Today's Topics:
1. Poland, ozzip: $ 2, 000 for Everyone" - Amazon
The instrumentation of the crisis in sanitary terms by the government shows that
beyond her deliberate inability to fortify the public health system, she found
appropriate ground to speed up repressive measures, with even more police state.
It imposes confinement and terrorizes society enormously with huge fines, while
pushing the vast majority of the workforce into poverty and unemployment. ---- At
the same time, it feeds millions of systemic media and "immortals", throwing a
allowance of a dry party to the poor to "plug it". It legislates reactionary
against the working class, with bankruptcy codes, labor bills, university police,
bills criminalizing trade union action, while bullying antifascists, arresting
teenagers and even abusing infants.
Specifically, through the announcements of the Prime Minister at the TIF, it is
obvious that at the same time with the pandemic, state mechanisms are doing
"overtime", targeting whatever it has left by labor rights, as they are now
considered "obsolete arrangements of the last century ". In short, with the new
labor bill that It is about to be voted in November, the abolition of the 8
o'clock and institutionalization is coming 10 hours, employees should be more
"flexible" and will be more "rubber", since overtime will have no limit and will
not be paid but will "Offset" with breaks or part-time at half-yearly. Still, the
bill contains the substantial abolition of the strike in public and communal
services utilities (transport, ports, telecommunications, energy), since security
personnel will should be 40%, so as not to interrupt production and promote
criminalization of the strike and the trade union action after both the strike
gathering outside the workplace as well as guarding it will be criminal
offense and sabotage of collective and trade union proceedings, if they will
must be made compulsorily and exclusively online, with a complete dossier of
participants in the General Register of Trade Unions of Employees (GEMISOE).
At the same time, the looted insurance funds are being hit even harder
pandemic, as the state, with the "soft" persuasions of large employers, reduces
the percentage of the latter's contributions to the insurance funds (ie the
amounts that so far translated into support of care, unemployment benefits and
pensions).
Through the bonus policy that is exercised, an attempt is made to silence the
employees, while at the same time restrictive junta-type traffic measures are
imposed in order to pass laws and regulations depriving them of the right to
protest. All this, in continuation of the "COOPERATION" program, where the state
"cut" part of the salaries of employees to the bosses, gradually transforming the
salary into a bonus and giving freedom and alibi to the latter, not to pay for
the work they buy and exploited.
As for sections of society that resist, more and more is taking place
extreme repression with raids on public spaces, evacuations of squatters and
attacks on children (14-year-old students and 5-year-old children). However,
waving his finger at social base, the government spends twice on equipment, cops,
millions in canals and "long walks" while giggling that there are no "money
trees" for health, education, insurance and transport.
Against the governmental doctrine of individual responsibility, we propose
collective and class vigilance.
We unite in workplaces, grassroots unions and labor unions collectives in our
area, we form Libertarian unions outside and in rupture with him regime trade
unionism of GSEE-ADEDY in the direction of the formation of a revolutionary labor
confederation.
WE ARE NOT TERRORIZED! WE ARE ANGRY!
LET'S EXPAND OUR ACCUMULATED WRATH ON THEM!
TO TRANSFORM OUR ANGRY IN A MATCH!
NO SINGLE - NO SINGLE!
https://ese.espiv.net/2020/11/16/kanena-lock-down-stis-eleytheries-kai-ta-dikaiomata-mas/
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Message: 7
In South Africa over the last few years we have seen many struggles within
workplaces and communities. A feature of these struggles, however, has been the
difficulty in maintaining and building organisations that are long-lasting and
that are also inclusive and participatory. In these struggles, new layers of
activists have emerged. ---- This booklet is a tool to introduce these new
activists to what capitalism is, how it functions and in whose interests, how
society is divided into different classes with differences in power and
interests, what role the state plays, and how the state functions in the
interests of capitalism and the ruling class.
Capitalism and anti-capitalism
Part 1 of this booklet aims to help activists deepen their understanding of the
system we live under, how a majority of people are exploited, and how and why a
majority of people face forms of oppression. It can also be used as a basis for
activists to analyse why they face the problems they do, and the deeper reasons
for these problems.
Part 2 of this booklet looks specifically at building a movement. Both new and
seasoned activists can use this booklet to think more deeply about the elements,
values, principles and practices of movement building.
We hope it will contribute to the long process of building participatory and
directly democratic organisations that can one day become a counter-power to
replace capitalism and the state, and thereby end class exploitation, patriarchy
and racism in South Africa and internationally.
This booklet was originally written by Comrade Felipe Corrêa for anti-capitalist
activists in Brazil. Some of the information regarding South Africa has been
added by ILRIG to provide examples of the concepts covered that are South African
based. The illustrations have been reproduced from the Pintelute muralist
collective from Brazil. Follow @pintelute on Facebook or Instagram.
Download Part 1 here.
https://www.ilrigsa.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Capitalism-Anti-capitalism-web.pdf
Download Part 2 here.
https://www.ilrigsa.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Popular-Organisation-web.pdf
Related Link:
https://www.ilrigsa.org.za/2020/11/10/capitalism-anti-capitalism-and-popular-organisation-part-1/
Popular organisation
https://www.anarkismo.net/article/32087
------------------------------
Message: 8
"I don't see why the vulnerable can't just stay in and the rest of us get on with
our lives." ---- People arranging to meet friends and family from other
households both indoors and out, even though they know this is against the rules
Thousands attending parties, raves and big gatherings all over the summer and
even during the second lockdown ---- Churches rebelling against lockdown and
holding services ---- Workplaces still open that aren't Covid- secure, including
schools, colleges and universities ---- Dominic Cummings breaking lockdown rules
---- Johnson having to self-isolate because he clearly broke his own rules at
number 10 Downing St ---- Thousands demonstrating against lockdown ---- Given
anarchism's attitude towards authority and the State, you would have thought that
we would have been all for the way people are rebelling against the various
lockdowns and rules, which have been imposed by the State and enforced by the
police. After all, isn't anarchism about freedom?
There may be some anarchists who would fit this description, however, in the ACG
we are anarchist communists and though freedom from coercion is a key part of our
politics, so is collective responsibility, mutual aid and solidarity. We take a
different approach to being safe during the pandemic, both from the government
and those who claim to be rebelling against curtailments of their freedom.
Firstly, we need to be clear about two things:
Everyone's life is valuable, no matter what their situation. Protecting the old
and vulnerable, people with underlying conditions, is as important as protecting
the lives of more ‘productive' members of society. Some people use this as an
excuse for their own behaviour - they and their friends won't die so why worry
about those who would die soon anyway? This attitude we find despicable. Who is
to decide who deserves to live?
The pandemic is far from over, despite a vaccine hopefully on its way. Thousands
are still getting the disease and many dying. It is spread by people coming into
contact with someone who is already infected and because many are asymptomatic,
it is impossible to know who has it and who doesn't. Track and trace has helped
to an extent but you can still never be sure because the system is far from being
completely comprehensive. Therefore, if we are to stop the spread of Covid,
people have to drastically limit the contact they have with others. We can see
this for ourselves; we don't need to be told by government, who often rely on
their own version of science that suits them, or don't fully understand the often
complicated scientific explanations. The evidence in front of our own eyes and
that of the NHS and care home staff should be enough for us to understand what
needs to be done. It is not just people dying from Covid. Many more people will
die from untreated cancer and other diseases because of the way Covid cases have
dominated health care services.
