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ILC INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER NO. 97
A dossier of weekly information published by the International Liaison
Committee of Workers and Peoples
September 21, 2004
To contact us:
ILC International Newsletter
International Liaison Committee of Workers and Peoples
87, rue du Faubourg Saint Denis 75010 Paris, France
**********
PRESENTATION:
We received a communiqué from the Farm Labor Organizing Committee
in the United States (FLOC/AFL-CIO) regarding the victory and the
signing of a collective-bargaining agreement, the outcome of a
determined seven-year fight. "This Thursday, September 16, 2004,
over 8,000 seasonal farm laborers in North Carolina (mostly Mexican
migrants) will be the first workers in the history of this region of the
United States to obtain the right to trade union representation and
collective bargaining."
From Algeria we publish an interview that appeared in La
Tribune, with Louisa Hanoune, secretary general of the Workers Party.
"The president of the republic must abrogate the Family Code,"
she stated.
From Great Britain, we publish an article on the Trade Union
Congress (TUC) that has just ended. The debate issues at this congress
concerned the war in Iraq and the projected European Constitution,
several months after the referendum organized by Blair.
In Germany, following the election results, the initiators of the
appeal "Schröder must go!" considered this matter as the most
pressing, in order to save the SPD.
From Italy, Alitalia Airline workers report on their struggle
against massive layoffs and disasterous rollbacks by the Berlusconi
regime and their agents.
From Pakistan, the APTUF calls for solidarity against a
multinational that wants to impose an anti-strike ruling.
Subscribe and support the fight of the ILC
**************
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Page 2: United States: Victory of the FLOC (AFL-CIO)-"The
agreement as signed will serve as reference for all agricultural
production." Message from Daniel Gluckstein to Baldemar Velásquez,
president of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC).
Page 3: United States: Debate regarding Dialogue magazine.
Page 4 & 5: Algeria: Interview with Louisa Hanaoune,
Secretary General of the Workers Party.
Page 6: Germany: Report from correspondents after the elections.
Italy: article on the Alitalia trade union.
Page 7: Great Britain: report on the Trade Union
Congress-"Should we let the ETUC decide for us?"
Page 8: Pakistan: "A multinational demands the banning of
the right to strike."
* * * * *
UNITED STATES
Dear Supporters of the Open World Conference,
We received great news yesterday from OWC Continuations Committee member
Baldemar Velasquez, president of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC).
On September 16th (Mexican Independence Day), FLOC announced the signing
of an agreement between FLOC, the North Carolina Grower's Association,
and Mt. Olive. (See press release below & details of benefits won
for workers.)
This victory comes after 5 years of boycott and several intense months
of organizing, discussions with workers and negotiations. These
agreements end the boycott of Mt. Olive Pickles!
At every step of the way, supporters of the OWC have helped out with
FLOC's efforts. To promote FLOC's national and international organizing
efforts, Brother Velasquez and other FLOC delegates attended the Open
World Conference in San Francisco in February 2000, as well the
International Conference AgainstDeregulation and For Labor Rights For
All in Berlin in February 2002.
We join FLOC and the farm workers in North Carolina in celebrating this
great
victory.
Thanks to everyone who supported this effort over so many years. Without
you, it would not have been possible. Together, we have helped the
workers make history in North Carolina. But this is just the beginning.
Now that a contract will be signed, the real work of implementing the
changes begins.
We will inform all supporters of the OWC of all ongoing developments in
this fight
for justice in North Carolina.
Your statements of support and congratulations should be sent to Beatriz
Maya at FLOC at bmaya1@floc.com.
Please send copies of your statements to us at ilcinfo@earthlink.net.
Sí Se Puede!
Ed Rosario and Alan Benjamin
On behalf of the Continuations Committee
of the Open World Conference
**********
Precedent-Setting Agreement Reached; Mt. Olive Pickle Boycott Over
After five years of a public action boycott by the Farm Labor
Organizing Committee, AFL-CIO (FLOC), it has reached a precedent setting
agreement with the North Carolina Grower's Association (NCGA) and the
Mount Olive Pickle Company.
This Thursday, September 16, 2004, over 8,000 "guest" farm
workers in North Carolina will become the first such workers in the
history of the United States to win union representation and a contract.
It will be the largest union contract in North Carolina's history.
A press conference and ceremonial signing will be held at 10:00am at the
Community United Church of Christ, 814 Dixie Trail, Raleigh, North
Carolina.
The international component of the contract will allow the union to
oversee the employment of over 8,000 Mexican workers with H2A visas -
issued by the U.S. Department of Labor - who come to work in North
Carolina. The standards set by this agreement are significant because of
the agricultural industry's almost exclusive use of undocumented
workers. The agreement will cover over 1000 North Carolina farms.
A side-bar agreement will extend the influence of this agreement as far
as Ohio, as a pact with the Mount Olive Pickle Company increases wages
to workers and prices to growers by over 10% over the next three years
in settling the more than five year old boycott. Most growers who
contract with Mount Olive are also members of the NCGA.
