(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL #228 - International Trade Union Meeting: A union network control (fr)

From 22 to 24 March, held in Saint-Denis an international trade union meeting. The 
content of the call from the meeting, and work commitments taken together, represent an
important step forward for the revolutionary syndicalism. ---- Sixty union delegations 
from over thirty European, American, African and Asian countries had responded to the 
invitation of Solidarity, the Central sindical popular e-Conlutas (Brazil) and Spanish CGT 
at an international meeting in Saint-Denis, from 22 to 24 March. Given the diversity of
stories and structuring around the world, the meeting was open to organizations and 
currents. ---- Challenge ---- In France, in addition to United, attended the 
CNT-Solidarity workers, the CNT-f, Emancipation and the Committees revolutionary 
syndicalists. Invited, CGT, FSU and emancipated School did not respond.

Gather already members of organizations and different orientations to international 
networks unions was already a challenge. The National Union of Rail, Maritime and 
Transport Workers (Great Britain), Batay Ouvriye (Haiti), the General Union of Tunisian
Workers, but also many basic unions and the opposition of the general Confederazione 
italiana del Lavoro of Italy, the National Autonomous Union of Public Administration 
personnel from Algeria, the Confederaci?n de Trabajadores paraguaya, or sectors of the 
Confederation of Christian Trade Unions and the General Federation of Labour in Belgium, 
the Basque Country Lab ... the geographical range, political and trade union, was wide.
That this will result in the establishment of an international trade union Solidarity 
Network and struggle is not trivial. This meeting marks an important step forward in the 
construction of an international coordination of revolutionary syndicalism. Because this 
is exactly what he is, the call issued at the end of the three days (see box below) is 
very clear! But it is more than the collective will of all these activists organizations 
in this initiative that will determine the real utility of the network.

Mouldi C. (AL Transcom)

Call the international trade union Solidarity Network and struggles

"[...] The crisis of the capitalist system has consequences in the world. Economic, 
financial, environmental and social crises intertwine and self-reinforcing. The global 
crisis of capitalism shows an impasse based on shared increasingly uneven development of 
the wealth produced, financial deregulation, the generalized free trade and contempt 
ecological imperatives.

To save the profits of shareholders and owners, to ensure the future of banking, global
institutions (World Bank, International Monetary Fund, World Trade Organization, etc.)., 
Governments and employers tackle increasingly strongly the rights of working men and women.

The current political and economic system organizes the looting of many countries, forcing 
millions of people to leave their region of origin in order to survive ... and then denied 
all their rights because they are immigrants, and are [...].

Our unionism is the overthrow of the model of economic, social and political development, 
based on the hegemony of finance, profit and competitiveness. Instead, we want to build a 
system based on common property, the redistribution of wealth between all those and all
those involved in their creation, the rights of workers and environmentally sustainable
development.

We demand the extension, democratization and social appropriation of public services 
(education, health, transport, energy, water, housing, etc..). The free movement of people 
and equal social and political rights of all people, regardless of nationality, origin,
gender, are part of our common goals.

Our defense unionism combines the immediate interests of workers, and the willingness to 
profound social change. It is not limited to protest economic field, it covers topics such 
as the right to housing, land, equality between men and women, racism, ecology, 
anti-colonialism, etc..

The interests we defend are those of the working class (workers active or retired, 
unemployed, trainees). They tie in with those of the peoples of all regions of the world. 
In this, we oppose frontally employers, governments and institutions in its service, and 
we assert our autonomy vis-?-vis political organization [...].

We do not proclaim the establishment of a new international trade union organization. We 
resolve to strengthen, expand, more effective, a network of attacking unions, democratic, 
independent, alternative, feminist, internationalist [...].

We do not fight to go back, of course, the attacks on the working class are very strong
and sometimes in new forms. But capitalist exploitation is not new and it is with this 
need to break, to create ways of organizing society based on the needs of the population.

[...] We have concrete goals, shared commitments:

? We act in time for international solidarity, including anti-union repression against all 
[...].

? We will take action so united and coordinated to support the struggles and existing 
international campaigns, reaffirming the right to self-determination of peoples support to 
Palestinian and Sahrawi peoples, recognition of independent trade unionism in the Maghreb 
and the Middle East against the military occupation of Haiti, against the European 
treaties that impose austerity, for the right of all peoples to decide their future ...

? We strengthen and extend the international work carried out in the professional sectors 
(transport, education, call centers, industry, commerce, health, etc..) And 
interprofessional issues (women's rights, immigration, housing, ecology, health and work, 
etc.). already, the work is organized in several of these areas, including the animation 
is supported by unions in our various countries.

? We continue the process of reflection and development on issues of crisis of the 
capitalist system and alternatives to it.

? Finally, we put together the necessary to the success of our joint projects material 
resources: websites, d?changes list by email, coordination professional sectors, etc.. "