Today's Topics:
1. wsm.ie: Wage theft defeated by solidarity in Sydney
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
2. Greece, anarkismo.net: All in the anti-fascist course in
Keratsini -Paul Fyssas; - Guest! by Anarcho-syndicalist
Initiative Rosinade (gr) [machine translation]
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
3. Britain, solfed, manchester: Smash IPP - prisoner support
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
4. APO, [Thessaloniki] Announcement of the police attack on the
memory of the anti-fascist P. Fissa (gr) [machine translation]
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
5. southern africa, zabalaza.net: Fuel Price Hikes Hammer South
Africa's Working Class by Philip Nyalungu (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
6. Position of the Anarchist Federation of Catalonia on the
referendum on October 1 by FAC (ca, fr, it, pt) [machine
translation] (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
7. France, Alternative Libertaire AL - feminism, Fear must
change sides! (fr, it, pt) [machine translation]
(a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
An Irish anarchist reports from recent victory in Sydney against wage theft in the
hospitality industry. The Sydney Solidarity Network was formed a number of years ago along
the lines of the Seattle Solidarity Network. ---- The Back Story ---- SydSol and the
Anarchist Syndicalist Federation-IWA were contacted by Melinda, Sheila, Suko and Ulya,
working holiday makers from Indonesia who worked at a factory in May and June in Sydney
and still had not been paid. They had collectively worked 34 days and were owed over
$4,000, but despite promises from the boss they had not seen a cent. ---- Time for action
---- With SSN support, on 26 August the workers protested at a restaurant in Auburn in
Western Sydney partially owned by the same person as the factory they had worked at. They
gave out leaflets, chanted, talked to people passing by and made the situation known.
Despite some level of intimidation, and thanks to SydSol and ASF-IWA supporters as well as
public support from the community, the workers were finally paid a few days later on the
29th August. This example demonstrates that collective action based on direct action and
solidarity can be very powerful.
The hospitality industry, which includes workplaces like pubs, restaurants, hotels,
canteens, etc is well known for abuses and exploitation whether in Sydney or Ireland.
SSN's aim is to get workers of the sector together to fight back against abuses and for
better conditions.
SSN says: "As workers we should defend ourselves collectively and spread a culture of
solidarity among workplaces - because problems at work are collective, not individual."
"We are not solicitors, legal advisors or union officials, nor we are trying to be. We are
a group of workers helping each other as equals. With this campaign we'll attempt to
organise and get the skills to face our workplace issues collectively."
---
If you would like to find out more about Sydney solidarity network please see their
webpage at https://sydsol.net/
For more info on building a solidarity network in your area please see
https://libcom.org/library/you-say-you-want-build-solidarity-network.
Subject: Australia
Topics: Workplace
Geography: International
Source: News alert
Type: News
Author: Sean Matthews
https://www.wsm.ie/c/wage-theft-defeated-sydney
------------------------------
Message: 2
Four years after the murder of Pavlos Fissas, and while the refugee issue has evolved into
a central theme of the political and social agenda, the Golden Dawn has been restricted to
a compliment, while solidarity with refugees is an existing social trend. And this is the
most tangible result of the collective punch that the Nazis accepted after the
assassination of the Fossa. But the very existence of concentration camps and the
institutional racism that emerges from them give room for development to fascist
perceptions: the anti-fascist movement has to maintain its memory and be vigilant with
regard to the fascist poison that is still spreading among us. ---- Four years are
completed on Monday (18/9) from the day of the assassination of Pavlos Fissas in Keratsini
by the goldsmith Rupakia. A criminal action that came just a few months after Pakistani
worker Sachat Lukman's murderous handshake and a few days after the assassination of
members of the Golden Dawn to members of the Metal Synagogue in Perama: in September 2013
the Golden Dawn Nazis attempted to upgrade their political presence in society.
It would be a great disgust if we perceived the assassination of Paul Fussa as a random
event, such as the channels that tried to convince us that Fyssa and Roupakia "were
troubling for football". The assassination of Psyha can not be dissociated from the fact
that in September 2013 the Greek society was on the brink of a strike by the strike of
secondary school teachers, and the processes for further strikes in the public sector were
more intense since when.
Golden Dawn, encouraged by the fact that the murder of Lukman a few months ago did not
cause her any particular political cost, chose an objective strike in the midst of an
intense strike climate. To become the wild dog of the bosses, to attack rabies in the
labor movement. Both the murderous attack on the trade unionists of Perama and the murder
of Paul Fyssa are part of the Golden Dawn's political strategy at that time. And the fact
that this strategy failed was the result of the dynamic of the anti-fascist movement.