The NCGA has been accused of blacklisting workers for supporting the
union and for complaining about workers' rights and protections. The
FLOC-NCGA agreement will nullify the blacklist issue through a system of
seniority based on number of years worked, growers' requests, and union
membership. The contract's non-discrimination clause, a three-step
grievance procedure, and camp representatives in labor camps will
oversee implementation and protection of workers' rights. FLOC will have
union organizers present in Mexico to enforce this agreement and assure
the elimination of the blacklist.
The agreement is a new initiative that will bring together North
Carolina's entire agricultural industry, to work on different issues
that require investigation and long-term development. Standing
committees with the NCGA and other public entities will improve housing,
health care, and examine issues of fair trade in regards to competitive
growers and industries that compete with workers and growers under this
agreement.
The Union and the NCGA will approach the Mexican government together
concerning graft, bribery, and blackmail committed by recruiters and
Mexican police.
The agreement covers a broad range of crops throughout the entire state
from the late days of February to the harvest of the last Christmas
trees in November.
FLOC President Baldemar Velasquez stated, "This agreement will set
an important standard to the rest of the agricultural industry. Everyone
else utilizes undocumented workers almost exclusively, and the
conditions of those workers are tragic and shameful."
H-2A worker Jose Hernandez-Coronado said, "We will continue
struggling and give it all we got, because there is still work to do. We
will never forget those that started this, those that made it possible,
those workers and leaders who were in the front lines of the campaign
and the union. Right now we do it for ourselves and for our families in
Mexico, but we also sign this contract for the future generations who
will come in the coming years.
« Hasta la Victoria, somos hermanos en la lucha .»
Benefits of the FLOC contract with NCGA:
1. The Union will be the tool for negotiating wages, working and
living conditions for the lives of the members.
2. There will be a seniority system in which workers will become
eligible, based on a growers' request, number of years worked, and union
membership. No worker will be unfairly denied the opportunity to obtain
an H2A worker status.
3. No worker will be discriminated against based on gender, race, age,
national origin, color [ethnicity?], religion, or union
participation.
4. If a worker is transferred, s/he has the right to file a grievance if
s/he believes the transfer to be unjust or unacceptable.
5. Under the contract, workers can file complaints about any abuse or
injustice through a 3-step Grievance Procedure, which is intended to
resolve such problems in less than 21 days.
6. There will be a union-trained camp representative for every 20
workers, to resolve grievances immediately. The representative will
also:
a) Notify the workers when pesticides are being applied
b) Help resolve problems with other workers
c) Communicate with the Union about meetings, services, and problems.
7. The Dunlop Commission will be used as a neutral party to resolve
problems that cannot be resolved between the Union and the Association.
8. The Union must be informed 24 hours in advance of firing any worker
so that the union will have time to defend the worker.
9. The Union can request reports of the chemicals and pesticides used in
the fields. Growers must inform the workers in advance which pesticides
are used and how much time the workers should wait before entering the
fields.
10. If a worker is injured and requests medical attention, the grower
will pay him/her for the full day, even if s/he is unable to do so.
11. If a close family member dies, the worker will have the opportunity
to return home at his/her own cost and will receive three days paid
leave if s/he returns with proof of the funeral.
12. Committees will be developed to look at issues of improving housing,
health care, approaching industries about price increases and other
issues that emerge. The union and the Association will seek fundsto make
these possible.
13. The cucumber pickers whose farms sell to Mt. Olive Pickle
Company will receive a wage increase of 10% over the next 3 years, and
the Union is committed to approaching additional industries.
14. There will be a new process for returning home so that those who
complete their contract can receive their reimbursements once the sweet
potato harvest needs are filled.
15. The recruiters in Mexico will provide a detailed receipt of all fees
paid to all the contracted workers.
16. The Union and the Association have committed to talking with the
government of Mexico about bus robberies while workers travel, and about
bribery by recruiters and police. They have also committed to address
the US government about farmworker and guestworker legislation.
----------
A message from Daniel Gluckstein to Baldemar Velásquez, president of
the Farm Labor Organzing Committee (FLOC)
Dear Comrades,
We were informed of the great victory gained by your organization in
North Carolina. Allow me in the name of all the ILC organizations to
congratulate you on your success. This wouldn't have been possible
without the tenacious and determined fight, organized by your trade
union.
After many discussions with you I allow myself, on a personal note, to
congratulate you on your tenacity in this fight.
As you justly affirmed, and rightly so in your appeal, the agreement
signed will serve as a reference point for all agricultural production
in your country. Beyond the activists and the organizations that set
their actions on the field of class independence, this victory is an
encouragement for the fight for labor rights.
In the difficult situation that the working class finds itself on an
international scale, your victory is a leverage point in the fight
against deregulation, for collective rights of the working class, for
the right to organization.
In numerous countries, for hundreds and thousands of farm workers or as
yet unorganised sectors, this victory is true encouragement.
