Today, May 1, we commemorate a new Workers' Day. On this day of global
mobilization of the labor and popular movement, we remember the great
general strike of 1886 in the United States for an 8-hour work day, the
struggle of anarchist labor leaders such as Parsons, Spies, Engel, and
Fischer, who would become the martyrs of Chicago, and the international
campaign of solidarity with those arrested, promoted by figures such as
libertarian socialist activist Lucia Gonzales. ---- The struggles
continue today ---- In Colombia, the working class and various social
sectors continue to fight, as demonstrated in 2024 by the national
teachers' strike against the education reform bill, the strike by Family
Welfare workers for plant expansion, the layoffs of Empaques del Cauca
workers for unpaid benefits, and the Colombian Immigration workers for a
new collective bargaining agreement.
Likewise, so far in 2025, we have seen the most recent strikes by public
sector teachers in Bogotá and Valle del Cauca against the repressive
policies of local authorities, the recent permanent assembly of
employees of the Piedecuesta Public Services Company for better working
conditions, and the mobilizations of workers from Acerías Paz del Río,
SENA (National Service for Education), bank employees, and even
professional soccer players for new and better collective bargaining
agreements.
A common element in several of these struggles has been the criticism of
widespread labor outsourcing in both the public and private sectors, and
the demand for stable staff expansion. This process was recently
achieved by the Paz del Río workers and demonstrates the importance of
building unity between plant and outsourced workers, as the port and oil
unions have been doing, and which we must extend to all economic sectors.
Let's Strengthen Autonomy
Today, the organized working class faces a crossroads. On the one hand,
the situation of enormous job insecurity, low wages, lack of social
protection, and unemployment have remained largely unchanged in recent
years. On the other hand, the Gustavo Petro government and the Historic
Pact are promoting an agenda of limited social reforms, most of which
were blocked in Congress by the right-wing opposition. These reforms
include a partial labor reform that sought to reverse some of the worst
elements imposed during the Uribe administration.
Faced with this situation, the majority of the union movement, starting
with the leadership of the Single Central of Workers (CUT), a sector of
the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), and the Confederation of
Workers of Colombia (CTC), have opted for support, if not open
subordination, to the Petro government, which has included some labor
leaders among its governing team, while the union movement has become
the main supporter of the social mobilization in support of the
government. A more conservative minority, however, such as the other
sector of the CGT and several corporate unions in sectors such as
transportation and the Ministry of Labor, have sought to distance
themselves from the administration, strengthening their alliance with
employers.
Given this situation, we consider it urgent to strengthen the autonomy
of the union and popular movement and its capacity to decide for itself,
independent of both the State and employers. In this sense, we believe
that the struggle for social reforms is important, but to be effective,
it must be achieved through social mobilization from below,
strengthening popular agency, and exercising and expanding union and
social autonomy.
We Remember Nicolás Neira
Today we also remember that 20 years ago, the young anarchist Nicolas
David Neira Álvarez, a 15-year-old high school student, was mortally
wounded during the repression of the union and popular march on May 1,
2005, in Bogotá by the forces of the Mobile Anti-Riot Squad (ESMAD) of
the National Police.
The memory of Nicolás, a symbol of police repression against those who
struggle and of the impunity of those highly responsible for state
crimes, continues today and is linked to the living memory of the
victims of repression during the 2019 national strike and the 2021
social unrest, as well as many other murdered social activists.
Let's strengthen the struggle, autonomy, and memory!
Up with those who fight!
Vía Libre Libertarian Group
https://grupovialibre.org/2025/05/01/comunicado-1-de-mayo-2025/
_________________________________________
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
mobilization of the labor and popular movement, we remember the great
general strike of 1886 in the United States for an 8-hour work day, the
struggle of anarchist labor leaders such as Parsons, Spies, Engel, and
Fischer, who would become the martyrs of Chicago, and the international
campaign of solidarity with those arrested, promoted by figures such as
libertarian socialist activist Lucia Gonzales. ---- The struggles
continue today ---- In Colombia, the working class and various social
sectors continue to fight, as demonstrated in 2024 by the national
teachers' strike against the education reform bill, the strike by Family
Welfare workers for plant expansion, the layoffs of Empaques del Cauca
workers for unpaid benefits, and the Colombian Immigration workers for a
new collective bargaining agreement.
Likewise, so far in 2025, we have seen the most recent strikes by public
sector teachers in Bogotá and Valle del Cauca against the repressive
policies of local authorities, the recent permanent assembly of
employees of the Piedecuesta Public Services Company for better working
conditions, and the mobilizations of workers from Acerías Paz del Río,
SENA (National Service for Education), bank employees, and even
professional soccer players for new and better collective bargaining
agreements.
A common element in several of these struggles has been the criticism of
widespread labor outsourcing in both the public and private sectors, and
the demand for stable staff expansion. This process was recently
achieved by the Paz del Río workers and demonstrates the importance of
building unity between plant and outsourced workers, as the port and oil
unions have been doing, and which we must extend to all economic sectors.
Let's Strengthen Autonomy
Today, the organized working class faces a crossroads. On the one hand,
the situation of enormous job insecurity, low wages, lack of social
protection, and unemployment have remained largely unchanged in recent
years. On the other hand, the Gustavo Petro government and the Historic
Pact are promoting an agenda of limited social reforms, most of which
were blocked in Congress by the right-wing opposition. These reforms
include a partial labor reform that sought to reverse some of the worst
elements imposed during the Uribe administration.
Faced with this situation, the majority of the union movement, starting
with the leadership of the Single Central of Workers (CUT), a sector of
the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), and the Confederation of
Workers of Colombia (CTC), have opted for support, if not open
subordination, to the Petro government, which has included some labor
leaders among its governing team, while the union movement has become
the main supporter of the social mobilization in support of the
government. A more conservative minority, however, such as the other
sector of the CGT and several corporate unions in sectors such as
transportation and the Ministry of Labor, have sought to distance
themselves from the administration, strengthening their alliance with
employers.
Given this situation, we consider it urgent to strengthen the autonomy
of the union and popular movement and its capacity to decide for itself,
independent of both the State and employers. In this sense, we believe
that the struggle for social reforms is important, but to be effective,
it must be achieved through social mobilization from below,
strengthening popular agency, and exercising and expanding union and
social autonomy.
We Remember Nicolás Neira
Today we also remember that 20 years ago, the young anarchist Nicolas
David Neira Álvarez, a 15-year-old high school student, was mortally
wounded during the repression of the union and popular march on May 1,
2005, in Bogotá by the forces of the Mobile Anti-Riot Squad (ESMAD) of
the National Police.
The memory of Nicolás, a symbol of police repression against those who
struggle and of the impunity of those highly responsible for state
crimes, continues today and is linked to the living memory of the
victims of repression during the 2019 national strike and the 2021
social unrest, as well as many other murdered social activists.
Let's strengthen the struggle, autonomy, and memory!
Up with those who fight!
Vía Libre Libertarian Group
https://grupovialibre.org/2025/05/01/comunicado-1-de-mayo-2025/
_________________________________________
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