Sydney, Australia Paper of the Anarcho-Syndicalist Network 50c Vol.37 No.2 (225) Aug -Sept. 2019

WHY NOT A 2 HOUR STOPPAGE TO SUPPORT THE GLOBAL CLIMATE ACTION

STRIKE 20TH SEPT? WORKERS & UNIONISTS MUST SUPPORT EFFORTS TO SAVE

THE PLANET! THERE WILL BE NO JOBS ON A DEAD PLANET!

AMAZON WORKERS’ INTERNATIONAL STRIKE P2; NSW RAILWAY NEWS P3; FAIR GAME PART (1) P5; THE 6 EMOTIONS THE BOSS USE AGAINST YOU P6; PERCEPTIONS OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS P6; SYNDEY BUSES NEWS P7; VICTORIAN RAILWAY NEWS P9; BRITAIN TODAY P10; FRANCE: YELLOW VESTS P12; USA: UBER & THE GIG ECONOMY P14; BOOK REVIEW P15; EDGARD LEUENROTH 1881-1968 P18 BULGARIA P18; USA: BURGER WORKERS’ STRIKE P20; 2 Rebel Worker

line database that ICE agents use to track Items arrive already packaged from fa- Rebel Worker is the bi-monthly immigrants they are trying to deport. The cilities further up the supply chain, in- Paper of the A.S.N. for the propa- New York City rally was held at CEO Jeff cluding fulfilment centres like the one in gation of anarcho-syndicalism in Bezos’s $80 million mega-penthouse. Minnesota. Workers in delivery centres Australia. Minneapolis to Chicago sort the packages and load them into The fulfilment centre in Shakopee, a vans for delivery. These facilities have Unless otherwise stated, signed proliferated in major urban centres as Articles do not necessarily represent suburb of Minneapolis, has been the site of some of the most confrontational and part of the push for one-day and the position of the A.S.N. as a whole. successful organizing so far. Twice in the same-day delivery. Any contributions, criticisms, letters past year, Amazon warehouse workers Workers in this Chicago warehouse nor- or there have walked off the job to protest mally make $15 per hour. As an incentive, Comments are welcome. management’s ever-increasing productiv- managers had promised to pay $18 per ex- REBEL WORKER ity goals and discrimination against Mus- tra hour worked on top of a regular shift—but the higher rate applied only for P.O. BOX 92 lim workers. the extra hour, not the whole shift. BROADWAY 2007 NSW Those actions backed by the Awood Center, a worker center based in Min- Many workers are not scheduled for E-mail: Via our web site nesota’s East African community, led to enough hours to qualify for the company’s www.rebelworker.org the first negotiations between Amazon health insurance. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: and a U.S. labor organization. Workers The warehouse can get intensely hot, since AUSTRALIA: $12 a year affiliated with the center have orga- its walls and roof are metal. Amazon pub- OVERSEAS nized under the slogan “We Are Hu- licized that it was installing air condition- $25 (Aus.) by Air mans, Not Robots,” and are also ing in its fulfillment centers in 2012 after $20 (Aus.) by Sea mail campaigning against retaliation and public scrutiny and high-profile incidents, health and safety problems. but air conditioners have not been installed Free to Prisoners Bolstered by the Minneapolis example, in other facilities this one. Supporters Subs. $40 pa workers in an Amazon delivery center in Small walkout Receives copies of RW & ASN Chicago on July 16 took Prime Day action At the Minnesota facility, workers Pamphlets as published. of their own. They surveyed co-workers to walked off the day shift July 15 to join a Send to the above. Cheques should be develop demands, and settled on three: air community picket. Workers said manag- made out to Black Cat Media. conditioning, health insurance, and $18 an ers and police were staked out at the front hour throughout Prime Week. of the warehouse, keeping track of who Thirty workers on the night shift was exiting, which had a chilling effect on packed the shift manager’s office dur- participation. International Amazon ing a 2:30 a.m. break to deliver the de- Organizers had hoped that 100 workers mands. After a lively back and forth, would walk out. In the end, far fewer they secured a commitment to meet did. Nonetheless, workers and commu- Workers’ Strike with the warehouse’s top manager. nity supporters picketed, danced, and “Our goal today was to get a meeting with rallied until rain and flash flood warn- the person who has the ability to make the ings ended the action. By Joe DeManuelle-Hall decisions around the things that we’re de- Several Amazon tech workers from Seat- Amazon’s biggest shopping days of manding,” said Terry Miller (a pseud- tle flew in to join the rally. They are part of 2019 so far —”Prime Days,” July onym), who participated in the action. a group called Amazon Employees for Cli- 15-16— saw walkouts and protests by “We knew the best-case scenario was mate Justice, which has organized an open workers in the U.S. and Germany. The meeting with the site manager, and that’s letter signed by 8,000 employees demand- protests were semi-coordinated, target- what we got.” (Read his firsthand account ing that the company expand its commit- ing Amazon when its warehouses are of warehouse conditions here.) ment to renewable energy and stop running at full clip and the company is Co-workers abuzz providing technological support for oil in the media spotlight. After the meeting, the delegation re- and gas extraction. Dave Kamper contrib- In Germany, Amazon workers organizing turned to work and finished out the uted reporting to this article. This article with the Ver.di union struck over the shift. Workers who hadn’t participated was first published by Labor Notes. course of two days in an ongoing struggle were buzzing about what had hap- Thanks to Rank & File. Ca Edited over pay. The union claimed that 2,000 pened. workers participated across seven facili- ties. “[Other workers] saw A.S.N. APPEAL that we were able to Meanwhile in the U.S., a small group of make the company pay workers walked out at a fulfilment cen- attention to us,” said The Anarcho-Syndicalist Network requires suit- tre near Minneapolis. Others in a Chi- Miller, who sorts pack- cago warehouse marched on their boss able cost effective premises. $750,000 is urgently ages for delivery. “Peo- sought to buy premises for the proposed Rebel with demands. Workers and commu- ple were asking me nity supporters marched and rallied at Worker Anarcho-Syndicalist Network Media questions, catching up Centre. two warehouses in Portland, Oregon. with me after the action. Simultaneously, immigrant rights organi- It elevated our visibil- Please make out Cheques to Black Cat zations led protests in eight U.S. cities to ity.” Media & Send to P.O. Box 92 Broadway denounce Amazon’s collaboration with Delivery centres are 2007 NSW. the U.S. Immigration and Customs En- the last stop in the Am- forcement agency. Amazon hosts the on- azon warehouse chain. 3 Rebel Worker N.S.W. RAILWAYS NEWS

up to 300 meters during mining opera- THE FIGHT FOR The current crisis of populism, politics and tions. Besides that, local rivers will be democracy, springs from the same source drained of 100’s of gigalitres of water. The OUR LIVES as the environmental crisis. The elites that mine itself is expected to add 128 million control over 90% of the wealth also are the tonnes of CO2 P.A. to the atmosphere, same ones that have access to the earth’s that’s more than the amount produced by a Crimson Coconut natural resources, often for free. The profit country with a mid-sized economy, such motive which drives environmental de- as Vietnam. While the fight for living standards and struction benefits the few and not the working conditions is still real, urgent, many. Exploitation of nature and workers Why does this matter for workers? and ongoing, one issue that is confront- in a workplace is of the same dynamic. The ing all people is about to overshadow elites only care about the wealth than they any other fight that we’ve been involved can extract, not about the people or nature Because it really will affect us all in in. That is the fight for survival and the that is left as collateral damage. multiple ways. prospect of human and life extinction. For example the Adani coal mining project Everyday we hear and see new scientific in central Queensland will provide few Firstly the uncertain future caused by the reports that point to the grave danger jobs in reality, yet the multinational com- ecological crisis will without doubt end that we are all in. pany has almost unlimited access to natu- life as we know it. The cliche “there are no This summer in Europe heat records have ral resources for a pittance. Australian jobs on a dead planet” really rings true. been broken across the continent. Temper- Governments are pouring billions of dol- Fighting for better working conditions still atures of 46 degrees centigrade have been lars into providing infrastructure for the does make sense in such a predicament experienced in the South of France though. Working conditions also means a while the Netherlands has recorded plentiful planet for all, not a world with temperatures over 41 degrees C, an shortages of food, water and scarcity. Eco- all time record. This heat wave was logical devastation usually means the end extensive, moving finally to the Arc- of jobs, quality of life and alienation from tic Circle causing the biggest ice nature itself. Traditional trade unions melt in human history and destabi- won’t exist if life itself becomes precari- lising the permafrost that has existed ous, instead we will probably be involved for thousands of years. in perpetual wars over scarce resources Just a review of a few recent head- with all the misery that will bring. lines should have us all waking up Secondly, in the short term, our govern- and taking notice: ments are not addressing the issues of the environmental crisis, so we have to Drought and climate change be actively involved in changing the po- blamed for the death of centu- litical debate, even if that means chang- ries-old sandalwood trees ing the political and economic system. At the moment funds are being diverted away from our needs and towards the fos- Europe’s heat wave is about to sil fuel industry. Huge tax concessions al- bake the Arctic ready exist (or no tax at all) for the miners and loggers etc who are provided these Today’s Climate Change Is Worse natural resources for free. They also have Than Anything Earth Has Experi- infrastructure built for them at public ex- enced in the Past 2,000 Years pense. This impoverishes us, the workers, while those creating the crisis are profiting project which will have negligible benefits The world’s largest king penguin col- at the expense of the environment and our ony has collapsed, losing nearly 90 per- for the majority of Queenslanders and living standard. The environmental crisis cent of its population other Australians. This is money that is be- and global warming is a union issue that ing deferred from hospitals, schools, pen- will take all the work of human solidarity sions, public transport and all manner of to overcome. The accelerating climate crisis due to in- public infrastructure that forms part of the creasing CO2, and other harmful gases in social wage for workers. the atmosphere, leading to global warming As public transport workers what can The gigantic mining project (447 square we do? is but one of the catastrophes that we face. kilometers) will perpetuate climate Species extinction, war, water scarcity and change by continuing the carbon fuel river destruction, logging and removal of cycle that pumps greenhouse gases into Public transport is a small part of the green native vegetation all threaten our survival. the biosphere. At the same time the Adani solution that reduces our dependence on Carmichael Mine will have unlimited ac- fossil fuels. Working in the industry But why should this be of concern for cess to one of the largest underground should make us proud that we can be part unionists and workers? aquifers in the world, the Great Artesian of the solution. However, governments in Basin. The water table is expected to drop Australia don’t fully appreciate the bene- 4 Rebel Worker fits of public transport so massive expen- way to survive while the poorest are al- Climate Change. See if you can have some ditures, $10’s billions, continue to be ready on the front lines of climate change effect on persuading your union officials wasted on projects such as the and environmental degradation. For to organise in the workplace and attend WestConnex Motorway in Sydney or the equality and solidarity alone these are un- this important rally for the future. North East Link in Melbourne. ion issues. To get people using public transport the The fact that the elites are perpetuating Unions such as the RTBU and ASU have fight against privatisation has to be climate change denial and that these “endorsed” the School Strike but so far won. We should examine the possibility people are the same ones bankrolling have failed to call out their members for and feasibility of providing public our politicians and suppressing our the Global Climate Strike. This has to transport for free. Private for-profit ser- working conditions makes these issues change. vices usually are less efficient despite gov- Union matters. Climate change and en- A list of unions endorsing the School ernment propaganda that tells us that it is vironmental devastation is a Class issue. Strike can be found here: necessary to increase efficiencies. It’s the poor that have no say, it’s the Privatisation is purely geared towards poor that will suffer the consequences of profits and will often provide the mini- climate change first and foremost. https://www.schoolstrike4climate.com/p mum service. The privatisation of New- In a public transport industry we are in a artners castle buses, and Sydney’s inner west privileged position compared to other in- buses and now the Adelaide Trains Metro dustries as we can offer part of the solution Let’s get out and support the students shows so clearly that services are not run to avert the inevitable catastrophe. We can that have organised this rally on Sep- for convenience but purely for profit and at only realise the full potential of the indus- tember 20, they have asked for our sup- great public expense. try we work in if we are prepared to stand port. We have let them down in the past, So far public transport union officials have up for a future in the industry. we can’t let them down anymore, they not been up to the challenge of mounting Privatisation will bring about the destruc- are fighting for their own futures. We an effective campaign against tion of public transport as we know it. all have a world to win. privatisation. We have to convince them Political activists such as Extinction Re- that the battle for the future must also in- bellion are blocking traffic to draw at- More info about the Global Strike for clude, not just a fight against privatisation, tention to the ecological emergency, yet the Climate can be found at: but it’s reversal. Where our leadership our union leaders fail to grasp the takes no heed we need to replace them metal. Political allegiances certainly https://www.facebook.com/StrikeClimat with people who will listen and act. would be one reason for the inaction on be- e/ We simply have to get cars off the roads half of unions. The ALP does not have a and people into public transport. This viable policy at this stage to combat cli- would of course mean pressure for a mate change. It is the Queensland Labor massive investment program in sustain- Government that have bent over back- Sydney Trains able public transport. Public transport wards to accommodate the Adani, Cleaners’ News unions have to change their neutral stance Carmichael Mine project. Meanwhile the on privatisation and their complacency at Federal ALP, during the last election, also Sydney Trains are using cleaners for getting coverage of private employees. In supported the project even though the pub- Customer Service in time of disruption general, employees in the public sector of- lic throughout Australia was positively despite having removed the duties of ten have far worse working conditions and against it going ahead. customer service from the designated wages than public employees. As union members we need to support the tasks and outsourcing cleaning. As the reality of climate change and envi- Global Climate Strike in September 20th Cleaners are employed on a lower wage ronmental destruction bite in the very 2019. The School Strike organisers are than Customer Service staff. So Sydney short time that we have left to act we must calling unions and union members on that Trains can strip back the number of Cus- convince those in our unions and our lead- day to down tools and join rallies organ- tomer Service staff to the minimum and ership that the fight for the environment is ised around the world to bring attention to cut costs. a union issue. The rich will always find a