After the Open World Conferences in San Francisco and Berlin, the
conflict of the farm workers in North Carolina was presented to the
delegates throughout the world. Your struggle received their full
support. It is therefore, I repeat, in the name of all the ILC
organizations that I congratulate you on your victory.
Kindest regards,
Daniel Gluckstein, Coordinator
International Liaison Committee of Workers and Peoples (ILC)
**********
UNITED STATES: ILC launches the U.S. edition of Dialogue
magazine with a conference regarding its purpose and objective
By KRISTA HUSAR
On July 30, an estimated 50 activists attended the public San
Francisco Bay Area launching of Dialogue magazine. A new
"Political Review of Discussion Between Arabs and Jews of
Palestine," Dialogue is aimed at promoting the common
struggle for a one-state solution in the region - a Democratic and
Secular Palestine on all the historic territory of Palestine.
[Editor's Note: Dialogue is published quarterly in
English, Arabic, Hebrew and French. To date, six issues have been
published. They can be ordered from Socialist Organizer for $3.50 a
copy, or $15 per year.]
From the outset, the panelists and audience addressed the question:
"What is meant by dialogue, what kind of dialogue?"
Hatem Bazian, Professor of Near Eastern Studies at U.C. Berkeley,
explained that, initially, he had been extremely reticent to speak at an
event promoting a dialogue on Palestine. For over two decades, he said,
the proponents of all sorts of "solutions" aimed at forcing
the Palestinian people to accept the existence of the Zionist state, and
the ongoing oppression of the Palestinian people have urged Palestinian
activists to enter into a "productive dialogue" with their
Israeli counterparts.
"That kind of dialogue is and can only be a trap for the
Palestinian people," Bazian said.
Another panelist, Mayssoun Sukarieh, a Syrian-Palestinian rights
activist who worked in Palestinian refugee camps, asked:
"What would my friends in Shatila or other refugee camps in Syria
and Jordan think of me if they knew I were sitting on a panel about
dialogue in Palestine? Was this a dialogue on normalization, they might
ask, and if not, how could such a dialogue take place without becoming
normalization?"
Sukarieh then answered his own question:
"For me, the only kind of dialogue acceptable is the one provided
by this evening's forum. It is a dialogue among those who say,
'Palestine must exist!' The only way I will not be betraying my
friends back there is by working with people who believe in dialogue
based on a real solution; that is, a Palestine for all its citizens, a
Palestine that will be safe for Jews who will choose to stay as citizens
of a non-Jewish state, a unitary Palestine where all its citizens,
whatever their nationality or religion, will have full and equal
political and civil rights."
Daniel Gluckstein, international coordinator of the International
Liaison Committee, agreed:
"This magazine is about promoting a real discussion between Arabs
and Jews of Palestine based on fundamental democratic principles;
namely, the unconditional right of return of all Palestinian refugees
(not just those displaced since 1967), and the need to establish a
unitary and secular Palestine, where all elementary rights are accorded
to all - whether Palestinian Arabs or Jews."
Ben Eckstein, an Israeli antiwar activist and Refusenik, agreed that in
order to have real dialogue there must be a common understanding of
historical events, "How can I have a dialogue about Palestine with
someone who says, 'What occupation? What refugees? There are
refugees? They want to come to Israel? They cannot come back
here!"
Eckstein added:
"My generation is different from that of my parents. They chose
Zionism as a way of life. My generation was born into it, in Israel,
inheriting the responsibility for the Zionist crimes. The youth today
are questioning the validity of Zionist ideology.
"In my judgement, the greatest achievement of the Refusenik
movement, a movement that is still growing significantly since the
outbreak of the second Intifada, is to have been the greatest challenge
to the policies of the Israeli government from inside Israel. This
movement has exposed the fallacy of 'Israeli democracy,' as well as the
bias of the laws and the atrocities of its occupying army."
Eckstein concluded:
"Judaism is an ancient religion with rich and beautiful traditions
and a history of social and human struggle that I am proud of.
Zionism, however, in its 56 years of capitalist stampede in the state of
Israel, managed to attach itself to this tradition and mark it with its
dark ways; so much so that it is hard for Jews themselves to separate
their past and reclaim it, by saying that Zionism is not Judaism, and
that to reclaim it one must reject apartheid Israel."
In the course of the rich and often heated forum discussion, a number of
conclusions arose. We in the United States must address our own
government and demand that it cease all aid to Apartheid Israel. We must
demand an unconditional and immediate withdrawal from the territories,
and we must support the only true and just solution to the region - a
one-state, secular and democratic Palestine.
The evening concluded with an appeal from the evening chairperson urging
all supporters of Palestinian rights to promote and widely distribute Dialogue
Magazine - and to contribute generously to its translation fund to
ensure the regular publication of the review in English.
