(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL #227 - March 8: The Toulousaines the offensive (fr)

On March 8, the call for a broad group of organizations, trade unions and women's 
associations, the women's strike took place for the second consecutive year in Toulouse.
For March 8, Toulouse, over 600 people gathered in the streets to protest against the 
inequalities between men and women, under the second strike of women [ 1 ]. This is 
slightly less than last year, although this year, unlike the previous one, the strike call 
was addressed to both men and women. But the context was not favorable: another strike in 
the same week (March 5 against Ani) school holidays (ie Education had the most mobilized 
last year)... ---- Above all, the unit just to build on what mode of action. Some groups 
regulationists on prostitution have refused to sign the call. Few unions have filed 
notice. Last year, FSU had refused to join because of the non-sex appeal.

This year, the call is mixed, it was hard not to. But the work of mobilizing its member 
and acceding was rather shy. The departmental union CGT has not responded to the 
invitation of the group, did not participate in the event, and instead hold its own in 
parallel: a bus was chartered to go to the General Council of Lot to support one of their 
elected including trade union rights were not respected. The battle for union rights is 
important, but it is regrettable that the Departmental Union CGT has not played the game 
unit and she is alone.

A dynamic offensive feminist

Nevertheless, there is nothing to be ashamed. It was a great event. Upstream, it was 
preceded by action around the city: a rally to strike chores, mass mailings of leaflets 
... Action "stewardesses", mimicking the sound of a recorded voice inequalities between 
men and women, disrupted an institutional conference entitled " When Women Fly change 
"under the bemused eyes of suit and tie and journalists. All these initiatives have met 
with great interest, and received encouragement.

More broadly, women's strike has two years to increase encounters between feminists of the 
city, thus facilitating the organization of other events on violence against women, for 
example. This does not overcome all the differences, but this is a first step to get to 
build a unitary feminist dynamic and constructive offensive on the city.

Towards a national strike

Mediatically speaking, the presence of FEMEN in the event tended to overshadow the rest. 
See breast is so much seller, and the strike, so too serious for women! We must show that 
our claims are could not be more serious and legitimate by the strike in most cities as 
possible in 2014. This is certainly the goal of activists to give Alternative libertarian 
on 7 March 2014 (8 falls on a Saturday, which would limit the impact of the strike). 
Convince unions and collectives engage in this movement at the national level will not be 
easy. But this is a battle that will challenge all organizations on what they really mean 
by "feminism" and their ability to move from words to deeds. The strike women can only 
give positive and innovative perspectives to feminist struggles. Do not go off.

Elisa (AL Toulouse)

[ 1 ] See " When is enough, it is the strike! "in AL No. 226 of March 2013