NSW State Sec. and the NSW Transport Minister way back in 2018 or much ear- The ‘Trojan Horse’ of the New Interurban Trains lier. Only direct action, can put a spoke in the wheels of this Constance/Claassens express to the dole queue! Some of the most important news in the quite duplicitous and an expedient for the NSW Railways is the new interurban union hierarchy in the elections. As the trains to be introduced next year, Govt. is still wanting to change the guard SOUTH AUSTRALIA RAIL originally scheduled for last March role to customer service and undermining PRIVATISATION 2019, due to alleged ‘technical’ reasons. the job’s safe working role on these trains At the time of the 2018 RTBU elections, and the industrial muscle of the guards. The Privatisation of the SA Train Network NSW State Secretary Claassens pro- With the ‘facilitation clause’ in EBA http://www.rtbu.org.au/sa_public_trans- claimed triumphantly that a deal had 2018, needless to say, this changed role port_workers_launch_cam- been made with the Berejiklian Govt. to would be ‘facilitated’ to the Millenniums paign_to_keep_our_ retain guards on these trains. Subse- and Waratahs. The sell out of the trains_and_trams_in_public_hands quently the corporate media reported interurban guards and the ‘charade of ‘vaguely’ on this deal. However, accord- keeping the guard job’ is likely to have Unfortunately this will be similar to the ing to recent reports from the union hierar- been approved at one of those ‘top secret’ failed campaign of the ACTU during the chy and the media, this deal appears to be weekly meetings between the RTBU last election. The RTBU don’t know how, 5 Rebel Worker or they don’t want to, run a campaign An article in the Guardian today says Train crews faced with this scenario have against privatisation. This is a very weak that the train crews in SA are not guar- nothing to lose, they need to walk out now. statement from the RTBU SA Secretary. It anteed their jobs under the new owner, Such a course of action would not be sup- promises nothing except a campaign up which someone has suggested to be ported by the union as bus drivers in Syd- until the next election. By that time the is- SERCO. ney were quick to discover. sue will be over. And if Labor doesn’t win you are stuck with the LNP again just like we are federally. NEAR RAIL DISASTER flagged her train to stop. As it was appar- ago, two unpopular Inner West track main- ent another train was coming from Central tenance supervisors were apparently COVER-UP? and heading on the same line. She recalls sacked. Is it connected with the cover-up? the date as Monday 23rd Easter of this We appeal to our readers for any further in- According to a passenger on an inward year between 1pm and 3pm. One train had formation on this potentially very serious train to the City caught at Stanmore to back out. Whilst the NSW Govt. has incident. Station, in the Newtown area, track outsourced track maintenance and safety maintenance workers frantically to avoid law suits. Intriguingly 2-3 months

includes laws that transfer public assets (i.e. the Commonwealth belonging to the Fair Game (part 1) people) to private corporations, called “privatisation” and/or “public/private partnerships” and selling water rights to Following on from A Tale of a Cover Up tions Act 1945, allowing the UN to private corporations while denying farm- (RW Vol.37 No.1(224), a brief a story of implement it’s created laws to override the ers the use of their own dams, claiming that how inept management have been given Constitution. This was in addition to poli- farmers don’t own the water, the govern- a virtual free hand to do as they will, in- ticians and government creating laws with- ment does! However, without a referen- cluding falsifying their timesheets, as out a referendum. For those that ask how dum it’s theft by any other name! long as they toe the line and regurgitate the UN can tell us what to do, that’s how! Government, the servant of the people has the “we’re running a business” mantra. The plot thickens, we have international now become their master! Today your editor asks the rhetorical treaties like the Lima agreement signed Government now claims the right to create question, is the game fair? And of in 1975, a deliberate plan to course, the answer is a resounding NO! smaller clones of itself, because it claims to deindustrialise Australia amongst oth- not need the permission of the people to do The deeper question then is, how did the ers. In effect a deliberate plan to destroy game become so unfair and this is where anything and it creates local government it gets a little more interesting. It’s all (councils) and ever-increasing govern- part of a greater plan, let me explain. ment “autocracies”, like transport, police, courts, hospitals, environment, human ser- You see, it all started about 100 years ago, vices, etc, etc. These “autocracies” are ef- when politicians began implementing new fectively laws onto themselves and laws without asking the people. This of essentially create their own laws, that are course was in direct violation of the Con- simply rubber stamped by whatever politi- stitution, that requires that before a new cian happens to be in office at the time. Po- law can be created it must first be the will litical parties of course play a role in this as of the people, confirmed via a referendum. a whole, however the individual politician The politicians used the turmoil and hard- in most cases is simply the sales person, ships of the world wars to pass “emer- selling a predetermined agenda, creating gency” laws like taxation to help fund the the façade of “democracy” and if they have wars. (did you know that taxation was vol- the sales drive to delude and a capacity for untary? No? well the politicians and the spin they are well rewarded for their ef- so-called government know.) These laws forts, as with all sales people. never got repealed and over time people accepted them as simply a necessary evil or The heads of these government “autoc- something that was always there because racies”, however are a different breed. that’s how it all works, right! Wrong! The These are the professional suck-ups, the constitution requires that any changes to industries, jobs and of course your stan- deceitful yes men and now women. The how the country is run must be put to a ref- dard of living, without a referendum and ones who will swallow and regurgitate erendum for a vote by the people. This was all for some alleged utopian greater good! anything, back stab and betray anyone never done and because no one chal- The creation of the Australia Act 1986 ef- and anything to get up the next rung of lenged the politicians and the govern- fectively put an overlay of sorts on the le- the ladder. These are the ones who play ment, they simply continued to create gitimate Constitution, by ignoring it and the long game of “debasement” to get to more and more new laws and with each your constitutional rights in the process, the top and are predominantly concerned new law they gradually transferred again illegally, without a referendum. with expanding their power and therefore more and more power from the “people” To put it simply. We now have a situation their capacity to gorge themselves from the to the government. Politicians and Gov- where parliament can create any law it public trough. These are the types who tell ernments then began to sign international likes, when ever it likes and for what ever you they are running a business by spend- treaties and signing the “people” into purpose it likes without going to a referen- ing bigger and bigger amounts of your membership of the United Nations with the dum. Laws that “override” Common law money. These are the swap creatures of the enactment of the Charter of the United Na- and individual Common law rights. These “deep state”, (yes, we have them here too) 6 Rebel Worker the permanent heads of government “au- people by way of a referendum, as men- Look out for “Fair Game” part 2, in the tocracies” no matter who gets “voted” into tioned earlier. These created laws are used next edition, where your editor explains parliament. These glorified, pretentious as precedent by government “autocracies” how the union movement has been and arrogant suck-up don’t like their ac- and their management to presume to have co-opted to complete the betrayal of the tions questioned or to be held to account “management prerogative”. By claiming people and the worker. We might even and so claim to have “management prerog- “management prerogative”, management give you a hint at a solution! ative”, in other wards the ability to do as are effectively empowering themselves to Regards, they wish. This of course is not the case interpret and apply law based on their sub- since their authority is delegated by parlia- jective view and even apply the same laws ment and parliament’s authority is dele- subjectively to different individuals. This gated by the people. At least that’s the way includes exempting themselves from the it was meant to work before the creation of same laws they would use against others! all those laws, without the authority of the The game is not fair! terest at heart! Many of us doubt the The 6 Emotions the boss uses against you! hard-fought struggles of the past, doubt that in times gone by our workplace rights pay and conditions were won by workers What can destroy our workplace given to you by the boss they always had to paying the ultimate price, their life. We rights, pay and condition, our lives? The concede these rights to workers who had doubt that the boss could be so cruel, doubt emotions lurking inside us, the ones the the courage to overcome their indiffer- that the government would allow and even boss relies on to intimidate and bully you ence. support violent action against workers, into accepting less then you’re entitled to, 3. Indecision doubt the possibility that workers died we’ve got to conquer these emotions be- fighting for workplace right, pay and con- Indecision allows the boss to steal our ditions we have today. Worst of all, we fore the boss uses them to destroy us. Here opportunity. The boss will steal our they are: doubt ourselves. Doubt will empty both chances for a better workplace, better pay our bank accounts and our hearts. Doubt is 1. Fear and better conditions at every opportunity an enemy. We are not born with courage, but nei- and our indecision gives them this oppor- 5. Worry ther are we born with fear. Maybe some of our fears are brought on by our own We’ve all got to worry a little, but we experiences, by what someone has told can’t let it conquer us. Instead, let it us, by what we’ve read and heard alarm us. Worry can be useful. If the about. Some fears are valid, like going boss suddenly announces that a major alone for “just a quick chat” with the boss! change is coming, we’ve got to worry. A bad move and you feel fear for good rea- But we can’t let the boss loose like a mad son, your fear is trying to warn you of dan- dog that drives us into a small corner. ger. You know it’s not just an innocent Here’s what we’ve got to do: Drive the chat! But once we learn to always insist on boss into a small corner. Whatever is out to our right to a support person, that flips the get us, we’ve got to get it. Whatever is situation, the boss now feels the fear be- pushing on us, we’ve got to push back. cause they’re now on the spot of having to 6. Timidity justify their actions. We don’t need to live Over-caution is the timid approach. in fear of it. Timidity is not a virtue (unlike humil- 2. Indifference ity); in fact, it can and is used to our det- What a tragic disease indifference is. riment, by the boss. If we let it go, it’ll be Some will say, “It doesn’t affect me why used to conquer us. If we’re timid, we should I get involved. I’ll just drift won’t get better workplace rights, pay and along.” But here’s one problem with conditions. We’ve got to avoid over-caution. drifting: We can’t drift our way to tunity. We have to purge this enemy. better workplace right, pay and condi- So, we must battle with the boss, battle tions. The boss relies on your indifference 4. Doubt with fears, build our courage to fight for when they incrementally encroach on Sure, there’s room for healthy skepticism. what’s rightfully and lawfully ours, your workplace right, pay and conditions. We can’t believe that the boss is all bad or what’s keeping us from a secure and safe Don’t be indifferent to these allegedly that all bosses are all bad. But we also workplace. We have to be courageous in “minor changes”. Your rights were never can’t let doubt take over and delude us our pursuit of the things that matter." into thinking that the boss has our best in- follow their request as it is a “reasonable direction”, however, you direct them to the The Perception Of Workers Rights relevant clause in the Enterprise Agree- ment which clearly shows that their re- quest is in fact “unreasonable” as it Most workers feel that their rights are real world. Say, your manager asked you breaches your workplace rights. Let’s say, protected by certain instruments such to do something that breached your condi- that for now, management have decided as a Workplace Policy, an Enterprise tions under your Enterprise Agreement, so that they would let this episode slide. Agreement, an Award, or even the basic you politely decline the request. Your law. But let’s see how this plays out in the manager then tells you that you have to 7 Rebel Worker