In the days following the assassination of Paul Fissa, a huge anti-fascist river flooded
the streets of all over Greece. The social climate that the anti-fascist forces of society
have established, the massive, kinematic responses to the murderous existence of the
Golden Dawn have been a good stop to its movement. Even the arrests of its leading
executives have been the result of the anti-fascist dynamics that developed after the
assassination of Paul Fussa and the political pressure he was exercising, and of course
not a sort of anti-fascist turn of the then government, which, in fact, with its far right
policy had prevented to lay the carpet on the murderous Nazi activity.
Four years after the murder of Pavlos Fissas, and while the refugee issue has evolved into
a central theme of the political and social agenda, the Golden Dawn has been restricted to
a compliment, while solidarity with refugees is an existing social trend. And this is the
most tangible result of the collective punch that the Nazis accepted after the
assassination of the Fossa. But the very existence of concentration camps and the
institutional racism that emerges from them give room for development to fascist
perceptions: the anti-fascist movement has to maintain its memory and be vigilant with
regard to the fascist poison that is still spreading among us.
The evolving trial of Golden Dawn has curtailed its murder, but the risk of its
reconstruction has not been completely avoided. It is also the organization of the
movement, the collective anti-fascist memory and the strengthening of the culture of
coexistence and solidarity that will forever defeat fascism, not bourgeois justice or any
other state institution. And this is something that we must remember and, with every
opportunity, to cultivate the social culture that will ultimately unravel with the fascism
gangrene.
Anarcho-syndicalist Initiative Rosinante supports and participates in the demonstration
that will take place in the neighborhood of Keratsini on Monday 18/9, at 17:00, at the
monument of Pavlos Fissa. For the ultimate destruction of fascism and the system that
generates it, for solidarity and equality, for defending our neighborhoods from fascist
poison. -Pavlos Fissasa? -Guest! Anarcho-Communist Initiative Rosinade
https://www.anarkismo.net/article/30515
------------------------------
Message: 3
On Saturday September 16th, Manchester SolFed took part in a demonstration organised by
the Smash IPP campaign. Imprisonment for public protection (IPP) is a brutal system under
which people find themselves rotting in prison for years without any idea of when they
will be released. Under IPP, people as young as 16, after being given initial sentences of
two years or less for petty crimes, such as theft of a mobile phone, still find themselves
locked away in prison after as much as ten years or more later. As one IPP campaigner
noted, being locked away in prison for year after year with no idea of when you will be
released is nothing less than a form of mental torture. Needless to say, many prisoners
serving IPP sentences suffer from mental health problems, reflected in the fact that a
large number of IPP prisoners resort to self harm as a coping mechanism. The injustice of
IPP was finally acknowledged by the government when it was abolished in 2012. However, the
legislation was not made retrospective, which means that there are still over 4000 people
locked away in prison indefinitely. Further, many of the people released from IPP are
released under licence and often face being "recalled" for as little as exhibiting "risky"
behaviour involving drugs or alcohol.
We urge everyone to get involved in the fight against IPP by contacting Smash IPP at
info@smashipp.noflag.org.uk, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/smashipp/, or by post
at Smash IPP, c/o Next to Nowhere Basement, 96 Bold St, Liverpool, L1 4HY.
Below is an article by Joanne, who is part of Smash IPP and is campaigning for the release
of her partner, Ian Hartley, who is still in prison after 12 years after having been given
an initial IPP sentence of three years.
In England and Wales, the imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentence was a form of
indeterminate sentence introduced by s.225 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (with effect
from 2005) and abolished in 2012.
Lord Blunkett brought in the sentence for offenders that were extremely high risk, such as
murderers and paedophiles. However, due to judges and such like not being aware of what
they should be used for, instead of 900 offenders receiving one, 9000 have received one.
Since the sentences were abolished in 2012, 4000 offenders still remain in prison.
Originally, when the sentence was brought in, offenders were set a minimum term (tariff)
which they must spend in prison. After they had completed their tariff, they could apply
to the Parole Board for release. The Parole Board was told to only release an offender if
it was satisfied that there was no longer a necessity for the protection of the public for
the offender to be confined. However, this was not the case; even the most vulnerable of
offenders who have completed all courses asked of them whilst in prison, are still
awaiting release.
In an article on the 16th August 2017, 15 years since the IPP's implementation, and five
years since it was abolished, its creator, Lord David Blunkett, says he made a mistake.
