#WORLD #WORLDWIDE #SPAIN #ANARCHISM #News #Journal #Update - (en) #Spain, Xixón, CNT #432: Acquittal companions of Xixón! (ca, de, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

 Lately it's fashionable to talk about espionage, Kitchen operations and the

sewers of the state... These are dark mechanisms used by those who aspire to a
quota of power to confront each other. ---- However, for the working class that
rejects power and relations of domination, that does not run through the sewers.
Shit circulates at street level, in full view of everyone. The bourgeoisie does
not need to hide when it comes to criminalizing workers' self-defense, since it
manages everything it needs: workplaces, courts and police. ---- Through many
media you can hear about the La Suiza case, the majority saying that 6 trade
unionists have been sentenced and that justice has been done, that they are
sentenced to 3 and a half years for crimes of serious coercion and obstruction of
the justice, but what does this mean? Nothing really and, at the same time,
everything they want it to mean. They thus condemn the union action and the
defense of a worker from the abuses of the bosses.

Cause of the conflict
This conflict began in 2017 when the worker at the La Suiza pastry shop contacted
the CNT Xixón. It seemed like a normal conflict. Claim some overtime and a
vacation that was owed to him, in addition to looking for a decent exit from the
company. The first time we met with the worker, we found a person crushed and
afraid to return to her job after maternity leave, all because of endless hours,
the absence of vacations and unbearable treatment with humiliating comments. and
opinions about your body. A situation that was unacceptable and that, steeling
herself with courage and with the support of the union, the compañera decided to
confront.

Context of the union situation in 2017
At that time the S.O.V. de Xixón had experienced considerable growth, there were
several active union conflicts where street action predominated with picketing,
posting of posters, distribution of leaflets and dissemination through social
networks. In this context, hostilities against the union began to increase,
especially on the part of the information brigade that encouraged the employers
to denounce our actions, especially those who had a conflict with the CNT. Many
of the active conflicts were in the hospitality sector where there are very
precarious jobs, the union presence was practically non-existent and where abuses
were not usually stood up to, something that they could not forgive us for.

Conflict Development
It began by trying to contact the businessman. This proved impossible. Then we
tried to talk to the employer at the workplace, but to no avail as he refused to
receive the union with the typical attitude of "a union does not enter my house".
In view of the fact that the company ignored our requests for a meeting, the
socialization of the conflict began, taking it to the streets with a first
concentration on May 1 accompanied by a network campaign.

After this situation, the employer agreed to meet with the union in the office of
his lawyer, where the claim was presented. There was no agreement of any kind
with the company (because we were ETA and because the information brigade was
going to cut us off). Since no agreement was reached, union action continued. In
the next concentration the identifications begin. That same day they had
processed the complaint against the compañeras. The next day they detain two
companions and a third not because they are outside of Asturias (a situation that
is curious to us since it seems that, if the police are looking for you, it is
enough to be away from home or from the region). The arrest was completely
irregular, with the typical threats at the police station and comments such as
"it's all over with the CNT and the street." At the police station itself, when
asked about the arrests, they stated that this was not the protocol and that the
information brigade "was doing its own thing."

After this, the conflict escalated with weekly rallies with a large turnout, some
with more than 100 people, where practically everyone was reported to a
government delegation and therefore with a police presence. It is striking that
in rallies where alleged crimes were committed , the police, always present,
never intervened. There was also a significant increase in continuous
identifications, calls to work for some militants by the police, sanctions,
threats and coercion. Among them, a pamphlet distributed by the businessman to
the businesses in the area with the photo of a worker who showed solidarity with
the compañera and in which you could read "be careful with this person, he is
with the CNT, who are the ones who attack to the neighborhood businesses...".
The bakery closes in September, but the conflict remains active due to complaints
filed by the company.

Complaints and trial
At the beginning of the process they tried to charge more than thirty people,
militants of the CNT, other unions, neighbors...the government delegate was even
denounced for not stopping the actions of the CNT. Finally, 8 people were
charged, we suppose that in an attempt to reduce the absurdity of the case and
make it more manageable for those who had to judge it.

With the filing of the complaint for sexual harassment, which is filed because
despite the fact that the worker's testimony is completely credible, it is
considered that there is not a sufficient burden of proof and this is stated in
the sentence, the employer comes up and sues to the compañera for false
accusation, which is also archived, because as stated above, it has not been
possible to prove the facts, which does not mean that they have not happened.

Following the line of the absurd, our legal team was also sued for the content of
the defense briefs, the psychologist who treated our colleague for the content of
her reports, and recently our colleague for the content of her statement in the
judgment...

In 2021 the trial is held where 8 companions are sentenced to 3 and a half years
in prison and a fine of €150,000 (a bail of €60,000 had already been posted).
After the ruling was issued, the demonstration was held on July 10 with a massive
participation of both displaced compas from the North, Center and Aragón-Rioja
regions, as well as numerous local union, cultural and political organizations.
This 2022 the resolution of the appeal presented the previous year has come out,
finally leaving 6 people convicted.

For all this, from the Xixón union we continue fighting, calling another
demonstration for next September 24 in Madrid. We call for participation and to
support the demonstration to defend what they really want to eradicate, our model
of union action.

 From CNT Xixón we find it curious how at the entrances to the city there are
posters that say "Xixón will not tolerate sexist violence". What it does not say
is that, when it comes to fighting it, you need a good support network, arm
yourself with courage and hold on tight by the hand of your companions because it
depends on who you are and who you point to, the one judged and condemned can be
you. In any case, for those who are willing, the CNT will always be there.

https://www.cnt.es/noticias/absolucion-companeras-de-xixon/
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