A couple of weeks later, they again ask for support as the matter is simple and amount of compensation you could re- you to follow a “reasonable direction”, clear cut and you know your rights. They, ceive, as opposed to a 6 month cap for an which in fact is another breach of your on the other hand, have a team of lawyers “Unfair Dismissal” claim. You decide that workplace rights, so once again you point on their side and apart from your manager, justice must be served, truth is on your side out to your manager that their request is your manager’s manager also decides to so justice will prevail! again “unreasonable” and again, politely show up, all with the intent to intimidate You start legal proceedings, what decline their request and refer them to the you. But you hold strong, you present your should have taken several months is appropriate clause in your Enterprise case, you respond to their false accusa- now into its second year and no end in Agreement. This time, your manager says tions against you and you expose their lies. sight until well into the third year. In the that your interpretation of the Enterprise Everything is going your way. The hearing meantime, your legal fees are piling up, Agreement is incorrect and insists that you is adjourned for a later date and the Com- your barrister wants to get paid and is follow their request. Knowing your rights missioner advises you to get representa- asking for his money. You manage to and knowing that your interpretation is tion from your Union. You go back to find another job, it is worse than your pre- correct, you escalate the matter to higher vious job and pays a lot less too, it is too management. The higher manager, know- much and you resign. You are now going ing that you are correct, responds back by from job to job to try to keep your head saying that they agree with your manager above water so you can pay your bills and but to not allow the matter to escalate fur- your legal team too. All this is placing a ther, they withdraw your manager’s re- heavy strain on you and your family and quest. for what? All you did was exercise a work- Now your manager decides that they place right, that’s what the laws are there cannot allow this behaviour to go un- for, that’s why you have an Enterprise punished, so they continue to ask you to agreement, that’s why your employer has do things that breach your workplace their policies and procedures, so that ev- conditions. Again, knowing your rights, eryone plays by the same rules… Right!?! each time you politely decline and clearly The problem is, if you have enough state which condition would be breached, money behind you, you don’t need to however, as it is now clear that the man- play by the rules. Yes, you may get ager wants to make your life as difficult as caught out, but who will hold you to ac- possible, so you escalate the issue to count? An internal investigation? Cer- higher management who simply side with tainly not. What about our laws? Well if your manager. You see that escalating the you can prolong the matter long enough, matter through the chain of command gets work, all of a sudden your manager wants your accuser will eventually run out of pa- you no-where, so you submit an official to place you on a performance plan, you tience, if not, then they are sure to run out complaint to be investigated internally. question their reasons, their response is a of money before you do. So it’s just a wait- The investigation consists of referring the load of nonsense, and you place the matter ing game now. So if you knew from the complaint to your management who re- in dispute via your Union. The matter gets start that exercising your rights would lead spond by saying no breach has been com- escalated through the dispute process, in to this, would you speak up? Naturally the mitted. The investigation is now closed the meantime, the Union declines to repre- vast majority of people would not and this and no action taken against your manager. sent you at the Fair Work Commission as is why management do not have to follow As a result, this now emboldens your you did not seek their permission when the rules. But what would happen if some- manager who reverts back to asking you initiated the Stop Bullying claim. You one actually decided to follow through? you to follow requests which would ask the Commissioner to delay the hearing How would our scenario end??? I’ll let make your day difficult and breach while you find a Solicitor. You then re- you know once my court case finishes. your workplace conditions, quite sim- ceive a “Show Cause” letter from your em- ply, they are now trying to “manage you ployer and are stood down. You reply to Optional: If you would like to support out”. You, however, are quite aware of the letter, it is decided that your response is me and perhaps make a difference to this but realise that any action taken inter- not good enough and you are dismissed! our working conditions, so no-one else nally would not have a positive outcome. As you are now dismissed, your Stop needs to find themselves in a similar sce- So you decide that the only course of ac- Bullying claim is immediately ceased as nario, please donate by following this tion which should have a positive result there is no longer a threat of bullying. link https://www.gofundme.com/f/un- would be to take the matter to an external Management have succeeded in their l a w- body. So you decide that you will submit a goal. Or so it seems. Your new found so- ful-dismissal-legal-fees&rcid=r01-1562 “Stop Bullying” order against your man- licitors advise you that you can now take 05011274-637cd49f23854476&pc=ot_c ager with the Fair Work Commission. You your former employer to court for “Un- o_campmgmt_w attend a pre-hearing, you decide to defend lawful Dismissal”. They entice you by ad- yourself with a work colleague with you vising you that there is no cap on the

for “private enterprise” doing things better. In regard to the 445, this route is Sydney Buses News coming back to Leichhardt Depot. Is the reason the constant late running in the Leichhardt Depot News now goes via Leichhardt Market Town. Kingsgrove Depot area due to bottle necks with often 15 drivers at the depot waiting RW: What’s the latest at the depot? Drivers say it’s a waste of time as no one is getting on for this leg. Most commuters for their buses? Route 389 which starts at Leichhardt Driver1: In regard to the runs, a the Maritime Museum at Pyrmont and new leg has been added to route 470. Be- going to Market Town are catching the fore starting and ending at the Terminus, it 445 Campsie to Balmain route. So much 8 Rebel Worker goes to Bondi Junction is now running out Waverley Busie: We are likely to be fac- where a driver who got into some trouble of Leichhardt instead of Waverley depot. ing a new vicious attack by the bosses. at the depot, was presented with the ‘op- We have now plenty of spare drivers at There is a proposal by them to impose tion’ of a transfer to Transit Systems, to Leichhardt. block rosters for taking our holidays. As a avoid the sack. The most juicy news has been the sud- result we wouldn’t be able to take holidays RW: What is the situation with the de- den appearance at the depot in recent when we want anymore. It’s looking grim. pot fleet? weeks of a “talent scout” from State It seems not about saving money, but WB: The depot is to receive shortly 9 to 10 Transit. The scout was distributing flyers showing they are in control and softening new buses to replace the old gas buses. The and trying to encourage Leichhardt drivers up drivers to accept privatisation. depot’s fleet has been steadily getting to resign from Transit Systems, join the RW: How is ‘Madam Lash’ these days? older and older over the years. There has STA and come to Waverley depot to WB: Again she is upsetting people. She is been only a very slow upgrade of buses. work. It appears the STA is no longer coming into the meal room to hold de facto However, in the case of the Railways, the training its own drivers, but gearing up for “staff meetings”. However drivers are not old Silver Set trains are being retired and a big cull when the Light Rail opens in the being paid for the 15 minutes attendance at replaced with modern trains such as the Eastern Suburbs next year. Will the East- these meetings. Is anyone attending? She Waratahs and new interurban trains built ern Subs STA drivers made redundant be is definitely not liked. She seems more of a in South Korea. offered positions on the Light Rail or will ‘figurehead’ for the STA, than a real boss. RW: What are the latest developments they be put out to pasture? There is also RW: I understand the STA CEO with the tramway extensions? coming up new Timetables in July. We are Steffen Faurby held a meeting at the de- all awaiting what the changes will be. WB: I was recently speaking to a driver pot? from Randwick depot. He mentioned that RW: What is the situation with the un- WB: In early June, he held a staff meeting the bosses have developed a new mad cap ions at the depot? at Waverley. He was urging drivers to take plan for buses operating along Anzac Pa- LD1: We have not seen any RTBU offi- all their entitlements such as Long Service rade when the tramway will be finished at cials for many months. However some Leave. He was also worried that many the end of the year. There will be 19 stops woman has become the TWU rep. Other drivers could leave the job. However, he for the trams, stopping at each stop. All news is that Ryde is being tipped for the wouldn’t raise the major reason many buses are to go along the roadway. The next STA depot for privatisation. would leave such as the looming threat of buses are to run parallel to the trams on the RW: What is the situation since bus roadway. In one section, the buses privatisation? can operate up to 70 kmph. On one stop Leichhardt Driver 2: Since the Transit there will be no access for wheelchairs. Systems takeover of Region 6, of the The driver shook his head. Safety was 1200 drivers employed in the region paramount and he didn’t think there was prior to privatisation, 500 have left the a very high degree of safety. In the past job. They have either resigned, taken a people have been injured and killed on golden handshake or transferred. the bus roadway. There is definitely a push by manage- RW: What is your impression of the ment to replace the RTBU by the ‘union’? TWU in the workforce. They are using WB: Its presence at the depot has greatly all manner of dirty tricks. At Tempe declined in recent years. With many see- depot where drivers are complain- ing no purpose in joining. In the past ing of missing overtime, the real those interested in becoming the union reason is that only TWU drivers are rep could attend union training courses being given it. As according to the at TUTA (Trade Union Training Au- TWU Enterprise Agreement, TWU the privatisation of the Eastern Suburbs thority). This has all gone by the way- members receive a lower rate of OT, than depots and the Light Rail. Interestingly I side. It has become quite lethargic in RTBU members. Currently before the Fair was recently speaking to a commuter. She regarding to assisting us with on the job Work Australia Court, there is a dispute mentioned that on a bus she was travelling, problems and to fight the attacks of the between Transit Systems and the RTBU the driver appeared confused about the bosses and the Liberal Govt. using the ex- over the issue of payment for Easter Satur- route and explained to her that he had been cuse of restrictive industrial relations day. Under the RTBU EBA, drivers who recruited to the STA from Adelaide to laws. are aren’t driving on that day also are paid make up for staffing shortfalls. RW: How is the job over recent years? for it as a public holiday. In the case of the TWU EBA, payment for this day is only Whilst according to Media Reports, the WB: In recent years there has been a cer- made to those working that day. Transit propaganda spread by Transport Min- tain ‘disconnect’ developing amongst Systems wants to cease the payment of ister Constance that Region 6 STA drivers. With the introduction of the Opal this entitlement of RTBU members. needed to be sold off because of poor system, there is now little opportunity to running times has proved to be a pack of talk with commuters. Whilst there is a I have also noticed that the management lies. As a Transport for NSW survey has growing ‘Stasi Climate’ with the bosses style of Transit Systems at Leichhardt is shown Transit Systems Region 6 buses are constantly emphasising the message ‘we quite different from the STA. They don’t much slower, than when the STA was op- control you’ with intimidating notices seem to have to answer to higher-ups and erating them. The two groups running the they put up around the depot. As part of can get away with mistakes affecting driv- buses in the city private and public aren’t this strategy, they are also trying to ‘micro ers and the public. STOP PRESS: The working together. Whilst the division is manage’ drivers creating a ‘nanny state new timetable changes have led to a cut restricting the opportunities for drivers to climate’ whereby the excuse of OH&S in bus services. transfer in STA and Transit System de- concerns is used to cut back on various so- Waverley Depot News pots. However there is a case recently cial aspects of the job, such as clamping RW: What is the latest with manage- down on indoor sports. With the loss of ment at the depot? many iconic Waverley runs due to 9 Rebel Worker privatisation of Region 6, the work has be- Burwood Driver2: Things have gone RW: What are your impressions of the come drab and ‘dead’. Many years ago a downhill in many respects. Now there are new timetables changes as of 28/7/19? bus driver had the status close to a pilot, no mechanics at the depot on the week- Tempe Driver2: I have noticed the bosses now that status has greatly declined. ends. We currently have 25 buses in the have cut many lines of work and running Burwood Depot News shed booked off. The bosses are cracking times have been tightened. Whilst there is RW: What is the latest with the “Union” the whip at the new drivers. If they have a growing and big division at the depot be- at the depot? two accidents they are sacked. There is no tween the new and older drivers. Currently retraining. Overall there is a high rate of Burwood Driver1: We have heard nothing there are approx. 50% of the workforce accidents on the road. This shows the poor each, with the older drivers getting higher from the union about repaying the 4% loss standard of training for new drivers. Un- in wages which we have suffered since pay than the new drivers. like the STA, the new bosses don’t seem Kingsgrove Depot News privatisation. The union officials never too worried about late running. If your bus come out to the depot. It is rumoured that is late to the terminus they just cut the re- RW: What is the latest at the depot? one of the newly elected officials had pre- turn run. In the case of the run being cut be- Kingsgrove Driver: We are being hard hit vious TWU connections and since being ing your last for the shift, the bosses can with unrealistic running times. The bosses elected has been orchestrating things for save money. In the case of the 420 Bur- are seriously screwing us with the rosters. Region 6 drivers to be encouraged to join wood to Eastgardens, due to the distance In the case of the 492, it’s always running the TWU. They appear to be handicapped and the traffic, there is always late running late. Whilst there are often 15 drivers a in doing anything to assist us. with runs cut. day waiting for their buses for the second RW: What are your thoughts on the From 28th July, there is a new timeta- half of their shifts due to late running. An- closure of Randwick? ble. We are being kept completely in the other concern of ours is that drivers from BD1: When we were privatised, we re- dark regarding the changes. The bosses Kingsgrove who are transferred to Leich- ceived no redundancy payments as we are still employing casuals and new hardt aren’t being given training for were just “transferred” to the private com- drivers. They are being favoured with our Parramatta Road. There continues to be a pany “Transit Systems”. In the case of the overtime and shifts, as they are paid at a “divide and conquer” situation at the depot Govt’s plan to close Randwick depot, un- lower rate than old time/full time drivers. between the RTBU and TWU. der the law, the STA will have to pay re- Consequently our wages are cut and ca- RW: What are the latest developments dundancy payments to Randwick drivers reer progression is being undermined. We with privatisation? as their positions will be abolished. Conse- also have a shortage of drivers. Our RTBU KD: There has been some “privatisation quently, the STA bosses are doing what- union rep claims to be powerless and is a by stealth” occurring with the transfer of ever they can to encourage Randwick waste of time regarding assisting us to STA operated runs to Transit Systems. In drivers to accept transfers or leave the job. fight these attacks. the case of the 389, which goes from the RW: How is the staffing situation Re- TEMPE DEPOT NEWS National Maritime Museum at Pyrmont to gion 6 Transit Systems? RW: What is that latest at the depot? Bondi Junction, in the past it was operated BD1: Officially we are supposed to be from Waverley. Now it has been taken Tempe Driver1: There is a difference of over by Leichhardt. A rumour is circulat- over staffed. Recently at Tempe depot, on opinion amongst us over whether we are one day there were 18 spare drivers. How- ing that Pt. Botany is next on the list for worse off since privatisation. However tendering as part of privatisation. ever I have noticed at Burwood often a mostofusare up inarmsoverhours.We driver shortage, due to many leaving the TransDev has been noticed sniffing are only getting the minimum without around it. job. overtime. This is supposed to be corrected RW: What’s the situation at the depot with the new timetable coming up later in since privatisation? July. VICTORIAN RAILWAY NEWS

