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zondag 27 augustus 2017

Anarchic update news all over the world - 27.08.2017

Today's Topics:

   

1.  black rose fed: BOSTON RALLIES AGAINST THE FAR-RIGHT - THE
      FUTURE OF ANTI-FASCISM? (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   

2.  Poland, WORKERS' INITIATIVE: Amazon - without fighting do
      not count on giving you more. [machine translation]
      (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   

3.  cnt valladolid es: CNT leaves strengthened of its School of
      Summer in Traspinedo (ca, fr, it, pt) [machine translation]
      (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   

4.  Greece, verba-volant: Communiqué of anarchist collectives
      of Western Greece on the diversion of the Acheloo River (gr, ca,
      en, fr, it, pt) [machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   

5.  [US] Cornel West: "If it were not for the anarchists and the
      antifascists, they would have crushed us" By ANA (ca, fr, it, pt)
      [machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   

6.  Britain, Brighton Solfed hospitality workers: Restaurant
      worker wins big pay-out in wage theft dispute 

     (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)


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Message: 1






Despite the efforts of the fascists and white supremacists to rebrand themselves after 
their attacks in Charlottesville, 40,000 counter-protesters turned out in Boston on 
Saturday to oppose their so called "free speech rally" in the Boston Common. The 
counter-protesters outnumbered the fascists about 1,000 to 1, a clear improvement since 
the previous such event in Boston on May 13, when similar forces were able to take to the 
streets without significant numbers in opposition. This time there were multiple 
counter-protests: Black Lives Matter organized a rally and march from Roxbury, multiple 
socialist organizations led a large demonstration in front of the State House, and many 
individuals also gathered directly around the area cordoned off by the police for the 
"free speech rally" to confront it directly. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh even got in on the 
action in Roxbury, despite having previously urged people to avoid the Boston Common rally 
point, and allowing the city to grant the rally a permit. Black Rose/Rosa Negra members 
were involved in a variety of different aspects of the counter-demonstrations.

After Charlottesville, several of the major speakers and organizations participating in 
the far-right rally backed out, including neo-Nazi Augustus Invictus, Proud Boys founder 
Gavin McInnes and Alt-Right figure "Baked Alaska" (Tim Treadstone). Even with these high 
profile withdrawals, fascists were active in Boston before the march, and were spotted 
outside of Black Lives Matter direct action trainings the night before. But ultimately on 
the day of, only a couple dozen fascists successfully made their way onto the bandstand 
where the rally was to be held. Many were blocked by counter-protesters and several of 
those mulling around outside the cordon were chased off as the day went on. Although they 
were massively outnumbered the fascists still sought a propaganda victory. There was an 
attempt to stage the knocking over of an elderly Trump supporter to loudly blame it on 
anti-fascists in front of right wing media and any other reporters willing to grant them a 
platform. The police used this incident to surround and search the bags of anti-fascists.

The police remained firmly on the side of the white supremacists. Their entire 
infrastructure was erected in order to defend the fascists, and they proactively stepped 
in to escort them out of the rally. The police also beat kettled counter-protesters, 
mostly people of color, with clubs and used copious pepper spray. They later equipped 
themselves with gas masks, ready to deploy tear gas, before a large enough crowd turned 
them back. Their role as agents of white supremacist violence in a reciprocal relationship 
with white supremacist vigilantes was on full display, as it has been at similar rallies 
since Charlottesville. Regardless, much of the media has lauded the conduct of the police 
at the demonstrations.

Shutting the Fascists Down

The multiple different actions, with varying proximity to the fascist demo, allowed for 
the separation of time and space necessary for a diversity of tactics to be meaningfully 
implemented without imposing them on those wishing to participate in other ways. This 
means that there was adequate opportunity for those wanting to physically shut down and 
disrupt the demonstration, as well as for those who wanted to vocalize their opposition 
without physically putting themselves in the path of the fascists. In general there was 
little conflict between those participating in different ways and overall the different 
elements of the counter-demonstration were complementary. Only a small number of the 
fascist attendees were able to enter the bandstand, and those who did only lasted an about 
an hour before being escorted out by cops.

Antifa was not a fringe element at this action. Militant anti-fascism was generally 
accepted and black blocs even received applause from hundreds of people. Militant 
anti-fascist actions were not even primarily carried out by organized Antifa groups but 
predominantly by working class community members, particularly people of color, who simply 
did not accept the presence of fascists in their community. Anti-fascism should therefore 
not be seen as a narrowly defined organization, but as a broader practice of community 
defense. Organized anti-fascists also acted in solidarity with other parts of the 
demonstrations, serving as protection for vulnerable people, as well as giving out snacks 
and water (a necessity in the heat).

