WORLD WORLDWIDE URUGUAY News Journal Update - (en) Uruguay: FAU opinion letter - March 2023 (ca, de, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

 A few months ago -last November- we wrote an extensive Opinion Letter analyzing

the original draft of the Social Security Reform, which already underwent some
important modifications as soon as it entered Parliament. Among others, the
contribution to the AFAPs is increased to 10% and only 5% of the worker's
contribution is left for the BPS, increasing the retirement age to 65 years and
the years of work contributed. In other words, the underfunding of the social
security institute is deepening to the greater benefit of private capital and it
is forced to work more years to retire from working life with a lower retirement
amount. ---- This is for example only. Since the Reform does not contemplate any
aspect or interest that benefits the working class, but on the contrary, it is a
reform tailored to big transnational capital. A vote is taken in this instance in
the Chamber of Deputies; It was already approved before the end of the year in
the Senate. There is a certain rush to quickly approve this reform law, one of
the pillars that the government of Lacalle Pou and the government coalition are
trying to promote.

Among the political class there are bickering, that Cabildo Abierto would propose
some changes in deputies (after having voted on the project in the Senate), for
example. Nothing substantive, it is the defense of corporate interests
-especially of some professional corporations that have several members in
Cabildo Abierto-. The increase in the retirement age for workers or the
contributions of those above are not in discussion. Nothing good is to be
expected from the parliamentary debate. There the representatives of the ruling
classes -or their members directly- will make up, fix the project so that it can
be voted on and that's it. Because no one has proposed blocking it in Parliament.

The party for those above continues with this project: the banks could have more
facilities to get a fat business, the bosses contribute the same, big capital,
the agro-export sector and the mega projects do not contribute anything to Social
Security and this business for those above is financed by all of us who live on
our salary.

It has been over and over again that the BPS is underfunded and that the State
places a significant amount of money every month to sustain it. Little is it said
that this lack of financing is due to the fact that the bosses contribute half as
much as the workers (or even less), that the true spending of the State is in the
Military Fund, which costs us 1% of the Gross Domestic Product (more than 500
million of current dollars).

The political class as a whole has also insisted on a strong anti-worker
discourse, which has been going on for some decades, especially against public
employees, pointing them out as "privileged" when they enjoy a series of rights
won through struggle. All this while job insecurity has increased, the loss of
purchasing power of wages, State benefits to all employers, etc.

With this Reform, retiring is going to be more and more difficult and with
starvation retirements, directly. We remain at the mercy of the voracity of
capital that imposes its conditions and will change them at will, whenever it
wishes, as has already happened in other instances.

It is part of the organized looting perpetrated by those from above against the
people.

Stopping this Reform is urgent

It is imperative for the entire working class and the Uruguayan people to stop
this Reform. The anarchists of the FAU are convinced that it is in the streets,
with an organized people, with a strong leadership of the unions and the
organizations of retirees, with the housing cooperatives, with a solidarity
student movement, with the various social organizations of the Down we are going
to suffer the effects of such a disastrous policy, which must be stopped.

It is not necessary to wait for votes from "rebel deputies" or for some efforts
made in the corridors of Parliament to bear fruit. The votes for the approval of
this anti-worker and anti-popular law are there. They are going to do it. And
they are going to do it because the organized people have not strongly expressed
their rejection in the streets. Because "things are still", as they usually say.

Breaking the stillness, taking to the streets, giving the subject the centrality
it deserves, to begin with. Deepen combat measures, develop a plan to face this
Reform that allows it to be demolished. And it is now.

We cannot wait for 2024, for the elections, for the political and electoral
calculations of a few who seek to renew their banks, or see if they reach the
government. This requires commitments with the owners of the country and with
international financial organizations. Fifteen years of progressivism did not
touch the Military Fund one iota, employer contributions did not increase nor did
the tax burden on big capital.  Why would they now? Just when this "second wave"
of progressive governments in the region is lighter, softer than the previous one.

Discontent and rejection of the Reform is high among the population. It is a
clear anti-popular measure. This rejection must have concrete expression in the
mobilization, the struggle and in the organizational progress of the people. It
must be confronted with all the popular forces in the streets decisively and firmly.

AGAINST THE ADVANCED NEOLIBERAL, RESISTANCE!!!

DOWN WITH SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM

FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A STRONG PEOPLE

UP THOSE WHO FIGHT!!!

URUGUAYAN ANARCHIST FEDERATION

http://federacionanarquistauruguaya.uy/carta-opinion-fau-marzo-2023/
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