Over the last six months, Human Re- Roscoe: That is why contributors to Penelope: The train was terminated at an sources have been stepping up their ef- Sparks change their names. outer suburban station due to a disruption forts to sack employees who are on their Ichabod: Regarding Conductors and Sta- closer to Melbourne. Before the run hit list. Once again Drivers, Conductors, tion Staff it is known that certain Staff who around the Conductor checked the train Head Office and Station Staff come to- stand up to CSM’s, Station Managers and and no one was in the train and he gave the gether to discuss these events. As in previ- Staff in Human Resources are on the hit all clear to the Driver to run around. ous issues names have been changed. list. Also standing for your fellow work- Rastus: The Driver was stood down and at RW: What makes you a candidate for mates by refusing to ‘dob’ them in. the enquiry the Conductor said there was the hit list? RW: What do you know about a Driver no wheelchair passenger on the train when Rastus: You can make the hit list for a who certain Managers tried to set up? the run around was taking place. As a re- number of reasons: Rastus and Roscoe: Human Resources sult the Driver was cleared. (1) Standing up to a Manager over Rosters tried to set up a Driver with the help of a RW: It was obvious Human Resources and Bullying. SKID (Drivers Supervisor) who is hated wanted to hang the Driver. (2) Applying for internal positions within by a number of Drivers saying that when Abner: There was an incident at a Country V/Line and when you are unsuccessful, running around a train at a suburban sta- location where a driver misjudged the expressing your opinion about the selec- tion that the Locomotive hit the carriages length of a train and part of the rear car- tion process. too hard, whilst coupling up to the train. It riage overhanging the platform. (3) Contributing to Sparks. was alleged a passenger in a wheelchair was injured. 10 Rebel Worker

Rastus: The train was locomotive hauled Sheona: The hearing was held at Fair Abner: What disgusts the Conductor and when the train stopped on the plat- Work Australia and the Solicitors ap- grade is that Human Resources expect form, the Conductor released the doors. It pearing for the Clerk had to fight six Conductors to ‘dob in’ Drivers and fel- was an honest mistake. charges. A number of employees from low Conductors. Penelope: The train departed and contin- V/Line appeared at the Commission to Roscoe: The trainee who was sacked ob- ued its journey. On return to the Country give evidence in support of the Clerk. tained a position with another train location, the Conductor was stood down Sadly they faced lawyers from V/Line. company and became a qualified and drug and alcohol tested. Ichabod: At the conclusion of the hearing driver. Rastus: They went overboard over the the case was adjourned for a couple of Penelope: Most of the staff at V/Line matter, but some manager at the location weeks. thought the trainee was treated unfairly did not have guts to stand up to Human Re- Sheona: A decision was handed down in by V/Line and were pleased when he ob- sources and support the Conductor. favour of V/Line and the sacked Clerk lost tained the position as a driver with the Roscoe: When the train arrived at the sta- his case. Legal costs were awarded to other company. tion due to a rule, the Conductor was not V/Line. Rastus: Due to a Driver shortage at allowed to look out the van door to see if Abner: We do not know who is to pay V/Line due to retirements over the last the rear carriage was on the platform. If V/Line but knowing V/Line they will go twelve months there has been a large they had have, they would have been dis- after the lawyers for their costs. scale recruitment of Drivers both inter- ciplined. Sheona: Within an hour the other Clerk nal and external. Abner: Due to a stupid rule that a Con- who was stood down was terminated. Roscoe: In the last intake of trainees the ductor is not allowed to observe the Ichabod: What concerns V/Line employ- trainee who had been sacked was in the train when arriving or departing the ees is will V/Line go after the employees class. platform. who appeared at Fair Work Australia in Penelope: When the Conductors heard the Rastus: It has since been heard another support of the Clerks. trainee was in the class they were glad to Conductor was stood down over a simi- Rastus and Roscoe: It would not surprise welcome him back to V/Line. They were lar incident but a third Conductor who us if they do. They do not give up. of the opinion he had suffered enough. was a management favourite was not Penelope: The other Clerk has been sacked Rastus: The trainee was back in the class has engaged lawyers but after a few weeks Human Resources to fight V/Line. got wind he was in the job they conducted RW: What is the a witch hunt within their department. story about a shake Sheona: As a result of this witch hunt the up at Human Re- HR employee who recruited him was re- sources? moved. Sheona: Two H.R. RW: Once again we have run out of employees have been space. The way V/Line is going with removed. We do not stand downs the hearing may resemble know why the first a court of law but there is one thing employee was re- missing, a judge and jury but the way moved but the other things are heading, it may happen. employee was re- Rastus and Roscoe: In having the final say stood down over another incident. moved over the hiring of a trainee driver both Drivers and other V/Line staff are Sheona: The Union got involved and the who was sacked by V/Line five years ago. pleased to welcome the Sacked Trainee matter was sorted out and the Conduc- Rastus and Roscoe: We will not discuss back on the job and we give Human Re- tors were reinstated. the incident but the reason he was sacked sources a Message. LAY OFF THE Penrod: This is correct but some clown was that when he was a trainee driver he TRAINEE! As for the H.R. employee who had to be kept in a job. Think of the stress refused to ‘dob in’ his workmates but we was removed, we Drivers say the H.R. em- the Conductors were put through. They do know that the incident had nothing to ployee was removed for SPITE. just don’t care who they hurt but think of do with breaches of Rules and Regula- STOP PRESS the stress the Conductors were under. In tions. As this issue goes to Press, word has all my years as a Conductor, these stand Sheona: Human Resources hate the driv- reached our Correspondents that em- downs have never happened before. ing grade and they have set out to dismiss a ployees have been ‘dobbing in’ their fel- RW: What about the Booking Clerk number of drivers to put fear into the low employees. This being prevalent who lost his case at Fair Work Austra- grade. around Southern Cross Station. More lia? details in our next issue.

iconic Royal Parks are among the employ- BRITAIN TODAY ers that could be hit by the forthcoming walk-outs, bringing disruption to every corner of the capital. United Voices of the World trade union “I have a huge responsibility, keeping (UVW) announced that staff in seven wards clean and protecting patients from SUMMER OF STRIKES different workplaces are set to strike in infection,” said one UVW member who is protest at poverty wages and unfair condi- employed as a cleaner at St Mary’s, a NHS Some of London’s most prominent in- tions. hospital in Paddington. “But my salary is stitutions are bracing themselves for a Government departments, city skyscrap- below the living wage, and really poor. I summer of labour struggle, after the ers, top universities and even Britain’s don’t get proper sick pay, or fair holidays. 11 Rebel Worker

Our managers discriminate between staff In a major embarrassment for Other outsourcing firms that will be tar- members, keeping everyone unhappy. We Buckingham Palace, among those walking geted by the forthcoming actions include are going on strike to change things for the out will be cleaners from London’s Royal Sodexo, which made a net profit of nearly better - for us, for everyone.” Parks, responsible for some of Britain’s £600 million in 2018, OCS, and The workers currently balloting for most famous green spaces including Hyde Baxterstorey. strike action include cleaners, “Many of the leading outsourcing com- baristas, security guards, chefs and panies that manage our members have a till operators, and hail from dozens of woeful reputation when it comes to re- different countries – ranging across specting workers, including their legal the UK, Latin America, West Africa, right to join a union,” said Elia. “But it is Asia and Eastern Europe. Despite be- the major organisations that contract ing employed by prestigious organisa- these companies – including the UK tions in both the public and private government and the NHS – that are ulti- sector, including the British govern- mately responsible for their workers’ ment’s Ministry of Justice and 200 pay and conditions. The days when Grays Inn Road – home to the produc- powerful employers could hide behind tion company behind ITV and Channel outsourcing firms to excuse the exploi- 4 News – many of the workers receive tation of their staff are over: UVW is less than the London Living Wage and calling them out by name, and we won’t are denied basic forms of security like rest until these injustices are halted.” occupational sick pay. UVW is an independent, mem- “Low-pay London has had enough of bers-led trade union that represents exploitation and is fighting back,” outsourced and low-paid workers in said Petros Elia, an organiser with London and beyond. It has racked up UVW, the union behind the planned a series of high-profile victories strikes. “There are incredible riches in Park, St James’s Park, and Kensington against prominent employers in recent this city, and yet the hard-working peo- Gardens. The parks are hereditary posses- years, including Topshop, Chanel, ple who we all depend upon to keep it sions of the Crown and managed by the Sotheby’s, Harrods, and the Royal Bor- running are often living impossibly pre- UK government on behalf of the Queen, ough of Kensington and Chelsea. carious lives, struggling to feed their and yet workers who maintain the public Two-thirds of those in poverty in Britain – families and keep a roof over their facilities in them are paid only £8.21 per a total of seven million people – have jobs, heads.” hour, substantially below the London Liv- but are not paid enough to stay above the “Most Londoners will be outraged that the ing Wage. breadline. UVW has demanded that as a workers who clean their toilets, sweep “I have worked at the Royal Parks for 24 minimum, all workers should be paid the their office floors, prepare their meals and years, but these poverty wages mean that, independently-calculated living wage, ensure their safety are not even paid the like many of my colleagues, I’m living a which is currently £10.55 in London and minimum amount needed to survive in the hand-to-mouth existence,” commented £9 in the rest of the UK, reflecting the capital,” he added. “These are the silent, Genevive Boohene, a Ghana-born Royal amount needed to afford life’s basic neces- invisible individuals we all rely on – and Parks cleaner. “We are denied occupa- sities. they are refusing to stay silent or invisible tional sick pay, many of us do not receive The workplaces where strike ballots of any more.” our legal entitlement to holidays, and man- UVW members will take place in the com- Other workplaces affected include the agers ignore our suffering and concerns. ing weeks are as follows: White Chapel building, which houses the Now we are coming together to change The Ministry of Justice things for ourselves.” UK government’s digital services opera- The Royal Parks tion and the London Museum of Photogra- In common with most of the UVW phy, and two famous academic members planning on strike action this The University of Greenwich institutions: the University of Greenwich, summer, the Royal Parks cleaners are St George’s, University of London on the banks of the River Thames, and St employed by an outsourcing company – St Mary’s Hospital George’s, a medical school that forms part in their case the French construction The White Chapel Building of the University of London. All UVW and facilities giant VINCI, which oper- 200 Gray’s Inn Road members at the relevant sites will be for- ates in more than a hundred countries mally voting on strike action in the coming and has been accused of a wide range of weeks. corruption scandals and labour abuses.

