Today's Topics:
1. Greece, Workers Counter Bulletin #124 from the ESE blog
Athens (gr) [machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
2. Aotearoa Workers Solidarity Movement: SOLIDARITY! #18 -
Plastic Free or Capitalism Free (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
3. Britain, classwar: Get SaVILLAINS out of Lambeth! 11am @
Savills SW11 6PL, July 30, 27th July 2016 (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
4. Book Review from Rebel Worker Paper of the
Anarcho-Syndicalist Network Vol.34 No.2 (226) July-Aug. 2016
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
5. France, Alternative Libertaire AL n° special - Controls:
strike pay! (fr, it, pt) [machine translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
6. US, NYC Anarchist Action: New York CITY HALL PARK OCCUPIED,
POLICE COMMISSIONER RESIGNS August 2, 2016 (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
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Message: 1
The 'HOT HOT BURGER BAR' 'trying to avenge whoever worker struggles and demands . This
refers to the update of the intervention in Athens (Halandri store) and Thessaloniki,
Waiters Cooks Association and other people working in the catering industry. For months is
ongoing workers' struggle in focus Chain »HOT HOT BURGER BAR», in response to the case of
Kostas P. colleague. Who is also a member of the Board the association. THEcolleague all
this time without give up claims accrued and reintegration into the company. The attitude
of employers on the question of course is ongoing capsules: illegally 'fines', time change
and store and finally asks already from colleague to renounce the trade union action. The
climax of the game (had been made and other two interventions - see HERE and HERE) to »HOT
HOT BURGER BAR» held Friday 08/07, where with the assistance of several dozen colleagues
and solidarity were simultaneous interventions in chain stores in Athens Thessaloniki
(with the assistance of the COP Thessaloniki), ahead of the meeting to the Labour
Inspectorate Thursday 14/07.
In this meeting the APR Ag. Friday what became clear was the uncompromising attitude of
employers, after stating that he does not want Mr Costas II. Working in shops nor pay
accrued he owes. Here we note the provocative stance and police presence outside the
building APR Ag. Friday that it would occur in the labor dispute, which can not be left
unremarked (it was the second time in this match). The same intransigent but we stress
that we too will be and the number of solidarity that frame and that fight. What you will
probably need to judge things and judicial level, we say that the class solidarity will
win! Promptly pay the employers of HOT HOT BUGER BAR accrued to Mr Costas II. The employer
terrorism requirements for modern 'social conscience certificates' respond with
organization and class struggle in the base unions.
In response to the strike Sunday, July 17, 2016 the Coordinating action against the
abolition of the Sunday holiday and t a 'liberated' hours a mention: From 9.30am start
strike sakes in various large and smaller shops in Ermou and Syntagma (as H & M, ZARA,
PUBLIC, NIKE, MANGO, TSAKIRIS MALLAS, MED, Kellys, EXTYN, MOURTZI, intimissimi etc. - see.
related photos below). Meanwhile, about 10:30 a.m. and was publicized call the
"Coordination Action" to strike concentration Ermou. The whole strike ended with
demonstration began shortly after 1:30 pm from the upper part of Ermou height Treasury
crossed across Ermou and has Monastiraki.Kata during the whole strike action shared
thousands of texts Coordinating Action (in Greek and English ) and the collegial
Employees-s in commerce and shouting slogans. Also, there were many discussions with
female counterparts and colleagues, the attitude of the majority of whom were very
positive, with part of them to support and actively mobilize the whole. Also, a large part
of the passing world, and after our own information, shared the right of our struggle,
which he supported with his attitude. However, there were still some kanivalikes behaviors
furious and quarrelsomeness consumers. At this point we would like to mention a very
serious incident which occurred at the time of the demonstration. As the course was on the
pedestrian Ermou towards Monastiraki, a person who had attacked and a corresponding
working our intervention on Ermou (the strike Sunday May 8, 2016), wounded in the face of
us with makeshift knife. After a short stay in place and after our injured agonist was
transferred by ambulance to the hospital (where he removed a blade and made stitches), the
trend continued. The previous day had become dash with posters and text sharing and
discussions with our female counterparts and our colleagues in local shops aftis.O
struggle against the abolition of the Sunday holiday and overall offensive as workers
accept continues! The intervention continued and ended normally. Show Photo and
information from the intervention ED Oh the HERE.
