from April 22 to 26. How does a Solidaires congress work and what are
the main issues? ---- The congress will be an opportunity to look back
on the last three years. Beyond internal questions, questions arise
about the effectiveness of our action on wages, the fight against the
regression of rights, the rise of the extreme right, the resurgence of
war in Europe and the acceleration of the climate crisis. ---- What
democracy in Solidaires? ---- The democratic question is a cornerstone
of the self-managing union movement that Solidaires embodies in France.
But what is really happening in the organization of the congress?
The national committee (Parliament of the Union where the national
unions and the UD departmental unions are represented) decided in July
2023 on the themes of the congress.
Then commissions, coordinated by the national secretariat and open to
the participation of each national union and each UD, took place in the
fall. They resulted in a "version 0" of the texts which must reach
consensus to serve as a basis for amendment. Then the national committee
of January 2024 validated these texts.
Then, the unions and UD made amendments. A commission met to integrate
those who improve the texts by consensus. What remains now are the
amendments which bring new ideas/positions, request deletions or massive
rewritings which will be discussed in congress.
In congresses and in the Union, it is the practice of consensus which
takes precedence, to avoid a "minority/majority" system, a source of
internal tensions and the risk of sectarian sclerosis. Thus each
congress committee discusses the maintained amendments and sees if they
can be integrated.
She has complete freedom to rewrite proposals and integrate them. If
there is no consensus, the structure which carries the amendment can
decide to withdraw it or submit it to a vote by the congress. There we
need 2/3 of the votes in favor in the college of national structures
and in that of the UDs for the amendment to be validated.
In short, going to a vote is not the best way to get a position across.
To hold the debates, Solidaires has adopted a charter for congress
participants "For a solidarity congress free of oppression, inclusive
and welcoming" and a specific unit set up during the congress.
But what is this congress talking about?
Basically, there are 3 resolutions. The first "Our unionism in a world
in crisis" addresses the positions, alliances (in particular the
Ecological and Social Alliance, formerly Plus Jamais Ca) and priorities
for the next 3 years to deal with social and ecological emergencies, the
rise of the far right, etc.
The second "Enrich, adapt and develop our demands" allows us to explore
certain subjects in greater depth, in particular concerning women's
rights (menstrual leave, control over one's body, domestic violence,
abortion), disabilities and ableism and the construction of inclusive
unionism, strengthening social protection (extended to food, housing,
environmental issues, etc.).
The third resolution, "Our union tool", will raise the question of unity
and inter-union recomposition. It will also address the development of
the Union in sectors and territories, the place of staff representation
bodies in Solidarity unionism, the strengthening of training, internal
democracy and the establishment of a protocol in the event of presence
far-right within Solidaires.
An alternative unionism still relevant today?
Solidaires, who has just turned 25, has had to face various problems in
recent years. The most serious certainly remains the "trade conflict"
which highlighted the undemocratic practices of what was called the
"trade and service federation". Unfortunately, if the Union showed its
capacity for reaction and collective defense by suspending this
federation, it remained in the middle of the watch by not being able to
exclude it: this requires unanimity and certain unions for different
reasons, did not follow the vast majority of structures.
Developing a unionism of struggle and social transformation and having
explicitly called for the strike to be renewed until March 7, 2023,
Solidaires had a strong exposure during the retirement movement. But
does this translate into membership and the strengthening of our
unionism? This is what we will have to check in a period of transition
for Solidaires which has seen the number of members stagnate and perhaps
slightly decline.
Two "timeless" issues since the creation of the Union will be in the
game again. On the one hand, make sure to build the Union and avoid
selfish selfishness or the "self-interested" relationship with the
interpro. On the other hand, move forward with our structuring to
facilitate unionization and accelerate our development in the private
sector.
Finally, the congress will discuss the question of union recomposition
with the stated objective of opening a discussion on this theme after
the congress. The context of the exchanges between the CGT and the FSU
initiated at the end of last year opens up possibilities while being
complicated. The FSU continues to work with Solidaires on this subject
(even if the CGT takes precedence among the majority Unity and Action
movement, close to the PCF).
On the CGT side, if the public discourse agrees with that of Solidaires
on "the threats of the extreme right", the door to a recomposition is
for the moment closed because of tensions which exist in certain
sectors, such as rail. This is a turnaround compared to the "Martinez
period" which was more open towards Solidaires.
Where we see the concrete impact of the last confederal congress of the
CGT, with a "leadership" in which the rail, energy unions and the PCF
occupy an important place and where part of the CGT does not want burden
yourself with the "leftists" of Solidaires.
In the end, we will see at this congress if the Solidaires project of an
alternative unionism in close connection with the social movement is
capable of continuing to adapt to the period and finishing its youthful
transformation to fully enter its adult life. .
From libertarian communists to Solidaires
https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?Congres-syndical-national-Solidaires-a-un-tournant
_________________________________________
A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C E
By, For, and About Anarchists
Send news reports to A-infos-en mailing list
A-infos-en@ainfos.ca
Geen opmerkingen:
Een reactie posten