wages. In fact, unpaid wages are a year-round problem, and it's all yearlong that we fight alongside workers for their most basic right: thatthe boss should simply give them what they're owed. But this week isalso an opportunity to highlight our day-to-day militant action, whichwe usually carry out without giving it any publicity. ---- Whiledemanding to be paid for our work isn't revolutionary in itself, we'retrying to use a method that's consistent with our revolutionary ideas:the method of direct action. Contrary to what the Powers and themass-media would want us believe, direct action does not mean violentaction. Nor does it mean spectacular action to get our name in thenewsmedia front page or on social networks. As its name suggests, directaction means action taken directly by those concerned - in this case,workers - without any intermediaries, representatives or spokesperson,be they politicians (mayors, MPs, members of political parties), lawyerswho decide on the plaintiff's defense strategy, nor even unionrepresentatives who speak on behalf of the worker without first askingtheir opinion. Direct action may involve spectacular or even violentacts, but what characterizes direct action is that it is decided by thegeneral assembly of those concerned, and not just by a small group ofpeople who make decisions for the others, who are then reduced to therole of mere executors. If you think about it, a lot of what ispresented to us as direct action (whether it's the black blocs or theradical ecologist demonstrations) is not direct action, but spectacularaction...Direct action is often nothing spectacular. It starts with saying «no»,as an individual, standing up to your team leader, to your departmentmanager or to your office manager. Refusing to work overtime. Demandingto be paid on time. Nothing spectacular, nothing that will create a buzzon social networks. These are small, everyday moves, small victoriesthat can be achieved in small steps, and that gradually build confidencein oneself and in the collective. This is not reformism (which aims tochange the Law), because direct action expects nothing from the Law, Lawwhich is merely a mediation between the parties concerned (bosses vs.workers) arbitrated by the State.As an example of this method of direct action that we try to practice,we were contacted last week by a group of foreigners seasonal workersworking in agricultural field, who were wondering about the legality oftheir working conditions (housing and living conditions, unpaid of wagesand bonus, ...), and whether they had the right to demand anything. Assoon as we received their request, we offered to meet with them todiscuss what could be done collectively. We carried out a legal analysisof their requests, drawing on the network of fellow mates who have solidexperience of these issues, either as activists or through theirprofessional activity (labor inspectorate). It turned out that, in fact,most of the points raised by the seasonal workers were not «illegal».The boss was exploiting them, but as legally as possible! It was morallyiniquitous, but completely in line with the sacrosanct Labour Code.After explaining this to the workers, we also told them that there wasnothing to stop them from asking for more than what was stipulated inthe Labor Code. And that to give ourselves the best chance of winning,it was preferable to act collectively, in a grouped manner and withoutdesignating a particular interlocutor to the boss, to avoid designatinga target on which to bring repression to bear. The seasonal workers havealready put this method into practice and it has already enabled them toobtain a washing machine for their clothes. It's a great way to earnback wages, because you don't have to pay at the launderette to washyour clothes. It may seem pidding, but being able to put on cleanclothes when you're working in the crops is a question of dignity. Andrevolutions are often - if not always - fought for reasons of dignity,far more than for any other strictly material reason.In conclusion, here's the note sent to us by the compañera who hadcontacted us on behalf of the group:«I'd like to thank you for reminding me that it's only fair that Ishould claim the Patrones (women boss) for certain things in exchangefor my labor power, even if the law doesn't require it. I still haveproblems with the bosses, and sometimes also with my colleagues who tellme I'm «too demanding» (even though we have super super precariousconditions in my opinion) and that sometimes makes me lower my standards.If I come back to work in the region, of course I'll contact you to joinyou and cooperate with you.»The fight goes on...CNT-AIT activistshttp://cnt-ait.info/2023/10/20/international-week-23/_________________________________________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
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