In Information from the strike concentration against Sunday work on 17/7 in Thessaloniki
stated: On Sunday, July 17 held strikes and blockades march against Sunday work in
Thessaloniki. Exclusions, with the participation of 60 comrades held at ZARA, in MARKS and
SPENCER, in PIN UP, the Stradivarius, in Migato, the Pap shoes and optical spectrum.
Despite kanivallistikes trends housekeepers are ultimately failed to realize shopping and
are appropriately addressed by the defense, the intervention was successful, not only for
its practical effect. Mainly for the relationships begin and grow with employees and
workers in shops. As desired longer set, breaking the award, the increasingly intense
involvement of the workers themselves in foreclosures (some shops apparently sat us behind
the banner which excluded the entrance) but mainly in the lower participation and
organization of the next strikes, which the federation employees continues to call 2-3
days before, even if you know from the beginning of the year on Sunday to open their
katastimata.Meta inclusive and microphones which lasted until the 1 150 people ( support
European partners / isson who was in town for the No border), fared in Tsimiski, in
Venizelos and the Victory and we conducted 20-minute interventions / exclusions in Context
and the bookstore Forefront where members of Thessaloniki book-paper staff association
distributed texts to workers .For inclusive and course participants with banners except
the Coordination of action against Sunday work and 'liberated hours, "the class solidarity
meeting (COP, SVEPSYKOI, SVECHA, SSC), the Counter of workers in trade and anarchist
collectives.
Be "bombarded" with Messages of protest to the bookstore "Innovation" calls announced by
the Association of Book-Paper Employees-Digital Media Attica , adding that: The struggle
for the release of our colleague severance pay from the bookstore "Leadership" suffered
harmful-vindictive change continues. By the vindication of my colleague. 'Bombarded' with
the bookstore 'Leadership' protest messages to e- letter: info@protoporia.gr
in F ax : 210-3301126, at https://www.facebook.com/protoporia.gr/ and at: https: /
/twitter.com/protoporiasa . in B UDGET notices - updates from the blog of SYVCHPSA, HERE .
In working concentration in Maroussi Saturday 2/7 against the brutal regime of "white
night" and against the macho mayors and employers participated and self Social Stage
Galatsi " Canopy": Look here , photos from the p ARTICIPATION of standing " Canopy "the
call against the White Nights in Maroussi, 2/7.
Continued and last week their games mobilisations employees of «Athens Ledra». They went
Thursday, July 21 at successive mobilizations in SETE, the Tourism Ministry and the Labor
Ministry. They claim not to lose jobs and pay arrears accrued. An undertaking by the
Minister of Labour that next week will unblock the process for granting the temporary
allowance OAED EUR 1,000 were awarded to the hotel workers «Athens Ledra», after more than
50 days unyielding struggle for the accrual and safeguarding jobs.
Immediate payment of accrued eight months required by the institution employees
"Children's Shelter" .Axizei noting that employees are retention of 29/06/2016), not to
apply the despicable decision OMED and reopen the roof in Keratsini .
The Attica 24 strike for shops, offices and warehouses in the "Marinopoulos SA" held
Friday, July 22, workers in business and industry associations and unions. On the same day
rallied the Labour Ministry.
Tripartite meeting on the five redundancies in "Euroclinic" became noon Pemptis 21 tis of
July. The unemployment and ministry poverty merely make ... .systaseis to employers to
revoke the dismissals of trade unionists and referred the proceedings continue in the
Inspectorate of Labour. From the perspective of the employer insists that the redundancies
are made under "restructuring", considering that employees who work in the company up to
15 years is not "sufficient." What happens in reality and not telling the bosses, is that
grants segments in residential construction companies in order to reduce the so-called
"labor costs", but also to cultivate a climate of intimidation to the other employees. It
is worth reminding that the redundancies were made two days after the strike in 1/7 and
further that the two trade unionists are dismissed.