The presence of thousands of people standing in solidarity with those on the front lines 
against the fascists was also crucial for disrupting the rally, simply putting more bodies 
in the way and illustrating popular opposition to fascism. With the mutual solidarity 
between those resisting fascism in different ways, anti-fascists were able to demonstrate 
that contrary to the "both sides" narrative that until very recently was being pushed by 
much of the media and political elite, that they are simply seeking to defend their 
communities from an emboldened fascist movement.

The Future of Anti-Fascism

This action in Boston demonstrates that even in deeply racist cities, anti-racist and 
anti-fascist action has a mass appeal. This even included general solidarity with more 
militant tactics. This should be seen in the context of Charlottesville, which has seemed 
to bring to light the real danger of white supremacist and fascist violence in a way the 
long list of white supremacist violence before did not. It is important, however, to note 
that despite the police violence and the militancy of working class people much of the 
media coverage has focused on and lauded the supposed nonviolent nature of the whole 
affair, including specific praise for the police, meaning this acceptance is not 
guaranteed to continue. This raises the potential for the cooptation of anti-fascist 
language by certain sections of the institutional left such as NGOs. This also makes 
emphasizing the role of the police in defending fascists and white supremacy as a whole an 
essential task as well as highlighting the necessity for community self defense projects 
as a central component of the anti-fascist struggle.

With 67 "America First" rallies being canceled in the aftermath of Charlottesville and 
Boston this is a major victory worth celebrating. But it is important that anti-fascism 
does not simply mean an opposition to racist rallies. Rather, it must be a daily practice 
of disrupting the ability of fascists to organize as well as building autonomous power 
within communities, especially communities of color, in order to increase the ability to 
defend people from the racist violence and overturn the white supremacist system as a 
whole. If anti-fascists are to be successful, they must be rooted in and accountable to 
their communities and those in danger of victimization by the forces of white supremacy 
both state sanctioned and individual.

The right appears to be fracturing somewhat, although the refusal of Trump to disavow them 
has prevented complete demoralization. It is important to continue to play up divisions 
within the right (the whole point of their actions in Charlottesville was to unite them 
after all) such as those that led to the Three Percenters giving a national stand down 
order after Charlottesville and to prevent the forces of reaction from forming into a more 
coherent coalition. It is important as well not to overstate our victory. The threat is 
not vanquished and white supremacist violence both by individuals and the state remains a 
real and pressing danger. However, we can and must build on our victories to defend 
ourselves and our communities and build a world in which fascism would have no room to 
rise in the first place.

http://blackrosefed.org/boston-future-of-anti-fascism/

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Message: 2







July is for hundreds of thousands of Amazon employees a very intensive period. At this 
time, the company celebrates its birthday by organizing mass sales. Their peak moment is 
mid-summer and is celebrated under the name Prime Day. ---- The corporation is preparing 
for this event from the beginning of July. For the first half of the month, employees have 
frozen holidays, extended shifts (up to 52 hours a week), work under greater pressure. In 
addition, Amazon worldwide stores (the so-called Fulfillment Center) outstrip performance, 
trying to set new shipping records. For managers it is a chance to get very high bonuses, 
for the serial employees it only involves greater emphasis on productivity, increased 
control and fatigue. ---- US analysts estimate Amazon sold $ 600 million worth of Prime 
Day last year. This year, in July, Jeff Bezos was declared the world's richest man, with a 
fortune worth $ 90 billion. Employees in Poland for work at the summit summoned a symbolic 
freqwenowy allowance in the amount of 150zl gross, which was supposed to motivate for 
regular arrival at work.

The wage disparity between first-level employees and managers and managers is so great 
that conflicts on their ground are unavoidable. In addition, in the summer season 
decisions are made on the growth of wages. In France, wage negotiations are taking place, 
resulting from the law in force. In Poland, Amazon completes the review of wages. This is 
a survey of wages in selected establishments and industries and the situation on the local 
labor market, on the basis of which the company decides to increase wages. This way of 
calculating wages is also applied by other companies. Firms do not take into account the 
profits that workers make, and the availability of cheap labor and salaries in nearby or 
similar establishments, which is uneven. In view of the remuneration review as the OZZ 
Employee Initiative, we directed to the management a list of claims, based on the survey 
conducted at the plant. Among them were: a 30% increase in the basic rate, the 
introduction of a thirteenth salary on a French model, the introduction of a higher German 
traineeship, a holiday under a pear from the Social Fund. Postulates were one of the 
topics of the last meeting of the OZZ Employee Initiative with representatives of the company.

