Association between mass mobilization, repression and social struggles, Morocco poor
continues to fight for respect and dignity. Panorama struggles and popular uprisings in
April 2014. ---- On 6 April, a demonstration in Casablanca to the call for an inter
composed of the Moroccan Labour Union (UMT), the Democratic Labour Confederation (CDT) and
the Democratic Labour Federation (FDT) has attracted no less than 30,000 people. The
slogan of the event was focused on the necessary construction of a general strike against
the aggressions suffered by workers and against the deterioration of their living
conditions. ---- For several months this mobilization was pregnant at intersyndical level.
It must be said that the government led by the Islamist Abdelilah Benkiran multiplies low
blows against the population: substantial increase in the price of oil and food staples
(bread, semolina, sugar), repeated refusal to respond to claims the association of
"unemployed graduates" new law in the public service now puncturing the days of strike of
public servants (which was not the case before). And social dialogue with the unions is a
comedy that deluded person.
Repression against the movement of 20-February
All these reasons justify this event April 6, designed by its originators (primarily
combative sectors of the UMT, grouped in the current democratic trend) as a warning.
Mobilization also was not in the objectives of the union bureaucracies as they are
dominated by collusion with makhzen (the monarchy) and clientelism exacerbated.
Mobilization nevertheless emerged, unbeknownst to them, as the exasperation of unionized
workers, and more generally the population is large.
During the event, the police played the baton and made numerous arrests. This repression
is neither isolated nor unusual. It is the trademark of a State which is not encumbered by
considerations of democratic freedoms and face the people. Repression in Morocco has
always been the signature of the high places of power and has never been the sole decision
of chefaillon commissary. The repression was targeted since it hit against the most
dynamic part of the protest and Moroccan social movement, namely the members of the
movement of 20-February. This movement was born among the youth there three years, echoing
the popular uprisings that have affected the whole region from North Africa to the Gulf
countries.
While the event took place smoothly, the procession of 20 movement-February, was suddenly
attacked violently and without warning. The excuse: while the rest of the union
processions were limited to anti-government slogans, the movement of 20-February also
targeted the king. Lese majesty in the eyes of the police are not coming to Mohammed VI.
The operation resulted in several arrests of activists who are still in detention. These
are entered into hunger strike on April 16, after the refusal by the judge to grant them bail.
Minors OCP strike
Another front of social anger and revolt minors, dependent subsidiaries of the company
state: Sherifian Office phosphate (OCP) Khouribga (in the center of the country).
A thriving business since alone represents 25% of exports from Morocco. A company under
the direct control of the king, who appointed the director, making it difficult to gain
union struggles there. Not touch one of the crown jewels.
This reality and the gravity does not prevent minus a true workers' militancy and a real
determination of its union locals. It was five years ago, a very bitter strike lasted not
less than eight months after the dismissal of 850 employees sec. This time it is the
smaller subsidiaries of the OCP (many of them, which is not neutral, former trade union
leaders dismissed there five years) who are fighting, supported by a committee of
solidarity with temporary workers phosphate OCP Group (CSPI). Their demands for
recognition of their union rights, non-existent for the time in the offices of the OCP and
wage increases and above their official integration OCP group which would allow them to
have permanent contracts. A first strike took place on 16 and 17 April. It is expected
that other days of actions and events will follow in the weeks and months to come.
Self-organized struggles and Tanger Beni Tadjit
As is often the case in Morocco, struggles and revolts here and there, without
coordination and without any policy of any party or union control. In Beni Tadjit (Figuig
province in the east, which is commonly called "Morocco forgotten" as poverty is high),
the population is on strike on April 15 with a dead city operation: with total closure of
all the cafes, small shops, bakeries. Popular discontent, latent for months, focused
around claims against the marginalization of their city, and for the construction of a
hospital and the electrification of poor neighborhoods on the fringes of the city.
In Tangier, finally, on April 27, FTZ workers go on strike "for respect for trade union
rights, union, solidarity and struggle" . Particularly dynamic region, unlike that of
Figuig, Tangier has seen in recent years to settle number of multinationals. Among the
latter, Renault, who now has a modern plant, following the relocation of part of the
production sites of Douai and Cleon.
Workers continue, too, with no doubt, their movement to remind multinationals, here as
elsewhere, we do not play with the dignity of a people accustomed to rely only on itself.
Jeremiah (AL Gard) and Marwan (AL NCB)
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