Resolution in solidarity Employees Educational Association of Thessaloniki and the
persecuted colleagues , sent by SYVCHPSA. In the resolution, the Association Book
Employees -Map -Digital Media Attica said: The recent decision of the three-member Court
of Appeal of Thessaloniki is a real monument judicial extravagance and anti-union
persistence. According to her, sacked by the schools' Bacharakis "and two members of the
Association of Employees of Educational Thessaloniki (SEMTH) are required to pay to the
company an exorbitant amount (12.000 euros!) And the following industrial action
prohibited by protest performances, leaflets distribution, entries Internet or of notices
that would "disturb" the tutorial. And all because the union and sacked from public
strongly demanded the reinstatement and the payment of accrued. As Employees Association
of Paper Paper and Digital Through Attica express our solidarity to the redundant and the
club. Any employer, government or judicial arbitrariness will find us opposite tis.Kamia
criminalization of trade union struggles.
In a joint announcement six unions make known to acquire common gait and assistance on
labor issues to apascholoun.Tin joint statement signed by the unions: National Workers
Association PANAFON Vodafone - Wind Panhellenic Association of Workers - Workers
Association at Nokia, Greece - Workers Association the company Context - Technical
Employees Association - Association of Workers Cyta Hellas .Ypografi collective agreements
based on our needs Decent working conditions, maintenance of places of work, abolition of
epinoikiazomenis work -Proslipsi the direct employer and with REE exercise of trade union
rights, are just some of the common demands of unions participating in COORDINATION uNIONS
AND WORKERS iN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY. Furthermore the joint communiqué reads:
This union workers and coordination not emerged overnight. It is the product of first
necessity unions and workers in the telecommunications area, and then and other similar
associations, for consultation and exchange of experiences, joint action and coordination
games. It is a product of solidarity that developed between these unions and workers over
the years through their struggles against layoffs, signing collective agreements, the
organization and participation of the "epinoikiazomenon" to unions and to defend their
rights, defending prosecutions workers who resisted, defending the Sunday holiday, until
the protest show at the Ministry. Working on April 29, 2015 for our labor rights. All the
joint text HERE or HERE .
A 48 repeated strikes go workers in former «Phosphoric Fertilizers Industry" by Tuesday,
July 26. Workers came in June to forced leave and from July 1 to 3-month availability,
there have been 45 dismissals. The 200 workers are demanding withdrawal of redundancies
and signed Collective Agreement with modern rights, which refuses the owner, known
magaloapateonas Laurentis Lavrentiadis.
New escalation on the part of employers in the business 'Jury' interests is the document
sent to the business club, which invited five members to appear in two days at the
company's branch in Crete and other two in the North-Evia, seeking to rid from those who
are leading, coordinate and organize the struggle of the workers. The union responded with
extrajudicial and work retention.
Finally, the direct payment of accrued and overtime, require the company's employees'
STRIKOS ART "and the sectoral union electricians Attica. It is worth mentioning that the
company has to pay to the workers their salaries from May, while it has to pay overtime
and weekend work for over a year.
Tags: anarcho-syndicalism , work release , AAR Athens
https://ese.espivblogs.net/2016/07/28/28-7-16/
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Message: 2
AS PART OF THE Plastic Free July promotion a group in Gisborne have launched a make
Gisborne plastic-bag free campaign, and have got the backing of a few retailers in the
city. While this is highly laudable, I would suggest that it should be taken a step
further and we should be concerning ourselves not just with what we carry our shopping
home in, but also with what we are putting in our re-usable, biodegradable bags. ----
Firstly I must stress that I fully recognise that using sustainable materials, reducing
consumption and buying “ecologically friendly” products is very important, and I would
never denounce such a thing. But, I would add that such measures are of a limited use as
solutions to the pollution of our world, and the catastrophe that most of the world’s
climate scientists suggest we are facing. At best, such tactics can only delay, not
prevent, capitalism’s devastation of the planet.
The fundamental issue is, can making ethical choices in our consumer habits actually
influence how capitalism works?
The first problem faced is the issue of how much information about products for sale is
hidden. Without diligent research, or information provided by pressure groups, customers
have no way of knowing the environmental impact of the products they buy (for example, who
knows the environmental cost of a supermarket’s recyclable bags?)
Then there is the misinformation provided by the companies themselves in their adverts and
PR campaigns that can easily swamp our own best intentions, and the efforts of groups
attempting to inform the public of the facts of the environmental costs of certain products.