DIALOGUE MAGAZINE
A journal of discussions between Arab and Jewish activists in
Palestine, published in Arabic, Hebrew, English and French languages, Dialogue
presents several essays per issue that cover a broad range of critical,
related topics. The current issue is dedicated to discussions related to
the international conference to be held in October 2004.
Subscriptions to Dialogue:
c/o Pierre Lambert
87, rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, 75010 Paris, France
Price: 3 euros
Checks to the order of: "Les Amis de Dialogue."
*******************
ALGERIA: In an interview for La Tribune, Louisa Hanoune said,
"The president of the republic must abrogate the family code."
La Tribune, a national Algerian daily, interviewed Louisa
Hanoune, secretary general of the Workers Party in Algeria, with regard
to the reform of the family code. La Tribune indicated:
"Louisa Hanoune, prior to finding a political niche that
corresponds to her political aspirations and allows her to fight for the
principles she believes in, was an activist for women's rights and for
equality between all the citizens of the Republic. She is a founding
member of the first association for the law for equality between women
and men created in 1985."
It seems useful for our readers to recall that the Algerian Constitution
proclaimed after the independence of Algeria in 1962, accords equality
in right to women and men. It was in 1984 that the Family Code was
instituted making women "second class citizens."
* * *
LT: Regarding the debate about the amendment to the family code
recently adopted by the government's council. What are your comments?
LH: There was apparently a flipflop on the part of certain
members of the commission under pressure. The reason is that the
framework in which the amendments were elaborated is not democratic.
Because these are people-whose integrity I do not question-who were
chosen on unclear basis. From a democratic point of view, it's about
recognizing the principle of citizenship for all.
Therefore it is about respecting the Constitution in reference to the
question of equality and the abolition of any form of discrimination.
There is pressure on the government to annul these amendments that
translate into a call for people to demonstrate. These are different
times. It is no longer that easy to fool the citizens on what is really
at stake here. This debate has already taken its own course. Several
years ago women mobilized against the first version, held in secret,
along with the men that signed petitions with us against the assembly of
a single party, that had no legitimacy, can decide the future of half
the Algerian people, and confine it to a second class status.
At the time we declared against the codification of personal
relationships. Because from a democratic point of view and the
principles of a Republic, since that time that one speaks of a
particular status, of a particular social category, this carries
systematically different rights, and consequently inferior ones. The law
cannot legislate on the basis of sex. It is about laws in regard to
marriage, divorce (these are contracts), these are within the civil
code, in other words in positive right.
LT: You therefore maintain your position according to which the
code in force was drawn up against women.
LH: Absolutely. It is a law designed to codify, institutionalize
the oppression of all Algerian women. These aren't only regulations for
marriage, divorce, and the custody of children. No. The code defines the
status of women. According to the terms of the code, there are citizens
and sub-citizens in Algerian society. Women are included in the second
category.
At the time this text was promulgated, it was not the product of a
requirement of society. The Algerian people didn't need a family code.
All the movements that existed and demonstrated in demand of democracy,
trade union independence in connection with a single party, the
recognition of tamazight, and social rights. There wasn't a process of
regression. On the contrary. The Algerian peoples looked to progress,
democracy, and rose up against misery that had started to prevail. They
didn't want a single party system. It was for the needs of a single
party, which was already in crisis, that this code was drawn up on the
sly.
At that time we discuss, in total secrecy, the length of the stick with
which a man beats his wife. It wasn't possible therefore to talk about
something that had been voluntarily prepared on the sly. It was my
opinion and that of the majority of women who mobilized. Those who
cried out threatened because the amendments approved by the counsel
of government suppressed the guardianship for the women within the
marriage, we must remember that before 1984, the Algerian people were
Muslims.
Under colonization, they had been able to preserve their culture and
their identity. While they demonstrated, and because they fought for
independence, Algerians went out of their way to denote: "Algeria -
Algerian." "Muslim Algeria." There wasn't a family code
at the time. Algerians married and divorced perfectly normally. Judges
decided on their soul and their conscience. That doesn't mean that all
rights were recognized. But now that this code is in force, the judge
can't - even if he wants to - protect the women and the children, as he
is obliged to apply the law.
LT: Those who oppose the amendments argue that depravity and
prostitution would be rampant if guardianship is suppressed. What is
your opinion?
LH: Those who deal in prostitution and white slavery are Muslims.
To those who come up with these kind of arguments we ask what they think
of women and children who spend the nights in street arcades in the
capital city or other towns in the country, subject to all the dangers.
LT: What do you really think of these amendments?
LH: Firstly, I tend to rise up against the politicians who
pretend that the activists who fight for women's rights, in which I have
been involved from the beginning of the movement, want polyandry. That
is to say to marry several men. These are lies, calumny. It's
scandalous! Women demanded equality in rights, and the banning and
interference in private affairs. In reference to polygamy, it says in
this project that it is up to the judge to decide if a man must remarry
or not, and if he is able to ensure equality among his wives. It's an
aberration. It is terrifying that in 2004 we continue to talk about this
and that there are voices that rise up to say that we want the
maintenance of polygamy.
