Greece, For self-management and workers' control - Announcement of the BIO.ME union (gr)

Announcement of the BIO.ME union for the re-operation of the factory ---- PRIVATE 
AGREEMENT FOR THE SELF-MANAGEMENT AND WORKERS? CONTROL OF THE FACTORY ---- The 
undersigned, members or not of the Workers? Union of Viomichaniki Metaleftiki, agree to 
the following: ---- 1. We assume the operation of the factory under the terms of a full 
self management and workers? control of both its productive and administrative structures. 
Basic and central for the operation of the factory, for the carrying out of our struggle, 
and for our plans for the future is the principle of equality in the participation and the 
decision making, the principle of horizontal and direct democracy. Any form of 
distinction, ill-favored treatment, exclusions and hetero-determination is excluded from 
our functioning framework and every possible effort is to be made toward avoiding such 
behaviours and practices that create hindrances to our emancipatory cause.

2. Our supreme organ is the General Assembly of the workers. This is set up as an organ 
and decides on both a general-programmatic level as well as on more specific issues, 
having also the right to authorize particular members of it to represent the Union in the 
context of specific processes, as well as to deal with certain specifically prescribed 
matters. All those who take on the responsibility of representing the Assembly or 
proceeding to specific actions, are subject to detailed accounting for their activity.

3. Participation in the General Assembly is compulsory for all members.

4. The decisions made by the General Assembly are binding for all, and the materialization 
of these decisions is also compulsory independently of whether one agrees or disagrees 
with them personally.

5. In the case where a decision is judged to be wrong or not applicable by either an 
individual or a group of individuals, this may be put forward to the General Assembly, and 
it is the General Assembly that will finally decide on whether it needs to be changed or 
reformed, or if it is to be kept as is. In any case, such a decision remains binding for 
all until the next discussion meeting, and until then everybody is expected to do what it 
takes for its materialization. In the case of non-compliance with an already made 
decision, the General Assembly will specify sanctions ranging from a simple admonition to 
temporary layoff, while in severe cases to the expulsion of the non-compliant person.

6. Apart from participation in the decision making and in the mapping-out of the strategy 
of the factory subject to workers? control, the principle of equality includes also the 
participation in the losses and profits of the factory.

7. After deliberations, and provided that all relevant factors have been put forward for 
discussion, the General Assembly may define the specific work position of each worker. 
He/she will be able to express his/her reservations during the assembly meeting, but in 
any case has to conform to the recommendation of the General Assembly. Moreover, each 
worker ought to learn ? to the extent that this is feasible ? to function/work in any post 
that he/she will be asked to do and for which he/she will be considered indispensable.

8. All who sign the present agreement pledge that the information (either acquired by them 
in the past or to be acquired in the future under any possible way, and particularly 
through the process of representing the union in front of companies, private individuals, 
or any other public or private agencies) which is considered important for the operation 
of the factory, for the planning of our productive as well as our political strategy, and 
for our mutual relations will be made known to the General Assembly and under no 
circumstances will it be withheld, in order for this information to be collectively 
assessed and utilized.

The aforementioned points of agreement constitute the basic principles for the operation 
of the factory under the terms of self management and of its control by the workers. 
Respectfulness, both on the level of principles as well as on the practical level, 
constitutes an obligation of all of us signing the present, which may only be altered if 
the General Assembly considers it necessary to make any changes. In such case, a new 
agreement will be drafted and signed by all.
Workers? Union of Viomichaniki Metaleftiki


*English translation E.D.

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