All products have an environmental impact, no matter how green they are labelled, and
corporations see ethical consumerism as a way of increasing consumption, not reducing it.
It is a chance to redirect an interest in consuming less into a willingness to buy green
products, meanwhile expanding their market share to include consumers that want green
products. Of course they still produce and sell the more environmentally-damaging
alternatives if there is money still to be made from them.
We are told that we can use the market to express our desire for greener goods, but the
most obvious problem here is that some people have louder voices than others. Those with
the loudest voice (i.e. the most money) will hardly be interested in radically changing an
economic system that placed them in that position.
The reverse of this is that those with the least money will often be buying more
ecologically destructive products simply to make ends meet rather than through any real
desire to do so.
Ultimately, green consumerism has the effect of reducing our power to influence society
solely down to our purchasing power. It does not deal with issues such as unlimited
economic growth on a finite planet, or the power of the transnational corporations who
manufacture and sell us our goods. Instead it sees the blame being placed on the
individual, and presents the solution as “shopping better”.
Meanwhile the corporations, which will pollute if they see a profit in it, continue to
take our money off us and cause the degradation of our environment.
Again, it must be stressed that we as individuals should change our lifestyles as much as
possible if we are to limit our impact on the environment, and the campaign for a
plastic-bag free Gisborne is welcomed in that it is a collective action, and a step away
from the individualist approach of green consumerism — and it is a move in the right
direction. However, the challenge is not to stop at that. In the face of the problems we
are facing it will require an even more conscious, wide-ranging and radical movement to
meet the challenges being posed by a system that puts its own interests before all else.
Only by organising to achieve a society where all of us as consumers and producers have
full control over what is produced, and how it is produced and distributed, will we be
able to address the issues facing us all.
---------------------------------------------------------
The Aotearoa Workers Solidarity Movement wants to build a classless, stateless, ecological
sustainable society free from all forms oppression: anarchist communism. That society
would be run by a federation of workplace and community councils, with everyone having a
say in decisions that affect them. Resources and property would be communally owned and
controlled by everyone.
Like what you are reading in this newssheet? Check out our website for more:
www.awsm.nz
You can also email us on awsm@riseup.net
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Message: 3
for information… from https://www.facebook.com/events/1094470863940617/ ---- Savills are a
major international development company and estate agents. Their interest in property is
how best to turn private profit out of it. So why are Savills writing housing policy for
the Government? And why are they in charge of setting up Lambeth Council’s new housing
companies? ---- JOIN US TO DEMAND AN END TO SAVILLS’ RELATIONSHIP WITH LAMBETH COUNCIL ON
HOUSING AND TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THEIR ROLE FUELLING THE HOUSING CRISIS. ---- Melissa
Madjitey is an Associate Director of Savills. Until a few months ago she was also the
Vice-Chair of Lambeth’s leasehold Council! She only resigned from the leasehold council
after she was appointed as the Project Manager of Savills’ consultancy contract with
Lambeth Council. A number of Lambeth residents complained that Madjitey, who was also
chair of the Major Works Committee and the Brixton Area forum, had used these positions to
influence council housing policy and to secure a commercial advantage when bidding for the
contract. Lambeth have simply ignored these complaints and Neil Vokes from Lambeth Council
justified the lack of public scrutiny be saying that ‘no residents were involved in the
procurement of this deal as it was too technical.’
Savills have no interest in supporting social housing tenants or leaseholders, the
thousands of people on the housing waiting list, or those who are being priced out of
buying or renting privately in Lambeth. Savills are openly in favour of regeneration
projects that raise house prices in the surrounding area and lead to gentrification. They
shamelessly campaign for the transfer of more public housing and public land into private
ownership.
