Sydney, Australia Paper of the Anarcho-Syndicalist Network 50c Vol. 31 No.3 (214) Aug. - Sept. 2012

SPANISH WORKERS SHOW THE WAY FORWARD IN THE FIGHT AGAINST AUSTERITY WITH DIRECT ACTION!

Spanish Miners Fire Bazookas at Police during Recent Strike over Government Austerity Measures

NATIONAL NEWS; NSW RAILWAY NEWS; RAIL-BUS NEWS; STATE TRANSIT NEWSFLASH; VICTORIAN RAILWAY NEWS; SPANISH MINERS PROTEST; GREEK STEEL WORKERS STRIKE; BRITAIN TODAY; SWEDEN; BOOK REVIEW CORNER; DEBATE ON “BORING FROM WITHIN”; CARL WINDHOFF GERMAN SYNDICALIST; NEWS & NOTES; 2 Rebel Worker

Rebel Worker is the bi-monthly Paper of the A.S.N. for the propo- gation of anarcho-syndicalism in Australia. Unless otherwise stated, signed Articles do not necessarily represent the position of the A.S.N. as a whole. Any contributions, criticisms, letters or Comments are welcome. REBEL WORKER P.O. BOX 92 BROADWAY 2007 NSW E-mail: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION RATES: AUSTRALIA: $12 a year OVERSEAS The problem is parliament continually the Australian legal system more than the $25 (Aus.) by Air puts the interests of that small section of way powerful interests use their money to $20 (Aus.) by Sea mail society that owns the means of production, ensure people never have the opportunity Free to Prisoners distribution, exchange and communica- to seek redress through the courts. Supporters Subs. $40 pa tion before the interests of the Australian I sat in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court people because all the major political par- Receives copies of RW & ASN a few weeks ago and saw a man who tried ties are frightened they would not be to seek redress through the courts lum- Pamphlets as published. re-elected if they bit the hand that fed bered with $10,000 court costs because the Send to the above. Postal Orders only them. other side, a corporation, had employed a made out to Rebel Worker. Senior Council to defend the action. It’s “BLEEDING THEM DRY” time that at least in the Magistrates’ Courts legislation was passed which would force both sides to meet their own costs. National News The idea the Australian Courts deliver jus- Bleeding people dry in an effort to stop a tice to everyone, Santa Claus exists, the matter being Easter Bunny is real and everybody lives Heard in court should be viewed for what happily ever after are ideas that only exist it is – a criminal act. in never never land. Access to the Courts NOT FRONT PAGE NEWS is becoming a significant issue in an era when companies, corporations and indi- Thanks viduals with financial resources use the to the Anarchist Age I wonder what type of society would allow courts to bleed dry anyone who tries to one person to earn 24 million dollars and take them on. If justice delayed is justice another person 85 dollars, a day? No this denied, justice denied by corporations doesn’t happen in Haiti, Niger or Afghani- who bleed people dry for having the au- stan, some of the poorest countries on the dacity to seek redress in court, is a criminal planet happens a little bit closer to home. act. Nothing highlights the bankruptcy of It happens in Australia. Gina Rinehart is expected to earn 24 million a day during the next 12 months while workers on the minimum wage will be earning a stagger- ing $85 a day after their weekly wage was increased by $17 to $606.40 by Fair Work REBEL WORKER Australia. Almost a million low paid workers will be getting that extra $17 in their pay packet in July. Anybody interested in mathematical WEB SITE: calculations wouldn’t be surprised to learn the 876 million dollars _Gina_ will be earning during the next financial year mould pay the wages of 25,000 workers on the minimum wage. Looking at it another way, Gina earns almost 23,000 times more money per hour than a worker on the mini- www.rebelworker.org mum wage. The problem isn’t Gina Rinehart, she is doing what she is legally entitled to do. 3 Rebel Worker N.S.W. RAILWAYS NEWS

The new announcements about staff re- creases the value of each workers labour Technological Change - ductions are nothing new but they do add but rarely does the worker benefit from Should workers fear it? renewed pressure to fearful workers be- this extra surplus value that they produce. cause society has changed radically in the Precisely because workers become more Crimson Coconut last few years. As Australian society and efficient they will be more likely to be communities around the world have be- thrown onto the scrapheap that is unem- come less egalitarian, (wealth is now con- ployment. Recent announcements by the NSW centrated in fewer hands, 1% owning as Because of the way capitalist society government regarding the removal of much as rest of us, the 99%). The loss of a works any increase in productivity leads to train guards from rail services and the job in the public sector can lead to years of an ever burgeoning profit which is used to future possibility of running driver-less hardship for individuals. The tightening of increase the dividend to shareholders. It trains on new privately owned rail eligibility rules for government support propels the owners of the new technology routes caused some consternation and the meagre pensions and benefits for to a position of wealth and status well amongst rail staff and the RTBU(Rail, unemployed workers in a tight jobs market above that of the workers using the it. In Tram & Bus Union) leadership. all point to the dangers of becoming unem- the case of workers in the public transport Despite privatisation and ownership being ployed. Workers are well aware that they industry, (and the public sector in general) the main issue related to driverless trains are just a stones throw away from a job loss changes in work practises brought on by the RTBU leadership instead spoke out and an undignified life existing in poverty. new technology leads to the likelihood of about the unsafe nature of trains without Innovation is, theoretically at least, any reduced job opportunities and a much drivers. This is despite the fact that new process which gives manufacturers greater chance that private operators will driverless rail services are operating safely and owners some sort of advantage over take over these functions. The public ser- in quite a few countries, generally without the way goods are manufactured or that vice provided by the new private operators incident. Driverless trains are routinely services are delivered. It is a temporary are then geared towards producing profits operated on the Paris Metro, Barcelona and Madrid Metro, Seoul Subway, Tokyo Metro, Taipei Metro, and hundreds of other lines around the world from Russia to the USA. The train crew “reforms” were forecast in the 2010 EBA and had been op- posed by many grass roots union members because it gave the Government the right to do as they wished. The introduction of new technology creeps up on us and we are quick to forget how things were before the latest innova- tion. Motorised scrubbing machines now clean station floors replacing what once were gangs of half a dozen workers or so wield- ing mops and brooms. Large track mainte- nance programs now take place with the most modern of equipment. Giant ma- chines require less than a handful of work- ers. The work is completed in the shortest possible time. Just 50 years ago such work process that drives the material develop- rather than providing a public service. would have required nothing short of a ment of society as a whole and enriches Because we cannot stop progress caused small army of hundreds of workers in a the owners until competitors catch up. For by innovation and new technology work- back-breaking and arduous task, working example, IBM the pioneers of the com- ers must look realistically at what can be night and day for weeks, if not months, to puter age have fallen by the wayside as a done so that any changes serve their inter- complete the work. Likewise the use of major home computer manufacturer and ests rather than a the interests of the own- computers for work sharing, emailing and seller. As competitors have caught up ers. There are several ways we can tackle accessing information has done away with through innovation IBM has had to diver- the problem of job losses due to technol- the need for telegrams which were in use sify into other areas to survive. IBM are ogy. frequently right up to a few years ago. Few hardly a household name anymore. Workers and unions must work towards a staff today on the railways would know of, The contradiction for workers is that de- better spread of wealth regardless of peo- or even need to know of, the telegraphic spite the introduction of new technology ples contribution to society. Besides, new codes of jargon, which still exist, but are making tasks easier while massively in- technology does not necessarily have to rarely used. creasing production, workers generally do lead to job losses. These changes happened without any not share any of the increased output. A new Green Economy based on renew- whimper from rail workers who were Technology’s multiplier effect on the pro- able energy and recycling has the potential freed from unnecessarily labour intensive, ductivity of workers instead does away for to create a very large number of jobs which anachronistic and repetitive work. the need for workers. New technology in- 4 Rebel Worker would be ongoing. By contrast the mining days of the 60’s and 70’s when they advo- of our communities could live in dignity. industry is said to employ just under 2% of cated a 38 or 36 hour work week. The time Today unions are on the back foot defend- the workforce. Jobs in the mining sector has always been right for a continuation of ing and losing the hard fought benefits have a finite lifespan unlike jobs in the re- the “Shorter Work Week” campaigns. workers had. newable sector of the economy. The will to Governments continual cutting back on The problem of new technology destroy- move in the direction of sustainable pro- the social wage by raising the retirement ing jobs exits only as long as unions fail to duction though is missing from the politi- age, reducing pensions and unemploy- realise that freedom from work and free- cal and economic agenda of the ment benefits, as well a cutting back on ac- dom from scarcity is a major aspiration of mainstream parties despite the looming cess to education to those who cannot pay workers. Technology will allows us to environmental crisis which endangers hu- the high fees demanded, is another way move closer to the goal of worker emanci- man kind. that the real economy is distorted away pation if it used for the common good Our communities are in crisis due to out- from waged workers. The media and poli- rather than geared towards making profit. Union leaders like those in the RTBU do not know how to fight any more or they lack the po- litical will, so they see technology as a threat rather than as a liberator of workers from the drudgery of everyday ex- istence. A vision different from that handed down through the media and politicians exists in the heart of every worker, even if what they say is clouded in confusion and mouthed platitudes handed down from the exploiting classes. If un- ions such as the RTBU are to survive the next decade then they must tap into the real aspira- tions of their members dated infrastructure and a massive injec- ticians continually bleat about how bene- and learn like King tion of public funds could provide the jobs fits and access to services such as Canute turning back the sea, that it is futile needed for community renewal. The education must be reigned in because the to try and turn back the tide of human de- building of cycleways, upgrading of pub- government can’t afford it. The truth is sire for technological innovation. lic spaces, better and more frequent public that business, especially mining, has never Railing against technological advances transport services, increasing the avail- had it so good. goes against the tide of history. Driverless ability of housing and community health Never before in our history has so much trains, trains without guards and other in- programs and the like has the ability to cre- wealth been accumulated in so few hands. novations will come whether whether we ate many thousands of jobs. These jobs Present Governments however would like it or not. The RTBU bulletin citing would be created because of advances in never dream of ending this life of privi- safety and community concerns reveals technology and the will to use it for the hu- leged for the elite few on whose power much about the thinking within the RTBU man good. they depend. The solution to increasing leadership. Issues of safety will be over- Workers displaced through technology the social wage and therefore a fair share come. From the unions point of view it need to have access to retraining so that of the profits from innovation and new should come down to a simple question they are better prepared for the new roles technology will involve a radical change that is not about jobs or safety but human and jobs which they will undertake. Dis- in political perceptions and will require need and the ownership of wealth. placed rail workers and other public trans- that the current economic order be turned The way forward is to extend and expand port workers will hardly be prepared to on its head. what is possible based on the needs of un- slot into the jobs on offer outside of their It is time to take back our share of produc- ion members and the community in gen- traditional tasks. Retraining of workers tion which is increasing with the help of eral, of which members are an integral displaced by technology could also create new technology. There seems no point to part. Lets build the future based on human many thousands of jobs. increasing the productive labour of work- need, using progress and innovation that Sharing work and reducing work hours is ers using technology if it does not benefit benefits all, rather than greed. Let’s get our another way of spreading the wealth. all of society. fair share of the spoils by challenging and However this must not be at the cost of re- Traditionally unions fought for more lei- defeating our real enemies not the RTBU’s duced wages. This is one sure way of shar- sure time, wage rises based on productiv- phantoms which the leadership use as an ing the proceeds of the increased ity improvements and a social wage that excuse for doing nothing. productivity brought about by the intro- ensured that even the most disadvantaged duction of new technology. Unions have pulled back a long way since the heady 5 Rebel Worker