But who is entitled to speak about equality? What woman can accept to be
oppressed? When a man and a woman marry, it is to build something
together, make children and share a common life. Returning to polygamy,
I would say that there is not a woman on the face of this earth that
would accept sharing her husband with another woman.
Furthermore there is no way to measure equity. Therefore, when the man
wants to remarry, this is the problem. There are marriages that are not
successful because of incompatibility, violence, and disagreements. When
one reads the chapter about divorce, one observes that the kohl is
maintained, even if the novelty includes the partner.
There is a disposition that stipulates that in the case of divorce, if
she keeps the children, the women must stay in the conjugal home if the
husband doesn't provide a separate lodging for her. This doesn't solve
the problem if, in the majority of cases with children, she finds
herself on the street. This, because the state has not taken up the
question of lodging.
LT: It is a question of compensation and damages for both
LH: Why do we call it kohl if it's about compensation and
damages? You must know that the kohl, in its original conception,
consisted in the buy back of freedom by a slave. I am not a specialist
in the fikh and I don't make mix things up. I am a responsible
politician. I live in a Republic. I would like to see laws that are
framed in positive law, civil law that treats all questions of the city,
about the lives of men and women. There's no reason why if in speaking
of commerce, economy, international relations, it can be done within the
framework of positive law but from then on that it's about the status of
a woman, a small part is opened in the soul of the foukaha and resorts
to jurisprudence.
Jurisprudence, precisely, is that each one can interpret it as they
wish. It's the reason why we must absolutely separate things. If there
is a divorce, there should be equality between men and women. The
separation must be valid for both. On the other hand, in this new
version, the right to work is not recognized unless it is clearly
established in the Constitution. If the woman wants to work, under the
terms of this project, she must record it in the marriage contract. It's
very strangeit's an aberration in a country such as Algeria where women
participated in the revolution, where she is not excluded from any job,
where she is a candidate for the presidency of the Republic,
congresswoman, and votes on questions that concern the nation.
Women have political rights but, paradoxically, she has to specify her
right to work in the marriage contract. If need be, the husband can
prevent her from working. It's exactly the same in the case of the right
to education that is recognized constitutionally but not guaranteed in
fact. In this sense there is no system or mechanism to follow education.
Generally, it is the young girls who are sacrificed when the parents are
not financially able to send all their children to school. They make a
choice.
Nevertheless, all other aspects are within the family code and are
similarly aberrant from the point of view of relations between the
couple. If the woman must obey her husband, he can even prevent her from
going out. Therefore the right to work is not guaranteed. Consequently,
we cannot speak of citizenship. The code in force is a text on personal
status. That is why it doesn't concern the woman. It is not a law that
refers to the question of relationships in the family, starting from a
single principle that is equality - and the law should be neutral, and
not give privileges to one or the other. Except for the right to
guardianship where the mother should have priority withoutthe father
being prejudiced.
LT: Independently, from the Workers Party position, which is for
abrogation, pure and simple, what are the positive changes that you have
seen in the new version?
LH: It's not about saying that the new text contains nothing
positive. It's not black or white. Parental authority and the right of
guardianship awarded to the father is in second place and constitutes
advances. In effect, it is important for the stability of the child that
he would be in charge of one parent or another. The child needs both
parents for his psychological balance and the formation of his
personality. It is the same for the guardianship.
Unfortunately we have observed that there is only one point of view on
this project. One cannot qualify the contradictory debate. On my part, I
led an electoral campaign. The democratic questions were plebicited to
the example of the recognition of tamazight for which one cannot demand
a referendum for its officilization. It's a natural right. On this
point, I particularly insisted in the Arabic-speaking regions. I didn't
find any animosity. On the contrary. Algerians demonstrated that they
seek ways and means to resolve their problems.
This was equally so when I broached the abrogation of the family code. I
am a woman. Since the time I have been in politics, I have never heard
an Algerian make the least remark recorded in the framework of
oppression or deny me the right to be active in politics. I found the
greatest respect and an infallible solidarity. It's normal. I believe
it's a victory for democracy. It's a scathing reply to all the
charlatans (that's what one should call them) the obscurantists who want
to push Algerian society backwards.
Algerians have always judged on political positions. This is normal
since it is the product of our history. The fight for national freedom
in our country had a special place since it was a revolution that
carried profound modifications on these questions. Men and women marched
alongside and joined the maquis. In the house where I was born there
were men and women who fought against colonialism. It was never a
problem. There was a woman that I would like to see testify how she led
a mujahedin group, and how they conducted the debates with my father in
regard to my mother, and my sister, who is illiterate.
This entire dynamic brought by the revolution can't be erased despite
the political tendencies that wanted to push us back. The independence
of Algeria brought considerable progress: first in its evolution and
later in thought and research. Since little girls were attending school,
women were asked to occupy positions in administration, the prefecture,
and education. There was a need for officers to represent the State. You
can't erase all this after all the tragedies we have experienced,
especially during the recent period.