Anarchist communists believe in self-organisation. We do not follow rules because
the government says we have to, we follow rules that we ourselves have
collectively developed. It is this that lies at the heart of the problem with
lockdown; rules have been imposed on people without a sense of them arising from
people themselves. They do not come from the experience of people in the
community and the workplace but are developed with other agendas in mind. This
has resulted in confusing and contradictory messages and has created a general
mess, leading to many ignoring guidelines, whether that be individuals,
workplaces or other institutions. One example was the rule that all pubs needed
to close at 10 pm. This was not thought through and led to people piling into the
street at the same time and workers having to travel home in crowded transport.
One of the key problems is that the government, despite following the advice of
scientists to an extent, continues to put the economy and profits first. This has
resulted in workplaces staying open that are unsafe. Many of these workplaces
have no union organisation or unions that do very little to protect workers
because there are often no independent health and safety reps. A major part of
the problem is that workers are in fear of losing their jobs and many would not
be eligible for furlough. The fact that so many workers have no security or
income makes them willing to work in any conditions, leading to increases in
Covid cases.
The policies on education have also caused the increase in cases. Students, many
of whom had been travelling and mixing socially all over the summer, were
encouraged to start their university courses, many crammed together in halls of
residence. It was not surprising that Covid spread like wildfire. Though schools
were also opened (supposedly for the benefit of children's education but really
as a way of making sure people went back to work) and this has led to a rise in
cases as well. Though children and young people may not suffer in the same way as
older people, they still bring the disease home and also can infect their teachers.
Meanwhile, in order to show that they are doing something, the government in
England has imposed a second lockdown and closed non-essential shops and services
and the hospitality sector. Though there may be some cause to do this - pubs and
restaurants were the source of some cases - people are resentful because many
other sources of the disease are still open, eg universities. And, many shops,
services, such as gyms and hairdressers, and pubs and restaurants have spent a
lot of money to ensure they are Covid-secure. Yes, there were some places that
were not and did not enforce basic safety rules, but most did. And, it will be
the workers who suffer, with employers in these industries quick to lay people off.
The end result of these policies is that it is unlikely that the pandemic will
get under control, with many more deaths, before a vaccine is fully rolled out.
So what should we be doing, regardless of what the government says, to end the
pandemic?
All workplaces need to be Covid-secure in order to open, under the control of the
workers. (For more ideas about making workplaces safe see: nosafetynowork.org).
If they cannot be made safe, then they should not be open and the workers
furloughed with job security. Covid-related sackings must not be tolerated.
Universities and colleges should end face-to-face teaching until the crisis is over.
Schools need an influx of money to make sure that they are Covid-secure - more
space is needed for social distancing and home schooling. If parents and teachers
are not happy with arrangements then they should refuse to have children at school.
Local communities should take more control over what is open and what support is
offered to people who are on their own. Track and trace and testing needs to be
under the control of local communities so everyone knows what is going on and who
actually has the disease.
People should resist the temptation to meet up with others unless they really are
in a bubble - not one that keeps changing to suit. Mutual aid groups are
important here to support people both physically and mentally. Socially distanced
outings and meet ups can be organised.
The government has always been lukewarm and contradictory about wearing
facemasks. But common sense tells us that they are a good idea - both inside and
when walking around if a lot of people are about. Just because something isn't a
rule doesn't mean we don't have to exercise common sense.
All these ideas are based on the basic anarchist communist principles of
self-organisation, solidarity and mutual aid. We don't need the government to
tell us what to do, nor do we have to go against our own common sense just
because the government wants to keep the economy going. Of course, it is hard for
people to do what is best when they are in precarious positions at work. This is
why class organisation and struggle is the vital element in any strategy.
Visit the No Safety No Work website for more Covid 19 articles, info and resistance
anarchistcommunism.org/2020/11/17/covid-lockdown-rules-and-anarchist-communism/
------------------------------
employees are
demanding a bonus, not a frosted donut [machine translation]
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
demanding a bonus, not a frosted donut [machine translation]
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
2. Belarus, pramen: Call for a week of solidarity with
anarchists and antifascists of Belarus 23-30 November
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
anarchists and antifascists of Belarus 23-30 November
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
3. France, Union Communiste Libertaire AL #310 - Unionism,
RATP: faced with calumnies, the choice of pedagogy (de, it, fr,
pt)[machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
RATP: faced with calumnies, the choice of pedagogy (de, it, fr,
pt)[machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
4. France, Union Communiste Libertaire UCL - UCL press release,
Global security bill : less freedom, more repression (de, it, fr,
pt)[machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
pt)[machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
5. France, Union Communiste Libertaire UCL - Antipatriarcat,
Fourteen weeks: means for an effective right to abortion
Fourteen weeks: means for an effective right to abortion
(de, it,
fr, pt)[machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
fr, pt)[machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
6. Greece, ESE Athens: NO LOCK DOWN TO OUR FREEDOMS
AND RIGHTS!
[machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
[machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
7. anarkismo.net: Capitalism, Anti-Capitalism and Popular
Organisation [Booklet] by ILRIG (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
Organisation [Booklet] by ILRIG (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
8. UK, ACG: Covid, Lockdown Rules and Anarchist Communism
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
On November 5, 2020, Amazon employees in Bielany Wroclawskie, during the day and
night shifts, suspended their work under the slogan "PLN 2,000 for everyone". In
the following days, people employed in other warehouses began to join the
protest. The Employee Initiative supports and documents employee actions. More
people report that they want to get involved, especially on the upcoming Black
Friday, during the period of increased work. ---- The Amazon WRO1 warehouse in
Bielany Wroclawskie is the company's only warehouse in Poland that handles
large-size items. The warehouse employs over a thousand forklift operators who
unfold and collect items ordered by customers from high-bay racks. Amazon in
Poland, which employs 18 thousand. people directly, every autumn he recruits an
additional thousand agency workers for the pre-Christmas period - this year he
has declared work through the agency to 14 thousand people. The warehouses near
Wroclaw must have run out of hands, since the agencies started offering an
additional recruitment bonus for new employees in the amount of PLN 2,000. PLN.
The bonus caused a great stir among employees with longer experience and agency
workers working for several months, who were not entitled to it. It has been
discussed in magazines and online forums that Amazon only cares about recruiting
employees for short-term pre-holiday contracts and order fulfillment, rather than
appreciating employees already hired. The Employee Initiative has for years
pointed out that Amazon is shifting the costs of its business model onto the
shoulders of employees, offering 2-week or monthly unstable agency contracts
during the season when it captures the greatest profits.
Dissatisfaction has increased especially because most of Amazon's warehouse
workers have not received any raises this year. Since 2015, Amazon has been
carrying out the so-called "Salary overview" comparing earnings in the region
around warehouses and in similar industries. For the first time in 5 years -
during the pandemic, when the wealth of the owner of Amazon, Jeff Bezos,
increased unimaginably, and he himself went to the top five businessmen in
history - the vast majority of Amazon employees in Poland had their salaries
frozen at PLN 20 gross per hour.