Melissa Madjitey and Savills have no place in Lambeth’s ‘Co-operative’ Council and should
withdraw from the contract immediately. Lambeth Council should hold an emergency public
conference to consult with RESIDENTS, NOT DEVELOPERS on tackling our borough’s housing crisis.
from https://www.facebook.com/events/1094470863940617/
Updated: 28th July 2016 at 18:32
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Message: 4
Unruly Equality: US Anarchism in the 20th Century by Andrew Cornell, Published by
University of California Press. ---- “The Crisis in the IWA & The Sect Phenomena” ---- The
current turmoil and split developing in the International Workers Association (IWA), which
links up a few smallish syndicalist unions (allegedly favouring ultra democratic
processes, direct action in its various forms and the workers’ control project) and
mostly sectlets and cults, spotlights the continuing problem of the sect phenomena
within the syndicalist milieu in the Anglo World and elsewhere. (1) It represents an
important obstacle to the pursuit of the long range serious industrial organising which
can achieve genuine mass syndicalist industrial unionism internationally. The current
crisis highlights the absurdity of tiny groups consisting of mostly students and workers
with high levels of autonomy in their work often associated with the university milieu
seeing themselves as the nucleus of mass syndicalist union movements.
There have never been any historical precedents supporting such an eventuality. Whilst
when the IWA initially formed in 1922 it consisted almost completely of syndicalist mass
unions with tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of members. The historical
evidence also points to these formations stemming from complex processes in a radically
different international context to today. Particularly a major upsurge in the
international class struggle and syndicalist tendencies in the socialist and anarchist
movements of these days. Radically different from the Stalinist legacy influenced leftist
milieus of the Anglo World and elsewhere today. Whilst, other factors were also critical
to the emergence of syndicalist union movements such as competition between the early
social democratic and Republican movements for working class electoral support and even
State sponsorship of labour exchanges and syndicalist movements to counter balance
socialist/communist union movements. (2)
“From Tiny Acorns – Mass Syndicalist Union Oaks Do not Grow!”
Today’s IWA cults and sects find wasting their very limited resources massaging the macro
bureaucracy of the IWA as somehow glamorise and obviously much easier than the gruelling
hard yards of serious long range industrial work they should be doing. They get drawn into
all manner of stunts and the manufacture of “papier-mache” unions or unions which are
completely imaginary or meet in largish phone booths as union halls, to impress overseas
gullible members of the IWA. Where they do win “victories”, it is normally of a
“microscopic” significance or from acting as pseudo social workers/lobbyists for groups of
workers in peripheral sectors. The same sort of stuff the corporate/bureaucratic unions on
occasion achieve. These sectlets are heavily informed by the Stalinist legacy and middle
class/student based left subculture, and associated with all manner of organisational
navel gazing, support for identity politics, etc.
Whilst the larger sections such as the Spanish CNT (National Confederation of Labour) with
currently 4,000 members certainly can’t be characterised as sects. However, these sections
seem to be taking the historical trajectory of “minority” syndicalist movements. Involving
adopting the features of the much larger corporate unions such as working within the
framework of the industrial relations racket in their respective country, rather than
emphasising direct action on the job. In the case of the CNT according to latest
information it seems to rely extensively on “clever” lawyers and quirks of the Spanish IR
legislation to win victories and expand membership. (3) These sections give the impression
of becoming micro democratic versions of the corporate unions and are moving from the
syndicalist orientation. A major contribution to this trajectory is the lack of a base in
strategic industrial sectors necessary to defy repressive IR legislation, wipe out the
base of the Corporate Unions, launch strike waves across industry and build an expanding
Syndicalist movement. As well the associated low level of morale of workers in these
sectors and unwillingness to take solidarity action to assist fellow workers is a major
consideration. It’s absolutely vital that serious long range work in these key sectors
is pursued to establish the transitional steps leading to the crystallisation of mass
syndicalist union movements in various countries which can eventually coordinate their
activities globally to tackle capitalist globalisation, and its strategies. These more
substantial work place based groupings and definitely the lesser ones would be better off
dissolving into networks and just concentrating on this serious long range work and
dropping the micro bureaucratic baggage and absurd pretentions that they are fully fledged
union confederations or will become one eventually.
The book under review throws considerable light on the background to the current anarchist
and syndicalist “sect” phenomena and the associated leftist sub culture, which
contributes to it in the USA, the general Anglo World and elsewhere today. An important
back drop to the publishing of this book was the Anti-Globalist movements which commenced
with the 1999 WTO Seattle protests and concluded with the Occupy movement of 2011-12.
Various commentators have alleged these movements have something to do with anarchism. As
they practice ultra democratic and participatory democracy processes. However, these
movements never developed a clear revolutionary objective and program of work. They were
easily snuffed out by state repression and through internal confusion and contradictions.