LT: The amendments adopted in the government council met with
opposition from some of the political class
LH: Those threatening voices want Algerians to be against
citizenship for over 50% of society. I repeat, it's not a matter of
black or white, but we want this code to be abrogated because it is
anti-constitutional. It violates the dispositions of the supreme law of
the country that bans any form of discrimination. From the point of view
of the republic and democracy-this is valid for any law draft in any
circumstance -- if one considers that a text is unconstitutional, one
should abrogate it.
We recognize the principles of the Republic and then we argue about the
framework and the type of law that we should debate. Institutions of the
Algerian state planned the Constitution. Persons who met behind
closed doors and adopted, according to their point of view, their
ideology, a text against Algerian society in order to prevent its
advance, made the family code. We recall-- my political moral tells me
to say exactly what happened -- in 1989, when the debate on co-education
was introduced, it wasn't the Muslims who were in power, but the
assembly of a single party. The suppression of co-education was
proposed.
The deputies of the single party accused over 400,000 employed women to
be responsible for the unemployment of men. It was an assembly that
started to orient itself with counter reforms and an austerity that
would engender unemployment. In every instance, the question of
regression on the plan of freedoms or equality was tied to something
else. It's one side of the coin: in other words, economic regression.
The question of rights and citizenship is always present, since the
first trial in 1978, in which an attempt was made to ban women from
leaving the country without the authorization of their husbands.
LT: This measure was later removed
LH: That's because there is a strong movement among women in
trade unions, universities, and students. It was therefore an attempt
that we were able to prevent. Afterwards, after we learned that there
was a text on the family code, held in secret, we mobilized again in an
extraordinary manner. We were successful in removing the project.
Furthermore, we must remember, for those who have a short memory, that
the family code adopted in 1984 on the sly, was in favor of a wave of
repression that, for the first time after independence, had concerned
women. Fettouma Ouzzegane, an activist of my organization and myself,
and activists for human rights, as well as the action committees that
existed at the time were slightly embarrassed in the sense that one had
to choose between carrying on a campaign for our freedom or continue the
mobilization for the removal of the text.
On the other hand, the first women's association was founded in 1985,
under the system of a single party. It posed fundamental problems: the
abrogation of the family code and the recognition of equality before the
law for women and men. It was later titled the Association. One fought
equally for the right to organize independently from a single party. A
democratic question that concerns all the Algerian people. It wasn't a
fight against men, as we didn't hold the men responsible for this
regression, but rather the single party system.
LT: Those who voted for the code, did they do so in the sense of
oppression of women or rather to ensure their power?
LH: They did it for ideological reasons. The system of the single
party is in crisis. It was necessary to distract attention. This type of
regime always has the need to put one sector of society against the
other. In history, women are always the first to be oppressed. When I
became an activist there wasn't a family code. But in the collectives
that existed in the most important towns of the country, they fought
against a form of oppression and backwardness that wasn't codified.
Returning to the code, I would like to recall that Abdelmadjid Méziane
(God rest his soul) had explained that the family code was
anti-constitutional and that it was an aberration to apply regulations
that existed in past centuries to today's world.
In 1989, when we at last had the right to demonstrate, we came out by
the hundreds and thousands. The men were more numerous. They carried
their children on their shoulders and shouted: "We don't want women
to be oppressed. We don't want our daughters to be oppressed." It
is a fight for equality. It is the reason why I say that the president
of the Republic, guarantor of the Constitution, must control the
constitutional council and abrogate this code.
LT: What would be your position if the question of inheritance
were removed?
LH: We are in a country named the "Algerian Republic,
democratic and popular." In the republic one separates the
political from the religious. Religion is a private affair.
LT: However Article 2 of the Constitution stipulates that Islam
is the religion of the State!
LH: This is one of the contradictions of the country. We want to
support the positive aspects that constitute the conquests after
independence. We fight to remove these contradictions. There are other
countries, also Islamic, like Algeria. This has not prevented them to
open debates and advance on the road to progress. There are dramas that
arise because of inequality and oppression. There is the custom to deny
the right to women to benefit from inheritance.
I don't think there is contradiction between being a Muslim, of Muslim
culture, and aspiring to modernity. It is not incompatible. We must
debate it freely.
- F.A.
* * * * *
GERMANY: "In order to save the country and the SPD, Schröder
must go!"
This is the tenth electoral defeat for the SPD, after the elections
in the states of Saxe and Brandenbourg. In Saxe, the lowest score in
decades resulted, where the social-democrat party barely got ahead of
the extreme right NPD, by only 9.8% of the electorate. Imagine the shock
in a country such as Germany.
"Parasites!" are the insults that Chancellor Gerhard Schröder
chose to hurl at German families accused of profiting unduly from the
'largesse of the social State', in an interview he gave at the end of
his electoral campaign. The vulgarity of the proposal, presented in the
language of a civil war, summarizes the destructive policy that he
decided to implement up to the end, to the gratification of the IMF, the
European Union. The overjoyed German business class couldn't believe
their ears.