Not only wages are the cause of disputes between employees and corporate executives. 
Amazon constantly improves the discipline and control model of employees to squeeze as 
much work out of them as possible at the least cost. In Poland in April introduced a 
program called. "Home visits" consisting in controlling people on sick leave. Amazon wants 
to "intimidate" employees whose health is deteriorated so they do not benefit from medical 
redundancy. In addition, some departments try to increase the control of the exit to the 
toilet or interruptions, or so. "Time off task" - a time in which no computer-aware 
activities, such as product scanning, are performed. If such situations last more than 3 
minutes are recorded in the system, counted and interpreted as an additional interval, 
Means breaking rules of work. This happens even if an employee longer than 3 minutes 
repairs damaged equipment or checks the order and the products that it processes. At the 
same time, at the beginning of the summer, the company worsened the employment model. 
Earlier, after about half a year's employment by temporary employment agencies and a 
three-month trial contract, some people managed to get a permanent job contract. 
Currently, you need to work an additional year on a fixed-term contract. This increases 
the period of unstable employment from less than a year to almost two years, with 
employees who do not leave early, withstand an average of about 3 years in the Amazon. As 
an Employee Initiative, we asked why the annual trial contracts were introduced, the HR 
department replied:

Do not over temp, work safely!

Restrictive workforce management and unstable conditions coinciding with low wages face 
resistance from the world of work, which at times of intense sales, such as the July Prime 
Day, is gaining momentum. At the beginning of the summer season, once again by the German 
magazine Amazon, a wave of strikes has passed. Employees from Leipzig, Augsburg, Bad 
Hersfeld, Rheinberg and Werne joined the Verdi trade union, demanding a Labor Agreement to 
guarantee higher wages. Strikes also took place in France. Workers from the union of Solid 
Soliders of FC in Orléans near Paris demanded better working conditions, greater stability 
and higher wages. At that time, one of the unionists from the CGT headquarters was 
released, which the trade unions responded to in a campaign against repression and labor 
camp protests. In the center of Poznan, a support group for Amazon employees made 
billboards showing the unequal distribution of profits in corporations. At one of them we 
organized a press conference informing the public about the situation and conflicts in 
Poland and abroad as well as the requests addressed to us a few days earlier by the employer.

Apart from locally organized activities, during the hottest sales season together with the 
crew of the Solid Solids of Orléans Orleans, ORY1 and LEJ1 activists, we managed to 
co-ordinate the "Safe Pack" action. Its purpose was to draw attention to the health and 
safety issues of employees, which at the peak of time are ignored by business because of 
"business needs". It is worth adding that bosses often use occupational health and safety 
regulations to reinforce hierarchies in the workplace, charge subordinates for accidents 
at work, control them or discipline them (repressive for union activity, punish them when 
working during rest or try to facilitate Work in the plant). This creates the appearance 
of caring for the health and safety of employees. In fact, BHP is becoming a tool for 
increasing pressure on the health of the plant. That is why we distributed a leaflet in 
the Orleans, Leipzig, and Poland magazines, which mentions what actually affects the 
physical condition of employees: regular drinking and using the toilet, using all rest 
breaks, abandoning lifting too heavy objects Reporting overloaded locations, abandoning 
unsuitable jobs, avoiding haste and routine, etc.

In response to the "Safe Pack", the board of directors of the French FC considered it 
necessary to demonstrate to the public that it was taking steps to promote the health of 
workers. In Poland, managers were forced to recall the rules of regular drinking water, 
which often requires moving to another part of the magazine and slowing down the pace of 
work. Ultimately this year in the post-Soviet FC failed to pack in the right time as many 
parcels as were intended. It was decided not only to develop the discussion on health and 
safety but also, first and foremost, a number of organizational errors committed by 
management and high absenteeism. In spite of this, "Safe Pack" has forced Amazon to 
respond to health-related issues raised by employees. Even a small, symbolic activity,

Together we are stronger.

After the action Leipzig employees sent a letter to the other Amazonians taking part in 
it, writing: "Our earnings vary a lot, but one thing we share: our working 
conditions![...]This common request is the starting point for our joint efforts. Let's 
continue to fight for healthy working conditions and fair wages! We are already looking 
forward to the next joint action - including coordinated strikes!