In the period from November 8 to December 26, 2020, Amazon introduced a "holiday
bonus to salary" in the amount of PLN 4 per hour worked. The supplement
regulations were presented to the trade unions, which, however, expected higher
amounts. Amazon was not ready to make concessions. It is worth recalling that
from mid-March to mid-May, after employee protests in various countries, Amazon
paid a similar allowance, known as "covid", in the amount of PLN 4 per working
hour. The pandemic is not over. Amazon employees, along with other warehouse and
logistics employees, are called heroes, thanks to whom orders can be fulfilled
during the economic closure. Due to the ongoing mass recruitment, even more
people come into contact with each other every day in company buses, cloakrooms,
canteens and in the hall, putting their health at risk.
According to many employees, the current PLN 4 bonus - just like in the spring -
should be a continuation of the "covid" bonus, and the Christmas bonus should be
paid regardless of it and should be much higher. Thanks to him, in recent years,
employees have mended their home budgets, because their earnings were
unsatisfactory throughout the year.
For this reason, after November 5, 2020, there was a series of grassroots
protests involving downtime at work, lasting from a few minutes to an hour.
Others objected by wearing orange vests at work with a hand-made inscription
"2,000. PLN for everyone ". They could be seen in Amazon in Sosnowiec, Sady near
Poznan, Kolbaskowo and in Bielany near Wroclaw. Employees sent photos and called
on others to take action: "who supports us, also wear a vest like that!".
The Employee Initiative received recordings showing the protest of forklift
operators from the Amazon warehouse near Wroclaw. During the day shift, about
115-130 trucks (i.e. the vast majority of operators from these departments) took
part in the protest at the unloading and loading department (dock and ship). As
one of the participants relates: "The protest consisted in the fact that all
employees went to one place and sounded their horns for about three minutes.
People who showed solidarity with us came to us as a sign of protest. This made a
great impression among the other employees of the warehouse. Of course, managers
and people from HR soon flew in. In conclusion, we shouted "2,000 for everyone!"
Three times.
We also got information from employees in the same warehouse, but from other
departments, that the protest also took place during the night shift, between 1
and 2 am. Staff at the pick and stow departments blocked the path at the pick
department, blocking the passage. The participant wrote: "The protest at WRO1 was
also attended by the customer returns department on three links: about 180 people
turned on the andons for a few minutes." The red andon is a light signal
informing that for technical reasons it is impossible to continue work.
The Employee Initiative sent a letter to the corporation, in which we wrote: "As
a trade union that associates Amazon employees and agency employees, we express
indignation that the bonus does not apply to employees directly employed by
Amazon, as well as agency employees who have already been working on the
Company's premises for some time . We realize that many job agencies that offer a
bonus work with Amazon and indirectly benefit from the profits generated by
Amazon Employees. We demand explanations regarding the conduct of such a
remuneration policy. The news touched many people and the staff perceives such a
remuneration policy as a disrespect for employees with longer experience. In
connection with the above, we take the position
On November 13, we received a response from Amazon: "We would like to inform you
that temporary employment agencies have a remuneration policy that is independent
of Amazon and applies to the employees they employ. The bonus mentioned by the
trade union organization in the letter is not the bonus proposed by Amazon and
the employer is not a party to this (...) ". Amazon did not respond to the fact
that employees feel agitated and perceive such a wage policy for disrespect and
take protest actions, or that the union side has expressed its readiness to start
talks. However, we could read that employees will receive Christmas benefits from
the Company Social Benefits Fund (although it is known that the creation of the
ZFSS fund is regulated by the law and is not a goodwill of the corporation) and
"traditionally, during November and December, numerous competitions and
attractions will be held, details of which will be announced soon". These
attractions - according to posters displayed in magazines - are donut with icing,
a drink or a snack.
The union supports and documents employee actions from below. We receive
information that more people want to join the activities, especially on the
upcoming Black Friday, during the period of increased work. The Employee
Initiative declares that it will support these protests and, if necessary, will
provide legal assistance to their participants.
2,000 for everyone! Whoever supports us, should wear such a vest!
OZZ Amazon Employee Initiative
ipamazon@wp.pl - 736 850 536
https://ozzip.pl/informacje/ogolnopolskie/item/2712-2-000-dla-kazdego-pracownicy-amazon-domagaja-sie-dodatku-a-nie-paczka-z-lukrem
------------------------------
Message: 2
Anarchists have always stood up against tyranny and dictatorship. Regardless of
the color of the flag, raised by authoritarianism over this or that corner of the
planet. So it is not surprising that anarchists are actively involved in the
uprising against the dictator Lukashenko in Belarus. From the very first days,
with our determination and uncompromising attitude, we showed that anarchism is a
revolutionary movement capable of changing the world! ---- During the uprising,
many of our comrades ended up in prison. Now at least 10 anarchists and
antifascists are serving administrative arrests. In addition, 10 anarchists and 4
anti-fascists are waiting for criminal courts, punishment for some of them
reaches 20 years in prison. ---- We call on you to join the week of solidarity
and show by action your support for revolutionary anarchists and antifascists
fighting against the occupation regime of Lukashenko! Every action counts!
Send reports on the actions and activities to the post email of ABC-Belarus
belarus_abc@riseup.net.
Financial support can be send through ABC-Belarus
(https://abc-belarus.org/?p=13136) or crowdfunding campaign
(https://www.firefund.net/belarus).
Details of political affairs
Since the beginning of the protest about 40 of our comrades have been detained
and sentenced on administrative cases. Some of them later became defendants in
criminal cases. Without waiting for their arrest, they decided to leave Belarus.
Many activists are now forced to hide from persecution in Belarus and abroad.
The case of anti-fascists "MTZ-RIPO"
Anti-fascists Vitaliy Shishlov, Tamaz Pipiya, Timur Pipiya and Denis Boltut were
arrested after protests against Lukashenko's secret inauguration in October this
year. About 5 thousand people took part in protests throughout Minsk. Minor
clashes with rioters took place in some parts of the city. According to the
investigation, anti-fascists took part in them. Moreover, two of them were also
charged with organizing mass riots.
All anti-fascists are now waiting for trial in the pre-trial detention center.
The case of the Belarusian anarcho-partisans
On October 22 in Soligorsk administrative building of State committee of forensic
examination was attacked and cars were set on fire at the parking of prosecutor's
office of Soligorsk district. On the night of October 28 a building of traffic
police department of Mozyrsky district was set on fire. Soon anarchists Ihar
Alinevich, Dzmitry Dubovsky, Dzmitry Rezanovich and Sergey Romanov were detained
on the territory of Belarus near the Ukrainian border.
The activists are accused of terrorist activity and illegal trafficking in
weapons and explosives. At present, everyone is in the KGB jail in Minsk.
The case of Mikalai Dziadok
Anarchist and blogger Mikalai Dziadok was detained late in the evening of
November 11 in a safe house near Minsk. After his arrest Dedok was beaten for
several hours and forced to give passwords to the encrypted equipment.
The investigation believes that Dziadok repeatedly called for illegal actions on
his Internet pages, including participation in protests and resistance to the
cops. Dziadok himself was forced to go underground even before the revolution
because of the threat of political persecution.
The case of Igor Banzer
Anarchist, antifascist and musician Igor Banzer was detained on October 20 in
Grodno. He was charged under part 1 of article 339 (hooliganism) for performance
in front of a cop car. Before that, he had been repeatedly detained at protest
actions.