BRITISH BUS & FERRY NEWS 29th June, 13th July and 16th July. Mean- Stagecoach drivers in Lancashire while Stagecoach made a pre-tax profit of 16/7/19 Stagecoach, the transport com- £95 million in 2018. 14/6/19 300 Stagecoach bus drivers pany, recently offered the insulting 3p an based at Chorley and Preston depots in Woolwich Ferry strike hour rise over three years to its bus and Lancashire went on strike for two days Workers on the Woolwich Ferry in Lon- coach drivers. A strike followed with 150 on May 31st -June 1st. They had already don went on strike on 3rd June over health drivers and their supporters gathering at been out on strike for four days in May. and safety and pay. The 31 workers went Preston bus station on 25th June., with a These bus workers are demanding a 50p an on strike in May for five days, with new similar number at Chorley bus station. hour pay rise and the decision to strike was strikes set for June 7th, 10th, 14th and They are prepared to strike for another 15 backed overwhelmingly. Further strikes 17th. The Ferry bosses have refused to days this July. are planned for 12th June, 18th June, grant a 6 % pay rise and in addition have Arriva bus drivers in London imposed new duties and have failed to deal Arriva operates a fifth of London buses in with health and safety concerns. the greater London area. It is increasingly 12 Rebel Worker putting pressure on drivers to work on concentration and losing control of their Watch this space for further news. their rest days. This is not just a massive wheels. At 15 bus stations, bus drivers stress on them, but increases health and voted overwhelmingly- 1,854 to 69 - to safety concerns over tired drivers lacking come out on strike.

Some dele- In Eymoutiers, haymaking season has kept FRANCE: Report on the 3rd Assembly gates, including others busy working full-time, Bénétreau of the Yellow Vests two from the pointed out to explain the reduction of hills of the troops. Françoise added that in the equally Diois region in agricultural Diois region, seasonal work- At their third assembly since January, the Drôme, had started driving as early as 3 ers have also gone back to work. “Last Gilets Jaunes from all over France gath- or 4 a.m. to get there on time. "We’re week, during the demo, there were 50 of ered to discuss ways of moving forward, fighting for the climate and purchasing us, and we’re used to having 200 march. I strongly believing that their future is lo- power, but then, as Gilets Jaunes, came back home feeling hopeless. Seeing cal. This article was written by Mathilde we’re burning a ton of gas!" one delegate, that we are still here, numerous, in Goanec and originally published by Françoise, joked. The size of the assembly Montceau-les-Mines, gives me Mediapart.fr on July 1, 2019. Translated was the same as it was in Saint-Nazaire hope again." from French by Joshua Richeson. The two months earlier. This movement, The “Magny” group, the organizers of text has been minimally edited. which has been pronounced dead doz- this assembly named for the site of their ens of times, has not died. In the occupation in Montceau-les-Mines, are Last month some 650 Gilets Jaunes streets, one Saturday after another, in among the most resistant. Each week, (Yellow Vests) gathered for a meeting smaller numbers, or during local ac- several dozens of Gilets Jaunes meet up in Montceau-les-Mines, in the heart- tions covered rarely or not at all, the in a general assembly, which has so far land of France. Although the movement Gilets Jaunes have been tending the fire been spared the wrath of local authori- has struggled to unify and has fewer they lit last November and continued to ties. “The mayor’s office is buying social participants than before, the strength of do so under the early summer sun at this peace by pretty much leaving us its local mobilizations and its slow pro- national meeting. With a humble recog- alone,” Pierre-Gaël Laveder, one of the gression toward municipalism were on nition: “We call for departmental or re- pillars of the group, laughed. The organi- display. gional assemblies, because here, we still zation, therefore, was on point; no one en- only represent a minority of the move- In the streets of Montceau-les-Mines, doz- tered the site without being registered as ment, and that’s too bad,” one of the partic- ens of cars with license plates from out of either a delegate, observer or journalist. town were parked bumper to bumper Solidarity food trucks, book buses and spilling onto the sidewalks: Gilets and large tents to host workshop Jaunes from all over France had come discussions formed a kind of mini to the department of Saone-et-Loire to political summer camp sur- participate in their third “Assembly of rounded by farmland. A burning Assemblies” on sun bore down on everything, June 29-30, after the first one in pushing folks to cluster together Commercy in January and the second under the trees in search of a little one in Saint-Nazaire in April. shade. At the back, a few tents were planted in the grass, but most Although the police, too, made rounds in participants were staying with lo- the neighbourhood Saturday morning, cal Gilets Jaunes who made their they kept their distance from the beds or back yards available, or Pouloux Sports Complex where the put up a hammock in the trees, for event was being held. The night before, the night. “We’re getting the royal the prefect himself had come down to in- ipants said during the plenary session. treatment at Rosa’s place,” Bénétreau as- spect preparations and found nothing Nor did anyone contest the fact that the sured, swiping on her phone to show pho- amiss. roundabouts have dwindled just like the tos of her host’s house. A huge concrete block, a few posters about number of active Gilets Jaunes. “You And despite the “wish tree,” brought the RIC (referendum d’initiative must take into account the police pressure from Commercy, and the stage set up citoyenne, or Citizens’ Initiative Referen- we experienced, the wounds, the fines, for the evening concert, the atmosphere dum) and two yellow flags waving at the and for some, prison,” Thérèse Bénétreau, was serious and the unrelenting discus- end of the street were seemingly the only delegate from Eymoutiers, in the Limou- sion continued into the night as groups signs to guide visitors. But from the open sin, warned. “We’ve been losing an insane reworked their proposals, shared con- windows of the gym where the first gen- amount of energy for six months now try- tact information and built regional net- eral assembly of the day was taking place, ing to get around repressive laws.” works by exchanging numbers and you could hear the familiar chant - "We are In the neighbouring city of Limoges there email addresses. here, we are here!" - that for seven months had still been a roundabout until recently. of massive protests people have started The Gilets Jaunes had two days to reflect “It was destroyed. Our friends set up their on five topics in workshops before voting singing at the drop of a hat in defiance of trailer in a parking lot, and the police Emmanuel Macron. in a general assembly. “In Lyon, we called for a bulldozer. Our friends had marched for the climate and found our- DWINDLINGNUMBERSONTHE started a little community garden in a me- selves walking with people who are STREETS dian flower bed that served no-one, and pro-Macron,” one delegate recounted, The 650 participants were delegates the police crushed their beans, their toma- during the discussion about possi- mandated by 250 roundabouts or as- toes, their salads...” ble convergences. “That went over terri- semblies to participate in the debates. bly. For a hundred of them, however, there 13 Rebel Worker were a thousand of us, and that strength- RIP (referendum d’initiative partage, or Above all, as it shrinks, the whole move- ened the movement. We can’t abandon our shared initiative referendum) - a proposal ment has shifted. Luc Gwiazdzinski, along label, we come as we are, with our de- by the government on how to decide on with Bernard Floris and the Gilets Jaunes mands." the privatization of Paris airports. During a of the Crolles roundabout, near One woman, aware of a drop in morale, workshop on the issue, one participant la- Grenoble, collectively wrote a very mov- pointed out: We were born in the dirt, mented: ing book, Sur la vague jaune (On the Yel- we’ve had our noses rubbed in it, and This movement is becoming a headache. low Wave). “The movement matured we’ll die in it. The ‘de-growth’ pushed We’ve got to deal with Macron, a nitwit quickly,” he assured. “In six months, we by some is something we’re already sub- who doesn’t want to listen to us. We can saw debates go from a gas tax to unimag- jected to, and there is a kind of beauty to take power by force, storm the place inable topics! The roundabout folks and it... But we’re all heading more or less with bayonets, but we don’t want to. It’s the activists forged ties, from below, at the quickly towards collapse, and it will be the politicians who want the RIP and base. Ecology, the climate, the defence of more or less painful depending on what the risk for manipulation is real, but at public services - these are all now com- you have to lose. Those are the people that this point, it’s an opportunity for us. mon positions." we need to try to find, to touch. It won’t Though not the RIC, which is still stub- LIBERTARIAN MUNICIPALISM AS necessarily be in the streets but rather in bornly championed by many Gilets HORIZON your networks, depending on your ap- Jaunes, the RIP is better than nothing, and Although there has been improvement proach and your interest. We’re not forc- the possibility of fighting against in the speaking process and in the exer- ing anyone. privatizations with an embryonic form of cise of direct democracy, even on the NOT ELVES, BUT REVOLUTION- direct democracy is appealing. During the larger scale of 650, numerous delegates ARIES! general assembly, the idea of lending sup- were worried that they have been going One delegate from northern France, port as a movement by helping to collect in circles. Two calls had already been Alain, spoke up from the other side of signatures and promote the referendum diffused after Commercy the circle to explain that convergence was adopted without difficulty. then Saint-Nazaire. A third would come has already been practiced in his region Other debates were markedly more out for validation by local groups at the for months, with civil disobedience now heated, such as the one about the fight end of the weekend. “We warned of the in view. “We are open to all actions for against capitalism, which raised the risk of bureaucratization during the previ- the climate, and I think that the Gilets tension and tried the patience of facilita- ous assemblies of assemblies," one Gilet Jaunes are contributing to the radical- tors who wore themselves out at the mi- Jaune shouted out from the bleachers of ization of activists on this issue.” crophone asking for silence and trying the gymnasium, reminding the assembly Which did not stop another Gilet Jaune to let speakers speak in turn. The state- that at its core, the movement was built by from Pau from complaining: “We go to the ment elaborated in the workshop was local and autonomous groups. young folks’ climate demos Friday, but judged too soft by some, while others, a Conversely, Laveder of the Magny group, nobody does the same for us Saturday. So particularly small minority, still be- who had never hidden his affiliation with that’s really getting old...” Yet another lieved there should be mention of a po- La France insoumise, was close to losing delegate made a similar observation: “Our tentially "virtuous capitalism." hope: “If at the end of the third assembly problem is that we feel isolated.” In Then, Fabien, from the Var, lost his tem- what we propose doesn’t get presented to Coutras, not far from Bordeaux, the Gilets per and declared, “We don’t have time to someone at the top of government, I don’t Jaunes seek “the right tool” for getting in- make improvements! This is an emer- know if I’ll be able to keep doing this.” volved in related struggles without gency! We’re facing the sixth mass extinc- One glimmer of hope may be stretching themselves too thin. tion of species! The Gilets Jaunes aren’t a “municipalism.” The subject was tack- The relationship with the media, on site, bunch of Keebler elves, we’re a fucking led at Montceau-les-Mines during a re- was similarly ambivalent. Although jour- revolutionary movement!” Cheers and ap- flection on “local citizen assemblies” nalists were invited, they were not quite plause erupted across the assembly. and could very well feature at the center welcomed. Not even the “yellow Unable to agree on a detailed text, the 650 of the fourth assembly of assemblies this autonomedia” teams who were covering delegates committed to voting yes, with fall. Many Gilets Jaunes are think- the event and took to the microphone in a a large majority, in response to the ques- ing about local government, ready to general assembly to complain about not tion, “Must we exit capitalism?” Like- “leave the vest behind,” as Elisabeth, being able to film or record the debates. wise, the answer to the question of inviting delegate from Commercy, where the As one participant from Paris explained, “movement figures” to the next meeting Gilets Jaunes have already been experi- after yet another discussion about the me- was affirmative, on the condition that they menting in that direction, explained. dia’s presence in a workshop, “The rules be mandated by a group. So far, the meet- The type of municipalism being discussed of the game, with the Gilets Jaunes, are ing of rather compatible, nationally by the Gilets Jaunes is the one developed that each assembly is sovereign, and just known characters like Priscillia Ludosky, for example in Saillans, in the Drôme, but because the organizers told you ‘yes,’ this Maxime Nicolle and Francois Boulo has also under consideration, albeit with some doesn’t mean that the Gilets Jaunes in at- not happened, as the latter two have caution, is Murray Bookchin’s libertarian tendance accept your presence here.” haughtily snubbed the assembly process. municipalism and anarchist modes of or- Afraid of being tracked and monitored by Similar scuffles had already taken place in ganizing. A young delegate from the government, and deeply angry with the Saint-Nazaire and Commercy. There, ob- Montpellier named Daniel participated in dominant news organizations, servers had noted a rather large presence the Indignados movement in Barcelona the delegates exhibited a mistrust that ri- of veteran activists from the radical left, before leaving for Greece and then Mexico valled what they suffered last winter and which was troubling at the time for an as- to study communalism. this spring, when the movement was regu- sembly that was still quite politically di- “Hyper-presidentialism is ancient his- larly pounded by the majority of the me- verse. In Montceau-les-Mines, it was less tory. What we want to try to defend is dia. clear-cut, but the “roundaboutists” seemed A similar ambivalence was apparent when to have regained the upper hand over the the discussion turned to the subject of the more opportunistic “assembliests.” 14 Rebel Worker the idea of fighting where you live, hy- against the privatization of dams. Else- (White Coats) on strike or the Stylos per-local, in the most diversified way pos- where, they invade a supermarket, or a fast Rouges (Red Pens), a teacher’s move- sible. And that idea is very gilet jaune.” food restaurant, before the eyes of a dumb- ment. Scattered, often invisible, but every- In the Gresivaudan valley, where a series founded clientele. where. of roundabouts were still valiantly resist- Others “go underground” and as a Author’s note: I spent two days in ing, as Gwiazdzinski pointed out, the group of 150 climb Mont Gargan, in the Montceau-les-Mines and I was able to sit Gilets Jaunes of Crolles have been testing Limousin, to ring the bell in the ruins of in on several workshops as well as the gen- out, day after day, “a metropolitan site” a chapel. Some have taken back the toll- eral assemblies, apart from those in which that siphons off the population around booths, like in Toulouse and Avignon future “actions” were being decided. Most Grenoble. “It’s on a manageable scale, on June 22. Some are seriously planning of the Gilets Jaunes refuse to give their last that’s the whole thing with working at the to disrupt the next G7 in Biarritz, name, which explains why they are rarely local level. But it’s not enough. I myself, to meet near Beaumont-sur-Oise near mentioned. for example, could be interested in na- Paris in support of poor neighbour- Mediapart is an independent French on- tional office...” hoods, or to break upthe Tour de line investigative and opinion journal cre- And so the Gilets Jaunes move to and fro. France this summer. ated in 2008 by Edwy Plenel, former In Crolles, they fight alongside the unions In Paris, Gilets Jaunes can be found sup- editor-in-chief of Le Monde. Mediapart is and even the Grenoble mayor’s office porting the undocumented Gilets Noirs published in French, English and Span- (Black Vests), the Blouses Blanches ish..