STATE TRANSIT

RAIL - BUS NEWS The Government has made it quite clear to STA that privatisation is on the By the Transport Scrutinizer agenda once more with tougher scrutiny of management and operation of services by TfNSW happening immediately. RAILCORP Crackdowns on workers rights such as sick leave, compo, special requests for As I predicted Booz-Allen Consultants roster adjustments, union representation have convinced the Government to deci- on disciplinary issues and the abolition mate RailCorp once again. 750 salaried of employee staff buses are just the be- and professional job must go as a result. ginning of a raft of actions specifically Only around 240 employees responded so designed to demoralise even the most far so it is only fair to say forced redundan- hardened employees. The main focus of cies are likely to happen. Another problem all of this is to make all STA staff feel re- that may soon happen may well be the re- sentful of their organisation and gladly moval of Guards from A and H sets, the accept hostile private takeover of public rumours continue to grow. More staff re- bus services. TfNSW YOU ARE ON views will see the further reduction of NOTICE FROM ALL AT STA. IF YOU frontline staff from stations in line with the AND YOUR CRONY GOVERNMENT formation of Sydney Trains and NSW THINKWEAREALLSTUPID, Trains. THINK AGAIN!!!

rosters (e.g. AM’s, Midday, PM’s, Bro- kens). A form of scrap (in depot) is STATE TRANSIT NEWSFLASH retained. Anyone on a relief line can be sent to another depot, at any time, based on seniority. So the least experienced drivers, who are still finding their feet at their home BURWOOD DEPOT NEWS ing to pay for DOC’s for corridor supervi- depot are being sent en masse to unfamiliar Rebel Worker: How are things at Bur- sors. As a result, there are cases where fields. wood? there are no corridor supervisor on duty. Such a situation occurred the other night I recently encountered a driver from an- Burwood Driver: Some of the most worry- other depot, who was driving a bus. He had ing developments has been blocks of 6-8 and due to a situation at Concord, when we had no corridor supervisor to intervene, we never driven before. This is totally against new drivers being sent to us from other de- STA rules and any driver sent to another pots. They are given a brief orientation by were sent on the wrong route and along roads the buses shouldn’t have gone down. depot must be quickly trained on that bus the bosses, but it’s completely inadequate. before they go in service. On top of this As they don’t know the runs. Leaving many commuters waiting at bus stops. In another case, a driver was in- breach, he was being sent to Birchgrove Other news is that the bosses are starting to volved in an altercation with a passenger. terminus with a difficult and dangerous really hammer drivers on the M41 and are Again there was no corridor supervisor to turning area – in the dark! Leichhardt driv- monitoring them with P Tips over cancel- intervene. So this driver was kept waiting a ers are taken to two turning areas (and lations of runs and in some cases drivers considerable time, as the police treated the trained in daylight) including this one, be- are being set up for E1’s. The P Tips in- incident as a low priority. fore they ever drive at all in service. This is volving the GPS tracking equipment a totally unacceptable situation. I spent 15 which all buses are now equipped could LEICHHARDT DEPOT NEWS minutes drawing a diagram for this driver, help out resolving inefficiencies in the A Visit from “Mr Pinocchio” with “Dol- while he drove in service, then explained it buses, but instead the bosses just used it to lar Signs” in his Eyes to him at my stop for a few minutes. punish drivers. These cancellations due to Chief Exec., Peter Rowley, did the rounds Holding up his passengers. This turning late running are inevitable to due to the un- of the depots assuring staff that we won’t area has obstacles that could result in bus realistic running times being imposed be privatised and that our core work will damage from illegally parked vehicles and which provide no time for traffic conges- be quarantined for 3-4 years, while the road furniture. tion. STA can cut more costs. They will then be The bus needs to be raised for a dish gutter. Some weeks ago, the STA CEO visited the forced to compete with private companies A lamppost hinders the turning circle. The depot and held a staff meeting. It focused for all Sydney contracts. Two weeks later, circle needs to be checked for illegally on the STA’s insatiable efficiency drive. the Transport Minister says, she will not parked vehicles. This driver had none of Particularly emphasising cutting out driv- rule out privatisation. What a joke?!! this information and it was only dumb ers, rather than tackling other well known STOP PRESS According to the Sydney luck, I was a passenger on his bus!! inefficiencies. Intriguingly at Burwood a Morning Herald Thursday 5th July, the LEICHHARDT SHOWS THE WAY lot of new wiring is being installed. So Chief Exec. is now threatening us with FORWARD ON WORKERS’ COMP! there is new money available for such privatisation if we don’t give back impor- tant conditions! On Monday 2nd July a union ballot was things, but it must come from the drivers. held at the depot on the issue of holding a This corner cutting is also seriously under- The Holiday Relief (Scrap) Roster was 24 hour stoppage, as a protest against the mining the quality of bus services. As a abolished 6 months ago and replaced with new workers compensation legislation. It cost saving measure the bosses aren’t will- specific relief lines below each style of was passed 98 (Yes) 70 (No) and (Infor- 6 Rebel Worker mal) 2. This motion must now be now sent likely, the STA would be flogged off until on this job who are scratching their heads around all depots for perusal and potential 2014. Latest news is that the CEO has been about this type of treatment. One driver voting. Then sent to Division Office for blatantly trying to blackmail us into agree- was so angered by the situation that he is decision. ing to more casuals, cuts to rosters and taking this issue up with the OH&S com- Leichhardt 5 years ago was considered a other give backs using the threat of mittee, which must look at this and get all soft depot. Now we are leading the privatisation. the toilets cleaned and done up. charge!! When we moved to the new de- On a recent 2BL radio program, the Presi- Another example of how ludicrous this pot, we threatened a snap Leichhardt only dent of the Bus and Coach Association, corner cutting has become, is an incident strike over such pathetic refusals by man- Frank Diapuzzo was interviewed about in which I was involved the other day. I agement to supply basic amenities e.g. (1) the issue of the STA’s privatisation and its took a bus at the shed and went to Nth A local phone for family emergencies!! (2) takeover by Veolia. He was very careful in Bondi. At the terminus, I noticed an inter- Soap in the kitchen!! The other half dozen hisanswers. He knew what to say and what nal panel on the bus had become detached requests were as minor. The threat got not to say. He gave the impression he knew and was over hanging passengers seats. I them talking, but we were definitely walk- a lot more than he was letting on. He talked contacted the radio room who advised a ing, if no response! vaguely about rosters and wouldn’t elabo- changeover would be supplied at Bondi WAVERELY DEPOT NEWS rate. He seemed to be using “code” words. Junction. At the interchange instead of RW: What are your thoughts on the What does this mean in reality? Casualis- being issued with the changeover, an in- STA’s “Transition Program”? ation? Different companies bringing in spector from Grafton Street had some gaf- workers? fer tape. When he came over to repair the Waverley Busie: The STA CEO has been panel, he laughed saying the tape was the going around the depots holding staff RW: What’s the latest with the toilets? WB: The salt cleaning solution isn’t being STA’s ideal fix it. A masking tape to cover meetings on this subject. The major focus up, the STA’s deficiencies! is a report by the O’Farrell Govt’s trans- put in the men’s toilets at North Bondi. As port advisors, the notorious management a result, an unhygienic odour is present, RW: How are things on the consultants, Booz Allen. It’s taken a fig- even in winter. Without even going inside privatisation front? ureoutoftheairof$20millionandsaidwe the toilets at North Bondi, you smell it. WB: Some on the latest news is that the are over budget for this amount. Whilst Parramatta to Liverpool T-Way has been Veolia claims it can run the STA $20 sold to a private bus company. T-Way million cheaper. However, as we all drivers were given the option of either go- know, Veolia and other large compa- ing over to the private company or return- nies are duplicitous in their claims in ing to their depots of origin. Given the business to win contracts and can cook worse conditions of the private company, up rubbery figures with the aid of cor- I assume most returned to STA depots. porate lawyers. It’s all about screwing Whilst the Ferries will be sold off by the the worker. This duplicity of Veolia end of July. Were Ferry Skippers paid a was highlighted to me on a recent ra- bonus as an inducement to go over to the dio program. It focused on Veolia’s franchisees? Recently I was down at the tender for some garbage business. I ferries wharf at the Quay and noticed a was intending to ring in to the program groupofferryworkers on one of thepiers. to dispute Veolia’s claims and raise I pulled up one of the guys and asked him some points about its rubbery figures what was going on in the ferries. He men- and duplicitous claims. Was Veolia to tioned they were attending an induction be paid by weight of the tip? Is it being for the new franchises which will be tak- paid per tonne for land fill? Why isn’t ing over. I asked him whether anything the rubbish being recycled? In the case will change with the franchising. Accord- of the Sydney City Council, it ing to him, he was guaranteed by the new outsourced its garbage collection to management that it would be like the old Veolia just to cut costs. What can this government operator. I replied, “just wait, be all about apart from screwing the The male toilets at the Bondi Junction in- you’ll see marked differences.” With a worker to the limit. terchange are a disgrace. At the old inter- private mob taking over a utility, it may The STA is using this bogus justification change 12 to 13 years ago the toilets were look good at the beginning, but later you’ll for further cost cutting. This amount of adequate in their condition. However at see the nasty side. $20 million seems to me to be chicken feed the new interchange, complaints about the RW: How are things with the cleaners, and is farcical. The STA bosses focus on toilets are being made constantly. There mechanics and fuelers? this issue shows their megalomania. It are a range of problems such as the noisy WB: They are being shafted! At Pt. Bot- seems to me to be all about making us fan, a cubicle door which has been kicked any, cleaners and mechanics have left due more profitable to be flogged off. Proba- in which no one has bothered to fix, urine to being given the run around by incompe- bly to this most multi monster company in all over the floor, poor toilet flushing, toi- tent bosses who lack integrity. The me- NSW - Veolia. Apart from garbage trucks, let paper rolls missing, too few cubicles chanics are suffering and don’t have to put it has interests in the desalination plant and and the obvious need for regular checks. up with the callous behaviour of the buses. It’s no doubt looking for rich pick- Whilst 200 drivers are supposed to use bosses. Heavy diesel mechanics can find ings with the STA. these appalling facilities. It’s farcical! The work at many other places. At Waverley, The Sunday 3/6/12 edition of the Sun Her- STA bosses are even corner cutting on hy- cleaners and fuelers are not getting extra ald dropped the bomb shell of O’Farrell giene to save a few dollars. Everything is overtime despite increased workloads. plans for the privatisation of the STA. The being clawed back to save money. It’s like Every corner in their jobs is being investi- Government didn’t deny it was under con- a game. The STA bosses are treating us gated by the bosses to deliver an outcome. sideration. It seems due to the existence of like the lowest common denominator. It reminds me of the Nazis. In their con- the current enterprise agreement, it’s un- There are plenty of ex-professional people centration camps under the control of 7 Rebel Worker