Whilst in some parts of the US, the local bourgeois state has ultra democratic features,
does that make it “anarchist”? This confusion and the ultra liberal conception of
anarchism as a means to perfect dimensions of bourgeois society and the associated absurd
notion that we could all have the opportunity to rise up in a peaceful and environmentally
sustainable capitalist set up heavily informs the author’s screwed up views on anarchism
and the content of the volume.
“The Zenith of US Anarchism”
In discussing the “heyday” of anarchism in the US, the author looks at the movement in the
early 20th Century when it was a significant force in the US labour movement and certainly
not an exotic leftist sub culture composed largely of navel gazing middle class and
student swell headed activoid super hero elements. He sketches its important role in the
organising drives of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and syndicalist influence
in certain AFL (American Federation of Labour) affiliates particularly in the needle
trades amongst Jewish workers.
“Decline of the Movement”
The author makes the interesting point that apart from the savage repression of the
anarchist and syndicalist milieu and particularly the IWW during and after WWI, another
more important reason for the decline of anarchist activity and influence in the workers
movement was changes to Federal immigration legislation which prevented the immigration of
anarchist workers to recoup losses due to state repression.
Another significant reason for the side tracking and decline in anarchist
influence/syndicalism in the labour movement was infatuation amongst particularly Jewish
anarchist workers in co-operative colonies, such as the Stelton and Mohegan colonies.
However a more critical obstacle to the anarchist movement regaining its industrial
influence and in other spheres was the emergence of mass Stalinism and associated
Communist Parties as satellites of the Soviet party via the Comintern (International
Communist Party organisation controlled by Moscow). Even the Vanguard group - one of the
most important anarchist groups discussed in the volume formed in 1932 and publishers of
the outstanding “Vanguard: A Libertarian Communist Journal” which sought to rebuild a
syndicalist tradition among US anarchists was affected by its influence. Particularly via
the influence of the panorama of expanding international Stalinism and its initiatives on
its key militant Mark Schmidt, a veteran of the Russian Revolution of 1917. (4)
“The Middle Class Leftist Hijacking and the McCarthy Era”
The author sees the 1940’s being the period when anarchist milieu moved away from class
struggle and a working class social base and was drawn into a middle class/student sub
cultural and protest politics phenomena.
Associated with this trajectory the “Libertarian League” formed in 1954. Despite having a
formally syndicalist orientation, the author shows had a social base similar to other
anarchist groups of the period among middle class elements with a few important exceptions
such as Sam Dolgoff. Due to the McCarthy era there were few opportunities for serious
industrial work in the AFL-CIO unions, whilst by the late 1950’s the IWW had been reduced
to the status of a small sect of aging members. Consequently its major activities lacked
an industrial orientation and included international solidarity work for victims of state
repression, publication of its journal “Views and Comments” and the holding of regular forums.
Another key group of the 1960’s discussed in the volume formed by radical students was
the Solidarity Bookshop of Chicago established in 1964 and the paper “The Rebel Worker”.
Members of the group joined the IWW and were involved in an unsuccessful farm workers
organising drive in South West Michigan. Subsequently the paper and group became drawn
into Surrealism and collaboration with other ultra left groups such as “Facing Reality”.
Another grouping of the 1960’s discussed which went on to have tens of thousands of
members at its peak was SDS (Students for a Democratic Society). It claimed to favour
participatory democracy, but imploded at its 1969 National Convention, resulting in a
series of different split offs informed by Marxism Leninism. These new organisations
included, the Radical Youth Movement which seeded the New Communist Movement and the
Maoist Progressive Labour Party, which spawned the Urban Guerrilla “Weather Underground”.
Subsequently Maoism became the most important current to the left of the Democratic Party
with the New Communist Movement formations having an estimated core combined membership
of 10,000 nationally and much wider influence in the early 1970’s.(5) The author examines
the emergence of the Radical Decentralisation Project, whose key figure was “Murray
Bookchin” as an allegedly anarchist faction in the SDS. Whilst emphasising ultra
democratic processes it also peddled “lifestylism” (the nonsense of trying to live an
anarchist lifestyle in capitalist society and “dropping out” to live on a “hippie
commune”) and “environmentalism”. It imploded following the dissolution of the SDS and
failed to crystallise into a sect in the student milieu.
