC acted to protect the
SAIC, and concludes:)
"We have good reason to believe that the decision of the OPIC
has been taken in accordance with Washington's policies and the will to
give satisfaction to a powerful U.S. company rather than according to
the truth of the matter."
The Venezuelan leaders expressed their concern as to the motives and the
consequences of the OPIC decisions: "We believe that this can
become very serious. To accuse Venezuela of expropriating U.S. assets is
a serious business. It can be the starting point of a new series of
attacks against Chavez," declared a representative of the
Venezuelan government.
**********
BRAZIL
Published a week ago in Brazil, the open letter to President Lula
urges him to show his support for the nation and peoples of Venezuela
threatened by U.S. imperialistic interference (see our previous issue).
This letter was presented to the general assembly of delegates of the
CUT of the state of Pernambuco (northeastern Brazil) that gathered 160
delegates. Some 123 of those present signed it. It has also been adopted
by acclamation by 103 militants of the PT gathered for the launching of
the candidacy of municipal councillor Miranda in Caieiras (in the state
of Sao Paulo). Several other candidates and the directors of the
municipality of this town have decided to organize a meeting on this
basis. Nine leaders of the CUT in Recife (Ceara) signed it too.
An open letter to the President of Brazil, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva
Mr. President,
The workers of Brazil will not abandon the brother peoples of Venezuela.
They will not let it become a new Iraq. Of what "crime" does
imperialism accuse Venezuela and its legitimate government?
The same as in Iraq, they speak of democracy and liberty, but the truth
is quite different.
The Chavez government distributed over a million hectares of land to
120,000 landless families that constitutes-in a country with 24 million
inhabitants-the equivalent of the distribution of land to over one
million families in Brazil.
The Chavez government refused to break the national monopoly of oil.
These are two unforgivable crimes in the eyes of the owners of
latifundiums (large estates), the oil multinationals and the government
of the United States because they want to control the oil reserves of
this country, the world's fifth exporter of oil.
As far as imperialism is concerned, a government that says the oil
belongs to the nation and must continue to own it, a government that
distributes land to the peasants, is a government that must be ousted.
But for the workers in the towns and on the farms, for the youth, a
government that says: the oil belongs to the nation and distributes land
to the peasants, is a government that must be defended when it is
menaced by imperialism.
President Lula,
You were elected by the peoples' mandate. You have also been elected to
guarantee that Brazilian oil stays in the hands of the Brazilian nation
and so the land can be distributed to the landless millions.
Your responsibility is to loud and clearly say to the Bush government:
do not meddle with Venezuela!
Brazil and Venezuela are sister nations that must join together to
defend their sovereignty, their oil and their resources!
**********
PERU
The General Confederation of Workers of Peru (CGTP) calls for a national
strike on July 14
"Everyone join the national strike! Enough misery! Out with Toledo
and the IMF!"
An interview with Erwin Salazar Vasquez (member of the national
office of the CGTP, secretary of the regional trade union of Lambayeque)
The CGTP calls for a national strike on July 14. Can you tell us why
and in what situation does this strike occur?
The country is sinking into an unprecedented economic, social, political
and moral crisis. The government elected three years after the fall of
the Fujimori-Montessino dictatorship has been incapable of answering the
needs of the people because it refuses to break with the prescriptions
imposed by the IMF and the World Bank, that require the payment of the
foreign debt, more privatisations, acceleration of entry into the FTAA
and the widening of decentralization-regionalization that dismantles the
country.
In this strike, it is the Peruvian people and the Peruvian nation that
stand up like the brother people of Venezuela and say: "No to the
destruction of the nation! No to imperialistic interference! The peoples
are free and sovereign!"
The events at Llave (where a popular insurrection occurred against the
mayor accused of corruption.Ed.), the uprising of the peasant 'cocaleros'
and more recently the wave of protests by the students of Villareal, of
UNI, of Puno, of Trujilloare some of the facts that demonstrate that a
big social polarization is occurring. Where I live, in Lambayeque, over
100,000 signatures were collected to demand the mayor's resignation, who
was also accused of corruption.
At the same time the "state reform" that Toledo wants to
impose at the insistence of the IMF would mean the loss of 400,000 jobs,
whereas hundreds and thousands of Peruvians are already unemployed.
The workers say to themselves that the "national accord of
governability" that Toledo wanted to pass with all the components
of society have not helped to solve their problems.
How was this national strike prepared?
The CGPT launched the appeal over a month ago. Multiple pressures were
exercised so that the order for a national strike spread. All pretexts
were OK.