Himmler, the wrong kind of efficiency RW: What are your thoughts on fight- ing savings by such measures? I don’t re- was displayed with everything being item- ing the push for privatisation inthe STA ally know. It’s certainly a hindrance to ised and taken from their victims such as and other attacks by the O’Farrell traffic. Whilst the union has claimed a mi- gold, false teeth, glasses, etc and the in- Govt.? nor victory on the issue. As they obliged mates separated according to category. WB: The union hierarchy such as Unions the STA to put signs on the back of the The fuelers and cleaners are being intimi- NSW has spread the illusion that we need bendies for motorists to take account of the dated and demonised to facilitate the split to be revamped and modernised and just 50 kmp speed limit of these buses. up of the STA into sections. focus on computerised communications RW: How things with the transit offi- RW: How are STA Administrative staff such as digital media to get the message cers? faring? across of the need to resist the O’Farrell at- WB: Recently I was passing the STA of- WB: They are working under tremendous tacks and token single issue rallies such as fice in Parramatta. I noticed a group of 5-6 pressure. They now, all have to reapply for on Workers Comp on Wed 13/6/12. We transit officers outside the office and had a their positions. Looking at my supervisor, are all getting sick of being pushed around brief conversation with them. The transit I can see he’s not happy, behind his smile. I by the O’Farrell Govt. and need to fight it officers often come from an elite military can see he’s been put under more pressure like the teachers’ union. A work mate the back ground such as the SAS and were and has to perform more or lose his job. other day mentioned to me how inspired highly trained. They were all scratching This will mean more pressure put on to us. he was by the recent strike by teachers their heads about their poor treatment by The other day, a lady from Head Office over attacks by the O’Farrell Govt. He was the Transport Minister. They mentioned caught my bus. She displayed her home angered by the O’Farrell Govt wanting to that she recently featured at a public trans- and duty pass and said, “this will be gone vastly increase the amount of the fining of port forum in Baulkham Hills where she soon!” the Teachers’ union from $10,000 to was unable to handle questions from the Recently, our friend Omar, sundries staff $200,000 for what it considers as illegal floor. She gave the impression that she member, who handles lost property and stoppages, but what I call democracy! He knew little about the job. However, she has other duties was given his marching or- considered we need the right strike if we an unhealthy obsession with chopping out ders. As part of his sacking had to sit for a are to effectively fight O’Farrell. jobs. They felt they were on a merry go basic test, what I call a “failure” test. To re- RW: What are your impressions of the round with their jobs, as for the 3rd time, ceive a final payment, he and others had to speed limits on the bendibuses? they had to reapply for their positions. attend a type of induction. One of our WB: The other day I was going through a RW: What nasty surprises are likely to guys, mentioned that people from all parts tunnel on the Eastern Distributor and no- occur with the STA takeover by a pri- of the STA particularly office staff were ticed in the 2nd lane in the same direction, vate company? attending it. The course is all about help- a lot of traffic congestion caused by a WB: Few people on the job who voted for ing you apply for jobs outside the STA by bendibus. It was travelling at its severely O’Farrell, look at a range of issues which helping you write resumes. In a private restricted, speed limit of 50 kmp, imposed will have to be dealt with under company, you would never get this type of by the STA bosses to save a few dollars on privatisation: will the institute still be op- assistance, but I’m not saying it’s good. fuel. However, the maximum speed limit erational? What changes will have to be This cutting of staff is happening across for vehicles in the tunnel was 80 kmp. It made to the Institutes constitution? Your board in the public sector with O’Farrell’s seemed to me a situation from the horse canteen, is that continuing as a going con- drive to save money. and cart era, when vehicles had a much cern? Will you have time off for running less speed capacity. Is the STA really mak- and fishing clubs? VICTORIAN RAILWAY NEWS

In previous editions of RW, mention was Misha: They called a number of employ- Manfred: The number of employees who made of a Conductor Service Manager ees before their respective managers to read the article in 132 supported the per- bullying employees and of an employee find out who wrote the article. You see sons who wrote the article. As one of the being given a final warning. In this issue V/Line workers said, ”SPARKS stands for Conductors, Station Staff, Drivers and free speech”. Staff from Head Office will discuss these Sheona: In Head Office, where I work one ongoing issues. Once again names have can observe people. During a lunch break been changed. I heard a number of employees discussing RW: Three years ago, we reported SPARKS issues 132 and 134. One em- about a Conductor Service Manager ployee stated that the people who wrote bullying employees. What has hap- the article were disloyal to the Company pened? and were the lowest of the low and would Clarence: Nothing. not put their names in the article. Misha and Manfred: You are correct. We Clarence: We maybe a low bunch of work- spoke about this person in issue 132 of ers, but you have to stand up and be Sparks. This issue received a lot of sup- counted. The reasons names are changed port from the rank and file, but Human is because of what happened 25 years ago. Resources had other ideas. Human Resources promised to terminate In those days, there used to be a Victorian RW: What ideas? the persons who wrote the article. Edition of SPARKS. One of the workers 8 Rebel Worker who contributed to SPARKS was using his Rastus: Yes, it is, but a bully like him Misha and Manfred: Human Resources name. Management hounded this person would you walk off. despite representations from the Union and tried to discipline him on trivial is- Roscoe: In issue 132, mention was made and Train Passengers with not remove the sues. He always stood up to them. of this person spying on a Conductor from warning. RW: You can see why we change names. a driver’s cab in the middle of a velocity Clarence: In the meantime, this Supervisor People are frightened to come forward. train. What happened here was the driver was bullying Conductors. We prefer to keep our contributors of the train told the manager to tell him to Manfred: He had his friends and spies who anonymous. get out of the cab or it would not move. He would report to him what the Conductors Rastus and Roscoe: At this point being moved. We, drivers, stood up to him. To were doing and some Conductors would drivers, we have had trouble with this hell with the industrial relations Act. report to him if a Conductor did the wrong Conductor Supervisor. You see during a Clarence: In issue 134, an article was writ- thing on a train. number of service disruptions, a number ten about a female Conductor who on de- Rastus and Roscoe: Yes, these idiots of Drivers asked the Conductors to come parting a train with an N set, shut the doors thought that by putting other Conductors up to the Drivers’ cab to discuss the dis- and a passenger jumped on the train on paper to him, they would be on his good ruption. There are issues we cannot talk through the Van door. books, but he was using these idiots. about over the radio. On one of the stations Misha: Yes, this was a sad case. The train Sheona: Despite him being a bully, Hu- during a delay, one of the drivers observed was departing and the passenger jumped man Resources would not remove him, be- this person hiding in a waiting room. We cause if he was removed, think he was spying. they would admit, they made Clarence: You are correct. This how low a mistake. this person could go. RW: In conducting, this Misha: This Supervisor always picked person should have been on female Conductors. removed. It would have re- Roscoe: Yes, he did. Being a Bully, this stored harmony in the is all he was good at. country depot and re- Rastus: One of our drivers observed an moved a fair amount of incident on a station platform, where tension around the work- this person belittled a female Conduc- place. tor. He claimed that she did not close the Misha and Manfred: To- doors on an N Set. The Conductor said wards the end of last year, both green door lights were on, thus the ticket irregularities were doors were closed. He ignored her ex- discovered at this particular planation and he humiliated her. depot where he worked. As Misha: The Conductor was distressed there are legal issues regard- and reported this Bully to management. ing this matter, we cannot RW: What did they do? say anymore. It will have to on the train. He knocked the Conductor wait for a future issue. Manfred: Nothing. The Conductor told over. This supervisor was on the train and management that if this person ever again Clarence: It is good, he has been removed, stood the Conductor down and she had to but unfortunately, it had to be on an issue got on a train, she was running, she would front Human Resources. walk off. of tickets. Roscoe: The Conductor was put on a Final Rastus and Roscoe: In having the final say, Rastus: We, drivers, would have sup- Warning. ported her. the Conductors had to put up with this RW: Is this warning still in force. Manfred: Management said that it was Bully. We hope when the enquiry over the against the industrial relations act to refuse Rastus: Yes it is. Three years has passed tickets is resolves, that he is removed. to work with a person. since the incident occurred and the Con- Finally, what goes around comes around. ductor is still on the final warning. Remember support SPARKS.

Negotiations had begun with a first meet- the agency and promise that all the de- ing. When the negotiations were to con- mands would be dropped. After the phone SWEDEN tinue the company wanted it to happen on call the former Werewolf Legion leader the company premises. said to the union representative that he But a new round of negotiations never was personally considered in debt of half a Monday, July 2 A union representative happened. Instead, six people forced million kronor to the Werewolf Legion from the West Local LS of SAC (Swed- themselves into the union representative’s leader, to be paid within one month other- ish Workers Centre) was beaten and re- apartment at 21 on Monday evening, July wise the union representative would be ceived death threats in his home by 2. The attackers were led by a former top killed. In the apartment were also the un- people linked to the criminal gang member of the criminal gang Werewolf ion representatives wife and children who Werewolf Legion. The background to Legion who is also the brother of the own- were kept locked up in another room dur- the beating and the threat is a labor dis- ers of the agency. ing the assault. pute between members of the union and SAC demands that the police and Minister an agency operating in the hospitality The assailants struck the trade union rep- resentative repeatedly against the head for Labour Hillevi Engstrom takes this de- industry. The union had called the com- velopment seriously and immediately es- pany to negotiate, on two invalid layoffs and demanded that the union withdraw the requests made ??against the agency. With tablishes a program to get the agencies to and wage requirements, and owed holi- follow the rules of labor and Swedish leg- day pay. a knife against his throat the union repre- sentative was forced to call the owner of islation. 9 Rebel Worker