Another key grouping discussed which commenced in the 1980’s is “Food Not Bombs” which was
a spinoff from the anti-nuke movement, an essentially charity style outfit based on a
social worker/activoid superhero orientation.
“Let a Thousand Exotic Weeds Bloom!”
The epilogue to the volume catalogues the various ephemeral “poisonous weeds” informed by
identity politics and lifestylism with some notable exceptions which compose the so called
anarchist movement wing of the left subculture “hot house” in the US from the 1970s to the
Occupy movement. The author ignores the key role of agencies of US capitalism in
facilitating this confusion such as the CIA and various foundations and the tertiary
education system via encouraging identity politics and drug sub cultures.(6) The author
also fails to take account of the Stalinist legacy upon these hot house growths, which is
interwoven with adherence to aspects of identity politics and middle class leftist
“oppression mongering” in the shape of aspects of identity politics being beyond debate
and discussion and the wide acceptance of the hypocritical navel gazing “safe spaces
policies” in this milieu. These “politics” of course preclude any serious coordinated
strategic industrial organising by genuine anarchist/syndicalist groupings. Whilst causing
the more “serious” anarcho outfits to either consciously or unconsciously ape the antics
of the Marxist Leninist lineage micro parties with the proliferation of the morally and
ethically depraved “politicos”.
It was the serious industrial work conducted by the Paterson based “Right to Existence”
Group which played such a key pioneering role in the emergence of a syndicalist faction
in the WMF (Western Miners Federation) in the early 20th Century which contributed
significantly to the formation of the IWW in 1905. It also played a key role in later
important IWW organising drives in the Eastern USA. This group was certainly not engrossed
in all the grotesque organisational navel gazing and disgusting oppression mongering and
guilt tripping of the current so called “more serious” anarchist outfits.(7)
In conclusion, the book under review provides some important insights into why in the
contemporary US and elsewhere the so called anarchist movement is largely a sub cultural
phenomena and encourages a sect orientation in the more serious supposedly class struggle
groups such as important sections of the IWW and the few allegedly class struggle
anarchist groups. However, the volume spreads plenty of misinformation about what
constitutes anarchism in the USA, confusing it with aspects of “ultra liberalism” and
middle class protest politics. Another important problem with the volume is the author’s
grossly inadequate discussion of the impact of the Stalinist/Trotskyist/Maoist legacies
on the US Leftist milieu and the so called anarchist one. Whilst the author fails to take
account of the hidden and not so hidden hands of agencies of US capitalism in facilitating
the impotence and sub cultural nature of the much of the general leftist and anarchist
milieus.
Mark McGuire
Notes
1.See discussion on Libcom.org “CNT Proposes reorganisation of the IWA”
2.See “Democracy, Trade Unions and Political Violence in Spain: The Valencian Anarchist
Movement 1918-1936 by Richard Purkiss.
3.ibid
4.See “Fragments: A Memoir by Sam Dolgoff
5.See “Revolution in the Air: Sixties Radicals turn to: Lenin, Mao and Che” By Max Elbaum.
6. See “Gloria Steinem, the Women’s Movement and the CIA” on the internet and “Acid
Dreams: The Complete Social History of LSD: The CIA, the Sixties and Beyond” by Martin Lee
and Bruce Shlain.
7. See “Red November, Black November: Culture and Community in the Industrial Workers of
the World” by Salvatore Salerno.
From Rebel Worker www.rebelworker.org
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Message: 5
Back on a victory of wage earners a Franprix Saint-Denis, mostly cashiers, who are
fighting for better working conditions, higher wages and respect the labor code. ----
While shopping, a union activist speaks regularly with the cashiers of the store (13 wage
earners whose manager) of the atmosphere at Franprix "street Rep '" ... So when she said
that scams on wages, nonexistent break time, labor imposed Sunday, the non-replacement of
sick leave, enough, they contact "naturally" local union Solidaires South St. Denis.
Luckily, UL has decided to hold trade union hotlines for wage earners but especially to
develop trade union sections in private boxes. After significant discussion time, 8
cashiers decide to unionize Solidaires 93 (in conjunction with South Trade and Service).