Amazon employs nearly 400,000 people in hundreds of warehouses worldwide. From year to 
year this number increases by several tens of thousands. Most are first level employees. 
We live in different countries with different labor laws, we speak different languages, we 
have different skin color, we function in other socio-economic conditions. In spite of 
these divisions we have more in common with those who manage us - leaders, managers, HR. 
Many of us count on being subordinated to the regime imposed by the managers of the work 
regime, or loyalty to the superiors instead of the rest of the workers, resulting in a 
promotion. Unfortunately, advancement meets only very few and is most often associated 
with compromising duties like the discipline of discipline and reporting on their recent 
colleagues. Instead of destroying our unity, By striving to achieve a precarious 
individual success we can take advantage of it by improving the working and pay conditions 
of all of us. It combines us in what conditions do we work, what role we play in our 
workplaces and what we want - dignified life and retrieval of subjectivity.

Amazon knows how to use relationships between employees against us. The official stance 
against the strike in Germany was: "Strikes have no bearing on the promise made to the 
company by Prime Day. Logistic centers in Germany and throughout Europe are prepared for 
the protest action and have increased their stock levels accordingly[...]. With the 
support of the remaining 31 magazines from other European countries, customers will 
receive fast and good service as usual. "We need to learn to use what we associate with us 
every day in our work against Amazon. Together we have been able to provide the company's 
founder with the first place on the list of the richest people in the world. We certainly 
know how to work together so we can regain our wealth and use it for our needs.

Intercompany Commission of OZZ IP at Amazon Poland

More photos and information about the billboard activity: 
http://www.rozbrat.org/informacje/poznan/4546-artisan-magazine-amazon-with-bez-granic

http://ozzip.pl/teksty/publicystyka/item/2292-amazon-bez-walki-nie-licz-ze-damy-ci-wiecej

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Message: 3






The 2017 Summer School of the CNT has been held from 18 to 20 August in the town of 
Traspinedo (Valladolid). The heat has struck hard, as expected, in the region of Tierra de 
Pinares of which is part Traspinedo, but hopefully all the difficulties that we have to 
face working class people were like this. Of course, it was not enough to dissuade us from 
the task we wanted to accomplish with the School: that unions from within and outside the 
Spanish State - eventually a total of eighteen - had occasion to analyze their trade union 
action together. ---- CNT continues to grow in affiliation and presence in the workplace . 
More and more workers and workers take the step of directly defending the rights that are 
taken away by the bosses and the administration; and  they do not wait for subsidized 
unions signing agreements on their behalf but behind them , or employment policies which 
multiply the subcontracts and precarious without seeking further improvement that 
corporate profits.

With its model of union struggle "without fear, without liberties, without subsidies" , 
CNT is emerging as an alternative for the working class. But in order to face the 
challenges of its growth, it is essential that the organization refines its tools and that 
the affiliated people share experiences and instruments of action . With that purpose has 
convened in Traspinedo (Valladolid) a Summer School from 18 to 20 August.

It has been three days of intensive sessions in which colleagues and colleagues have 
shared knowledge and debate on different levels of trade union action. The trade unions of 
Aranda de Duero, Aranjuez, Cáceres Norte, Córdoba, Guadalajara, Gijón, Iruña, Lebrija, 
Logroño, Madrid (Graphic Arts and Shows, Transport and Miscellaneous Offices), Valladolid, 
Villaverde and Zaragoza were present. Also present were trade unions from other countries 
with which CNT maintains fraternal and collaborative relationships: the FAU of Hannover 
and IWW of Cologne (Germany) and IWW London .

It is noteworthy that in the half-a-hundred participants there are practically as many 
women as men.

The headquarters of the school has been in the premises of the town hall of Traspinedo, 
locality that previously hosted three editions of the march-race against the strike 
organized by CNT Valladolid .

The axes of the school program have been union action, social communication and collective 
work techniques .  The whole event was based on self-management, and the participants 
themselves have contributed papers to their colleagues.

In the section on trade union action, a review has been made of strategies for collective 
bargaining, the process of constitution of trade union sections, the action against EREs 
and restructurings and the strike as a tool. These issues have been addressed through 
presentations and workshops based on case studies, provided by the unions of Lebrija, 
Zaragoza and Graphic Arts and Shows in Madrid .

A presentation by journalist  últimoCero  Fernando Valiño brought to light the interests 
and constraints that are behind the contents of the mainstream media.