the ex-mayor of Olviedo, paid for new streetlights in his city, the new Palace of Expositions and Congresses and many SPAIN TODAY other projects. Señora Felgeroso, the ex-mayor of Gijon, spent it on the Techni- cal University and other projects. Madrid July 13, 2012 In the Valle de Turon, in the Caudal coal- The Miners March Workers Solidarity Trade Union Confed- field, where I live, there have been 600 eration deaths in the mines (the ones that we know Workers Solidarity Trade Union Confed- about, as in the civil war they burned the eration Press Release previous archives) from 1889 till 2006 when they closed them. Of course they did Yesterday, July 11, the miners protest be- LETTER FROM build a sports centre, which when they fore the Ministry of Industry, Energy and A RETIRED MINER Tourism, was one of the clearest examples opened it didn’t have any toilets and is of the fight for labour rights. The workers practically unused. All around us every- A translation of a letter from a retired in the coalfields of Asturias, Castilla y where there are heaps of rubble, which bit miner from Asturias, where miners have by bit they are trying to clear up. But Leon and Aragon. Workers who are on in- been on indefinite strike for weeks, ex- definite strike for over a month, and who reindustrialization, which is what will cre- plaining the dispute and giving its back- have been deprived of wages agreed upon ate stable work so that there is still life in ground. and signed by the previous government in the region, almost nothing. the National Strategic Reserve Secondly, I am amazed to see Coal, besides being subject to a that lots of people object to European subsidy scheme this subsidy, I didn’t want to agreed until 2018 that ensured write this but there are subsi- the permanence of the subsidy, dies to other sectors like live- but all of a sudden, without stock farming, agriculture, warning or anaesthesia, the cur- fishing and many more. Per- rent government has decided sonally I am happy about that this agreement will be that, I would rather that the nullified. Again using the justi- subsidies went to workers fication of the crisis and seeking than that they went to those to place cuts of 68% on subsi- thieves who rob usevery day. dies, leaving entire families Thirdly, after the end of the without support. On the other civil war, I think that many of hand the government puts for- you don’t know that the min- ward the argument that the im- ers worked an hour a day for port cost of this resource is free for many years, to repair cheaper, but it is well known what Francoism destroyed, that the Spanish state already when in our houses there was imports 80% of energy re- not enough to eat. I’ve worked for twenty five years in the sources, which is why we are the fifth Eu- Four. In 1962 the miners started a strike mines. I first went down the mine when I ropean country in domestic electricity which spread all over Spain, in which we was 18 and I would like to say that I am consumption shortages. won many of the rights that all the Spanish amazed by a lot of comments that I’m people have up till now and which they are This event was supported by a large num- reading about mining and early retirement. trying to snatch away from us. In this strike ber of people, noting that the miners here I’m going to give you my perspective. in Madrid had the support of the working there were many beatings, many people class. And so they did know their path, Firstly the struggle which the miners are imprisoned, and many people who were shouting slogans of support as “Madrid, carrying out at the moment isn’t to ask for exiled to other provinces of Spain, sepa- labour, is supporting the miners”, “Long money. It is that they respect the agree- rated from their families, and who only re- live the struggle of the working class” ... ment that was signed last year between the turned in 1980. Ministry of Industry and the miners’ un - Five. Regarding early retirement, it is a The fight to save the jobs of the miners is ions, and which had subsidies designated a further example, of the confrontation myth that miners can retire at forty and you until 2018. This money was from the Eu- talk about quantities of euros as if we had that pits the government against the work- ropean Community and not from the Span- won the lottery. The reality is different, in ers. The Government “manages” this ish government. It isn’t money that came the payments which people who have re- country based on laws without consensus, from any Spanish people to help us as tired early receive, a part is made up of enforced by an absolute majority achieved many people who are criticising us so their extra payments. We make social se- based on fallacies, making and undoing, much seem to think. and obeying the directives of Europe at curity payments of 50%, so every two face value, for your help to solve the mess Regarding this money what I, like almost years we work, we pay an extra year of so- that politicians and bankers have created. all mining families ask myself is, where is cial security, for example I have worked in An aid as a loan, subject to harsh condi- the part of the money from the Mining the mines for 25 years and I have paid 37 tions, which is not to help citizens but to Funds that was supposedly going to the and a half years of social security pay- help their “little friends” bankers. creation of alternative industries in the ments, how many of you think you have coalfields, after the closure of the mines? made the same level of payments? From Workers Solidarity and we continue Well, like in many other sectors, this Six. You say that the coal they bring from to fight and support for decent working money has been handled by the politicians abroad is cheaper than Spanish coal, I’m conditions and rights acquired through and the unions. With part of this money, years of struggle. for example, Señor Gabino de Lorenzo, 10 Rebel Worker not convinced but taking it as true, do you much effort even to ask others for help. I strongly believe that a worker who de- want to see us working like slaves like in Supporting one another is fundamental, fends their rights is not a terrorist like now other countries? I don’t want any worker but what we do is the opposite and so those they are calling us for fighting to defend anywhere in the world to be a slave. at the top always play with an advantage. the wellbeing of our families. I’m going to write this because it really If all the Spanish workers were as united as I invite you all to leave your houses and de- happened. I’ve worked alongside work- the miners, the rulers of this country would fend what is yours. Staying at home, you mates from Czech Republic and Poland, think long and hard before making the cuts are letting them bit by bit bring hunger into when they came to Asturias and started to they are making now, I can assure you. your lives. buy things in the shops, they were amazed Think about who is really stopping you go- They want our children and yours to be il- because they could buy the amount they ing to work or going to class, with firing literate like us, that we see the walls of the wanted and in their own country schools more from the outside they couldn’t do that. The first than the inside, because an illit- Christmas they spent with us they erate people is more easy to bought a bar of turron (traditional rule. Christmas sweet) in each hand. Keep yourselves informed. We asked them why they did that Question everything you see on and they said in their country they the television, now you have in- couldn’t afford it and their wages ternet, mobiles, you can be in only gave them enough to eat, and permanent contact, organise, in that badly. What I want to say is the way that you want, pacifi- that if we don’t defend our rights cally or directly on the barri- we will suffer the same. cades, but organise! Make Seven. Regarding the roadblocks objectives to achieve quickly as on the motorways I will say to ev- the government moves very eryone who is complaining be- quickly when things are in their cause the miners have made it favour and they know it. difficult to get to work or study Take the word “fear” and the and who say that when they have phrase “for what, it’s not going problems in their company, they people so easy now and the cuts in educa- to change anything” out of your will go to the workplaces of others to “an- tion. The people who are stopping you are minds and take control of your future. noy them”. I will say to them that when- ever other comrades from other industries the politicians. If there is anything you don’t understand came to ask for help do defend their jobs, I would also like to say to the people who in what I’ve written or you want to ask me we stopped work for 24 hours, giving sup- say that we should go to Madrid to the a question about something specific, if I port here and abroad. doors of the Ministry and “leave every- can, I will answer with pleasure. body else in peace”, yes, we have gone In the time of the strikes of the English Many thanks to those who have supported there, but the censorship in the media miners, we stopped work and we made a us from other provinces and from other means maybe they are not giving you all collection to send to them so they could countries. the facts. feed their families. Does anybody doubt Salud that we would unite with any affected Juan Jose Fernandez, Asturias workers? But it seems that now it’s too From Solidarity Federation