Solidarity had to address the court (and won) for the staff representatives elections take
place: this is not usually the case that having union in business. Franprix is a complex
nested mounting franchises. The goal is limited to few people productions units, suddenly
without the works council, to prevent any organization and claim of wage earners. After
months of discussions on wage claims that are not moving and installation file for the
tribunal, cashiers decide to use the strike, the rarely seen in recent years at
Saint-Denis in a store of this type. The strike is prepared for several weeks between wage
earners and UL Saint-Denis.
30% more Sunday morning
Saturday, June 4 at 8 am, 10 of the 13 wage earners of Franprix find themselves outside
the shop, supported by twenty-es of fellow trade unionists. Banner, stickers, petition to
support the claims, solidarity fund ... everything was done to create visibility and
solidarity. The AG interpro of Saint-Denis, mobilized against the "work" law and his
world, had launched a support action. Result: more than 70 people outside the store at 10
am 30. We are told to 9: 30 pm there will be a meeting with the HRD Monday. At noon the
HRD is there, willing to "let go of things" but refused if strike, promising that if any
resumption of work there will be offsets to a meeting the following Wednesday. The
comrades of Franprix decided unanimously to reject this proposal and to continue the
strike until there is nothing satisfactory.
An hour later, the HRD loose. A protocol signed end of conflict: negotiations on wages,
replacement of stops, 30% increase in wages on Sunday morning, 100% after 15 h. Obviously
this is not enough. But the comrades of Franprix were super happy seeing what they could
earn, financial support (over 600 euros given) and resumed work head high.
It is to remain vigilant against repression. And, UL, to successfully develop local union
training for the comrades can be as independent as possible and can have the tools to
fight. The idea is to continue to develop this type of sections and struggles that win, to
restore the confidence of wage earners in what concrete strength of unity and action. This
is necessary to go further, particularly on interprovincial strikes. And to strengthen our
camp in the class struggle!
Simon Laviec (AL Saint-Denis)
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Lutte-La-greve-paye
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Message: 6
Submitted to It’s Going Down ---- The war for black lives and the struggle against the
police in NYC has taken a new direction with the advent of a militant occupation outside
of City Hall. Even before the occupation the revolutionary line was set in Millions March
NYC’s orientation guide: “We are a network of revolutionary political organizers dedicated
to the abolition of the repressive apparatus of the U.S. state, which includes but is not
limited to the police, judicial system, prison system, and major political parties.” ----
NYC Anarchist Action is in total agreement with this position and has been struggling in
tandem with Millions March NYC and the other organizations to make these political goals a
reality. The immediate demands of the occupation were: defund the NYPD, fire police
commissioner Bill Bratton, and give reparations to families of victims of the police
violence. As the occupation develops, together we will create a stronger, more dynamic
revolutionary current in NYC.
On the first day of the occupation we ejected a racist, Donald Trump supporter from the
park, ensuring that people know the far-Right will not be tolerated. And with a clever
bait and switch tactic we confounded the police, marching to a nearby park with 24 hour
access. As we celebrated, police studied the park rules meticulously trying to find a way
to evict occupants. A rental truck arrived right on time and people gathered to unload
sleeping bags and pads. As we wake up this morning the occupation stands. The police were
outmaneuvered tactically and outpaced politically.
People initially thought the occupation wouldn’t hold, but with resilience and ingenuity
we defeated the odds and not only continued the action but have succeeded in one of the
goals. NYC police commissioner, the architect of broken windows policing, announced he is
resigning after the very first day of the occupation. We have no illusions about the
political machinations of those in power, or the wretched gallows of the bureaucratic
death machine that is the NYPD, but on this day, after so many months of struggle we can
all hold our heads high, with our fists in the air as the first domino has fallen.
NYC Anarchist Action calls for anarchists around the city and country to celebrate this
first victory with us and engage in the continuing struggle. The political terrain has
changed as people have realized that this system cannot be reformed, and begin to strive
to create a liberatory alternative.
As political events move quick we will continue to fight and push for the total abolition
of capital, the state, and white supremacy, while advocating the immediate formation of
councils and communes as organs of resistance and life. Bratton has fallen and there is
more to come in the near future.
Resistance is life.
NYC Anarchist Action