This context makes one of the essential fronts for trade union struggle is to  break the 
silence and bring to the population the denunciations and demands of class organizations; 
The study of media and techniques for this purpose has been the subject of workshops and 
symposia by members of Graphic Arts and Shows in Madrid and the trade union of Gijón, both 
recently "in the eye of the hurricane" for their campaigns in this regard.

The task of dealing with the problems of working together and the techniques for solving 
them  has been handled by people affiliated with the union of Valladolid: both the study 
of real practical cases and the general theme of group formation and conflict resolution 
have been worked on.

In addition to training activities for CNT affiliation, the school has had  a program of 
activities open to the general public:

- Throughout the week,  exhibition of historical documents - photographs and posters - of 
CNT during the war against Franco, preserved by the Foundation of Libertarian Studies 
Anselmo Lorenzo.

- On the night of Friday the 18th,  projection of educational cartoon films for children, 
children and adults.

- A great concert for the night of Saturday 19 in charge of De Perdidas to the Trio and of 
Overall Brigade , who have to be thankful for its delivery and good work.

- Also on Saturday 19 a public tribute was made  to the victims of the Franco regime in 
the monument erected in Traspinedo . We enjoyed the performance of singer -  songwriter 
Chusma  and read a text - " Los olvidados de los olvidados " - which reaffirms CNT's 
commitment to justice for the victims of the Francoist genocide that has marked our history.

The School has been a moment to enrich the formation of CNT militancy, but also to 
strengthen ties within it. Two positive factors that  suggest repeating the experience in 
the future, as commented by the people who have participated in it .

For that and more, #CuentaConCNT

Several images of this chronicle come from ultimocero.com

https://www.cntvalladolid.es/cnt-sale-fortalecida-de-su-escuela-de-verano-en-traspinedo/

------------------------------

Message: 4





Against the looting of nature and society by the State and Capital ---- Following the 
passage of the environmental conditions law (governing Aqueloo diversion ) on August 2, 
2017 , the imminent operation of the Mesojora dam is proof that the diversion of the 
Acheloo River constitutes a major political issue for The sovereigns. It is integrated 
into a broader plan for the looting and sale of public wealth, and at the same time has 
been the greatest desire of the System diachronically. ---- The destruction of Mesojora, 
as well as the looting and control of natural wealth, will advance without any social 
consensus, like the memorandums and the domination of Capital in its various 
protectorates, such as the Greek State. In the same way, the prey has been standing for 
forty years: with repression by the state. It is a repression directed at any fighter. On 
the other hand, (this repression) tries to silence, distort and deprive the meaning of 
collective proposals that promote social solidarity and resistance.

Whatever the conclusion of the criminal works carried out in the high flow of Aqueloo, the 
struggle for social liberation and people who will oppose any attempt to operate the dam 
(hydroelectric power station) will win. The struggle for the defense of nature and society 
will continue to mount barricades against capitalist development, wherever capitalist 
barbarism manifests, until the total overthrow of the state and capital.

It is certain that all who have learned that the sovereigns are making a double attack 
through the works of the diversion of the river Aqueloo, will oppose them both in Mesojora 
and on all fronts of the declared war against society. Both against the industrialization 
of agricultural production in Thessaly and against the control of water by the 
multinationals that will manage the dams after the sale, and through the "Fund for the 
Effective Exploitation of Public Property" profitable sectors of the Electricity Company .
The control of natural resources is a very important intention for the bosses' war against 
the poorest social strata, as this will keep them under constant pressure through the 
supply of water and electricity, which in the Society are fundamental survival factors.
The same crime is being committed worldwide: In the rivers of Asia, Africa and South 
America, where colossal multinational corporations (Coca Cola, Nestlé, e.tc.) are managing 
most of the aquatic resources, Through puppet governments controlled by them, and are 
exercising absolute control over local populations.

Resistance and the struggle against the State and Capital must be global, on all fronts 
and by all means, against the slags of Power and those related to it. The decent attitude 
of all those who resist together with the inhabitants of Mesojora against an ecological 
and economic catastrophe is the one that for several decades has canceled the operation of 
the prey and the diversion of Aqueloo.
We continue to fight for the liberation of nature and society from the moorings of 
sovereigns and patrons of all kinds. In this struggle our arms are solidarity, 
self-organization and dignity.
Agrinio Self-Managed Site, Missolonghi Free Social Space Skepi Diks (Homeless), Igumenitsa 
Anarchists, Guillotine Anarchist Collective

http://verba-volant.info/es/comunicado-de-colectividades-anarquistas-de-la-grecia-occidental-sobre-el-desvio-del-rio-aqueloo/