across to the Greek Commu- ple’s Republic”. Instead, it is SYRIZA nist Party. The Greek Com- (Coalition of the Radical Left) that has GREEK STEEL munist Party are one of the been hailed as the possible saviour of Eu- few European communist rope, a conglomerate of leftist groups for WORKERS’ STRIKE parties not seduced by so- which the term Left would apply only by a cial-democratic Sirens, still very loose interpretation of the word adhering to the communist whereas the term Radical only serves as an The third world war is coming! —- That’s principles (at least at the rhetorical level) marketing trick, showing once again the what they say! This ain’t gonna be a class and with a consistent presence in the Par- growing gap between signifiers and sig- war either. —— Undoubtedly, Greece is liament. nificants in this post-modern world of the country that has suffered the most dur- One would be tempted to assume that this crumbling meanings. ing this last and totally unrestrained wave situation would turn Greece into a hotbed Just before the second round of elections of liberalization and fierce devaluation of of revolutionary activity. In fact, there are in June, Slavoj Zizek was invited to give a labour which has been sweeping Europe many, especially among the left-wing in- talk at a SYRIZA meeting and as was ex- since the start of the financial crisis in tellectuals from abroad, who seem all too pected, he charmed his audience by em- 2008. At the same time there are a multi- willing to make this assumption, thereby ploying all his usual rhetorical devices. tude of political anti-systemic creating an image of Greece going through When asked about the Communist Party of oppositional forces which have managed a pre-revolutionary stage. Greece, he replied that these people are to maintain a living presence in Greek so- dead but they don’t know it yet. Accusing ciety. Of course this is untrue, and it makes no difference to the people who suffer whilst a pro-Soviet communist party of exhibit- What this looks like is everything from a academics dream of revolutions on foreign ing the stiffness of a dead body might of widespread network of anarchist/autono- horizons. What is even more striking course sound like preaching to the con- mous groups of various flavours, growing though is that none of the above mentioned verted. However, doing so among a bunch in numbers after the 2008 December riots groups has gathered much attention during to the network for Inclusive Democracy this imaginary creation of the “Greek Peo- 11 Rebel Worker of social democrats who have failed to Euro for a newly hired, inexperienced have suggested to the company that only sense the stinking odour of the rotting worker and goes up to no more than 1500 40 of them should be hired immediately body of Social Democracy sounds like a for a worker with decades of experience, and the rest can return to their jobs gradu- twisted Monty Python joke. working overtime, during weekends and ally. Back to basics on night-shifts. A walk among the ruins of the unions A few kilometres away from this SYRIZA Faced with this dilemma, the 400 workers The current stalemate situation deserves a meeting, in an industrial suburb of the at the Athens site decided to respond in closer look since, in certain respects, it greater area of Athens, about 400 steel their own way and after a general assem- epitomizes all the contradictions that workers were into the seventh month of bly they voted for a strike which nobody plague the unions, their structure and the their strike. These are workers who have to believed would last that long. The atro- means they employ for their struggle (as- work in dangerous conditions such as phied major unions (GSEE for those work- suming of course that their goal is to fight amongst molten streams of steel which ing in the private sector and ADEDY for for the interests of the workers, an assump- sometimes might find its way on their bod- those in the public sector) have made a tion not at all self-evident). What has al- ies. If they are lucky, they might get away habit of calling for strikes which almost al- lowed the steel workers to keep their fight with some burns. If they are not, they sim- ways have a more or less symbolic charac- goingformorethan8monthsnowisasub- ply die. They were running one of the lon- ter, lasting no more than 24 or 48 hours. stantial wave of solidarity and (material gest strikes in modern Greek history which However, this time the workers assembly and financial) support that they have re- ceived from various groups and individu- als, even from other countries. On the other hand, the company has managed to survive the strike due to the fact that the workers’ representatives at the Thessaly site chose to answer the dilemma posed by the company’s management by accepting lower wages and reduced work hours. Anyone can guess the outcome of this struggle, in case there’s no further escala- tion on the part of the workers. The com- pany, considered to be the spearhead of changes in the Industry which attempt to lower labour costs, will probably have the final say. An important difference between the two sites: in Thessaly, the workers society is led by groups affiliated with the ruling par- ties in Greece (New Democracy and PASOK) whereas in Athens its president is a member of PAME, a union organiza- tion with links to the Greek Communist Party. Therefore, an obvious explanation mainstream media had carefully chosen showed an unusual determination which for the division among the workers at the not to cover. Needless to say, Slavoj didn’t of course forced the company manage- two sites is that the ones in Thessaly are bother to pay them a visit. ment to take the offensive and soon after- represented by corrupt unionists with in- terests identified more with those of their Before the start of the financial crisis, the wards the first layoffs were announced. 38 bosses than those of the workers they are Greek Steel Industry was considered to be people were initially fired, a practice that supposed to represent whereas the ones in one of the largest Greek industries in terms the managers kept escalating as the work- Athens have managed to attain a pure of sales among those that were not in the ers showed no signs of submission. At the working class consciousness. Of course stock exchange market. Comprising of time that this article is being written, this that is an oversimplified analysis, the truth two sites, one in Athens and another one in number has risen to 120 fired workers. Be- is however, much more complex. A few Thessaly, a region about 300 kilometres to sides these sackings, the company has words about the structure of the unions in the north of Athens, it had a revenue of made use of a number of other aggressive Greece are necessary at this point. more than €320 million, employing almost tactics, from using strike-breakers to split Compared to the charade of the general 1000 workers. Its actual production had the workers to arresting the president of elections in the so-called states of repre- risen during the past 20 years to about 1 their assembly and even bringing the case sentative democracy, the situation in the million tons of steel per year and it kept ris to court which ruled the strike as illegal. A - unions, over which the workers should in ing at the time that the strike began. host of establishment journalists didn’t theory have more control, has come to a In October 2011 the company announced miss the chance to follow suit once again, demanding that the government be firm in level of almost surrealist absurdity. In the to the workers that it faced financial diffi- last round of elections in Greece, a country culties, i.e. a significant reduction of sales enforcing the law and bring things back to normality so that the company’s problems with traditionally high percentages of par- since the start of the crisis and presented ticipation in elections, almost 40% of the them with a choice. In order to cut down could be discussed in a “rational”, “re- sponsible” and “civilized” way. At pres- electorate chose not to vote at all (not in- costs, they would either have to accept a cluding all the immigrants without any five-hour workday, accompanied by a re- ent, the company does not seem willing to step back from its initial decision, even electoral rights). According to a study, duction of their wages by 40% or 180 of 52% of the Greek workers say that work- them would be fired. In order to see this di- though a number of workers no longer wish to be hired again and the rest of them ers assemblies do not even exist at their lemma in its true perspective, it is worth workplaces. It is estimated that almost noting that the monthly wage starts at 900 75% of the workers do not belong to any 12 Rebel Worker unions at all. As if this number did not movement and struggle over which it has the workers can make their voices be heard sound scary enough, try adding the hun- failed to gain absolute dominance while and their presence be felt again in a truly dreds of thousands of unemployed. And being very efficient at containing what- antagonistic manner only if they burn the then add all the illegally employed. What ever it leads at very manageable levels. bridges than still link them with the exist- about the temporarily employed? The net result of all these machinations ing unions and start building their own or- On top of this, the overwhelming majority amounts to nothing more than the appro- ganizations again, irrespective of whether (more than 90% !!) of the members of the priation of workers’ power by the profes- this move might be declared as illegal. Or- executive boards of GSEE and ADEDY sional unionists at the top into leadership ganizations without all these levels of me- work for the public sector whose workers positions who have no problem becoming diation and at the same time less divided are protected by more safety nets (e.g. un- full-time professional politicians after ex- which should accommodate not only those til very recently public servants could not hausting all the options of climbing up the with permanent jobs but also the masses of be fired). What is more important though Union ladder. It’s sad to think that this the unemployed or precariously em- is that this striking imbalance reflects the happened through a slow and gradual pro- ployed. Organizations that should respond very structure of the Greek state itself (and cess of self-mutilation which a large part not only reactively and defensively, with therefore Greek capitalism) which has of the working class experienced in an al- strikes and negotiations, but also been built upon the selective “donation” of most masochistic daze of perverted plea- proactively, by building international (if benefits among several special interest sure, accompanied by the administration possible, given the international nature of groups within the public sector resembling of the “morphine” of loans, mortgages and the current “war”) networks of (material) in certain respects the tribal divisions in the dream of someday moving up to a mid- support that should be automatically acti- countries of the periphery where capital- dle-class status, back in the not so distant vated in cases like those of the steel work- ism has been forcefully imposed upon het- days of easy money. This works so long as ers who had to depend on the goodwill of erogeneous populations. Needless to say, a significant part of those at the bottom of their supporters. this is a poisonous situation that gives rise the hierarchy could maintain a lifestyle of Furthermore, if one understands the cur- to fierce conflicts by essentially turning reliable (i.e. zombified) consumers by em- rent situation as we do, i.e. that the time of these dependent groups into beggars of the ploying the usual exorcism rituals of con- compromises is over, then the next logical great Father figure of the state and compet- demning the union elites as corrupt before step is to move towards more radical de- itors for its benefits. going to the next electronics store to buy fence tactics and even take the offensive. Another factor that has alienated workers the latest gadget. Once again, the most vul- We may find one such example in Greece from the unions over the past decades can nerable part of the working class finds it- again. Since May 2011, the management be traced to their internal organization. As self in a state of paralyzing division and of the Industrial Mining company in has already been mentioned, the very first almost complete helplessness. In this per- Thessaloniki (about 500 kilometres north division among workers is introduced by spective, one may have a better under- of Athens) has stopped paying its employ- the existence of two completely separate standing of the deadlock situation of the ees, again due to financial difficulties. Af- high-level organizations, one for the pub- steel workers, a Gordian knot becoming ter months of negotiations and lic servants and another one for those tighter and tighter each time they (or any- unemployment, the general assembly of working at the private sector. These one else in position similar to theirs) at- the workers reached the following deci- so-called third-level organizations cover tempt to pull on the rope. sion. The workers should take over the the entire geographical area in Greece and In search of alternatives company and start running it on their own are led by their respective boards whose From our point of view, it is obvious that by dividing the shares equally among members are elected among several the raison d’être of the unions, as they are themselves. No wonder the Confederation groups with links to the established politi- today, has ceased to exist. Now that the of Industry Workers was hostile to this ac- cal parties, a process not dissimilar to the European capitalist forces attempt to re- tion. You guessed right. It is led by repre- one for the parliamentary elections. Below structure the European economic zone in sentatives affiliated with the ruling parties. them, at the second level, there exist the order to make it more competitive and It is no secret that this kind of workers co- confederations, divided according to geo- catch up with the rest of the existing or operatives may very well turn into fully as- graphical area or type of work and at the emerging economic superpowers, they similated capitalist companies if they try base of this hierarchical structure one finds have no intention of making any compro- to move towards production on a mass the first-level societies, attached usually to mises when it comes to lowering labour scale while struggling to survive in the ex- a specific business or company. As is evi- costs. For them, within their own political isting environment. However, we need to dent, this structure essentially reproduces framework, it is a matter of life or death. start discovering those few threads that the same pathological (and pathetic) situa- The time of the welfare state is over and no can loosen up the Gordian knot while pre- tion to be found in the centre of the politi- return to obsolete forms of Keynesianism paring the sword that will cut through it. cal scene by introducing multiple vertical or Social Democracy is possible. The Un- UPDATE 1: After this article was written, and horizontal dividing lines of mediation ions, as distributors of “benefits” to and the few news media that cover the strike of and representation. pacifiers of the workers, will probably dis- the steel workers have reported that the The above mentioned communist PAME, cover, sooner or later, that they have not company’s management is taking all the established in 1999, has tried to create a only become useless for the workers but necessary legal steps to completely shut separate and parallel structure, condemn- that the ruling elites as well have no use for down the Athens site. ing the leaders of GSEE and ADEDY as them. UPDATE 2: In the early morning hours of traitors of the working class. At the same It is therefore imperative that new forms of July 20, the riot police was called in to time however, it participates in all of their resistance are developed before it is too force the strikers out of the factory so that proceedings and elections without ever at- late (if it isn’t already). Without going into it can resume its operation. A week after, tempting to completely disengage itself a very thorough analysis, there are certain the workers’ assembly announced that the from them whereas being very selective steps that the workers can take, if they are strike was over. about whom it chooses to support. Closely to have any chance of surviving the on- GUEST WRITER: Elias following the steps of the Greek Commu- slaught that is about to hit them (what Thanks to Worker Solidarity Movement/ nist Party, it keeps its distance from every we’ve seen is just foreplay). No matter Anarkismo how hard or unthinkable this might seem, 13 Rebel Worker

hoods will be socially creased, it soon become clear that this was cleansed and gentrified, not happening. Workers taken on under taxes will be jacked up workfare were not made permanent; Britain Today to pay for it all, and all rather, once their time under the scheme the security devices and was finished, companies simply got rid of cameras installed will them and recruited a new set of workers stay in place. from Workfare. After all why pay workers Olympic Fortress Looms The Games are not about sport. They are when you can get them for free!!! Over London about commercialised patriotism, brand Further it soon become apparent that the placement, and profiteering for estate Workfare scheme was actually increasing agents and landlords. They are there to unemployment. Rather than fill new va- Residents in Tower Hamlets were hor- boost the push towards neo-liberalism, to cancies with paid workers companies be- rified when they learnt that surface to destroy our working class neighbour- gan to take on unpaid workers under the air missiles were to be positioned on a hoods, to boost the power of a state that is Workfare scheme. There is also the con- tower on their site, the old Bryant and increasingly a police state. Who is the en- cern that employers will begin to make May match factory buildings. As a re- emy in this New Britain? It’s us, the major- workers redundant and replace them with sult a campaign had been set up to op- ity of the population! unpaid workers recruited under Workfare. pose the missile installations, formed by Thanks to Resistance Bulletin Coupled to this is the reality that having a local residents and supporters (for large pool of workers being forced to work more information visit for nothing acts as downward pressure on http://stoptheolympicmissiles.wordpre Workfare Struggle wages as a whole. Fear of being replaced ss.com/). by an unpaid worker puts pressure on But the positioning of missiles here and The Government in Britain has introduced workersnot todemanda pay rise. Thisco- elsewhere is only part of the story. As a programme of savage welfare cuts. The mes at time when the real value of workers many as 48,000 security forces will be de- cuts are part of a broad government offen- pay in Britain is declining at a rate not seen ployed in London, in addition to 13,500 sive on worker’s living conditions with at- since the 1930s depression. It is important troops – more soldiers than the British tacks on a whole range of benefits. The to understand then that Workfare affects Army have stationed in Afghanistan. A government’s programme of cuts is not the whole of the working class not just un- sonic weapon designed to disperse crowds just about reducing the amount the state employed. by administering “head splitting pain” is in spends on welfare, the aims is also to force Since the workfare scheme was first an- readiness. Unmanned drones will be pa- nounced there has been a trolling the skies over London. An air- general campaign against craft carrier will be anchored nearby on Workfare which the Solidar- the Thames in addition to other war- ships. A “safe zone” will be put in place ity Federation has sup- ported. But we felt that surrounded by eleven miles of electri- campaign to a degree lacked fied fence, and patrolled by 55 security teams with attack dogs. This is not North direction. There was also the concern that it was to politi- Korea or the Soviet Union but London cal in the sense that it fo today - during the Olympics in Peking, - cused too much on putting not even the Chinese government put up pressure on the government such a fence or drone planes. to drop Workfare. At the be- The 2006 Olympic Games Act means ginning of 2012 the Solidar- that not only the police and armed ity Federation decided to forces, but also private security forces, launch a more economically can use physical force to “protect the orientated campaign that Olympics”. This covers anything from would use the tactic of direct demonstrations and strikes, to the sale of action to confront the com- bootleg Olympic products on the street panies who were actually that are not officially approved. “Brand making increased profits out protection teams” will patrol inside the the unemployed into taking jobs paying of the Workfare scheme. Games to make sure that only clothes or lower and lower wages which in turn drags Our strategy was to pick a specific com- accessories with officially approved com- down the wages of all workers. —- As part pany and then target them with coordi- mercial messages can be worn. of the cuts programme the Government in- nated nationwide pickets, In addition people congregating on the troduced the so called “Workfare” scheme communications blockades etc until they street, a normal occurrence particularly in under which the unemployed are forced to dropped out of the Workfare programme. summer months, will be harassed, in par- work for free for up to 6 months or face We would then move onto another com- ticular local working class youth. This is having their benefits stopped with no guar- pany and repeat the process. The hope is already happening, with increased surveil- antee of a permanent job at the end. Nee- that we can force increasing numbers of lance and harassment in the boroughs bor- dles to say companies were quick to take companies to drop out creating a domino dering the Olympics. Rough sleepers are advantage of what amounted to free labour effect that will totally undermine and dis- to be removed; in fact the police can re- and began taking on an increasing num- credit the government’s Workfare move anyone “deemed in any way to be bers of people under the Workfare scheme. causing a nuisance”. scheme. By having a more focused campaign, di- What’s more, there is no sign that this will The government claimed that the rected at one company at a time, based on disappear with the end of the Olympics. Workfare would help unemployed find direct action, the Solidarity Federation The police will end up more tooled-up and permanent jobs but as the number of peo- hoped to also draw in other groups and in- arrogant than before, whole neighbour- ple driven into working for nothing in- dividuals. 14 Rebel Worker