Unemployment rose 20% in the East Lander, already devastated by the
privatisations and their resultant dismantling of the industrial fabric.
Imagine what the application of the Hartz IV law means that reduces
unemployment benefits to all after twelve months of unemployment. If a
worker is single and lives in the West, the benefits are 345 Euros, and
331 Euros if s/he lives in the East. Workers are obliged to accept any
kind of job even at 30% below the conventional wage, which amounts to
wages of one or two euros per hour.
All this in a country where 13% of the population is already living
under the poverty line and over a million children subsist on social
security benefits.
Even at the trade union summits, the leadership cautiously rings an
alarm bell that Schröder doesn't hear, and the disaster proceeds. At
the summits they are satisfied to have limited the breakup in
Brandenbourg, and they hope, that by supporting the PDS, to put an end
to demonstrations against the Hartz law.
But the national disaster doesn't stop here, believe me. Nonetheless, I
am happy to have participated on the eve of these elections, at a
reunion called by the initiators of the Cologne appeal (see Informations
Ouvrières No. 654), that indicates the resistance is organizing.
We have launched an appeal for a national conference to be held on
October 9 in Cologne. Our slogan is: "There is nothing more urgent
than getting rid of Schröder!"
To conclude, I attach the invitation to this conference, at which I hope
a representative of your newsletter can participate.
- Correspondent
Excerpt from the invitation to the conference in Cologne
Over several months the SPD has suffered defeat after defeat. It is
Schröder-and he alone-who paves the way to the CDU. Where are we going?
What will remain of industry and jobs in Germany? In what country does
Schröder want us to live?
Because we don't want that, because we don't want the CDU to return to
power, and because we don't want to renounce our fundamental
social-democratic values, we say:
"Get rid of Schröder now! It is the first step towards getting
the country, the workers, the SPD, the trade unions out of this
impasse!"
That is why we ask you to continue to sign this appeal.
That is why we appeal for you to organize meetings and assemblies an
choose delegates for the national conference in Cologne.
**********
ITALY: The head of Alitalia thanks the trade unions for their great
sense of responsibility. (La Repubblica, September 19).
An agreement was signed on September 19th between the Alitalia
trade unions and Cimoli, its general manager, that foresees 3,679
layoffs (289 pilots, 900 hostesses and stewards and 2,490 ground
personnel) from its current workforce of 20,000 employees.
Furthermore, for the purpose of reducing Alitalia's annual costs by 282
million euros, the following measures will be applied without delay:
- For the pilots: three pilots instead of four on long haul trips with
14 hours flying hours maximum instead of ten and a half. On short hauls
two pilots instead of three, with 14 hours of flying maximum instead of
eight. For all a reduction of 20% of wages.
- For hostesses and stewards: on the long hauls it will go from 75 hours
to 95 hours flight time per month and on the shorter hauls from 75 hours
to 85. For all a reduction of 20% in wages.
- For ground personnel: a 10% reduction in wages with the commitment to
renounce to a retroactive adjustment in wages for 2003 and 2004.
In La Repubblica we read "that the agreement regulates the
working conditions of personnel in accordance with the most competitive
norms, by increasing productivity by 29%, by increasing the flight times
from 590 to 763 hours a year, with a limit of 900 hours maximum."
This is a major coup against collective bargaining and workers' rights,
which opens the door to unlimited exploitation.
This is how the European Commission and the Berlusconi government have
succeeded in gaining their objectives: to substantially reduce the cost
of labor through the total deregulation of working conditions; their
objectives will undoubtedly have consequences for the safety of
passengers.
In La Repubblica of September 3, we read that the European Union
launched an ultimatum to the trade unions through the representative of
the European Transportation Commissioner, Loyola de Palacio:
"Without the layoffs the company cannot survive and the reduction
in personnel is an obligatory choice. The future of Alitalia depends on
the sense of responsibility of the trade unions, its survival is not
only in the hands of management of the company and the government, but
in great part in that of the trade unions."
The Foreign Trade minister seized the ball au bon: "The agreement
with the trade unions is the last chance to save the company."
Fausto Bertinotti, leader of the Communist Refoundation, said: "The
first measure to be taken to save Alitalia is to get rid of the
management that has led the company into this situation."
Otherwise, he said he is not against the removal of the layoff plan, nor
the re-nationalization of the company!
On September 10 the secretary general of the transport federation of the
CGIL replied: "The CGIL is ready for concessions on productivity in
order to guarantee the competitiveness of the group."
On September 18, Pezzota, the secretary general of the ICFTU declared:
"With the signing of this agreement the trade union demonstrated an
acute sense of responsibility."
Again, on September 19 in La Repubblica we read: "The
champagne bottles remained in the fridge." As Cimoli confided to
his collaborators, the agreement "is only the first small
step." A breach has been opened, and they will not stop there: they
want to liquidate everything!