Akihiro Khanada-Gaevsky, Alexander Franzkevich, Maria Rabkova, Andrei Chepiuk,
and Ivan Krasovsky were also detained for organizing, participating in, and
financing mass riots. You can learn more about them on our website:
https://abc-belarus.org/?paged=3&cat=3
https://pramen.io/en/2020/11/call-for-a-week-of-solidarity-with-anarchists-and-antifascists-of-belarus-23-30-november/
------------------------------
Message: 3
How to "react well" when trade unionists are defamed using negrophobic and
anti-Semitic stereotypes ? In the context of a sad affair, Solidaires-RATP has
waived a legal complaint, and preferred an argument accessible to all. ---- In
Alternative Libertaire of July-August , we saw how the "unified" solidarity fund
CGT-Solidaires a posteriori helped the strikers of the RATP. Unfortunately, it
has also provided some with the opportunity to afford a slice of primary
anti-unionism, and worse yet. Thus, at the beginning of May, activists from
SUD-RATP (which, despite its name, has nothing to do with Solidaires) and La Base
(a pseudo-union) accused Solidaires and the CGT of having embezzled the money. of
the cash register.
A first message sent via WhatsApp and Facebook to dozens of agents suggested that
the CGT-RATP would have spent half of the money to carry out work in the castle
it owns in Fontenay-les- Briis, and Solidaires-RATP the other half for a karting
evening with "National Solidaires"...
A few days later, it was a photo of two officials of the CGT and Solidaires,
crossed out with the words "700,000/2 = ???", Implying that the money would have
been embezzled by these two activists ...
But that was just the start. A first video then circulated. It reveals a black
individual, sporting heavy golden necklaces. The dubbing, produced by one of the
directors of La Base, makes the character say: "Yeah well man, you see, the
strike fund of 700,000 euros CGT-Solidaires, I turned it into gold and I wear it
around the neck now, you see ... Hahaha !"All with an accent supposed to be"
African"worthy of the worst sketches of Michel Leeb.
"Shut up, you'll get nothing at all !""
The next day, rebelote. In a new video, he's a character from The Truth If I Lie.
The dubbing, with a supposedly Sephardic accent, make him say: " CGT-Solidaires,
we have 700,000 euros, my friend ..." Another, who asks him: "And, that's when we
..."Picks up a slap and a"Shut up, you'll get nothing at all !So here are two
clichés, one negrophobic, the other anti-Semitic, conveyed in a concerted manner
by the leaders of SUD-RATP and La Base: the black thief and bling-bling ; the
thief and greedy Jew.
The CGT chose to ignore these baseness so as not to advertise them. Solidaires
denounced them in a press release and considered filing a complaint. But, in the
end, the members voted for the production of a "video report" of the strike fund,
in which these racist content would be deciphered. The video will be broadcast
after the second distribution of checks, that is to say very soon. It is
therefore the choice of pedagogy rather than recourse to bourgeois justice, which
would have publicly brought RATP activists face to face. A position which is all
the more delicate as no RATP union has publicly supported Solidaires ...
This story says a lot about the ordinary racism that pollutes the working class,
and the work of deconstruction that the unions have to carry out.
Alexis (UCL Saint-Denis)
https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?RATP-face-aux-calomnies-le-choix-de-la-pedagogie
------------------------------
Message: 4
For several years the freedom-killing laws have multiplied [2]. Last September
the Ministry of the Interior presented its new plan for maintaining order, which
provides for new draconian measures under the pretext of protecting the
demonstrators. The bill on "global security" tabled on October 20 completes this
process. With this law, the government confirms its authoritarian will to offer
the police all the impunity it wishes to protect the interests of the bourgeoisie
by relying in particular on mass surveillance of the population. ---- The bill
under discussion is dangerous and must be fought for what it establishes.
Generalized coping
The risks of infringement of the right to respect for private life are numerous:
Articles 20 and 21 provide for widening access to images recorded by video
surveillance cameras to municipal police officers and to agents of the city of
Paris responsible for 'a police service, widening access to recordings from
individual cameras as well as the possibility of real-time transmission of these
images to the cops.
Increased surveillance from the air
Article 22 of the bill allows the use of drones with an on-board camera as a
surveillance tool, particularly during demonstrations. Their use will facilitate
the identification of individuals and the massive collection of personal data.
A desire to make police violence invisible
Article 24 creates a new offense relating to the dissemination, by any means
whatsoever, of images of the police, "with the aim of harming[their]physical or
mental integrity". Article 23, for its part, aims to exclude from the benefit of
reduced sentences the perpetrators of certain offenses "committed to the
prejudice of a person invested with a public elective mandate, of a soldier of
the national gendarmerie, of a civil servant. the national police or a
professional or voluntary firefighter ". These offenses which would lose the
benefit of reduced sentences correspond to attacks on life, physical integrity
and threats and acts of intimidation and therefore also the dissemination of
images of police officers. New offense therefore, and aggravated penalties.
Institutional racism still active
Article 10 provides for the addition of a minimum five-year residence permit for
foreign nationals for the issue of professional cards for private security agents.
Faced with these serious attacks on individual and collective freedoms, the
initiative initiated by the Quadrature du net and supported by dozens of
associations and collectives [1]is laudable but the only questioning of the
deputies appears to us well below the current issues. Other organizations such as
Amnesty International, LDH and journalists' unions have launched campaigns to
denounce this bill. Faced with these serious abuses that threaten activists but
also everyone, we must act. We are calling for street initiatives everywhere on
November 17 to demand the abandonment of the "Global Security" bill and we are
making this proposal to all the forces of the social movement.
Libertarian Communist Union November 14, 2020
Validate
[1] 55 organizations against "global security", La Quadrature du net November 12,
2020
[2] 2001- law on daily security / 2003 - law on internal security / 2006 - law on
the fight against terrorism / 2015 to 2017 - state of emergency / 2016 - secure
electronic documents / 2017 - anti-terrorism law which establishes a permanent
state of emergency
https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?Projet-de-loi-securite-globale-moins-de-libertes-plus-de-repression
------------------------------
Message: 5
A bill designed to strengthen the right to voluntary termination of pregnancy was
passed by the National Assembly on 8 October. This law is a step forward for
women's rights, but its course before final adoption is fraught with
difficulties, as she is well enough. Only our struggles ensure an effective right
to abortion. ---- The new bill extends the legal duration of the voluntary
termination of pregnancy (abortion) from twelve to fourteen weeks. This is
essential, because between 3000 and 5000 women go every year abroad at their own
expense, to abort. The most precarious women often can not afford it. Among other
provisions of this law, there is the possibility for midwives to perform surgical
abortions up to ten weeks, so that they could realize that abortion drug so far.
The Order of Physicians and the Academy of Medicine oppose this law. It is not
surprising, these institutions are reactionary and have never ceased to try to
limit the rights of women, already opposing in 1974 the law legalizing abortion.
Our lives cannot be placed in the hands of those people for whom women cannot
dispose of their bodies as they see fit!
The bill also provides for the removal of the conscience clause specific to
abortion (doctors already have a general conscience clause): so much the better!
These gentlemen certainly don't like it, but it's not for them to decide for us.
They will say they only want to protect women's health ; but forcing us to have
an abortion clandestinely is to put ourselves in concrete danger.
Lack of means for the right to abortion
Extending the deadlines is important to avoid many dramatic situations. But it is
certainly not enough. Eight percent of abortion centers have closed in recent
years. In many areas, it takes 100 km to have an abortion. In this, widening the
possibility for midwives to perform abortion is a good thing, but we must go much
further.