The first company we decided to target for After March 31st the Solidarity Federation of bad publicity. The Solidarity Federa- the campaign against Workfare was a kept up the campaign with regular pickets tion now hopes to build on this success of company called Holland and Barrett. This of Holland & Barrett shops. This constant Holland & Barrett by now moving on to company sells heath products and has picketing put real pressure on Holland & target another company. There has been shops in most towns and cities across Brit- Barrett, a company that tries to brand itself some discussion about targeting Pizza Hut ain. We chose Holland and Barrett be- as “ethical and caring” on the basis that a company with a nationwide chain of out- cause of the extend they planned to make they sell heath products. As a result of the lets. But when the Solidarity Federation use of the Workfare scheme. At the begin- campaign the company received numer- approached the company they responded ning of 2012 Holland and Barrett had an- ous complaints about their use of by stating that they are no longer use the nounced that they were to take on 1000 Workfare from angry shoppers with cus- governments workfare scheme, a claim unpaid worker under the Workfare tomers regularly bombarding their Twitter the Solidarity Federation is now investi- scheme. With a workforce of only around and Face book accounts with complaints. gating. 3,500 people this would have amounted to The sustained pressure eventually proved If it proves true the SF will move on to tar- almost a quarter of their staff on too much and on July 5th Holland & get another company. In the meantime the Workfare!! Barrett declared a u-turn, their official face Solidarity Federation will continue to sup- It was decided to launch the campaign book page announcing that: “the people port the growing campaign against the against Workfare as part of the IWA Days currently undertaking the work experience Workfare until the scheme is scrapped and of Action that took place in March earlier scheme will be the last to complete the companies can no longer treat workers as this year. The plan was to leaflet workers eight week placement. After this time Hol- unpaid slave labour. on the two days prior to holding a nation- land & Barrett will not participate further wide picket of Holland and Barrett shops in that scheme.” Holland & Barrett now www.iwa-ait.org on the March 31st. The day of action intends to replace unpaid Workfare jobs proved to be a tremendous success with with a salaried apprentice scheme. Solidarity Federation - anarcho-syndicalist pickets of Holland & Barrett and other This announcement is another blow to the companies using the workfare scheme tak- government Workfare scheme already un- ing place in over 20 town and cities across der pressure Britain. The pickets were not only sup- as an increasing number of companies re- ported by other anarchist but also claim- fuses to participate in the scheme for fear ants and anti-cuts groups. BOOK REVIEW CORNER

Maurizio Antonioli (ed.), The International Anarchist Congress, press, the Russian Revolution (of 1905), trade unionism and the general strike, an- Amsterdam 1907 (Black Cat Press) archism and trade union movements in Ar- gentina, anarchism and antimilitarism, the This 280 page book is based upon a The book “The International Anarchist education of children, alcoholism, produc- pamphlet that was published some Congress, Amsterdam 1907” consists of tive c-operatives, the Esperanto language years ago in the series “Studies for a separate chapters on the six days of the du- and others. (Note that in most of these is- Libertarian Alternative” in ration the Congress. The sues the Congress adopted and issued re- English (and which is also editors of the book focus spective Resolutions). available online) by the Ital- on the presentations and Also in the book, several texts, reports on ian Federazione dei positions of the the activities of anarchists and other docu- Comunisti Anarchici (FdCA key-participants and ments were published especially on Rus- – Federation of Communist points of the dialogue sia and the Russian Revolution of 1905, Anarchists). that developed on each that had been submitted to Congress. This book is largely the work of separate issue that was This Congress was held between 26-31 historian Maurizio Antonioli, presented to the Con- August in 1907, at the Plancius Hall in who is professor of Contempo- gress. The subjects were Amsterdam. This year is close to 105 years rary History in the Faculty of on many and diverse is- since this important Congress for the in- Political Science, University of sues such as participa- ternational anarchist movement. Milan. We should note here that tion in an antimilitarist In the previous (of this) Anarchist Confer- Maurizio Antonioli has pub- Conference that was ence that was held in London in 1881, an lished several studies on the held on the same days in attempt was made for reconstituting the history of the Italian labour Amsterdam, reports on old First International, but then com- movement, especially on the the state of the anarchist menced the period known as “anarchist history and struggles of the movement in a series of terrorism” (propaganda by the deed), dur- Federation of Metal Workers and Labour countries from which ing which the anarchist movement disre- Centres (Camere del Lavoro) of Milan and delegates came from (Belgium, Bohemia, garded the toiling masses. Holland, Romania, U.S.A., Austria, Ger- Lombardy regions. During the period between 1881 and 1907 many, Russia, Serbia, Italy, England), an- The translator and general editor of the several dramatic changes in the labour archism and organisation (which lasted publication is Nestor MacNab, amongst movement took place. This time, how- the entire second day of the Congress party things, he is a member of the FdCA and the ever, anarchist activity was entirely out- and the third), the Anarchist International, editorial collective of www.anarkismo.net side the realm of the working class, though anarchism and syndicalism, the anarchist 15 Rebel Worker some few comrades remained by the side anarchists, and the relationship between In this book, apart from the report of the of the workers. When the anarchist move- the specific anarchist organizations and six day debate during the conference, the ment at some point realised that it had to the mass labour organisations. How would Resolutions and the Annexes, there is also put an end to this isolation, the result was these organisations interact with each a brief prologue by the translator in Eng- to convene the International Congress in other? Had the anarchists to participate in lish and editor Nestor MacNab, and fol- Amsterdam. This congress was to be a fo- workplace struggles as members of politi- lows a fairly thorough introduction rum to discuss the most important issues cal organizations? entitled “Anarchism and Trade Unionism” of the day: the attitude of anarchists to the In this Congress, some important figures by Maurizio Antonioli, with a quite useful (then) new phenomenon of syndicalism of the international anarchist movement of compilation of the reports of the Congress and the question of anarchist organisation. the era participated, such as Christian in the pages and columns of anarchist During the Congress, the delegates dealt Cornelissen, Errico Malatesta, Luigi newspapers, magazines and other publica- seriously with a number of key issues af- Fabbri, Emma Goldman, Aristide tions of this time. fecting the international anarchist move- Ceccarelli, Thomas Keel, Karl Walter, Today, more than a century later, the dif- ment of the era. Like the always thorny Nikolai Rogdaev, S. Velev, Pierre ferent positions and views of anarchist issue of organisation and work in the trade Monatte, Amedee Dunois and several oth- militants and organisations presented in union movement, the issue of the general ers from countries such as Holland, Italy, the book have lost none of their contro- strike and various others, including the Germany, U.S.A., Argentina, England, versy and continue to be key points of de- possibility of setting up a new Anarchist Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia, Bel- parture for all those today facing similar International organisation. gium, France and Bohemia. situations and dilemmas regarding the As we said previously, those years were In the introduction of the book «Dibattito same top-down issues and problems. This the time when anarchists finally realised sul sindacalismo: Atti del Congresso book on the International Anarchist Con- that propaganda by the deed does not lead Internazionale anarchico di Amsterdam gress of Amsterdam of 1907 with its re- anywhere and decided to return to their (1907)» (published in Italian in 1978), his- ports of various debates is of invaluable roots in the labour movement from which torian of the working class movement, historical importance to contemporary an- the anarchist movement was born, i.e. Maurizio Antonioli, examines the process archist militants. years of Mikhail Bakunin and the First In- that led to the Amsterdam Congress and its Finally we want to note that the book was ternational in the mid 19th Century. So, importance for the labour and anarchist published by Black Cat Press based in Ed- then, it was natural that of all those issues movements of the time. Thereafter, monton, Alberta in Canada and everyone discussed in this Congress, the most con- Antonioli lists the various references in who wants to buy it or to have more infor- troversial and important ones were the fu- anarchist literature of his time to the Con- mation, you can visit their website at ture development of the anarchist gress, creating the most comprehensive http://www.blackcatpress.ca movement, the question of organisation work on this important event, and cites the and the issue of the then, new trade and la- whole debate that lasted six days. Dimitris Troaditis bour movements that emerged every- where and compared with those of the by the title—Fragments of an Anarchist A FEATURE REVIEW by Graham Purchase Anthropology—the text consists of a se- ries of fragmented passages and single paragraphs addressing a wide variety of Continued from last edition plore how modern anthropological knowl- themes. It is somewhat left to the reader to edge and theory can inform or compliment join the dots. contemporary politically radical or activ- Against Primitivism and Modern- Part 2 Academic Anthropology, ist groups and, specifically organizational ism: Anarchism and Activism practices, ideas and processes elaborated Scott’s and Graeber’ anthropology ex- or employed within and between the plore ethnogenic eruptions and flux. Eth- Fragments of an Anarchist Anthropol- groups that constituted the nic history is a process of continual ogy By David Graeber, Chicago, anti-capitalist/globalist demonstration ethno-speciation involving the generation Prickly Paradigm Press 2004 movements around the turn of the 21st or consolidation of a multiplicity of new Century. and often intentionally chosen identities The Yale School of Anarchist Scott’s study is long, serious and consis- whilst old identities over time evolve or tently extremely well written. It is very Anthropology? adapt through division, merger or incor- substantial, perhaps a monumental work poration of one another’s ideas, territo- of world class scholarship. Whilst one ries, practices and identities. Both authors There is considerable overlap of theoreti- should allow a couple of months to read invoke this empirical process of cal interests and viewpoints between Scott and digest Scott’s book Graeber’s can be Ethnogenesis in their outright dismissal and Graeber, presumably because both ac- read in a couple of days. Graeber’s little of Primitivism. Contemporary primitiv- ademics were engaged as Yale University study is an intentionally unpretentious ism is based upon empirically and con- Anthropology professors whilst research- and not always entirely serious exercise in ceptually false models of ing and preparing these works. It is of letting of some steam and throwing around social-technological development. Primi- some note that two senior anthropologists a few ideas about anarchism, activism and tivism rests upon the notions that cultural from an elite USA College conduct re- anthropology in the academy. Conse- evolution is causally related or can be search into the dynamics of anarchist so- quently the philosophical quality and equated with certain levels or stages of cial organization. But, whilst Scott only depth of this short, insubstantial, sketchy technological or class development and uses the term anarchism in the title of his and disjointed pamphlet is very uneven consequently remnant indigenous group- book and makes it clear that his analysis is and, occasionally some of the ideas silly, ings may be viewed as being, or have of relevant only up until the second world sloppy or simply half-baked. As suggested recently being, representative of ‘primi- war period Graeber, has attempted to ex- 16 Rebel Worker tive’ or ‘stone-age’ society. The idea of a than timeless groups living for thousands granted that the main social problems in linear progression of civilization begin- of years in their ancestral territories, new our ‘modern’ society revolve around race, ning with stone-age society and technol- groups were being created, and old ones class and gender. In other words, precisely ogy and moving through the iron Age, dissolve, all the time. Many of what we form the nature of our kinship system.” bronze Age etc is false, unhelpful, mis- have come to think of as tribes or nations, “Most Americans see the world as divided leading and event racist in anthropology or ethnic groups were originally collective into “races”. It means they believe that it is (but valid with qualification in archaeol- projects of some sort. In the Tsimihety divided into groups which are presumed to ogy). Sophisticated societies have existed case we are talking about a revolutionary share a common decent and geographical with only the simplest of technologies. project…a conscious rejection of certain origin, who for this reason are seen as dif- Thirty thousand year old rock paintings forms of overarching political power and a ferent “kinds” of people, that this idea is (such as those in France) can be as paint- reorganization of the way they deal with usually expressed through physical idioms erly as Picasso. Scott concludes that arche- one another on an everyday basis” (p.56). of blood and skin and that the resulting ology of the hill peoples of S.E. Asia Like Graeber, Scott concludes that some system regulates sex, marriage and the in- “suggests widespread craft specialization non-state peoples were also consciously heritance of property and therefore creates and complexity, but in a context that ap- anti-state peoples: “Upland societies, far and maintains social inequalities. We are pears politically decentralized and rela- from being the original, primal “stuff” talking about something very much like a tively egalitarian (suggested by a rough from which states and ‘civilizations’ were classic clan system, except on a global equality in “grave goods”) consistent with crafted are rather, largely a reflexive prod- scale” (p.51-2). what some archeologists have called uct of state making” (p.327). “Virtually all In Sydney prisoners will divide them- “heterarchy”: social and economic com- hill societies exhibit a range of selves into various socially accepted or plexity without unified, hierarchical rank- state-evading behavior but [in some cases] perceived racial categories: aboriginal, ing” (p.325-6). this is coupled with practices that might be white, islander, asian/maori. Go into any Graeber compares the differences and dy- termed the ‘prevention of internal college refectory in South Australia and namic interplay between Madagascan state-making’. Relatively acephalous watch how the students divide themselves peoples to illustrate the process of groups with strong tradition of equality into Anglo, Greek and Italian sections. ethnogenesis. The Tsimihety were those and sanctions against permanent hierar- Graeber is right to point out that despite all people “who refused the authority of the chy, such as the Akha, Lahu, Lisu and Wa, the multi-cultural rhetoric of gobalism and Sakalava monarchy and to this day are seem to belong to this category” (p.331). modernism humanity still thinks in much marked by resolutely egalitarian social or- Graeber further undermines “Primitiv- the way it always has and there is nothing ganization and practices” The Tsimihety, ism” by debunking the equally suspect no- that “makes us so special”. The primitive Graeber observes, chose to take flight tion of “Modernism”: is not something to which we can contem- from statism and authoritarianism; forging “It is common to distinguish between what plate some return because: it is only “arro- an “identity emerging” as an intentional are called ‘kinship-based societies’ often gant, unreflecting assumptions telling us “political project…to live in a society free called ‘primitive’ and, modern ones which we have nothing in common with 98% of of markers of hierarchy” (p.54-55). are assumed to be in no way like our own. people who ever lived” (p.47) “The ethnogenesis literature is a fairly new But then the exact same people who make To be Continued one, but is becoming increasingly clear this argument will usually take it for that most of human history was character- ized by continual social change. Rather