came from his ability to exploit this con- flict and tap into the petit-bourgeois USA: Uber & The Gig Economy tendencies in rural areas, even the desire for upward social mobility of the rural working class. On 8 May 2019 around 300 protesters, changes actually began with Democratic The Motor Carrier Act of 1935 did not mostly Uber and Lyft drivers, blocked president Jimmy Carter. The ideology is apply to agricultural trucking, but con- Market Street in San Francisco in front that human well-being is best provided by versely led to the Teamsters to have a of Uber’s international headquarters as “liberating individual entrepreneurial monopoly of labor for all other kinds of part of a global strike by drivers timed freedoms” with stronger private property truck-based shipping. The MCA exemp- to coincide with Uber’s IPO. This brief rights, free markets and free trade. It em- tion for trucking food led to rural food pro- analysis attempts to situate these strug- phasizes “contractual relations in the mar- duction, including relocation of gles against working class decomposi- ketplace,” not regulations that limit and stockyards for livestock and rural factories tion, with its roots in neoliberal for processing all food products. deregulation, and the rise of so-called Ironically, connections between rural food “gig economy” work. production, independent truckers and sub- urban supermarkets led to “anti-state mar- The Decomposition of the U.S. ket populism that defined late 20th century Working Class: Deregulation, Uber [American] capitalism.” In this and the Gig Economy anti-authoritarian, anti-state, anti-union rural trucking culture there arose the ideol- ogy that gave birth in 1962 to Walmart and The strikes on 8 May 2019, as well as attempts in cities like Seattle and states other new forms of distribution and retail in the same rural regions. Which spread like California to re-regulate the trans- across the planet, and with 2,300,000 em port industry to allow unionization of - ployers is the world’s largest private em- drivers, require analysis of how the cat- ployer. And except for Chinese Walmart egory of “independent contractors” came to be. workers in the government ACFTU union, all of them are non-union. Walmart notori- Here are some of the deregulatory control markets for the purpose of redistri- ously has jets ready in Bentonville, Arkan- changes that made “gig economy” jobs bution of wealth. sas to fly anti-union managers to suppress possible: The New Deal was based on the ideol- any organizing attempt anywhere in North •4R Act [Railroad Revitalization and ogy of “trust busting” and preventing America. It defines itself as offering indi- Regulatory Reform Act] (1976) monopolization, even creating govern- vidual “freedom” from unions. •Airline Deregulation Act (1978) ment-sanctioned cartelization of trans- In 1961 Mike Parkhurst created Over- •Staggers Rail Act (1980) portation industries. But it wasn’t drive magazine for owner-operator •Motor Carrier Act (1980) against capitalist social relations, it was truckers who were opposed to the •Breakup of AT&T (1982), breaking 22 against overproduction and crises created Teamsters, government regulation, and members of original telecom system by cutthroat competition and attempted to big Fordist corporations that had into 7 new companies called the “Baby stabilize markets — including labor mar- “strangled the healthy growth of the Bells” (1984) kets (dating back to the Interstate Com- free enterprise system.” This ideology, merce Act of 1887 — and the commission which in rural areas grew into support for •Dissolution of Interstate Commerce it created lasted until 1996). But opposi- Carter/Reagan era deregulation, is the Commission (1996) tion to New Deal always existed. Much of same as what Silicon Valley financiers While Reagan often gets blamed for this is the perennial urban-rural conflict in promote today for the “gig” econ- breaking up of many of these New Deal in- the U.S., that is deeply rooted in American omy. Overdrive and Parkhurst were part stitutions, the process of Neoliberal culture. Much of Trump’s recent victory of the successful efforts to pass the de- 15 Rebel Worker regulatory Motor Carrier Act of 1980, but ter Thiel and Y Combinator. Thiel ner in which they perform their work. strangely it was authored in Congress by co-founded Paypal in 1999 and part of his Sincetroqueros — and Uber/Lyft drivers Ted Kennedy, it was supported by the goal was not only radical deregulation, but — are doing piece-rate work, where the NAACP and Ralph Nader in the name of also “disrupting” traditional industries. He boss-dispatcher/algorithm defines when lowering prices for consumers, and studies want to “lessen the control of government they need to perform the work, where by the Brookings Institution claim that over money” by turning his company into work the work goes, and has requirements MCA and the Staggers Act in 1980 both an initiator of Schumpeterian “creative de- about the manner the job must be per- transferred $20 billion dollars from union- struction.” He said “I knew Milton Fried- formed, the IRS has forced some trucking ized and benefited workers back to the rul- man, so that’s probably the one I’m companies to reclassify truck drivers as ing class. Today, railroaders work still personally the most biased towards.” waged “employees” and the bosses have retain decent benefits but truckers, espe- Thiel’s belief system is as “a mixture of had to retroactively pay drivers back for cially non-union independent contractors, unapologetic selfishness and economic the benefits they didn’t get. operate in poverty. It was a way to exter- Darwinism,” and he was one of the only The SSA has declared some truckers try- nalize the costs of owning and operating a Silicon Valley supporters of Trump. He ing to retire weren’t paid properly — de- truck onto its owner — meaning that they wants a return to the classic economic claring them as “employees” as well — receive “piece-rate” pay, with no deduc- thinking of the 19th and 20th centuries, and has forced some trucking firms to pay tions for Social Security, nor do they ac- matched with his contemporary Libertar- back benefits. But this is a legalistic solu- crue other benefits like unemployment ian ideas based on Ayn Rand, of unregu- tion where the results are individual. Yet and disability insurance, and unless they lated exploitation of the working class. the LA/Long Beach troqueros have had retire having saved money themselves, The bosses running Uber and Lyft, like many strikes and forms or collective direct there are no pension or medical benefits. Thiel (an investor in the latter), create action since the mid-1980s. The latter The gig economy, like AirBnB, Uber, the fiction that drivers are entrepre- should be a model for the Uber/Lyft driv- Lyft and all the other forms of labor neurs running their own companies. ers to emulate.The rideshare driver or- disguised as ‘independent-contractor’ But this has been challenged with slowly ganizers in Los Angeles started creating work, is a result of all the above efforts increasing success. The port truckers at security protocols to prevent boss infil- to destroy labor protections of the New the massive Los Angeles/Long Beach port tration years ago, so that Uber/Lyft Deal and make labor more precarious complex, calling themselves troqueros drivers can communicate and coordi- and benefitless. And like Walmart’s use (the ones who shut the port down by 95% nate among themselves. The result of of labor whenever it needs it, there are no on May Day 2006!), have been challeng- their bottom-up rank-and-file organiz- stable schedules and workers labor pos ing their independent owner-operator sta- ing was the global strike on 8 May 2019. only exploited when the bosses need it. tus, legally both with the Internal Revenue While not perfect, it is a start. Many of the “sharing economy” firms, Service and the Social Security Adminis- By Hieronymous many now basing their gig economy com- tration. The IRS defines an independent Thanks to Libcom panies in San Francisco, got their start-up contractor as someone who can control: financing from venture capitalists like Pe- 1.) the time, 2.) the place and 3.) the man-