Today, free and open access to abortion for all women is certainly not
guaranteed. This leads to tragic situations, because a woman who wants to have an
abortion will have an abortion. Late abortions can therefore be performed in poor
sanitary conditions, endangering the health of women. What is needed today is to
increase the means so that the right to abortion is effective.
Even if the bill is carried among others by LREM deputies, Macron and Castex do
not hide their disapproval. They also appeal to the National Ethics Committee to
examine it. Only our struggles, the struggles of women for our right to dispose
of our bodies, to have children if we want and when we want, will be victorious.
We must continue to organize ourselves in our feminist associations, in our
family schedules, in our unions, so that not a woman is left behind.
Adèle (UCL Pantin)
https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?Quatorze-semaines-des-moyens-pour-un-droit-effectif-a-l-IVG
------------------------------
Message: 6
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
On November 5, 2020, Amazon employees in Bielany Wroclawskie, during the day and
night shifts, suspended their work under the slogan "PLN 2,000 for everyone". In
the following days, people employed in other warehouses began to join the
protest. The Employee Initiative supports and documents employee actions. More
people report that they want to get involved, especially on the upcoming Black
Friday, during the period of increased work. ---- The Amazon WRO1 warehouse in
Bielany Wroclawskie is the company's only warehouse in Poland that handles
large-size items. The warehouse employs over a thousand forklift operators who
unfold and collect items ordered by customers from high-bay racks. Amazon in
Poland, which employs 18 thousand. people directly, every autumn he recruits an
additional thousand agency workers for the pre-Christmas period - this year he
has declared work through the agency to 14 thousand people. The warehouses near
Wroclaw must have run out of hands, since the agencies started offering an
additional recruitment bonus for new employees in the amount of PLN 2,000. PLN.
The bonus caused a great stir among employees with longer experience and agency
workers working for several months, who were not entitled to it. It has been
discussed in magazines and online forums that Amazon only cares about recruiting
employees for short-term pre-holiday contracts and order fulfillment, rather than
appreciating employees already hired. The Employee Initiative has for years
pointed out that Amazon is shifting the costs of its business model onto the
shoulders of employees, offering 2-week or monthly unstable agency contracts
during the season when it captures the greatest profits.
Dissatisfaction has increased especially because most of Amazon's warehouse
workers have not received any raises this year. Since 2015, Amazon has been
carrying out the so-called "Salary overview" comparing earnings in the region
around warehouses and in similar industries. For the first time in 5 years -
during the pandemic, when the wealth of the owner of Amazon, Jeff Bezos,
increased unimaginably, and he himself went to the top five businessmen in
history - the vast majority of Amazon employees in Poland had their salaries
frozen at PLN 20 gross per hour.
In the period from November 8 to December 26, 2020, Amazon introduced a "holiday
bonus to salary" in the amount of PLN 4 per hour worked. The supplement
regulations were presented to the trade unions, which, however, expected higher
amounts. Amazon was not ready to make concessions. It is worth recalling that
from mid-March to mid-May, after employee protests in various countries, Amazon
paid a similar allowance, known as "covid", in the amount of PLN 4 per working
hour. The pandemic is not over. Amazon employees, along with other warehouse and
logistics employees, are called heroes, thanks to whom orders can be fulfilled
during the economic closure. Due to the ongoing mass recruitment, even more
people come into contact with each other every day in company buses, cloakrooms,
canteens and in the hall, putting their health at risk.
According to many employees, the current PLN 4 bonus - just like in the spring -
should be a continuation of the "covid" bonus, and the Christmas bonus should be
paid regardless of it and should be much higher. Thanks to him, in recent years,
employees have mended their home budgets, because their earnings were
unsatisfactory throughout the year.
For this reason, after November 5, 2020, there was a series of grassroots
protests involving downtime at work, lasting from a few minutes to an hour.
Others objected by wearing orange vests at work with a hand-made inscription
"2,000. PLN for everyone ". They could be seen in Amazon in Sosnowiec, Sady near
Poznan, Kolbaskowo and in Bielany near Wroclaw. Employees sent photos and called
on others to take action: "who supports us, also wear a vest like that!".
The Employee Initiative received recordings showing the protest of forklift
operators from the Amazon warehouse near Wroclaw. During the day shift, about
115-130 trucks (i.e. the vast majority of operators from these departments) took
part in the protest at the unloading and loading department (dock and ship). As
one of the participants relates: "The protest consisted in the fact that all
employees went to one place and sounded their horns for about three minutes.
People who showed solidarity with us came to us as a sign of protest. This made a
great impression among the other employees of the warehouse. Of course, managers
and people from HR soon flew in. In conclusion, we shouted "2,000 for everyone!"
Three times.
We also got information from employees in the same warehouse, but from other
departments, that the protest also took place during the night shift, between 1
and 2 am. Staff at the pick and stow departments blocked the path at the pick
department, blocking the passage. The participant wrote: "The protest at WRO1 was
also attended by the customer returns department on three links: about 180 people
turned on the andons for a few minutes." The red andon is a light signal
informing that for technical reasons it is impossible to continue work.
The Employee Initiative sent a letter to the corporation, in which we wrote: "As
a trade union that associates Amazon employees and agency employees, we express
indignation that the bonus does not apply to employees directly employed by
Amazon, as well as agency employees who have already been working on the
Company's premises for some time . We realize that many job agencies that offer a
bonus work with Amazon and indirectly benefit from the profits generated by
Amazon Employees. We demand explanations regarding the conduct of such a
remuneration policy. The news touched many people and the staff perceives such a
remuneration policy as a disrespect for employees with longer experience. In
connection with the above, we take the position
On November 13, we received a response from Amazon: "We would like to inform you
that temporary employment agencies have a remuneration policy that is independent
of Amazon and applies to the employees they employ. The bonus mentioned by the
trade union organization in the letter is not the bonus proposed by Amazon and
the employer is not a party to this (...) ". Amazon did not respond to the fact
that employees feel agitated and perceive such a wage policy for disrespect and
take protest actions, or that the union side has expressed its readiness to start
talks. However, we could read that employees will receive Christmas benefits from
the Company Social Benefits Fund (although it is known that the creation of the
ZFSS fund is regulated by the law and is not a goodwill of the corporation) and
"traditionally, during November and December, numerous competitions and
attractions will be held, details of which will be announced soon". These
attractions - according to posters displayed in magazines - are donut with icing,
a drink or a snack.
The union supports and documents employee actions from below. We receive
information that more people want to join the activities, especially on the
upcoming Black Friday, during the period of increased work. The Employee
Initiative declares that it will support these protests and, if necessary, will
provide legal assistance to their participants.
2,000 for everyone! Whoever supports us, should wear such a vest!
OZZ Amazon Employee Initiative
ipamazon@wp.pl - 736 850 536
https://ozzip.pl/informacje/ogolnopolskie/item/2712-2-000-dla-kazdego-pracownicy-amazon-domagaja-sie-dodatku-a-nie-paczka-z-lukrem
------------------------------
Message: 2
Anarchists have always stood up against tyranny and dictatorship. Regardless of
the color of the flag, raised by authoritarianism over this or that corner of the
planet. So it is not surprising that anarchists are actively involved in the
uprising against the dictator Lukashenko in Belarus. From the very first days,
with our determination and uncompromising attitude, we showed that anarchism is a
revolutionary movement capable of changing the world! ---- During the uprising,
many of our comrades ended up in prison. Now at least 10 anarchists and
antifascists are serving administrative arrests. In addition, 10 anarchists and 4
anti-fascists are waiting for criminal courts, punishment for some of them
reaches 20 years in prison. ---- We call on you to join the week of solidarity
and show by action your support for revolutionary anarchists and antifascists
fighting against the occupation regime of Lukashenko! Every action counts!
