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zondag 1 juni 2014

France, Alternative Libertaire AL #239 - Morocco: Very class workers (fr, pt)

Association between mass mobilization, repression and social struggles, Morocco poor 
continues to fight for respect and dignity. Panorama struggles and popular uprisings in 
April 2014. ---- On 6 April, a demonstration in Casablanca to the call for an inter 
composed of the Moroccan Labour Union (UMT), the Democratic Labour Confederation (CDT) and 
the Democratic Labour Federation (FDT) has attracted no less than 30,000 people. The 
slogan of the event was focused on the necessary construction of a general strike against 
the aggressions suffered by workers and against the deterioration of their living 
conditions. ---- For several months this mobilization was pregnant at intersyndical level. 
It must be said that the government led by the Islamist Abdelilah Benkiran multiplies low 
blows against the population: substantial increase in the price of oil and food staples 
(bread, semolina, sugar), repeated refusal to respond to claims the association of 
"unemployed graduates" new law in the public service now puncturing the days of strike of 
public servants (which was not the case before). And social dialogue with the unions is a 
comedy that deluded person.

Repression against the movement of 20-February

All these reasons justify this event April 6, designed by its originators (primarily 
combative sectors of the UMT, grouped in the current democratic trend) as a warning. 
Mobilization also was not in the objectives of the union bureaucracies as they are 
dominated by collusion with makhzen (the monarchy) and clientelism exacerbated. 
Mobilization nevertheless emerged, unbeknownst to them, as the exasperation of unionized 
workers, and more generally the population is large.

During the event, the police played the baton and made numerous arrests. This repression 
is neither isolated nor unusual. It is the trademark of a State which is not encumbered by 
considerations of democratic freedoms and face the people. Repression in Morocco has 
always been the signature of the high places of power and has never been the sole decision 
of chefaillon commissary. The repression was targeted since it hit against the most 
dynamic part of the protest and Moroccan social movement, namely the members of the 
movement of 20-February. This movement was born among the youth there three years, echoing 
the popular uprisings that have affected the whole region from North Africa to the Gulf 
countries.

While the event took place smoothly, the procession of 20 movement-February, was suddenly 
attacked violently and without warning. The excuse: while the rest of the union 
processions were limited to anti-government slogans, the movement of 20-February also 
targeted the king. Lese majesty in the eyes of the police are not coming to Mohammed VI. 
The operation resulted in several arrests of activists who are still in detention. These 
are entered into hunger strike on April 16, after the refusal by the judge to grant them bail.

Minors OCP strike

Another front of social anger and revolt minors, dependent subsidiaries of the company 
state: Sherifian Office phosphate (OCP) Khouribga (in the center of the country).

A thriving business since alone represents 25% of exports from Morocco. A company under 
the direct control of the king, who appointed the director, making it difficult to gain 
union struggles there. Not touch one of the crown jewels.

This reality and the gravity does not prevent minus a true workers' militancy and a real 
determination of its union locals. It was five years ago, a very bitter strike lasted not 
less than eight months after the dismissal of 850 employees sec. This time it is the 
smaller subsidiaries of the OCP (many of them, which is not neutral, former trade union 
leaders dismissed there five years) who are fighting, supported by a committee of 
solidarity with temporary workers phosphate OCP Group (CSPI). Their demands for 
recognition of their union rights, non-existent for the time in the offices of the OCP and 
wage increases and above their official integration OCP group which would allow them to 
have permanent contracts. A first strike took place on 16 and 17 April. It is expected 
that other days of actions and events will follow in the weeks and months to come.

Self-organized struggles and Tanger Beni Tadjit

As is often the case in Morocco, struggles and revolts here and there, without 
coordination and without any policy of any party or union control. In Beni Tadjit (Figuig 
province in the east, which is commonly called "Morocco forgotten" as poverty is high), 
the population is on strike on April 15 with a dead city operation: with total closure of 
all the cafes, small shops, bakeries. Popular discontent, latent for months, focused 
around claims against the marginalization of their city, and for the construction of a 
hospital and the electrification of poor neighborhoods on the fringes of the city.

In Tangier, finally, on April 27, FTZ workers go on strike "for respect for trade union 
rights, union, solidarity and struggle" . Particularly dynamic region, unlike that of 
Figuig, Tangier has seen in recent years to settle number of multinationals. Among the 
latter, Renault, who now has a modern plant, following the relocation of part of the 
production sites of Douai and Cleon.

Workers continue, too, with no doubt, their movement to remind multinationals, here as 
elsewhere, we do not play with the dignity of a people accustomed to rely only on itself.

Jeremiah (AL Gard) and Marwan (AL NCB)

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