A WORLD TO WIN!
The world is our picket line: one struggle, one fight-
Workers of the world unite!
Class struggle is not some abstract theory or nice
idea- it is a reality that fundamentally shapes the world we live in.
It is this struggle which holds the key to a better world. The enemy,
the capitalists and rulers, can only be beaten by action and unity by
the workers, the poor and the working peasantry.
ISRAEL
When the Israeli government arrested Histadrut union official
Shlomo Shani on the 28th December 1996, workers responded with a half
day general strike that shut down the country. Shani was arrested
after refusing to call off a protest strike against government plans
to cut social spending. Ultimately the government was forced to
release Shani and modify its viciously anti-worker budget.
HAITI
Workers successfully closed most workplaces on January 16th with a
general strike organised by 160 unions and other grassroots
organisations. This followed a week of sporadic local strikes.
Workers were demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister and an
end to "free market" policies that cause misery, rising prices and
threaten 3 million peasant farmers with ruin.
GREECE
Workers in Athens shut most workplaces on January 23 with a one
day general strike against massive tax increases and for better
pensions. This followed an 11 day strike by seamen and sporadic
strikes by teachers, aviation workers and farmers. It was organised
by the General Confederation of Greek Workers.
URUGUAY
Workers closed banks and public transport in a one-day general
strike on January 14th against State repression and retrenchments.
INDIA
Many workers in Bombay supported a general strike on January 17th
. This was called to protest the assassination of union leader Data
Samant of the one-million strong Workers Front by unknown forces. Two
contract killers were later arrested for the murder.
EGYPT
1,500 workers at mills in Assiut struck in December against the
removal of a discount on flour. In doing so, they defined a state ban
on strikes imposed in 1977 after country wide food riots.
BRITAIN
Dockworkers locked out since 1995 in a dispute over retrenchments
and the introduction of "flexible" work processes have attracted
international support. Between January 15-25 1997, dockers and other
workers in 27 countries and 105 ports/cities sent aid or messages of
support, demonstrated or took part in industrial actions to support
their fight. Solidarity took place from Australia to Zimbabwe.
ECUADOR
Striking gas, electricity, and communications workers joined
students and peasants in massive rallies in Quito, Ecuador's capital,
in January. This was to protest price and tax increases which have
led to energy price rises of 300%. On February 6th, the President
declared a State of Emergency, but he was ousted by the parliament,
itself under pressure from spiralling strikes and demonstrations.
BANGLADESH:
The Anarcho-syndicalist-aligned National Garment Workers
Federation has been in the forefront of the struggle for worker/
union rights against brutal bosses. In 1996 it led struggles for
union recognition, and mass protests for better safety and workers
compensation after a factory left 13 dead.
Source: Industrial Worker: Voice of Revolutionary Unionism
INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST/SYNDICALIST NEWS
IRELAND: VICTORY FOR PEOPLE POWER
Comrades in the Workers Solidarity Movement have played a central
role in recent working class struggles against the imposition of
water and sewerage charges. Mass actions -like morning patrols to
prevent cut-offs- and large-scale organising in the Federation of
Dublin Anti-Water Charge Campaigns provided the key to success. In
December 1996, the charges were dropped.
FRANCE: FASCISTS ATTACK
On February 15, Nazis linked to the fascist National Front (NF)
firebombed the offices of the French Anarchist Federation (FAF) In
Lyons. This takes place against the backdrop of an NF courtcase
against the FAF for "slander". In response to the attack, anarchists
and syndicalists called a successful march that attracted over 3,000
militants. Our comrades have been central to the struggle against
racist attacks and anti-immigrant laws.
CHILE: STRIKING BACK
Anarcho-syndicalists in Chile have been actively supporting
coal-miners struggling against dismissals and threatened mine
closures. This militant struggle has seen strikes, occupations and
demonstrations.
ARGENTINA: CRACKDOWN
Over 300 workers and anarchists have been arrested in crackdowns
against demonstr-ations. These demonstrations have been against
privatisation and other "free market" policies imposed by the State.
BANGLADESH: ON THE MOVE
1996 has been a year of action for the anarcho-syndicalist aligned
National Garment Workers Federation, a mass grassroots union. Since
forming in 1984, the NGWF has organised in 950 of the country's 1100
textile factories. Direct action tactics such as distributing
wallposters, demonstrations, rallies, and torchlight processions have
been used. Legal cases has also been taken against bosses. Two key
struggles have been recognition fights at Apparels factory, and
protests against factory fires that killed 13.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
300 delegates and observers from at least 60 anarchist and
syndicalist organisations attended the 20th congress of the
anarcho-syndicalist Inter-national Workers Association in Spain in
December 1996. First established in the 1920s, and revived in the
1970, the IWA has nearly 20 country affiliates, including Nigeria,
Bulgaria, Russia and Chile.
Sources: Direct Action, Workers Solidarity (Ireland)
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