"I'm to blame for IPP," he says in an exclusive interview, "and we would do it differently
now. If I had my time again I would have ensured from the beginning that the IPP could
only be applied for people with very substantial tariffs." This does not help those still
in prison, with no release in sight, and away from those that they love.
The Guardian reported on the 14th of August 2017 that Nick Hardwick, Chair of the Parole
Board, and also former Chief Inspector of Prisons in England and Wales, told BBC Radio 4's
Today Programme that hundreds of prisoners are serving time several years over the minimum
tariffs set for them, and many are prone to self-harm as a result. "The levels of suicide,
assault, and self-harm are unacceptably high. It's the fault of political and policy
decisions that should have been put right two years ago." Recent figures show that there
are 550 incidents of self-harm for every 1000 IPP prisoners. This compares with 324
incidents for every 1000 prisoners serving determinate or fixed terms, and is more than
twice the rate of 200 per 1000 prisoners for those serving life sentences.
A report released by the Criminal Law and Justice Weekly on the 7th January 2017 stated
that the recall rate for IPP sentence prisoners was high compared with those with life
sentences (indeterminate sentence prisoners (ISPs)). In 2015, around 500 IPP sentence
prisoners were released, but 391 were recalled in this period. Most of this was not
related to reoffending, but rather to "risky" behaviour, such as the use of alcohol/drugs,
which can still manifest in the community. In addition, through discussion with recalled
IPP prisoners, there is some anecdotal evidence that gaps in the provision of some key
community services, for example mental health services, can lead to a breakdown of the
release plan.
The reasons for recall vary greatly, from relatively minor breaches in licence conditions
to serious reoffending. Once recalled, prisoners often spent months in prison before a
decision was made about whether the recall was justified, and whether they should remain
in prison. However, the Parole Board says the serious reoffending rate for IPP prisoners
on release is very low, estimated at less than 1%.
My partner, Ian Hartley, is suffering greatly from the mental torture of serving this
inhumane sentence and actually wrote a letter informing people of his thoughts and
feelings
(http://smashipp.noflag.org.uk/a-letter-from-ian-hartley-imprisoned-on-an-ipp-sentence/).
Each time I visit him, he tells me of the long nights when he lies in his cell, scared of
what he is thinking. He has told me that the only reason he has not committed suicide is
because of me and how I would feel if I was left without him. It is cruel to keep a human
being on an indefinite sentence, expecting them to complete courses and adhere to
instructions when there is no end in sight for them.
I leave each visit with a heavy heart, knowing that I have left Ian alone and isolated. It
absolutely breaks me thinking of him in that cell, surrounded by four walls, with no
expectations or hope whatsoever. I will do everything I can by way of protesting and
marches to raise awareness of the remaining serving IPPs and also those that are at risk
from recall. But at the end of the day, it is down to David Lidington, Justice Secretary,
to do something about these prisoners. Many have served their time plus an extra sentence
because they have been left and forgotten about after the abolition of IPP sentences in 2012.
Below is the link for the partition demanding the release of Ian Hartley
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1983442921891304/permalink/1987390564829873/
http://www.solfed.org.uk/manchester/smash-ipp
------------------------------
Message: 4
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE COLLECTIVITY FOR THE SOCIAL SEASON "BLACK AND RED" FOR THE POLITICAL
ATTEMPT IN THE STREET OF THE MEMORY OF THE ANTIFFASSIST P. PHYSA ---- On September 18,
dozens of cities were scheduled to mobilize the resistance and memory of the anti-phaseist
Pavlos Fissa, who was murdered four years ago at Keratsini by the gold-rusty Rupakia. In
particular, the collectivity for social anarchism "Black and Red" undertook the formation
of an anarchist-anti-fascist bloc in Thessaloniki, within the framework of a call from the
Anarchist Political Organization-Federation of Collectives, whose members-groups protested
in the cities of Athens and Patras. an anarchist group cumulonimbus organized a microphone
concert in Corfu. ---- (link to poster and poster of APO-OS:
http://apo.squathost.com/%CE%BA%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%AD%CF%83%CE ... / )
The journey from Kamara to Ag. Sophia and Tsimiski to the offices of the Athens Stock
Exchange. More than 350 protesters rallied in our college block. The banners showed:
"Fascism is killing in Europe and America. Crush fascism and the system that gives birth
to it. "
There were anti-fascist slogans, slogans in favor of immigrants and internationalist
solidarity.