Send reports on the actions and activities to the post email of ABC-Belarus
belarus_abc@riseup.net.
Financial support can be send through ABC-Belarus
(https://abc-belarus.org/?p=13136) or crowdfunding campaign
(https://www.firefund.net/belarus).
Details of political affairs
Since the beginning of the protest about 40 of our comrades have been detained
and sentenced on administrative cases. Some of them later became defendants in
criminal cases. Without waiting for their arrest, they decided to leave Belarus.
Many activists are now forced to hide from persecution in Belarus and abroad.
The case of anti-fascists "MTZ-RIPO"
Anti-fascists Vitaliy Shishlov, Tamaz Pipiya, Timur Pipiya and Denis Boltut were
arrested after protests against Lukashenko's secret inauguration in October this
year. About 5 thousand people took part in protests throughout Minsk. Minor
clashes with rioters took place in some parts of the city. According to the
investigation, anti-fascists took part in them. Moreover, two of them were also
charged with organizing mass riots.
All anti-fascists are now waiting for trial in the pre-trial detention center.
The case of the Belarusian anarcho-partisans
On October 22 in Soligorsk administrative building of State committee of forensic
examination was attacked and cars were set on fire at the parking of prosecutor's
office of Soligorsk district. On the night of October 28 a building of traffic
police department of Mozyrsky district was set on fire. Soon anarchists Ihar
Alinevich, Dzmitry Dubovsky, Dzmitry Rezanovich and Sergey Romanov were detained
on the territory of Belarus near the Ukrainian border.
The activists are accused of terrorist activity and illegal trafficking in
weapons and explosives. At present, everyone is in the KGB jail in Minsk.
The case of Mikalai Dziadok
Anarchist and blogger Mikalai Dziadok was detained late in the evening of
November 11 in a safe house near Minsk. After his arrest Dedok was beaten for
several hours and forced to give passwords to the encrypted equipment.
The investigation believes that Dziadok repeatedly called for illegal actions on
his Internet pages, including participation in protests and resistance to the
cops. Dziadok himself was forced to go underground even before the revolution
because of the threat of political persecution.
The case of Igor Banzer
Anarchist, antifascist and musician Igor Banzer was detained on October 20 in
Grodno. He was charged under part 1 of article 339 (hooliganism) for performance
in front of a cop car. Before that, he had been repeatedly detained at protest
actions.
Akihiro Khanada-Gaevsky, Alexander Franzkevich, Maria Rabkova, Andrei Chepiuk,
and Ivan Krasovsky were also detained for organizing, participating in, and
financing mass riots. You can learn more about them on our website:
https://abc-belarus.org/?paged=3&cat=3
https://pramen.io/en/2020/11/call-for-a-week-of-solidarity-with-anarchists-and-antifascists-of-belarus-23-30-november/
------------------------------
Message: 3
How to "react well" when trade unionists are defamed using negrophobic and
anti-Semitic stereotypes ? In the context of a sad affair, Solidaires-RATP has
waived a legal complaint, and preferred an argument accessible to all. ---- In
Alternative Libertaire of July-August , we saw how the "unified" solidarity fund
CGT-Solidaires a posteriori helped the strikers of the RATP. Unfortunately, it
has also provided some with the opportunity to afford a slice of primary
anti-unionism, and worse yet. Thus, at the beginning of May, activists from
SUD-RATP (which, despite its name, has nothing to do with Solidaires) and La Base
(a pseudo-union) accused Solidaires and the CGT of having embezzled the money. of
the cash register.
A first message sent via WhatsApp and Facebook to dozens of agents suggested that
the CGT-RATP would have spent half of the money to carry out work in the castle
it owns in Fontenay-les- Briis, and Solidaires-RATP the other half for a karting
evening with "National Solidaires"...
A few days later, it was a photo of two officials of the CGT and Solidaires,
crossed out with the words "700,000/2 = ???", Implying that the money would have
been embezzled by these two activists ...
But that was just the start. A first video then circulated. It reveals a black
individual, sporting heavy golden necklaces. The dubbing, produced by one of the
directors of La Base, makes the character say: "Yeah well man, you see, the
strike fund of 700,000 euros CGT-Solidaires, I turned it into gold and I wear it
around the neck now, you see ... Hahaha !"All with an accent supposed to be"
African"worthy of the worst sketches of Michel Leeb.
"Shut up, you'll get nothing at all !""
The next day, rebelote. In a new video, he's a character from The Truth If I Lie.
The dubbing, with a supposedly Sephardic accent, make him say: " CGT-Solidaires,
we have 700,000 euros, my friend ..." Another, who asks him: "And, that's when we
..."Picks up a slap and a"Shut up, you'll get nothing at all !So here are two
clichés, one negrophobic, the other anti-Semitic, conveyed in a concerted manner
by the leaders of SUD-RATP and La Base: the black thief and bling-bling ; the
thief and greedy Jew.
The CGT chose to ignore these baseness so as not to advertise them. Solidaires
denounced them in a press release and considered filing a complaint. But, in the
end, the members voted for the production of a "video report" of the strike fund,
in which these racist content would be deciphered. The video will be broadcast
after the second distribution of checks, that is to say very soon. It is
therefore the choice of pedagogy rather than recourse to bourgeois justice, which
would have publicly brought RATP activists face to face. A position which is all
the more delicate as no RATP union has publicly supported Solidaires ...
This story says a lot about the ordinary racism that pollutes the working class,
and the work of deconstruction that the unions have to carry out.
Alexis (UCL Saint-Denis)
https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?RATP-face-aux-calomnies-le-choix-de-la-pedagogie
------------------------------
Message: 4
For several years the freedom-killing laws have multiplied [2]. Last September
the Ministry of the Interior presented its new plan for maintaining order, which
provides for new draconian measures under the pretext of protecting the
demonstrators. The bill on "global security" tabled on October 20 completes this
process. With this law, the government confirms its authoritarian will to offer
the police all the impunity it wishes to protect the interests of the bourgeoisie
by relying in particular on mass surveillance of the population. ---- The bill
under discussion is dangerous and must be fought for what it establishes.
Generalized coping
The risks of infringement of the right to respect for private life are numerous:
Articles 20 and 21 provide for widening access to images recorded by video
surveillance cameras to municipal police officers and to agents of the city of
Paris responsible for 'a police service, widening access to recordings from
individual cameras as well as the possibility of real-time transmission of these
images to the cops.
Increased surveillance from the air
Article 22 of the bill allows the use of drones with an on-board camera as a
surveillance tool, particularly during demonstrations. Their use will facilitate
the identification of individuals and the massive collection of personal data.
A desire to make police violence invisible
Article 24 creates a new offense relating to the dissemination, by any means
whatsoever, of images of the police, "with the aim of harming[their]physical or
mental integrity". Article 23, for its part, aims to exclude from the benefit of
reduced sentences the perpetrators of certain offenses "committed to the
prejudice of a person invested with a public elective mandate, of a soldier of
the national gendarmerie, of a civil servant. the national police or a
professional or voluntary firefighter ". These offenses which would lose the
benefit of reduced sentences correspond to attacks on life, physical integrity
and threats and acts of intimidation and therefore also the dissemination of
images of police officers. New offense therefore, and aggravated penalties.
