Last December, the CNT approved in its Congress for the first time the
creation of a permanent resistance fund. With its feet in the principleof solidarity, the majority of the Organization has decided to create anew tool with which to reinforce the implementation strategies andrepresentativeness. For many years funds have been created (and continueto be created) in cases of conflict with large and small companies, incases of repression or catastrophic situations with victims. With thisdecision, there has been no attempt to replace these fund-raisingactions, but to enable strikes in certain situations that can move theUnion forward, correcting inequalities, illegalities or evenimprovements in the companies where we have managed to put our heads in.A little historyThe idea of creating resistance funds is part of a tradition ofhistorical solidarity. Since the end of the 18th century, with thecreation of the first workers' societies, the first "resistance funds"focused on multiple contingencies were launched in England. Not onlywere they used to support workers on strike in a precarious situationthat we cannot even imagine today, but they also took charge of thosebenefits that today are covered by the State at a minimum. Unemployment,sick leave and other contingencies of this type were combated by reliefand mutual support societies, preventing any stroke of bad luck, or anyrepression for protesting or stopping production from becoming absolutepoverty, lacking any income. Until very recently, people worked untildeath or until the person was unable to do so, weakened by age, soretirement was also supported by these funds or boxes. Embracing thatcolumn that is solidarity in the workers' organizations, mechanisms ofthis type were launched.One more step in this type of practice would come to create fundsexclusively dedicated to bending the pulse of the employers by enduringwithout working, and therefore without producing, transporting, orserving. From the beginning it was also possible to observe that samesolidarity practice among the business community, with their owncompanies, their own funds to combat strikes, the hiring of thugs andgunmen or simply scabs who came to undo the effects of it. From thefamous Pinkertons to the Barcelona gunmen, the use of money to provideall the legal and illegal means, only despicable or deeply criminal,that have been at the disposal of the bosses, or generously deployed bythem, on the board has been international. game of the fight for life.Without going into the greater structuring and agglutination that tookplace in the original workers' societies as a possible reason, theyalways discussed the possibility of creating stable economic funds tosupport strikes and reprisals derived from the fight for decent workingconditions, although it is only very recently that some unions establishthem as a permanent tool with which to focus the advancement of unionism.By linking it to the strategy and providing it with very specific andcontrolled conditions of use, it is intended to necessarily unite theidea of using this resource with that of participation in theconstruction of the conflict and its resolution, in which money is onlyan aid Plus, it's not even the main thing.Diverse positions and various fearsAnd what have been the positions around the resistance boxes? Wheneverthe construction of a permanent resistance box has been proposed, forthe strikes that the union develops, there have been enthusiasts anddetractors. In fact, until this last Congress its implementation had notbeen approved, although it was not the first time it had been proposed.Sometimes a certain economic dependence on these funds has been fearedto carry out the conflicts to the detriment of the concern to generate aconscious militancy that would approach the confrontation with thebosses with the determination of ideas.Another concern has been the ability to sustain it in the long term, andwhether a spike in strikes at a certain time without adequate membershipgrowth could decapitalize the fund, having to prioritize conflicts andgenerating mistrust within the Organization.Internal tensions could also arise depending on how the money is managedand how its use is transparently explained to the union as a whole withadequate reports. On occasions the State has tried to create problemsfor the unions that have set it up through the fiscal obligations thattheoretically entail any compensation.The use of these resistance boxes has also been feared because theycould generate a negative external image of the strike as a frivolouselement or in which no effort is made by the worker since his salary isnot reduced.The CNT has not seen the situation in this way and has taken intoaccount that the use of this resistance box has to be very far from thevision of a service or simply an advantage that someone has whenjoining. Quite the contrary, by linking it to the strategy and providingit with very specific and controlled conditions of use, it is intendedto force the militancy to necessarily unite the idea of using thisresource to that of participation in the construction of the conflictand its resolution, in which money is just one more help, it is not eventhe main thing.Other considerations are those that have led the majority opiniontowards a position favorable to the creation of a permanent resistancebox. It is evident that the economic support to keep the strikers firmin their demands has been one of the main reasons. Especially in manycases where misery wages make it difficult to make ends meet.Nor is the idea of solidarity and unity that is transmitted by knowingthat the entire organization is contributing monthly to fill this boxwith their dues so that a conflict, where those affected perforceperceive it as something personal, is brought to a successful conclusion.On occasions they have had to face contingencies caused by repression inthe form of fines, bonds or specialized legal assistance, and resistancefunds can be a resource if specific solidarity aid does not arrive ontime, although they can be mobilized if necessary. other legal or equityfunds in the second line.ConditionsBut what has all this materialized? The agreement that puts thisresource into operation, approved at the December 2022 Congress inCanovelles, is specified in the following points:* It is a tool to help alleviate the economic effects of a strike in thebattered economy of the workers.* It has a Confederal scope (covers the entire CNT) and is administeredby its Permanent Secretariat.* Except for an initial contribution, it is financed with a part of themonthly fee of the entire affiliation and extraordinary contributionsfrom Unions, people or decisions of a Plenary.* It can be used in all those indefinite strikes, whether partial ortotal, as long as they are not general strikes.* It can be used in strikes called alone by the CNT or together withother Unions.* To request the use of the Confederal Resistance Fund, the UnionSections must have at least 20% implementation in the area of theconflict before it started.* The financial aid for this tool will begin to be received from the 5thday of the strike.* It will be required, of course, to be up to date with the payment ofthe Union fee and after one year of affiliation, 100% of the SMI will bereceived.* The perception may not exceed the ordinary salary of the person on strike.* A temporary disability prevents you from receiving help from this toolwhile it is in effect.* Once the strike is over, those who have benefited from this resourcemust maintain their affiliation with CNT for at least one year, havingto return the amount received otherwise.* The existence of this mechanism must be publicly informed, somethingthat we have come to try to comply with in this article.https://www.cnt.es/noticias/una-caja-para-resistir-y-resistir-para-vencer/_________________________________________A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C EBy, For, and About AnarchistsSend news reports to A-infos-en mailing listA-infos-en@ainfos.ca
Geen opmerkingen:
Een reactie posten