The attitude of EL.AS was the usual, thus forming the police forces, encircling the body
of the course, especially at the height of Tsimiski. Police in the city of Thessaloniki
prove the consistency of EL.AS and Minister Pro.PO Tosca in the repression of protests. A
typical example is the heavy injury of a 16-year-old in Athens, being arrested, resulting
in a critical situation being infiltrated in the KAT, as well as the detention of a
15-year-old girl for 5 days in GADA.
The police corps continued from the Dodecanese, where they were lined with cages to
prevent the move to the fascist offices until Venizelos and Tsimiski.
The "Black and Red" college block, the second in the series of blocks that formed the body
of the course, accepted the police's assault on the contribution of the above roads. The
police's intent was to dismantle the block, as it collided with its organized guard. This
attack was apparently intended to injure the world as repression forces were engaged in
throwing straight flash shots and tears.
The MATs were attacked 2 times more and were successfully repulsed by the guardianship,
members of which were injured while fighting to ensure continued cluster march. Finally,
the course was steadily and steadily directed to Kamara and was completed.
This attack takes place within a framework where SYRIZA provides political coverage on the
Athens Stock Exchange and other fascist constructions either by making joint appearances
or by hitting the anti-fascist demonstrations with the MAT. By making it clear that the
state and the partisan go hand in hand. The fascist prize coincides with their legitimacy,
with the striking of collective resistances, with threats and attacks on occupations,
hangouts, and the world of the struggle, with the depth of impoverishment and the
exacerbation of social oblivion. It comes with unbearable economic measures and employers'
terrorism, along with the murder of workers, along with the premium of large-scale and
large-scale businesses, with the looting of the natural world, with the continuation of
politics that makes immigrants and refugees invisible, which closes them in concentration
camps and kills them at the border. With the policy of "rational" management, which tries
to break the resistance, it seeks social peace and sets the foundations for class
collaboration. Clearly outlining that the current power administrators also impose
barbarity and oppression from below.
We do not forget that the yesterday's assault by the forces of repression follows the
assault our block received in the summer of 17 on the anti-fascist demonstration against
the concentration of the Holy Lent. The result of this was the injury of our comrades and
the vulgar repressive and sexist assault on our comrades. Attack, which follows the attack
on the anti-fascist demonstration in the White Tower, which is also captured by one of our
members.
We still do not forget the targeting of Mundo Nuevo in the summer of our conquest, the
threatening reports of evacuation from guerrilla parrots and our members' checks outside
the capture.
Well, as much as you attack our block, our members and our comrades, whoever you conceive,
and you threaten us with evacuations, we have to say that you have to pass over us. We
have to say that WE WILL WIN.
DISCUSSION DOES NOT FEEL US.
WE ARE NOT LEAVING THE PAUL'S PHYSOS, SACHAT LOUKMAN, HADER HAGIER.
FROM THE OREOKASTRO, THE EPHETE IN ATHENS, SOFIA TO BOSTHONI, WE WILL KNOW THE FASHIO
------------------------------
Message: 5
A sharp increase in fuel prices on Wednesday 6 September will hit the working class and
poor hardest. Petrol, diesel and paraffin now cost 67c, 44c and 65c more, respectively.
This is the fifth fuel increase this year. Economists have warned more will be disastrous.
---- The official reasons for the price hike are rising crude oil costs and the weak Rand.
Government tax is also rising. Energy Minister Mamoloko Kubayi claims 4.6 cents a litre
will go towards salary increases for petrol station workers. ---- The reality is rising
prices get passed directly onto ordinary people by, for example, increases in taxi fares
and food prices. LP gas, which with paraffin is the main fuels used in poor households, is
up 86 cents a kilogram. Rising prices affect jobs, and many workers are vulnerable.
Informal economic activities, like street vending of food, are harmed, also affecting
low-paid consumers like taxi drivers and petrol pump attendants. It is not clear how 4.6
cents a litre of petrol tax will supposedly get into the pockets of petrol station
workers. If it does, it will just vanish due to rising prices. South African capitalism,
enabled by the state machinery, rests upon cheap black labour, and the working class and
poor majority continue to suffer. Real freedom remains far off.
Rising prices are part of the ongoing inflation problem in capitalism that keeps reducing
real wages. Owners of the means of production, including oil refineries and fuel chains,
the banks and the state, have the power to increase prices and devalue currency, and so,
increase profits by increasing poverty.