Institutional racism still active
Article 10 provides for the addition of a minimum five-year residence permit for
foreign nationals for the issue of professional cards for private security agents.
Faced with these serious attacks on individual and collective freedoms, the
initiative initiated by the Quadrature du net and supported by dozens of
associations and collectives [1]is laudable but the only questioning of the
deputies appears to us well below the current issues. Other organizations such as
Amnesty International, LDH and journalists' unions have launched campaigns to
denounce this bill. Faced with these serious abuses that threaten activists but
also everyone, we must act. We are calling for street initiatives everywhere on
November 17 to demand the abandonment of the "Global Security" bill and we are
making this proposal to all the forces of the social movement.
Libertarian Communist Union November 14, 2020
Validate
[1] 55 organizations against "global security", La Quadrature du net November 12,
2020
[2] 2001- law on daily security / 2003 - law on internal security / 2006 - law on
the fight against terrorism / 2015 to 2017 - state of emergency / 2016 - secure
electronic documents / 2017 - anti-terrorism law which establishes a permanent
state of emergency
https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?Projet-de-loi-securite-globale-moins-de-libertes-plus-de-repression
------------------------------
Message: 5
A bill designed to strengthen the right to voluntary termination of pregnancy was
passed by the National Assembly on 8 October. This law is a step forward for
women's rights, but its course before final adoption is fraught with
difficulties, as she is well enough. Only our struggles ensure an effective right
to abortion. ---- The new bill extends the legal duration of the voluntary
termination of pregnancy (abortion) from twelve to fourteen weeks. This is
essential, because between 3000 and 5000 women go every year abroad at their own
expense, to abort. The most precarious women often can not afford it. Among other
provisions of this law, there is the possibility for midwives to perform surgical
abortions up to ten weeks, so that they could realize that abortion drug so far.
The Order of Physicians and the Academy of Medicine oppose this law. It is not
surprising, these institutions are reactionary and have never ceased to try to
limit the rights of women, already opposing in 1974 the law legalizing abortion.
Our lives cannot be placed in the hands of those people for whom women cannot
dispose of their bodies as they see fit!
The bill also provides for the removal of the conscience clause specific to
abortion (doctors already have a general conscience clause): so much the better!
These gentlemen certainly don't like it, but it's not for them to decide for us.
They will say they only want to protect women's health ; but forcing us to have
an abortion clandestinely is to put ourselves in concrete danger.
Lack of means for the right to abortion
Extending the deadlines is important to avoid many dramatic situations. But it is
certainly not enough. Eight percent of abortion centers have closed in recent
years. In many areas, it takes 100 km to have an abortion. In this, widening the
possibility for midwives to perform abortion is a good thing, but we must go much
further.
Today, free and open access to abortion for all women is certainly not
guaranteed. This leads to tragic situations, because a woman who wants to have an
abortion will have an abortion. Late abortions can therefore be performed in poor
sanitary conditions, endangering the health of women. What is needed today is to
increase the means so that the right to abortion is effective.
Even if the bill is carried among others by LREM deputies, Macron and Castex do
not hide their disapproval. They also appeal to the National Ethics Committee to
examine it. Only our struggles, the struggles of women for our right to dispose
of our bodies, to have children if we want and when we want, will be victorious.
We must continue to organize ourselves in our feminist associations, in our
family schedules, in our unions, so that not a woman is left behind.
Adèle (UCL Pantin)
https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?Quatorze-semaines-des-moyens-pour-un-droit-effectif-a-l-IVG
------------------------------
Message: 6
The instrumentation of the crisis in sanitary terms by the government shows that
beyond her deliberate inability to fortify the public health system, she found
appropriate ground to speed up repressive measures, with even more police state.
It imposes confinement and terrorizes society enormously with huge fines, while
pushing the vast majority of the workforce into poverty and unemployment. ---- At
the same time, it feeds millions of systemic media and "immortals", throwing a
allowance of a dry party to the poor to "plug it". It legislates reactionary
against the working class, with bankruptcy codes, labor bills, university police,
bills criminalizing trade union action, while bullying antifascists, arresting
teenagers and even abusing infants.
Specifically, through the announcements of the Prime Minister at the TIF, it is
obvious that at the same time with the pandemic, state mechanisms are doing
"overtime", targeting whatever it has left by labor rights, as they are now
considered "obsolete arrangements of the last century ". In short, with the new
labor bill that It is about to be voted in November, the abolition of the 8
o'clock and institutionalization is coming 10 hours, employees should be more
"flexible" and will be more "rubber", since overtime will have no limit and will
not be paid but will "Offset" with breaks or part-time at half-yearly. Still, the
bill contains the substantial abolition of the strike in public and communal
services utilities (transport, ports, telecommunications, energy), since security
personnel will should be 40%, so as not to interrupt production and promote
criminalization of the strike and the trade union action after both the strike
gathering outside the workplace as well as guarding it will be criminal
offense and sabotage of collective and trade union proceedings, if they will
must be made compulsorily and exclusively online, with a complete dossier of
participants in the General Register of Trade Unions of Employees (GEMISOE).
At the same time, the looted insurance funds are being hit even harder
pandemic, as the state, with the "soft" persuasions of large employers, reduces
the percentage of the latter's contributions to the insurance funds (ie the
amounts that so far translated into support of care, unemployment benefits and
pensions).
Through the bonus policy that is exercised, an attempt is made to silence the
employees, while at the same time restrictive junta-type traffic measures are
imposed in order to pass laws and regulations depriving them of the right to
protest. All this, in continuation of the "COOPERATION" program, where the state
"cut" part of the salaries of employees to the bosses, gradually transforming the
salary into a bonus and giving freedom and alibi to the latter, not to pay for
the work they buy and exploited.
As for sections of society that resist, more and more is taking place
extreme repression with raids on public spaces, evacuations of squatters and
attacks on children (14-year-old students and 5-year-old children). However,
waving his finger at social base, the government spends twice on equipment, cops,
millions in canals and "long walks" while giggling that there are no "money
trees" for health, education, insurance and transport.
Against the governmental doctrine of individual responsibility, we propose
collective and class vigilance.
We unite in workplaces, grassroots unions and labor unions collectives in our
area, we form Libertarian unions outside and in rupture with him regime trade
unionism of GSEE-ADEDY in the direction of the formation of a revolutionary labor
confederation.
WE ARE NOT TERRORIZED! WE ARE ANGRY!
LET'S EXPAND OUR ACCUMULATED WRATH ON THEM!
TO TRANSFORM OUR ANGRY IN A MATCH!
NO SINGLE - NO SINGLE!
https://ese.espiv.net/2020/11/16/kanena-lock-down-stis-eleytheries-kai-ta-dikaiomata-mas/
------------------------------
Message: 7
In South Africa over the last few years we have seen many struggles within
workplaces and communities. A feature of these struggles, however, has been the
difficulty in maintaining and building organisations that are long-lasting and
that are also inclusive and participatory. In these struggles, new layers of
activists have emerged. ---- This booklet is a tool to introduce these new
activists to what capitalism is, how it functions and in whose interests, how
society is divided into different classes with differences in power and
interests, what role the state plays, and how the state functions in the
interests of capitalism and the ruling class.