Who is Cimoli? We read in La Repubblica that he was named in 1996
by Prodi, when the latter was the head of the center-left government
(the Olive Tree) as president of the Italian railroads, which he had
privatised. In that capacity Cimola implemented his ready-made solution
of massive layoffs, destroying thousands of jobs. He is therefore an
expert, as the same article implies: "Given the restructuring of
the railroads that Cimoli did, and those accepted by the Alitalia trade
unions, it's almost a Nobel Prize in consultation."
The government of Berlusconi is rubbing its hands. Again in La
Repubblica of September 18 we read: "The objective of the
minister of Social Affairs is ambitious: to make of Alitalia a sort of
experimental case from which one can practice new methods of management
of excess workers."
What is happening today at Alitalia is a lesson for all workers and
trade unionists: to follow the directive of the European Union,
contained in the European Constitution, is an open door to unlimited
exploitation. Or else break with the European Union and its ally, the
ETUC, and say no to the European Constitution, as the only means to
preserve democratic rights and save civilization from barbarism.
- Correspondent
********************
GREAT BRITAIN: British TUC Congress unanimously demands end of the
war and withdrawal of the troops
Congress reaffirms its opposition to the occupation of Iraq,
condemns the abuse and torture of Iraqi prisoners by the coalition
forces, and calls for an accurate audit of the actual cost of the
invasion and occupation.
Congress believes it is now more vital than ever to support the new
independent trade union movement as an essential force in the creation
of a secular, democratic Iraq, free from fundamentalism and Saddam's
Ba'athism.
Congress thus calls for the speedy withdrawal of the coalition forces
and the dismantling of their military bases in favour of the Iraqi
people being left free to build their country's infrastructure, public
services and education system, with assistance from international
agencies if required.
Congress notes in particular the role women (who constitute over 50 per
cent of the population in Iraq and account for 35 per cent of the
productive workforce) are playing in the reconstruction of Iraq.
Congress urges the General Council to maintain and strengthen contact
with Iraqi trade unionists, in particular the Iraqi Federation of Trade
Unions (IFTU), by:
i) initiating, together with affiliated trade unions, a solidarity
committee to liaise with, and give practical support to, the trade union
movement in Iraq, including the delivery of a structured education
programme on the TUC model, and assistance with the provision of IT and
other office equipment;
ii) facilitating visits and twinning arrangements between Iraqi and
British trade unionists;
iii) ensuring that links are made between Iraqi women trade unionists
and their British counterparts; and
iv) working with the ICFTU and the ILO to press for the maximum
involvement of Iraqi trade unionists in the drafting of new labour laws
which conform with the core Conventions of the ILO.
Congresss deplores the suppression of trade union activity by the
occupying forces, and the physical destruction of the headquarters of
the fledgling trade union organisation.
********************
PAKISTAN
Muller & Phipps Pakistan Ltd. is a multinational distributor of
medicines and cosmetics in Pakistan. Its stores are in all provinces and
big cities of Pakistan. There are more than five thousands employees
working there, workers have their union by the name of Muller &
Phipps Pakistan Ltd. Employees Union which is Collective Bargaining
Agent.
The Management of the company terminated 72 workers on August 16, 2004
claiming reduction of their business. The union approach to the
management but management not given any consideration to the workers
point of view, after this the union give a Demand Notice for the
reinstatement of all terminated workers. Management refuse flatly and
than the workers gone on strike against the illegal and unfair labour
practice on part of the management. On 19th August, 2004 company
management filed a petition in National Industrial Relation Commission (NIRC)
Islamabad, praying that the strike may be prohibited, and order the
workers to restore the work and call off strike, the union again hold a
meeting with the management and presented some proposals in regard of
the dismissed workers, but the management pay no heed towards the
workersí demands. Meanwhile court ordered the union to call off strike
and restore the work.
Now the management is pressurizing the workers to leave the union and
giving bribe to workers not follow the union instructions, management
also filed a new petition against the office bearers of the union in
National Industrial Relation Commission (NIRC) demanding to allow the
management to dismiss the office bearers of the union, committing unfair
labour practice. The case is still pending in the court. Management is
harassing workers to withdraw union membership and due to this there is
a great unrest among the workers.
APTUF fully supporting the demands of the workers and form a committee
to tour Muller & Phipps offices all over the country, to talk with
the employees, encourage them not become under the trap of the
management and be united and fight against the management illegal unfair
labour practice. APTUF al;so appealed to the other trade unions
federations to support Muller & Phipps workers and collect funds to
help the dismissed workers.
So I would like to request you that this appeal should be circulated
widely to the international trade unions to boost up the moral of
workers and send solidarity messages to Muller & Phipps Employees
Union affiliated with All Pakistan Trade Union Federation on the
following address:
General Secretary
All Pakistan Trade Union Federation
14-N, Industrial Area, Gulberg II, Lahore,
Pakistan.
Fax: 92-42- 666 5301
Email: aptuf@brain.net.pk
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