But the victims, workers and their families, lack both economic power and political
influence. So long as the economy remains under the control of the bosses and politicians,
rather than the broad working class, problems like endless price rises will continue. Only
class struggle from below through counter-power, aiming at a better society, based on
self-management, collective property and participatory planning, can move us from this
track. This requires working class autonomy from the parties and the state.
https://zabalaza.net/2017/09/21/fuel-price-hikes-hammer-south-africas-working-class/#more-5413
------------------------------
Message: 6
The mechanisms to participate in the collective decisions of this political system prevent
a decisive positioning of the individuals. The delegation of the decisions to
representatives has pushed us to the current frustration of seeing us limited to realize
symbolic positions. The bodies of the vast majority of public administrations and private
companies decide unilaterally, and ignore or even ban popular positioning or queries. We
can change these decision mechanisms. We can organize ourselves horizontally and decide
everyday things that involve us all. We need a unanimous interest in deciding how we
should organize ourselves socially, laborally and politically. Our involvement in
decisions or struggles, social, political, ecological, etc. It makes us responsible for
our lives.
Referendums are a way to make the direct decision of many people on concrete aspects
effective. Social movements have organized popular referendums that the administrations
have never given as valid. The call now for a referendum to decide on the continuation or
independence of the administrative territory of Catalonia in Spain is causing a conflict
between administrations. In addition, it is becoming a strategy that some political
parties use to become martyrs of a noble cause and erase or apologize for corruption or
all unpopular measures. The discontent with the constitution of the 78th, the repressive
course of Catalan culture and the struggle of the movements that defend self-determination
is the evidence of the conflict that interests us.
From the Anarchist Federation of Catalonia, we express our support for the referendum on
October 1, since the self-determination of peoples is part of self-management and
self-organization. Although organized by the administration of Catalonia we understand
that it responds to a real need for the interest of many people, as well as allowing for a
non-continuing organizational and destitute process.
We criticize the margins imposed in the participation of this referendum. We are opposed
to the administrative limits of Catalonia; There are issues in common with other nearby
regions due to geographic features or for everyday relationships. People under the age of
18 are also excluded and those who do not have regular roles.
In relation to the proposed question, we believe that independence (social, labor or
national) is not dependent on a "State", neither of the financial entities, nor of any
private company, it is the decision making from the bottom , apart from the administrative
institutions, the political parties or the yellow unions, in order to achieve the
management of our work and our lives. We reject the creation of a Catalan State, since we
criticize the democratic inefficiency in the organization within a "State", either by the
division of the territory without taking into account local realities, such as centralism,
whether from Barcelona or from Madrid . We also reject the creation of a republic, despite
the advantages in relation to the current situation. We understand that the republic will
be a continuist in the economic system. If what is sought with the creation of a new
"Republican State" is greater justice and equality, the neoliberal model that defends an
important part of the independence movement pours Catalonia in an economic situation
similar to the current one. We do not want that. We want a destitutive process of the
current power and a process of collective participation that is directed towards the total
participation of the population in the optimum decisions to establish forms of social and
labor organization that blind horizontal and assembling decision-making bodies.
We understand that it is difficult to understand a social organization that is not armored
by a "Republican State", but it is a challenge that we have to face together if we want to
be totally free and independent. At present, we find examples of this type of
organization, such as libertarian municipalism, free communes or democratic confederalism.
Also in the history of Catalonia we find examples of an emancipatory social organization,
such as Libertarian Communism during the Social Revolution of 36.
Anarchist Federation of Catalonia
September 2017
https://www.federacioanarquista.org/433-2/
------------------------------
Message: 7
At the Paris demonstration against the labor law of September 12, members of the CGT's
police force violently beat up feminist militants. ---- These activists denounced sexist
remarks held by part of this SO, and this is not the first time this type of problem has
been raised. One of the activists ended up in the ER, and the others suffered multiple
bruises and bruises. ---- We still have to recall that there is no justification for
violence against women. It is also unacceptable that arguments on so-called political
divergences are used to explain such acts. Some of them are activist activists and active
politicians, present in all struggles with workers, migrants, precarious workers ... Think
that, on the pretext that they are rather young women, they are not legitimate to be
recognized as such is indecent.
But even if these women did not militate anywhere, the patriarchal violence exercised
would remain totally reprehensible.
Male and macho solidarity is still far too present, even in militant circles. It must not
find fertile ground here. This union can not afford to let some of its members reproduce
what needs to be changed and fought. Within the framework of taking into account the
multiple dimensions of the struggle to be carried out, the content of the slogans employed
becomes all the more important as the intolerable attitudes of some of its members.
Alternative Libertaire affirms its support to those violent comrades with whom we fight to
put down capitalism and patriarchy.
Alternative Libertaire, September 12, 2017
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?La-peur-doit-changer-de-camp
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