The final one was that we were present at the Americas Football Cup. At
the last national assembly the delegates from all the regions and all
the trade unions of the CGPT, I presented a motion saying, "nothing
can justify abandoning the strike. Not one step backwards!" This
stand carried it.
A strike command unit was set up in Lambayeque on July 3. The same
happened in different parts of the country. One week prior to the
strike, the Defense Front for Lambayeque (similar fronts existed in
different parts of the country. Ed. Note) convened a meeting in order to
set up a united command for the strike. We said: our strength is our
unity. We can't have two commands, only one. And we invited them to join
us in a united command. It was set up with the law school and various
other professional schools that did not belong to the CGPT or to the
Defense Front.
Later we formed "a national strike command" at the initiative
of the CGPT, with the leaders of other trade union federations and
representatives of national leaders.
What is the situation now, a few days before the strike?
The nation's majority say, "Down with the government of
Toledo!" This demand will make itself heard by the force of a
national strike on July 14.
A recent public opinion poll published in La Republica on July 3,
2004 confirms it when answering the question: "Why are you joining
the national strike?" 84.9% of those questioned replied: "For
the resignation of Alejandro Toledo," 5.1% "For a change in
the economic policy," and 2.1% "for a change in
government."
The order of the day is from north to south: all to the national strike!
Enough misery! Down with Toledo and the IMF! A free and sovereign Peru!
In these circumstances the CGPT has an enormous responsibility with the
people and the Peruvian nation. It is incumbent upon it to convene all
the "united strike committees" that have been formed in all
departments of the country and the "Defense Fronts" for a
national meeting with the "national strike committee" (formed
at the initiative of the CGPT, with the leaders of other trade union
federations. Ed. Note) in a "national emergency assembly" to
save the nation and the people of Peru in breaking with the dictates of
North American imperialism. This is the proposal that, we, the regional
union of Lambayeque, make to the national office of our trade union, to
all the regional trade unions and to the strike command units already
constituted.
**********
PAKISTAN
After the liberation of their delegates, the workers at COLORKING
PRINTING PRESS need your support:
Dear Friends,
Revolutionary Greetings from All Pakistan Trade Union Federation.
I would like to briefly introduce that All Pakistan Trade Union
Federation is a National Trade Union Center in Pakistan, having
affiliation of 240 trade unions of public and private sector industries
and commercial institutions. The informal sector unions, brick kilns
workers and general laborers are also part of federation. APTUF
struggles to eliminate child/bonded labor, all kinds of discrimination
against workers (women& men) and striving hard to uplift the working
and living condition of ignored segments of society.
State of Labor laws in Country:
Workers of Pakistan are facing worst working conditions including
long working hours, low wages and no freedom of association. As labor
laws existing in country ensure rights to workers including freedom of
unionization and collective bargaining, but this is only in books.
Practically, there is no or very few implementation of labor laws,
without any freedom of association. Unfortunately approach and attitude
of government authorities and employers towards workers is very
unsupported, not allowing workers to practice their very legal right of
trade union and collective Bargaining. A recently occurred incident with
workers of COLORKING Printing Press, who want to form their
union, clearly shows the brutal picture of what is happening in the
country.
A Brief Scenario of Workers' Struggle/Challenges in COLORKING
printing Press
COLORKING Printing Press is located at Baidian Road, Near Manawala,
District Lahore of Pakistan. On 10th April 2004, with the assistance of
All Pakistan Trade Union Federation, workers of above-mentioned Printing
Press formed a union, titled as COLORKING Printing Press Workers
Union. As workers were practicing their legal right of association
provided to them by the law, but faced worst retaliation form the
employer. From 10th April 2004 to Date, workers of COLORKING printing
press are facing miserable condition and are becoming victim of employerís
criminal tactics with no support from concerned Government departments.ÝÝ
History of Proceedings from 10th April 2004 to Date:
- On 10th April 2004 Workers of COLORKING Printing Press form their
legal union titled as COLORKING Printing Press Workers Union.
- On 11th April 2004, application for registration of the union,
been submitted to the Registrar of trade union, Lahore District.
- Application submitted to National Industrial Relation Commission (NIRC)
regarding termination of the workers from service and honorable court
granted Stay Order on 21st April 2004 to not to terminate any worker.
- Employer received a copy of Stay Order and refused to obey Court
order, clearly shows his ease to violate laws prevailing in country.Ý
- After refusing court order, employer with no hesitation terminate 25
workers of the union including office bearers and lock out the gate for
office bearers and members of union.
- June 01 2004, All Pakistan Trade Union Federation with other
federations representatives, hold protest demonstration in front of
labor department-Lahore, against the termination of 25 workers. On
request of District Labor Officer to have dialogue with Labor Department
to discuss in detail about this issue, it was decided that Assistant
Director Labor will visit the employer.