ment and a signifi- superheroes/lobbyists/pseudo social BOOK REVIEW CORNER cant threat to the workers. Revealing grossly simplistic no- ruling class. In tions of how to build an alternative sharp contrast to syndicalist/grass roots controlled indus- today where it’s trial union movement and an abysmal A Beautiful Idea: History of the Freedom Press confined mostly to the level of theoretical and historical research, Anarchists by Rob Ray Published by Freedom fringes of the Looney bereft of extensive industrial experience. Press Left. Apart from such Failing to focus on strategic industrial sec- stunts other symptoms of tors such as transport industries, which British Anarchism: From Class this demise and degeneration in recent could tackle the challenge of the employer Struggle to ‘Looney Left’ years is the engulfing with collective hys- offensive with its neoliberal agenda and The most significant evidence of the so teria of many so called anarchist confer- help generate strike waves and so facilitate called anarchist movement in the UK ences, Book Fairs and Festivals by the transitional steps toward establishing many may have noticed recently, cour- bizarre exhibitionist antics of deranged mass syndicalist unionism. Other group- tesy of sections of the corporate media is Feminists and other identity politics ‘nut ings are drawn into aping and competing the ‘media stunt’ protest by the Class jobs’ whose ‘performances’ meet raptur- with the Trot groups in regard to recruiting War Group against Boris Johnson then ous applause. Other manifestations are students to play at childish “numbers Frontrunner for the Tory leadership the proliferation of the navel gazing iden- games” by pandering to all manner of (now Tory leader)outside his girl tity politics and Stalinist legacy informed identity politics informed rubbish, sym- friend’s home in late June. The wasting hypocritical ‘political correctness dis- bolic environmental protests and other is- of limited resources and personnel on such plays’ such as ‘Safe Spaces Policies’ and sues fashionable in the middle pointless stunts highlights how the UK assorted women’s, queer, black, crimson class/student leftist milieu. British anarchist milieu has moved from and brindle ‘identity spaces’ in various This disarray and degeneration of the an important factor in the labour move- Anarcho groupings and their centres. Cer- contemporary British anarchist milieu ment such as during the years of the tain to alienate militant workers outside highlights the success of the bourgeois Syndicalist upsurge and strike wave the Leftist Milieu. This is not beautiful!!! cultural, educational, media appara- movement focusing particularly in the Whilst work place oriented outfits copy tuses and agencies of the USA ‘Deep mining, transport and engineering sectors on a micro level various aspects of the State’ such as the CIA in undermining in the periods 1910 to 1914 and around the Corporate Unions aligned with the TUC potential revolutionary opponents, end of WWI. At these times it was inter- (Trade Union Congress) and the La- through the promotion of identity poli- woven with the wider syndicalist move- bour Party. Playing at activoid tics. Together with the impact of its 16 Rebel Worker largely middle class/student social base with a number of papers which have been entation such as Freedom group’s champi- renowned for ‘oppression mongering linked to the Freedom heritage. The Span- oning various ultra liberal causes in the and guilt tripping’ and the Stalin- ish Revolution/Civil War of 1936-1939 1950’s which today have become ac- ist/Trotskyist legacy.(1) where the anarcho-syndicalist CNT (Na- cepted parts of bourgeois society such as The book under review throws important tional Confederation of Labour) played a lifestyle issues, identity politics, various light on these problems besetting the Brit- prominent role particularly contributed to civil rights, etc. Failing to realise that the ish Anarcho milieu contributing to its a revival of British anarchism and its focus of a genuine anarchist group should marginalisation by focusing on the history publications. These papers included: not be attempts to perfect dimensions of of the Freedom Press Group. It examines a Freedom Bulletin 1929-1932; Freedom bourgeois society but its overthrow. series of historical phases and the key per- (New Series)1929-1936, Spain and the However the author shows in the 1940’s sonalities active in the group at these World 1936-1938, Revolt! 1939, War and 1950’s Freedom continued some fo- times. This Group has been an important Commentary 1939-1945 and ‘Workers in cus on the class struggle, but increas- node of this milieu and so called anarchist Uniform’ bulletin 1940-1944. During ingly became drawn in an ultra liberal movement and longest running such WWII the paper was the organ of the An- direction. At this time the paper had not grouping/newspaper in the UK. The vol- archist Federation of Britain (AFB) and put on its front cover and inside pages the ume concludes with some short biogra- still had some revolutionary orientation kind of exotic rubbish which would fea- phies of key figures in the history of the encouraging revolts/mutinies amongst the ture in the 1980’s. The most important off- Freedom Group. workers in uniform shoot in this period 1886–1895 Victorian anarchism and publishing the was Anarchy maga- clandestine AFB bul- The author locates the origins of the zine edited by Colin letin in the military, Ward published from commencement of the publishing of resulting in its editors Freedom in Oct. 1886 to an anarchist 1961 to late 1970. It facing State repres- had an ‘ultra liberal’ current in middle class socialist group- sion and prison sen- ings at that time such as the Fabian So- slant and according to tences in 1944-45. its major critic Albert ciety and the Social Democratic However, according Federation. The most important militants Meltzer espoused a to veteran pacifist anarchism being Charlotte Wilson who was involved anarcho-syndicalist in the radical wing of the Fabians and which would help militant Albert capitalism out of its played a critical role in the launching of Meltzer, quoted by the paper and was subsequently its editor difficulties via pro- the author, the posing various re- and publisher/chief financier until 1896. 1940’s saw a middle The other key figure and editor being Al- forms. Colin Ward, class hijacking of the an architect was an- fred Marsh, an ex-member of the Social Freedom grouping Democratic Federation. other middle class el- associated with an ement drawn into the 1895–1927 Ossulton Street influx of those in- Freedom group This address was the head quarters of volved in the Peace through the peace the Freedom group during this period. movement including movement. The au- In this section the author looks at the many conscientious thor is critical of difficulties the Freedom Group faced objectors. Illustrative Vernon Richards the during the Boer War due to their of this middle class owner (since toward antimilitarism such as jingoist harass- takeover/ultra liberal drift was the Free- the end of WWII) and major financier of ment and in WWI, when its members dom editors refusal in these years to allow the setup in regard to wasting much money and HQ were targeted by the State. a page of industrial news from Scotland, and resources producing many virtually Prominent in the group were Thomas which was the major base of the move- unreadable editions of Freedom with an Keel, Alfred Marsh and John Turner. ment with significant working class sup- ultra-liberal orientation shared by the An- Whilst from 1910 to 1914 associated with port.(2) Culminating in a split leading to archy journal and in the case of The Raven, the global rise of syndicalism, Freedom the publication of Direct Action by an academic orientation. However, he launched the agitational paper ‘Voice of syndicalists hostile to the hijacking. It was doesn’t see this squandering of re- Labour’ edited by John Turner, a shop as- to become the organ of the Anarchist Fed- sources stopping any revived class sistants union official. However focusing eration of Britain (AFB) and from 1950, struggle oriented anarchist current. on direct action instigated by official renamed as the Syndicalist Workers Fed- Failing to recognise how Freedom and structures, not by the grass roots. Whilst eration. allied publications with an increasing the group and the anarchist milieu in the 1945-1969 Rebuilding the movement ultra-liberal orientation facilitated con- post WWI period was hard hit by the rise The author shows that some of the key fusion in the anarchist milieu in the An- of Leninism/Stalinism associated with the people in the group in this period were glo World in the 50’s onward. This Communist Party financed heavily by Vernon Richards ‘the proprietor’, M.L. confusion together with the student/mid- ‘Moscow Gold’ , workers illusions in the Berneri, Philip Sansom, John Hewetson dle class social base contributed to the dys- outcome of the Russian Revolution and and John Rety, mostly middle class ele- functional nature of the revived Anarchist the post war economic slump. ments. Whilst the Jan. 1960 Freedom Federation of Britain in the 60’s (a hope- 1928-1945 The wilderness and World Reader Survey – showed the three largest less ‘talk shop’), which the author shows War II constituencies were individualists, philo- Freedom was its unofficial ‘organ’ and In this section, the key figures focused sophic and pacifist. With letters pages be- the later blooming of many identity poli- upon are Thomas Keel, Vernon Richards, ing a total bedlam with an individualist tics informed ‘poisonous weeds’ in the M.L.Berneri, Tom Brown, George Cores pacifist lean. The second reader survey in anarcho milieu in the UK and elsewhere. and Albert Meltzer. The author looks at 1993 confirmed this trend. 87% of readers Certainly with the continuing stranglehold the disconnected aspect of the history of were professional or retired. The author of Labourism, Stalinism via the Commu- the Group and paper at this time associated sees no problem with the ultra liberal ori- nist Party and later in the 1970’s 17 Rebel Worker

Trotskyism on the British labour move- taken advantage of these symbolic pro- in other key sectors and together with in- ment, even with much more resources, any tests to facilitate the Neo-Liberal ‘Strong tensive ‘outside-the-job’ assistance could syndicalist industrial organising is likely State’ in its various dimensions such as lead to the launching of similar papers and to be marginalised. Until after the fall of more aggressive policing, increasing num- the crystallisation of associated networks the Berlin Wall. bers of CCTV’s, and ever more restric- in these industries also feeding copy into 1970-1980 Out in the cold tions on civil liberties, etc. The author it. Freedom could apart from helping In this period the author shows some appears oblivious to this outcome. develop readers’ circles and networks prominent editors were Mary Canipa, Some key figures at this time in the group in other industries also provide a forum Jack Robinson and Philip Sansom. The were Toby Crowe and the author who was for debate amongst militant workers paper particularly focused on the side editor from 2003. According to the au- regarding industrial organising and show of the squatting movement in the thor the involvement of Crowe led to a strategy, whilst contributing to the the- mid 1970’s and the Persons Unknown case re-orientation of the paper toward class oretical and historical/strategic devel- involving state repression of anarchists. struggle anarchism – associated with opment of key militants. In this context, Whilst being critical of the anarchist urban Anarcho-Syndicalism and the ‘federations’ which are currently ef- guerrilla group ‘The Angry Brigade’, Anarcho-Communism and overtures to fectively sects and dysfunctional re- Freedom was targeted by the media, for the ‘anarchist federations’ to become garding serious strategic industrial being associated with it, as it was the most involved in the paper. Whilst some organising could dissolve into a ‘cata- important so called anarchist institution in members of the Anarchist Youth Net- lytic’ network providing this ‘outside that period in the UK. work which had formed out of the the job’ organisation. Its key militants assisted by a periphery of the less commit- 1980–2001 The long goodbye Anti-Globalist movement became in- volved in the paper. ted but capable of some consistent work, Some of the most prominent figures in must be prepared for the bank rolling when this phase were Vernon Richards and The impression given by the author of the Freedom editorial/production groups over required, the inevitable terrible hard Stu Stuart. The author shows that during yards, going through ‘hell and high water’ this period Freedom championed and re- this and previous periods is one of mostly dilettantes going through some ‘radical’ with the handling of crises, which such an ported extensively on the 1981 Brixton initiative must involve. Aware of the stern Riots and much activoid spectacular antics phase and incapable of any serious long range work relevant to the workers con- gaze of history upon them if they stuff up. such as the Stop The City protests of With the launching of strike waves, turn- 1983-84 with 3,000 people rallying at trol/revolutionary project. Falling out over ‘storms in a tea cup’ and hair splitting. ing the tide against the employer offen- London Stock Exchange, J18 Carnival sive, transitional steps toward mass Against Capitalism on June 18th 1999 as Tellingly one of the supposedly more seri- ous class struggle oriented editors, Toby syndicalist industrial unionism would oc- part of an international protest against cur. In the context of locals of the new un- German G8 Summit. These actions were Crowe went on to become an Anglican Church Priest! ion movement, unemployed members precursors of the ‘Anti-Globalisation’ could link up with employed and working movement. Another off shoot was the The author mentions that at the 2009 Anarchist Book Fair, the Freedom edi- class community struggles pursued. ‘The Raven’ journal edited by Heiner Whilst syndicalist influenced transport Becker and published from 1987 to torial group presented a proposal for it to become a non-sectarian paper for all workers could assist syndicalist union or- 2003. It was very much aimed at the aca- ganising drives in less strategic sectors. demic milieu with most copies being un- national federations e.g. Solidarity Fed- eration, Anarchist Federation, etc and Breaking out of the current encirclement sold. A further significant offshoot was of the corporate/bureaucratic unions of the ‘Green Anarchist’ published from 1984, for Black Flag(anarchist magazine) to become a pan movement theoretical TUC. In this process, mass distribution focusing on environmental guer- networks and readership would develop rilla/elitest protest activity and was magazine. These papers could be sold at book stalls and demos and supplemented for the paper. Whilst the basis would de- heavily repressed by police raids in the late velop for financing full time staff and in- 1990’s. Absurdly the author defends one by Local Free Sheets. The problem with this proposal is that it fails to take account frastructure allowing moves toward of the more outrageous front covers (see weekly and daily frequency. Maybe then a page 183) in the 1980’s on the basis that of the mostly middle class/student social base of these groups and inability to pur- ‘Beautiful Idea’ can become closer to real- newsagents, etc were engaging in censor- ity! ship by refusing to sell it. Completely sue long range industrial organising in oblivious to the terrible impression this strategic sectors and the influence of sect In conclusion, the author does a good sort of rubbish gives to militant workers building, stemming from the Stalin- job providing a sketch of various outside the leftist milieu of anarchism. In ist/Trotskyist legacy and corporate union- phases and prominent militants in the this phase Freedom was notorious for its ism upon them. history of the Freedom Press Group. hostile comments about the British Miners From Middle Class Leftist However he fails to recognise suffi- in their Strike against the Thatcher Govt. Sub-cultural ‘Dark Abyss’ to Class ciently the serious negative impact of in 1984-85. Struggle? the Group’s drift toward ultra liberal- ism due to its middle class leftist hijack- 2001–2018 Third Millennium A more appropriate proposal particu- ing for the UK and international The author shows that Freedom during larly with the disarray and declining in- anarchist and syndicalist milieus in the this period extensively covered the fluence of Marxist Leninist groups on post WWII period. the industrial front since the 1990’s, Anti-Globalist movement which Mark McGuire emerged internationally associated would be the launching of a grassroots with G8, G20 and WTO Summit hop- syndicalist paper in the transport in- Notes: (1)See ‘Report on the ‘Workers ping and was uncritically supported by dustries which could provide regular Control Conference’ for a discussion of the paper. The outcome of this wave of industrial news to a revived Freedom these layers experience of contemporary mass spectacular protests, has not been (perhaps re-named as ‘Direct Action’). capitalism in the archive section any challenging or curtailing of the global Still of critical importance despite the www.rebelworker.org (2) See ‘Interviews employer offensive. In fact the ruling emergence of driverless vehicles. This on the History of Anarchism in Scotland’ classes in the UK and elsewhere have initiative would inspire militant workers in Library Section of libcom.org 18 Rebel Worker Edgard Leuenroth 1881 - 1968

