(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL #231 - Unionism: Passport Visa network (fr)

The National Front and the extreme right are trying more and more to present themselves as 
defenders of workers. To fight against fascism in the field of the working world, there is 
a tool, the Visa network (Vigilance and Anti-Fascist Union Initiatives). Manual to learn 
to use it without moderation. ---- Visa, which brings together activists from different 
unions (FSU, CGT, Solidarity, CFDT, FO), implemented since 1996 against the far right in 
the workplace. The association is the result of the trade union committee of the Ras 
Front, particularly after the first "union" offensive of the National Front, which then 
attempted to form unions stamped FN [ 1 ]. At the time, the cons-offensive Association has 
foiled this implementation strategy.

Before, analysis, Action

Since the FN only accentuated his speech so-called "social." Facing him, the Visa network 
is delivered consistently to work monitoring and analysis, including through its website [ 
2 ], whose highlight is clear: " it is for the unions to carry the struggle against 
fascism and right-wing ideology . " A monthly newsletter informs the subscriber es the 
work of the association.

Visa has also published pamphlets: FN, the worst enemy of employee-es , and in February 
2012 against the program of FN, a union argument , massively distributed within the unions 
who made ??the order. A new brochure is being prepared, with the approach of municipal 
2014. To do this, Visa has launched a call for evidence to unionists, elected officials, 
citizens, faced es to elected officials or candidates FN, which could explain what 
actually represent their presence in cities in cultural, political, educational, health, 
social, fiscal, etc..

The network, which was launched in late 2010 a call unionists against xenophobic 
government policies and ideas of the National Front, signed by thousands of people, 
regularly organizes the debates. The last has helped launch the network Conex (National 
Coalition against the far right), anti-fascist gathering unitary now twenty associations 
and collective local fascists. The latter made his first public appearance at the Paris 
antifascist demonstration of June 23 following the assassination of Clement Meric.

Trade interventions

Especially, Visa operates regularly at the invitation of unions in their national or local 
meetings to educate activists about the importance of the struggle against fascism. It is 
also in this sense that Visa offers training days to union teams wishing to equip 
themselves effectively. Program, the following topics: history and news of the extreme 
right, his relation to the world of work, deciphering the economic and social agenda FN 
syndically how to fight the far right ...

It is crucial to involve unions in the struggle against fascism and strengthen Visa tool, 
by acceding to the union structures, controlling the existing Visa equipment for 
broadcast, organizing debates and training. Not to mention the best response against 
fascism: the class solidarity, especially between French and foreign, and social struggles 
to win!

Gabriel L (AL Paris North East)

[ 1 ] See Information antifascist union, the National Front at work , Syllepse, 2003.

[ 2 ] -www.visa isa.org