- Labor Department representative visited factory for inquiry, but
employer not allowed them to enter factory premises, as well as he
refused that union members are its employees, although all the workers
have attendance record.
- On June 9, 2004, with the collaboration of police, employer registered
fake F.I.R (First Investigation Report) against the union office bearers
and on 13th June 2004, the police without any investigation have
arrested 2 office bearers.
- On June 16, 2004, with efforts of All Pakistan Trade Union Federation,
police has released both captured office bearers.
- Instead of all criminal tactics, workers of the factory and the main
leadership of APTUF especially its General Secretary Gulzar Ahmed
Chaudhary, are facing terrible threats and attacks by employers and its
supported Religious Fundamentalist Groups. But workers are faithful to
their cause and have shown great strength and moral to get their target.
During and after above-mentioned situation, union is continuously
approaching concerned authorities but no step has been taken to redress
the workers grievances and to stop employer to violate the law of
country, which has created a great unrest among workers.
Our Demands:
- Stop violation of ILO Convention 98 and 87.
- Immediately reinstate all the terminated workers of COLORKING Printing
Press.
- To register COLORKING Printing Press Workers Union under law.
- Stop Contract Labor System.
The above-mentioned proceedings are enough to understand and realize
workers situation in Pakistan, which clearly reflects approach of
Employers and Governmentís concerned departments (including police)
towards workers rights and formation of trade union. So in these
circumstances, to support the struggle of workers, we request all of our
partners, trade union federations, human rights groups to send solidarity
messages to APTUF and a sound Protest Letters to all
concerned Government Authorities (by email or Fax, addresses
given below) against inhuman attitude of COLORKING Printing Press
management, in view of our demands.ÝÝ
In solidarity,
Gulzar Ahmed Chaudhary
General Secretary
All Pakistan Trade Union Federation
14 N, Industrial Area,
Gulberg II, Lahore, Pakistan.
Tel: 92-42-5755078/9
Fax: 92-42-6686519
Email: aptuf@brain.net.pk
**********
TURKEY
Labor fraternity
The militants of the ILC in Turkey publish on their Internet site
the Turkish translation of the ILC International Newsletter every week.
Every month they publish Labor Fraternity. This is how the
militants introduce themselves in their newspaper.
Our goal is to serve the united struggle of the working class against
the violent attacks of bosses and governments and to include the
oppressed and the poor in this fight. To unify this struggle all over
the world, we will participate in open labor conferences of the ILC and
organize international campaigns in Turkey. Every week we translate the
ILC International Newsletter (1) and publish it on our Internet site.
Every month, Isci Kardesligi will be in your hands containing articles
on Turkey as well.
We cannot fight against privatizations, deregulation of labor,
anti-trade unionism, the abolition of the right to strike, unemployment,
hunger and war without uniting and intensifying our struggle.
A party without bosses: "an independent labor party"
As workers we see that without the construction of a political
force, without representation in the political domain, as powerful as
our presence in society, we cannot win any rights nor defend the ones we
have and our trade unions. As the working class of Turkey, we have many
stages to clear. However, the most important among them is the
foundation of a labor party independent from the bosses and the States.
All labor organizations must get together on the simplest and most
elementary needs of workers, without taking into account the political
positions developed up to the present. Against us we face the united
stands of bosses, despite their years of internal struggles. In order to
be able to fight against the united front of bosses, a united workers
front is necessary. That is why an "independent" labor party
is necessary.
We only have trade unions to organize us
Our first task is to endeavor, despite all attacks, to have trade
unions with sincere and honest leaders. The trade unions that are today
the only labor organizations, were founded by workers of previous
generations with money they raised through their wages in long, hard
fights. This accumulation of experiences must be used for the interest
of workers of the following generations. It is an historic
responsibility towards the working class and towards the oppressed and
poor people. Those that don't assume this responsibility today should
think how the workers that they represent will consider them, after the
complete destruction of their organizations. Yes, all leaders of the
working class that see we are arriving at the end of the world (the
final judgment) must understand that the only path to emancipation from
governments and bosses lies in a labor government.
Together we must lead a policy of defense of the interests of all
workers, the poor, the unemployed and the oppressed.
Isci Kardesligi tries to help the struggle so that all workers, the
leaders of the working class and the trade union leaders working
together, without distinction between trade unions and federations, in
order to build an "independent labor party."
(1) ILC International Newsletter. Ed. Note.
**********
CORRECTION: last week we published an editorial from La Tribune
of the Workers of Morocco, under the title "Turkey" on page 8.
Please excuse this error.
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