Capitalism and anti-capitalism
Part 1 of this booklet aims to help activists deepen their understanding of the
system we live under, how a majority of people are exploited, and how and why a
majority of people face forms of oppression. It can also be used as a basis for
activists to analyse why they face the problems they do, and the deeper reasons
for these problems.
Part 2 of this booklet looks specifically at building a movement. Both new and
seasoned activists can use this booklet to think more deeply about the elements,
values, principles and practices of movement building.
We hope it will contribute to the long process of building participatory and
directly democratic organisations that can one day become a counter-power to
replace capitalism and the state, and thereby end class exploitation, patriarchy
and racism in South Africa and internationally.
This booklet was originally written by Comrade Felipe Corrêa for anti-capitalist
activists in Brazil. Some of the information regarding South Africa has been
added by ILRIG to provide examples of the concepts covered that are South African
based. The illustrations have been reproduced from the Pintelute muralist
collective from Brazil. Follow @pintelute on Facebook or Instagram.
Download Part 1 here.
https://www.ilrigsa.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Capitalism-Anti-capitalism-web.pdf
Download Part 2 here.
https://www.ilrigsa.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Popular-Organisation-web.pdf
Related Link:
https://www.ilrigsa.org.za/2020/11/10/capitalism-anti-capitalism-and-popular-organisation-part-1/
Popular organisation
https://www.anarkismo.net/article/32087
------------------------------
Message: 8
"I don't see why the vulnerable can't just stay in and the rest of us get on with
our lives." ---- People arranging to meet friends and family from other
households both indoors and out, even though they know this is against the rules
Thousands attending parties, raves and big gatherings all over the summer and
even during the second lockdown ---- Churches rebelling against lockdown and
holding services ---- Workplaces still open that aren't Covid- secure, including
schools, colleges and universities ---- Dominic Cummings breaking lockdown rules
---- Johnson having to self-isolate because he clearly broke his own rules at
number 10 Downing St ---- Thousands demonstrating against lockdown ---- Given
anarchism's attitude towards authority and the State, you would have thought that
we would have been all for the way people are rebelling against the various
lockdowns and rules, which have been imposed by the State and enforced by the
police. After all, isn't anarchism about freedom?
There may be some anarchists who would fit this description, however, in the ACG
we are anarchist communists and though freedom from coercion is a key part of our
politics, so is collective responsibility, mutual aid and solidarity. We take a
different approach to being safe during the pandemic, both from the government
and those who claim to be rebelling against curtailments of their freedom.
Firstly, we need to be clear about two things:
Everyone's life is valuable, no matter what their situation. Protecting the old
and vulnerable, people with underlying conditions, is as important as protecting
the lives of more ‘productive' members of society. Some people use this as an
excuse for their own behaviour - they and their friends won't die so why worry
about those who would die soon anyway? This attitude we find despicable. Who is
to decide who deserves to live?
The pandemic is far from over, despite a vaccine hopefully on its way. Thousands
are still getting the disease and many dying. It is spread by people coming into
contact with someone who is already infected and because many are asymptomatic,
it is impossible to know who has it and who doesn't. Track and trace has helped
to an extent but you can still never be sure because the system is far from being
completely comprehensive. Therefore, if we are to stop the spread of Covid,
people have to drastically limit the contact they have with others. We can see
this for ourselves; we don't need to be told by government, who often rely on
their own version of science that suits them, or don't fully understand the often
complicated scientific explanations. The evidence in front of our own eyes and
that of the NHS and care home staff should be enough for us to understand what
needs to be done. It is not just people dying from Covid. Many more people will
die from untreated cancer and other diseases because of the way Covid cases have
dominated health care services.
Anarchist communists believe in self-organisation. We do not follow rules because
the government says we have to, we follow rules that we ourselves have
collectively developed. It is this that lies at the heart of the problem with
lockdown; rules have been imposed on people without a sense of them arising from
people themselves. They do not come from the experience of people in the
community and the workplace but are developed with other agendas in mind. This
has resulted in confusing and contradictory messages and has created a general
mess, leading to many ignoring guidelines, whether that be individuals,
workplaces or other institutions. One example was the rule that all pubs needed
to close at 10 pm. This was not thought through and led to people piling into the
street at the same time and workers having to travel home in crowded transport.
One of the key problems is that the government, despite following the advice of
scientists to an extent, continues to put the economy and profits first. This has
resulted in workplaces staying open that are unsafe. Many of these workplaces
have no union organisation or unions that do very little to protect workers
because there are often no independent health and safety reps. A major part of
the problem is that workers are in fear of losing their jobs and many would not
be eligible for furlough. The fact that so many workers have no security or
income makes them willing to work in any conditions, leading to increases in
Covid cases.
The policies on education have also caused the increase in cases. Students, many
of whom had been travelling and mixing socially all over the summer, were
encouraged to start their university courses, many crammed together in halls of
residence. It was not surprising that Covid spread like wildfire. Though schools
were also opened (supposedly for the benefit of children's education but really
as a way of making sure people went back to work) and this has led to a rise in
cases as well. Though children and young people may not suffer in the same way as
older people, they still bring the disease home and also can infect their teachers.
Meanwhile, in order to show that they are doing something, the government in
England has imposed a second lockdown and closed non-essential shops and services
and the hospitality sector. Though there may be some cause to do this - pubs and
restaurants were the source of some cases - people are resentful because many
other sources of the disease are still open, eg universities. And, many shops,
services, such as gyms and hairdressers, and pubs and restaurants have spent a
lot of money to ensure they are Covid-secure. Yes, there were some places that
were not and did not enforce basic safety rules, but most did. And, it will be
the workers who suffer, with employers in these industries quick to lay people off.
The end result of these policies is that it is unlikely that the pandemic will
get under control, with many more deaths, before a vaccine is fully rolled out.
So what should we be doing, regardless of what the government says, to end the
pandemic?
All workplaces need to be Covid-secure in order to open, under the control of the
workers. (For more ideas about making workplaces safe see: nosafetynowork.org).
If they cannot be made safe, then they should not be open and the workers
furloughed with job security. Covid-related sackings must not be tolerated.
Universities and colleges should end face-to-face teaching until the crisis is over.
Schools need an influx of money to make sure that they are Covid-secure - more
space is needed for social distancing and home schooling. If parents and teachers
are not happy with arrangements then they should refuse to have children at school.
Local communities should take more control over what is open and what support is
offered to people who are on their own. Track and trace and testing needs to be
under the control of local communities so everyone knows what is going on and who
actually has the disease.
People should resist the temptation to meet up with others unless they really are
in a bubble - not one that keeps changing to suit. Mutual aid groups are
important here to support people both physically and mentally. Socially distanced
outings and meet ups can be organised.
The government has always been lukewarm and contradictory about wearing
facemasks. But common sense tells us that they are a good idea - both inside and
when walking around if a lot of people are about. Just because something isn't a
rule doesn't mean we don't have to exercise common sense.
All these ideas are based on the basic anarchist communist principles of
self-organisation, solidarity and mutual aid. We don't need the government to
tell us what to do, nor do we have to go against our own common sense just
because the government wants to keep the economy going. Of course, it is hard for
people to do what is best when they are in precarious positions at work. This is
why class organisation and struggle is the vital element in any strategy.
Visit the No Safety No Work website for more Covid 19 articles, info and resistance
anarchistcommunism.org/2020/11/17/covid-lockdown-rules-and-anarchist-communism/
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