structure was useless, he asked why we couldn’t put people into positions with the Debate on “Boring-From-Within” specific aim of using them to change the structure. As I have already alluded, this idea within the libertarian movement is called bor- Phil Dickens on Libcom internet discus- I was inspired to write on this subject by a ing-from-within, an idea articulated by the sion board critiques the “boring from conversation with another rep within my now-defunct Workers Solidarity Federa- within” union strategy advocated by workplace. They aren’t, or certainly don’t tion of South Africa in Unions and Revolu- various left groups. identify as, an anarchist. However, they tion; I’ve written a number of pieces now on an- have agreed with a lot of the ideas that I We must do two things if we want the un- archist activity within the trade union have articulated on workplace organisa- ions to play a revolutionary role. First, get movement. In particular, I’d point to Trade tion – in particular the need to build from rid of the union bureaucracy and make sure unions, worker militancy, and commu- the ground so that workers as a mass can that the unions are controlled by the mem- nism from below, What is take control of their own struggles from bership. Second, win the union member- anarcho-syndicalism: revolutionary the union bureaucracy. Where the differ- ship over to Anarchist- Syndicalist ideas. unionism, Anarcho-syndicalism and the ences came was in the attitude to the exist- ing bureaucracy. In particular, to the We must work within the existing unions limits of trade unionism, and my most re- to achieve these goals. All unions are cent post on Building the rank-and-file. executive committees which make deci- sions on the direction of the union and its workers combat units. Leaving the main- However, these have all focused primarily stream unions to form new “pure” revolu- on the difference between bottom-up and response to decisions made by the bosses, largely in isolation from the will of the tionary unions has serious consequences. top-down workers organisation. Here, I’d It withdraws militants from the unions, like to look at differences in approach be- rank-and-file. Agreeing with me that sim- ply putting different faces into the existing leaving them at the mercy of bureaucrats tween those who advocate mass-led or- and reformists. It isolates militants in tiny ganisation – in particular the notion of splinter unions because the masses prefer “boring-from-within.” to join large, established unions. Small groups of revolutionaries working inside 17 Rebel Worker established unions can achieve impressive (f) All strikes to be automatically made of- Does this change if you enter the role with results. For example, the main French ficial as long as they do not contradict the specific aim of supporting (CGT) and Argentinean (FORA) union trade union principles. rank-and-file organisation and transform- federations were won over to Anar- (g) Support for all disputes, official or un- ing a trade union into a revolutionary one? chist-Syndicalism in this way in the early official, in pursuit of higher wages, better To a degree, perhaps. After all, you will be twentieth century. conditions, jobs, trade union principles or far more conscious of the pressures that At this point, the idea isn’t distinct from any issue in the interest of the class. the role will place on you and arguably that prevailing within the Solidarity Fed- (h) For the publication of minutes of all better equipped to address them. eration in Britain, whose industrial strat- union meetings. However, in practice we see that this egy argues that “workers will still be likely (i) Where revolutionaries can gain enough awareness doesn’t help you to fare any to hold union cards here to avoid splits in support to win election to national better. As Joseph Kay wrote in Thinking the workplace between union members officerships in large unions, or indeed about unions: association and representa- and non-union members.” small ones, this support should not be used tion, “the problem is highlighted by the However, it is beyond this point where the to merely elect a candidate. Instead it number of modern day bureaucratic un- two strategies differ. Whilst Solfed argue should be used to fundamentally change ions with radical syndicalist origins (of for building up “an alternative structure to thestructure of theunion in such a way as which the French CGT, founded under official union structures that are domi- to return power to the membership and large anarchist influence is the most obvi- nated by full-time bureaucrats,” the bor- turn the officers into administrators and re- ous example).” It was Buenaventura ing-from-within approach source people Durruti who rebuked the CNT during the involved attempting to directly rather than decision civil war for seeking to “get the CNT transform the existing structures makers. legalised and alleviate the repression,” be- cause “bureaucratisation and subsequent in order to democratise and This relates to the de-bureaucratise the union. mediation was a result of taking on a repre- strategy argued for sentative role.” In its position paper on trade un- by my fellow rep at ions, the Irish Workers Solidarity work. Yes, we JK cites the Direct Action Movement Movement lays out the strategy should be organis- pamphlet Winning the class war; for transformation in some detail; ing at a Of all the areas that the unions seek to have 7.3 No WSM member will accept rank-and-file, influence in by far the most important is its any unelected position that en- building mass par- dealing with management, for it is from tails having power over the mem- ticipation and forc- this area that all their power flows. They bership. ing a culture shift must retain the right to negotiate wages 7.4 Members elected as shop when it came to de- and conditions with management. It is by stewards consider their position as that of a cision-making and to taking action. But having the power to negotiate on behalf of delegate rather than that of a ‘representa- why could we not compliment that by try- workers that they retain their influence tive’ who can act over the heads of the ing to put people into place on the Group within the workplace and ultimately at- members. and National Executive Committees who tract and retain members. In turn it is hav- would support this and could help remove ing that control and influence in the 7.5 When going forward for elective posi- workplace that they are of use to the boss tions we make it clear that we are not ac- any potential barriers that might arise? On the face of it, this is a compelling argu- class. The unions offer stability in the cepting the structure as it now exists. We workplace, they channel workers anger, will fight for more accountability, ment. Building from the ground, almost from scratch, is not an easy task to contem- shape and influence their demands and, if mandation, information for members, etc. need be, act to police the workforce. 7.6.5 UNION DEMOCRACY plate. Surely, there’s no harm in using the existing structures where you can, and It is for this reason that the CNT now con- (a) We fight to change the role of the making sure that you have people within sciously spurn representative functions, full-time officials – not to change the indi- them who are willing to step back from arguing against “giving your ‘representa- viduals who occupy the positions. Their them when the time is ripe to put the new tives’ the power to sign and negotiate for decision-making powers have to be re- structures into practice? you” as “you and only you, are representa- moved and returned to the rank & file However, the question here is – if such a tive. When you take in your hands your membership. They should be elected and problems, you gain representation.“ paid no more than the average wage of the thing is possible – then why does it not fol- low that you can simply replace the exist- It is not difficult to see how this works in people they represent. They should only practice. serve for a fixed period of no more than ing leadership with a more militant and five years after which they return to ordi- “left” one, and see things change that way? If you are a delegate, directly accountable nary work. The unions will have to win the The answer, as those who argue for the to the membership, it is very difficult in- demand for jobs to be kept open in order above strategy would broadly agree, is the deed to stray. You are there to voice the de- for this to be realistic. fundamental nature of the trade union bu- mands of the workers, and their response reaucracy. As the WSM themselves state, to offers made, with no capacity for inde- (b) All officials to be subject to mandation pendent decision making. If you violate and recall. “no matter how radical or left-wing [the leadership] are at the beginning, their role that mandate, you can be instantly re- (c) We are totally opposed to the ICTU sucks them into the business of concilia- called. (Irish ACTU) “two tier” picket. tion.” More explicitly, “if they are to have By contrast, a representative has been (d) For regular branch and workplace anything to bargain with at the negotiation mandated by their election with deci- meetings, in working hours where this is table,” then ” the union official has to sell sion-making power, and is part of a key possible. the employer labour discipline and free- body with responsibility for negotiation in (e) For direct elections to all committees, dom from unofficial strikes as part of its the manner described above. Even if they conference delegations and national side of the bargain.” Hence their role as are put forward as a candidate by a group officerships, subject to mandation and re- “keepers of industrial peace.” to whom they consider call. themselves answerable, See Page 20 18 Rebel Worker