A short biographer of Edgard Leuenroth Proletaria (The Proletarian Strug- A Workers’ Defence Committee was German-Brazilian anarchist who was an gle) Ação Direta(Direct Action), formed, composed of six people, includ- indefatigable propagandist and activist “Spartacus,” “A Guerra Social” (Social ing the anarchists Leuenroth and Gigi for anarchism. War), O Combate, (The Fight) the daily A Damiani. Barricades were built and street Voz do Povo (Voice of the People) which fighting broke out. Despite heavy repres- Edgard Leuenroth was born on Octo- he edited in 1920; two others he founded sion, the strike spread to Rio and else- ber 31st 1881 in the city of Mogi Mirim, were A Plebe (Common People) and The where and by the end of the month there in the state of São Paulo, Brazil into a Vanguard. He started publishing A was an almost hundred per cent stoppage German immigrant family. His father Plebe in 1917 and it had a very strong im- in industry. For his part in organising the died whilst he was young and he moved pact on the working class of the states of general strike Edgard received the longest with his mother to city of São Paulo at the São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro and further prison sentence of his life. This did not de- age of five.As a young man he worked in afield, becoming a daily in 1919 and con- ter him from his activity over the coming crafts, as a store clerk, typographer, jour- tinuing up into the 1950s. years, despite dictatorship and repression. nalist and an archivist. He became in- In May 1912 in São Paulo, the Ecole He was active in international defence volved in the workers movement and Moderne opened, established on the campaigns for many anarchists, including became interested in socialist ideas. He principle of rationalist education rec- Ferrer, Sacco and Vanzetti, Durruti and then became an anarchist under the influ- ommended by the Spanish libertarian Makhno. ence of the Portuguese anarchist Neno Francisco Ferrer. Edgard was one of its In December 1948, he was an organiser of Vasco who had moved to Brazil in 1901, four founders, alongside Neno Vasco, the Brazilian Anarchist Congress, whose and remained one for the rest of his life. In Oreste Ristori and Gigi Damiani. objective was the creation of an organiza- He took part in tion to pull together the various anarchist organising many groups from around the country. of the first work- He died on September 28th 1968 in Sao ers’ and anar- Paolo. c h i s t After his death, Leuenroth’s family do- congresses, on a nated his vast archive - newspaper cut- regional and na- tings, articles, photographs, etc. - to the tional level. He State University of Campinas, which orga- was a founder of nized the Arquivo Edgard Leuenroth in 1904 he became part of the editorial group the Confederaçã 1974, one of the most important historical for O Trabalhador Gráfico (Graphic o Operária Brasileira (COB- Brazilian La- sources of the 20th century social and Worker). In the following year one he be- bour Confederation) and the Communist workers movements in Brazil. It quickly gan working with Neno Vasco on the Party of Rio De Janeiro, which was then went underground until 1986, surviving weekly A Terra Livre (Free Land), one of like many early Communist Parties, a mix- dictatorship intact by being cemented in- most important anarchist papers. ture of anarchists, syndicalists and left so- side a wall. He had a very active involvement in cialists. By 1913 at the second congress of the COB of which Edgard was secretary in Nick Heath both writing and publishing for the lib- Sources: ertarian press over his life time. He Rio de Janeiro there were 117 delegates wrote under his own name but also as from eight states including two state feder- Edgard Leuenroth and the 1917 Frederico Brito, Palmiro Leão, Len, ations, five local federations, fifty two un- strike; http://www.katesharpleylibrary Leão Vermelho, Routh and Siffleur. He ions and four libertarian publications. .net/tqjr3g was a founder of Folha do Povo (Leaf of In July 1917, a 3-day General Strike Anarchist Encyclopaedia en- the People) which later became a daily and erupted in São Paulo following the kill- try:http://recollectionbooks.com/bleed/ shortly afterwards, in 1909, of A ing of the anarchist shoemaker Antonio Encyclopedia/LeuenrothEdgard.htm Lanterna. Other publications he was asso- Martinez by the police during a demon- ciated with were O Boi (The Ox) A Lucta stration in support of textile strikers.

guide i t, The internal organization, strategy and BULGARIAN LABOUR NEWS a m o n g tactics of the trade union sections of the which: “The Confederation are based on Autonomous self-organization of workers. 23/5/19 W o r k e r s The Autonomous Workers’ Confedera- A new organisation - the Autonomous Confederation is a trade union organiza- tion does not participate in the “trilateral” Workers’ Confederation (ARK) was es- tion that is independent of state, business, or other forms of “social dialogue” with tablished by workers, representatives of political parties, foundations and foreign employers and the state. The Autonomous autonomous trade unions from Sofia, embassies. Workers ‘Confederation is a part of the in- Plovdiv, Vidin and Varna this weekend The Autonomous Workers’ Confedera- ternational workers’ movement and main- near the sea capital. Individual workers tion is a class organization that is open to tains links with related objectives and joined it. workers, unemployed, students and retir- principles, groups and organizations. “ The Presidents adopted the statutes and ees - regardless of belief, sex, age, race, re- The immediate objectives set by the work- rules of the new organization, confirming ligion or ethnicity. The Autonomous ers of the new Confeder- in a document and the principles that will Workers’ Confederation rejects the union ation are to assist other See page 20 syndication and trade union bureaucracy. 19 Rebel Worker

NEWS & NOTES Where we stand: A.S.N. DIRECTORY Some of the most important news in the 1.Our aim is to create a free and equal so- NSW Railways is the duplicity of the ciety Berejiklian NSW Govt. and the union ASN Sydney Local hierarchy regarding a supposed deal PO Box 92 Broadway 2. We are a revolutionary labour move- made back in 2018 to retain guards on 2007 NSW ment that uses as its only means of strug- the new interurban trains. As part of this gle, direct action in all its forms – scam, there is an on-going case in the ASN Melbourne: occupations, strikes, boycotts, sabotage, ‘un-Fair’ Work Australia Court. Driver etc. We are independent from all reformist J.Dixon Only Operation on these trains will open and hierarchical unions and political par- the doors to a similar push on other trains [email protected] ties, and we are creating an alternative to and is interwoven with Govt. privatisation these and to existing society. We do not of the Railways plans. (See article page 4.) ASN Newcastle seek to gain political power, but rather to PO Box 106 see it distributed amongst all. Lately the ASN has been agitating on Kotara 2289 NSW the job in NSW and Victorian public 3.We are a network of Transport for industrial support of the Anarchist Media anarcho-syndicalists practising upcoming World Climate Strike. It’s be- co-operation and mutual aid. We have an ing held on Sept.20th 2019. With the ever Institute equal part in the making of decisions. Re- worsening environmental crisis, this ini- PO Box 20 sponsibilities within the network are sub- tiative merits hard hitting industrial sup- Parkville Vic. 3052 ject to agreement by the members. port. (See article page 3.) SPARKS 4.We are engaged in struggle where we In this edition, we look at problems associ- (Anarcho-Syndicalist Transport Paper) work and where we live, to develop self ated with handling management harass- PO Box 92 Broadway managed production, distribution and ser- ment and targeting on the job. (See articles vicing for the world community, to meet pages 5 to 7.) 2007 NSW human needs rather than profit. We give Web site: http://www.sparksweb.org solidarity to others in these struggles. In this edition, we throw more light on the worsening conditions of bus workers and Members’ Voice 5.We are fighting to abolish all authoritar- reduced bus services associated with the Grassroots NSW Public Transport ian institutions such as the State (including privatisation of Region 6 of State Transit. Workers’ Organisation its communist variety), capitalism, all hi- (See article page 7.) erarchical and oppressive divisions be- tween people. User.tpg.com.au/retepsni/MembersVo Help build Rebel Worker! Your help is ice particularly sought with its distribu- Email: Membersvoice2010@ya- 6. We have no country and are organised tion. So why not order bulk copies to hoo.com on an international basis in opposition to distro. Sell at your local shopping centre oppression everywhere. The ASN is striv- on Saturday mornings, leave at the lunch ing to build a viable revolutionary room at work, and at your local cafe, li- Facebook:www.facebook.com/pages syndicalist movement in Australia as part brary or cinema. Your assistance on the fi- M e m- of a world wide movement able to meet the nancial plane is also welcome. bers-Voice-RTBU-rank-and-file-Grou challenge of the global employer offen- p/531249043571323?fref=ts sive.

STOP ‘Sydney Transport-users Opposing Privatisation’ TO FIND OUT MORE

PO Box 703 REBEL WORKER I would like more information about the Leichhardt 2040 NSW Anarcho-Syndicalist Network. Please Facebook STOP Privatisation send me information. @STOPPrivatisation WEB SITE: Name ...... Address...... www.rebelworker.org General Secretary PO Box 106 Kotara 2289 NSW. If undeliverable, return to PO Box 92, Broadway NSW 2007

the job, because none of us can af- ford to wait any longer for a raise. USA: Burgerville Workers Union Launches Strike If strike is what it takes to get Burgerville to bargain with us in 10/8/19 Members of the Industrial tiating over wages, they cancelled our good faith and bring us a serious Workers of the World (IWW) orga- bargaining session today because work- proposal on wages, we’re here to prove nized into the Burgerville Workers Un- ers were prepared to strike if they with our actions that we’re ready. ion officially launched a strike today as brought nothing to the table again. Earlier this week, Burgerville decided negotiations with Burgerville corporate After months since our last bargaining ses- last-minute to push back a scheduled bar- broke down, following a year of stalling sion, we had finally agreed to meet. How- gaining session, because they heard we and refusal on the part of bosses to ad- ever, yesterday their lawyers emailed us might be going on strike that day. That was dress worker demands. This report first and said they were cancelling the session supposed to be the bargaining session appeared on It’s Going Down. because we had planned a strike and de- where they brought us a better proposal on Over the past several years, It’s Going manded we postpone bargaining until wages than the 13 cent raise they offered Down has covered the rise of the there is no threat of a strike. They accom- us nearly six months ago. But workers Burgerville Workers Union, which has panied their email to us with a strange can’t afford these repeated delays in bar- grown into a network of several stores email from CEO Jill Taylor to all workers gaining. With what we’re currently getting which have been officially recognized as trying to justify cancelling the bargaining paid, workers often have to choose be- union shops, bolstered by a strong base of session by claiming, “Burgerville is tween making rent, buying groceries, or support within the wider community and changing the way we do business.” Don’t paying other bills, and sometimes face labour movement. The union has also get it twisted, the company is refusing to eviction as a result. called several strikes and pulled off multi- negotiate based on our legally protected On Wednesday, we took legal action ple job actions and pickets since they first right to strike at any time. and filed an Unfair Labour Practice launched. Around 12 PM on Friday 9th August, the charge against Burgerville for bargain- Over the years, time and time again Burgerville Workers Union officially an- ing in bad faith. Today, we’re taking di- Burgerville corporate has targeted union nounced that it was on strike, stating that rect action to back that up. You can take members and organizers for taking part in workers from three different stores had action too, by donating to the BVWU strike and union activity with unjust fir- walked off the job: Strike and Hardship Fund to compensate ings and the hiring of anti-union thugs to workers for lost wages during today’s harass IWW members and picketers. strike:https://www.gofundme.com/bvwu- We are ON STRIKE! strike-and-hardship-fundraiser As BWU wrote: Follow the Burgerville Workers Union Burgerville is not bargaining in good This morning, workers from across on Facebook and Twitter for updates on faith. After stalling for months on nego- three different Burgervilles walked off the strike.

workers to organize themselves in their goal is not everyone who struggles to pro- page on Tues. 13/8/19. According to trade union sections and to establish a soli- tect the class interests of workers from Hadley the trains were actually built in In- darity network for mutual assistance be- joining an organization but rather to build dia. It may mean faulty construction ex- tween the sections of the Autonomous a solidarity network of cooperation and plaining the break downs, not just Confederation and other struggle formal coordination among all those who lead ‘teething problems’ and commuters on the and informal trade unions and collectives: this struggle not in the interest of an or- train could only catch chartered replace- autonomous trade unions are not the only ganisation, but in the interests of the work- ment buses in one direction. In the other trade union organizations leading class ers as a whole. “ direction they had to catch normal buses, struggle, but on the contrary, we look at etc. Also Hadley came out in opposition to our trade unions as part of the struggling the elimination of train crews on these organizations of the working class, along Sydney Metro Fiasco trains and accused Transport Minister with many others. Constance of covering up the number of That is why we aim to build relationships New info has come from Ray Hadley’s break downs. Constance claims four break with other workers and trade unions. The Radio 2GB Program this morning Wed. downs, but Hadley claims much more. 14/8/19 re Sydney Metro and latest stop-