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Message: 5






In the wake of the recent clashes in Charllotesville, Virginia, involving extreme-right 
demonstrators, neo-Nazis, white supremacists and counter-demonstrators, black activist and 
philosopher Cornel West gave an interview to the Democracy Now! Program led by journalist 
Amy Goodman. The following is an excerpt from the interview. ---- There was a group of 
brave students of all colors who were at the University of Virginia protesting against the 
neo-Fascists. The neo-fascists had their own weapons. And this is a very important thing 
to keep in mind because the police, for the most part, backed down. The next day, for 
example, the 20 of us who were standing there, many of them from the clergy, would have 
been crushed as cockroaches had it not been for the anarchists and the antifascists who 
approached, some 300 or 350 antifascists. We were 20. And we were singing " This Little 
Light of Mine ". You know what I mean? So that ...

The antifascists, and soon, something crucial, the anarchists, because in fact they saved 
our life. We would have been crushed completely, and I will never forget it. What does 
this mean? What it means is that the police were stepping back, that on the one hand, so 
we would not even have been arrested. We were there to be arrested. We would not have been 
arrested because the police had withdrawn, leaving the fellow citizens to attack each 
other, with all the consequences that could be derived from this.

So, in this sense, I think what we are really seeing, Sister Amy, is the decline of the 
American empire, with the reign of great fortunes, with massive militarism, facilitated by 
the use of the most vulnerable as scapegoats: immigrants, Muslims, Jews, Arabs, gays, 
lesbians, trans and bisexuals, and black people. White supremacy was so intense. I've 
never seen that kind of hate in my life. We stood there, and passed nine units, staring 
straight into our eyes. Insulting us too. They were lucky that the Holy Spirit did not 
abandon me, to be honest, because he wanted to let me go. I'm a Christian, but not a 
pacifist, you know? But I restrained myself. However, this kind of hate ... but this is 
only the place of the conflict. This is about the great fortunes of the arms industry, And 
the way in which this capitalist civilization is leading us into incredible darkness and 
desolation. And the most beautiful thing is to see people fight against it. It was a 
beautiful thing to see all these people answering. But there were more fascists than 
anarchists, more fascists than people responding.

> Interview in full:

Https://www.democracynow.org/2017/8/14/cornel_west_rev_toni_blackmon_clergy


------------------------------

Message: 6







A worker in Brighton, UK has won over £20,000 in unpaid holiday and wages in a dispute 
with a restaurant. ---- João worked at the restaurant from 2009 until a few months ago, 
and on leaving calculated that they had been short-changed for tens of thousands of 
pounds. ---- He had been working 65-hour weeks for less than minimum wage. João, who has a 
precarious migration status, then contacted a local union for help. ---- The restaurant is 
not being named, as the claim was settled on the eve of a public campaign by the Brighton 
Solidarity Federation (BSF), an anarcho-syndicalist union in the seaside town. ---- After 
several weeks of negotiation £23,000 will be paid to João in five installments, the first 
of which has already been paid. ---- A BSF member familiar with the case told libcom that 
this was not the first dispute with this restaurant.

"We had a dispute with the same place 3 years ago with a worker from Spain, which was also 
successful before it became an open public conflict.

"At the time we were aware of some workers being made to work over 60 hours a week at 
below minimum wage, in highly irregular conditions, but they felt too vulnerable to be 
involved in a dispute.

"However, as a result of the first dispute, the place tried to regularise the working 
conditions of all their workers as they realised what a vulnerability this was.

"This is what enabled this worker now, 3 years later, to be in a position to take on their 
employer when the job finished."

Brighton is an historic seaside resort, with ‘caring, leisure and other service' sectors 
accounting for around 1-in-10 jobs in the city.

The city's hospitality sector employs large numbers of migrant workers, young people, and 
students on a casualised basis, making it difficult for workers to assert their rights.

Problems like wage theft, zero hours contracts, and dismissal without notice are common.

Since October 2013, BSF's Brighton Hospitality Workers campaign has been organising in the 
city's hospitality sector, covering restaurants, cafes, pubs, and hotels.

The campaign uses direct action tactics such as picketing to support current and former 
workers taking on their bosses, and aims to develop self-organised workplace solidarity in 
the sector.

Disputes have often taken on issues of wage theft or non-payment of sick or severance pay, 
with the typical sums involved being around £1000.

The campaign has also won reinstatement following unfair dismissal, and supported workers 
dealing with bullying at work.

Note: The worker's name has been changed to protect their anonymity

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