building workers. A tilers’ youth group was set up and this contributed to the Carl Windhoff 1872-1941 German founding of the Anarchist Syndicalist Youth (SAJD) in the region. Syndicalist Militant Windhoff became the head of the agita- tion committee of the FAUD in 1922. He was also active in the International A short biography of Carl Windhoff, FVdG had about 8,000 members and stood Federation of Construction Workers German anarchist, FAUD (Free for class struggle and anti-militarism in (Syndicalist) the industry-specific coun- Workers Union of Germany - opposition to the class collaboration and terpart of the International Workers Asso- syndicalist union) organiser and tiller. jingoism of the General Commission un- ciation (IWA). He spoke at the IWA Carl Windhoff was born on 9th November ions.In 1913, Fritz Kater, Karl Roche, and Congress in Madrid in 1931. 1872 in Düsseldorf. He became interests he were the FVdG’s delegates at the First International Syndicalist By 1930 with working class demobilisa- Congress in London. tion and the effects of the economic crisis FAUD membership in Düsseldorf had de- After World War I, Windhoff creased to 234. Windhoff was dismissed was one of the leaders of the from his job in the same year, after having FVdG in the Ruhr region and worked there for 7 years. helped re-build the organiza- tion. The creation of the With the coming to power of the Nazis it FAUD was in no small mea- was decided to dissolve the Tilers Union sure due to the work of and maintain an illegal underground or- ganisation. Windhoff was entrusted with Windhoff. On 15-16th Sep- tember 1919 meeting in carrying this out, transferring funds to the Düsseldorf the FVdG unions underground FAUD. At the beginning of together with the General 1933 he was convicted for “slander ” and Miners Union and the in summer of that year he and his second Düsseldorf and Essen wife Kaethe ( nee Jonal) , whom he had branches of the AAU created married in 1917, were the victims of house the FAUD. This was followed searches. In October 1934 the Brown up by a conference in Berlin Shirts invaded their flat for seven hours. A in December. As a result the further search followed in the same year and one week later Windhoff was arrested. in radical ideas at the age of fourteen and FAUD gained a membership of 120,000. In Düsseldorf alone the FAUD All in all there were seven house searches gravitated towards the workers’ move- up until March 1937, with a quest for ille- ment controlled by the Social Democrats. organised 800 building workers, 4,000 municipal workers, and 11,400 metal- gal publications which were never found. He joined the Social Democratic Party of On 23rd February Carl and Kaethe were Germany (SPD) in 1890. As a young adult, arrested again by the Gestapo. Carl was ac- he read Edward Bellamy, Tolstoy, Zola, cused of conspiracy to perform high trea- Kropotkin, as well as scientific literature son, organising secret meetings of the and “South German peasant novels”. He tillers, transferring union funds for the was one of the most important SPD leaders commission of acts of violence against the in Düsseldorf until he left the party in employers, and organising a strike in 1901. It was in the year before that he first Lippstadt. For this he received 3 years in started trying to organise among his fellow prison, whilst Kaethe was sentenced to 9 tillers. Five years later after much work the months imprisonment for aiding and abet- Tillers Union of Düsseldorf and Environs ting. was set up. A vacuum was filled by the cre- Windhoff had been detained in prison for ation of this union, the mainstream unions a long time before the trial and his health ignoring the region and these particular now rapidly deteriorated with the awful workers. conditions in Luettringhausen prison. He The tillers were known for their suffered several strokes and was trans- self-discipline and pride in their work. ferred to a prison hospital in Cologne. He Windhoff was targeted by the employers was then returned to Luettringhausen and and blacklisted. Despite this the tillers was now in a state of severe physical and were the first workers in Germany to gain mental decline , as a result of which he was 6 days paid holiday in 1923. Wiindhoff released before the completion of his sen- and the tillers joined the Free Association tence. He never recovered and died at of German Trade Unions (FVdG) and he home on 28th May 1941. become one of its most prominent mem- Nick Heath bers in the Rhineland. The FVdG repre- workers. The Düsseldorf FAUD workers sented the localist current within the References: gained the seven and a half hour working http://syndikalismus.wordpress.com/201 German unions who rejected the centralis- day and no work at all on Saturday after- ing control of the General Commission of 2/02/14/biographie-carl-windhoff-1872- noon, unheard of in a country where work- 1941/ German Trade Unions controlled by the ers worked an average of ten hours a day. SPD. They were to be the nucleus of the The tillers led several successful strikes Thanks to Libcom post-WW1 Freie Arbeiter Union and were able to wring many concessions Deutschlands (FAUD) the out of the employers for the Düsseldorf anarcho-syndicalist organisation. The 19 Rebel Worker

Where we stand: NEWS & NOTES A.S.N. DIRECTORY Some of the most important news lately in 1.Our aim is to create a free and equal so- NSW has been the O’Farrell Govern- ciety ment’s continuing spearheading of an in- ASN Sydney Local tensified employer offensive. Particularly PO Box 92 2. We are a revolutionary labour move- its been focusing on moves to privatise Broadway 2007 NSW ment that uses as its only means of strug- public transport with associated major job gle, direct action in all its forms – losses and cutbacks to services. As part of ASN Melbourne: occupations, strikes, boycotts, sabotage, this push , at the end of July Sydney Ferries etc. We are independent from all reformist J.Dixon were sold off as franchises. Typically the and hierarchical unions and political par- union hierarchy continues to roll over be- [email protected] ties, and we are creating an alternative to fore this onslaught and has no plans to these and to existing society. We do not fight it. Newcastle ASN seek to gain political power, but rather to The ASN has been assisting militants of PO Box 106 see it distributed amongst all. Members’ Voice, NSW public transport Kotara 2289 NSW workers organisation to organise a cam- 3.We are a network of paign on the job to defeat the O’Farrell The Anarchist Age anarcho-syndicalists practising Govt’s privatisation agenda. Recently it co-operation and mutual aid. We have an issued a bulletin to educate the grass roots PO Box 20 equal part in the making of decisions. Re- about the harmful effects of privatisation Parkville Vic. 3052 sponsibilities within the network are sub- and calls for the formation of ject to agreement by the members. “anti-privatisation committees” on the job to fight back with direct action. According SPARKS to feedback received, it’s been well re- (Anarcho-Syndicalist Transport Paper) 4.We are engaged in struggle where we ceived on the job. PO Box 92 Broadway work and where we live, to develop self 2007 NSW managed production, distribution and ser- vicing for the world community, to meet In recent weeks in State Transit, the CEO Web site: http://www.sparksweb.org human needs rather than profit. We give was falsely assuring workers at depot staff solidarity to others in these struggles. meetings that they were not facing JURA BOOKS privatisation, in a bid to gouge out more 440 Parramatta Rd budget economies. However, around this 5.We are fighting to abolish all authoritar- time the Sun Herald dropped the bomb Petersham 2049 NSW ian institutions such as the State (includ- shell that it certainly was in O’Farrell’s Ph. (02) 95509931 ing its communist variety), capitalism, all gun sight for sell off. Government Minis- hierarchical and oppressive divisions be- tween people. ters later on confirmed the move was not SPARX ruled out. (See article page 5.) DIRECT ACTION 6. We have no country and are organised FIRE FIGHTERS PAPER. on an international basis in opposition to For previous articles from Rebel Worker, [email protected] check out the archive section of our web oppression everywhere. The ASN is striv- site www.rebelworker.org ing to build a viable revolutionary WORKING CLASS UNITED syndicalist movement in Australia as part of a world wide movement able to meet the Help Build Rebel Worker! Your help is Http://workingclassunited Googlepages.com/home challenge of the global employer offen- particularly sought with its distribution. sive. So why not order bulk copies to distribute. Sell at your local shopping centre on Sat- Members’ Voice urday morning, leave at the lunch room at Grassroots NSW Public Transport work and at your local café, library or cin- Workers’ Organisation ema. Your assistance on the financial TO FIND OUT MORE plane is also very welcome. Users.tpg.com.au/retepsni/membersvo ice I would like more information about the Anarcho-Syndicalist Network. Please Grassland Infoshop send me information. 207B Nicholson St. Footscray 3011 Vic. REBEL WORKER Name ...... WEB SITE Address...... General Secretary PO Box 106 www.rebelworker.org Kotara 2289 NSW If undeliverable, return to PO Box 92 Broadway NSW 2007

they cannot More pressingly, if a rank-and-file move- strategic position of different groups of Continued From Page 17 be recalled ment has enough influence as to sway the workers affects the class struggle. In the from their election of officers to an executive, why do current situation of low morale of workers seat if they betray that trust, as such a they need to seize power of the executive in the Anglo world, unless union officials mechanism doesn’t at present exist. Thus, at all? take action such as calling mass stop work the accountability rendered by direct de- If there has been a steady effort at organis- meetings, most workers lack self confi- mocracy almost completely dissipates ing workplace committees based on mass dence to take direct action and hold their when it is used to “bore-from-within” a participation and direct action, and you own workers assemblies to consider tak- system of representative democracy. have lay reps taking up the role of dele- ing action. Its important to be a bit practi- It could be argued that, in building up the gates, you have already dismantled the ex- cal and look at transitional steps to get strength of the rank-and-file at the same isting power structure at a local level. If this grass roots unionism going such as time, you create a situation whereby even this is spread across enough of a cross sec- the election of more “grass roots friendly” if instant recall cannot be enacted the re- tion of any given trade union that you can union officials, which would improve the call will still occur the next time elections be the major voice in elections, it is a safe terraine for organising. They could en- come around. But there are numerous bet that you have already lain the founda- sure the union is run on the basis of work- flaws in this logic. tions for building a national federal struc- ers’ assemblies, limited tenure of office In the first instance, there is the problem of ture. for officials, etc. This was the case with numbers. Even with the straightforward Thus, to alter the structure of the union, the NSW BLF(Builders Labourers Feder- objective of switching the leadership in you simply have to circumvent it. Rather ation) in its syndicalist phase in the 60’s purchase, the Left Unity faction which than wasting the effort of taking over the and early 70’s.(1) currently dominates PCS (UK Public & existing leadership in parallel with Whilst workers in more strategic indus- Commercial Services Union) had to build rank-and-file organisation, the trial sectors via direct action can influ- for many years in order to have the rank-and-file can establish an entirely dif- ence and raise the morale of workers in strength to put forward a full slate of can- ferent structure and vote en masse to disaf- less strategic sectors and encourage them didates. Within the current structure, a sin- filiate from the reformist union whilst to take direct action. Given their industrial gle voice or even a minority voice is not establishing a revolutionary one. I have strength they can also defy repressive in- significant enough to influence the direc- over-simplified the idea somewhat, as this dustrial legislation. Whilst also slowing tion of the union – as in PCS the rival 4the is not a quick process and there would be a the tempo of the employer offensive via de- members and Independent Left factions significant battle of ideas to be won, but feating major employer attacks which are currently experience. fundamentally that is the essence of the likely to be initially focused in these sec- Thus, in order to “change the role of the thing. The bureaucracy has essentially tors and eventually turning the tide. It full-time officials” and make other funda- been jettisoned and the bosses are forced also has to be taken into account that stra- mental changes in how the union is run at to deal with a militant rank-and-file rather tegic sectors, such as transport are likely the top, you essentially have to take over than officials who will meet them halfway. to be highly unionised. So the only realis- the leadership. Not only does this require There is a clear precedent for attempts to tic option is long term pursuit of a “boring an immense amount of time, energy and transform the fundamental nature of a from within” strategy within the bureau- resources better spent on rank-and-file or- trade union being akin to alchemy. Down cratic “bosses unions”. The critique also ganising, but it then puts you in the same that path, we repeat mistakes already made does not address the issue of repressive in- position as any other broad left takeover. It and become what we were fighting dustrial legislation and state attacks is now you “at the negotiation table” with against. In order to build a revolutionary which are likely to smash any newly responsibility to “sell the employer labour union movement which is genuinely led emerged anarcho-syndicalist “micro un- discipline” in negotiations. The funda- from below by the rank-and-file, what we ion confederation” based in mental nature of power structures means need is to build the new structure within non-strategic sectors . The officials of bu- that they do not allow for their own disso- the shell of the old. reaucratic unions no doubt will also sabo- tage any move by the grass roots for lution, and there is little reason to expect Originally posted July 19, 2011 at Prop- that we will witness anything other than industrial solidarity to help fight these at- erty is Theft tacks. rank-and-file militants falling prey to Comment bureaucratisation. Mark McGuire One problem with this critique of “Boring Notes: from Within” is that it completely fails to take account of the issue of workers mo- (1) See “Green Bans, Red Union” by rale and its ramifications and how the Meredith & Verity Burgmann