Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 07:12:30 +1000
Subject: AUT: Statement of II European Meeting of Alternative Syndicalism


Malaga (Spain), 7th to 10th July = 1999

The following trade unions, participants of the 2nd European
Meeting of Alternative Syndicalism, held in Malaga (Spain), declare:


 1.The demonstration of the unemployed and precariously
   employed in  Cologne (Germany), 19th May, 1999, has
   shown the strength, ability to intervene as well as the
   proposals of the workers' organisations  which call
   themselves alternative and grassroots syndicalists,
   revolutionary syndicalists and anarchosyndicalists.

 2.Resistance against precariety, poverty and exclusion is being
   raised throughout Europe. The need for the social and
   syndical alternatives that our organisations wish to help to
   build together with the unemployed  and precariously
   employed in Europe is felt everywhere.

 3.The European Union daily shows itself to be exclusively directed
   by the interests of a capitalism that aims to dismantle
   social, democratic and syndical rights, as well as degrading
   and destroying public services by fostering a controlled,
   regressive and authoritarian society under an economic
   dictatorship.

 4.The social warfare undertaken by the capitalist and bureaucratic
   elite of the European Union is reaffirmed and developed
   during their summits and meetings. Our co-ordinated
   contention must follow suit.

 5.The "Third Way" theorised by Blair and Schr–der and put
   into practice by all the European governments represents their
   submission to the goals and aims of financial markets.

 6.At this present point in time, the struggle to maintain, change
   and democratise the public services is turning into a major
   battle against the neo-liberal offensive.

 7.We must urgently change this Europe which opens its doors to
   capital and closes them on the workers, unemployed and
   precariously employed. Our syndical organisations should
   particularly denounce the special measures taken against
   our immigrant brothers and sisters. The attempt to stop
   immigration from the south and the east is combined with a
   tolerant attitude, and even the support of, illegal employment,
   a true form of modern slavery. 25,000,000,000 pts
   (150,000,000 Euros) will be spent in building a wall to keep
   immigrants out of Europe. 800,000 visas have been
   denied.

 8.The institutional left-wing political parties and trade unions,
   in particular the European Confederation of Trade Unions,
   are the artisans and accomplices of these neo-liberal
   designs. Throughout all countries the ECTU has supported
   the measures taken at the Luxembourg summit. Its  Helsinki
   Congress, in June 1999, once again demonstrated its
   submission to the goals of capital, its acceptance of
   dismantling and social regression, and its support for Blair
   and Schr–der's policies.

 9.Over many of the past years, the organisations of workers,
   unemployed and precariously employed which fight for
   alternative, grassroots and revolutionary syndicalism, and
   for anarchosyndicalism, have jointly pursued and planned
   actions to promote resistance and struggle. Over several
   meetings, this unity has been affirmed and defined in a better
   way. Far beyond our different historical backgrounds,
   traditions and cultures, what joins us is a desire to build an
   active syndicalism, independent of political parties and
   governments, and activated through grassroots initiatives,
   which follow the practise of direct democracy.

10.We oppose the syndicalism of settlements and agreements
   which puts into practice the policies designed to force the
   dominated and exploited to accept subordination. We
   oppose the economic fatalism that presents the goals and
   management of capitalism and governments as inevitable and
   unavoidable.

11.We call on all organisations of workers, unemployed and
   precariously employed who follow our basic lines to reinforce
   coordination between organisations and trades and
   sectors. In particular, we have decided to create a working
   group which, along with the coordination by trades and
   sectors, will develop the starting lines for the coordination of our
   = syndical organisations and will make advances on a
   programme of demands.

12.Our immediate struggles are:

   The right to all to a secure and stable employment without
   discrimination of sex, ethnic group or origins.

   Supporting a policy of creating socially and ecologically useful
   employment.

   A rapid and massive reduction of the working week, without a
   loss of salaries and including compensatory new hirings as
   well as the prohibition of overtime.

   The end of the policies of precariety and flexibility, genuine
   slavery of workers, under the goals and needs of a capitalism
   which tries to rule over every aspect of our lives.

   Defending salaries and a rapid evolution towards equal
   purchasing power throughout the different countries; many of
   the organisations  present declare themselves in favour of
   an interprofessional minimal wage to be the same in all
   countries in the European Union, others support different
   objectives as regards defending salaries.

   For a means of existence for all those who are not working and
   do not have sufficient financial support to autonomously live
   a life of dignity. These "means of existence" could be in the
   form of a social salary for some of the organisations
   present, while others reject this or are debating the
   matter.

   Universal social rights to education, healthcare, culture,
   housing and transport along with a profound democratisation
   of public services.

   The right to freedom, and syndical representation of all
   syndical organisations, as well as social protest movements,
   without discrimination on trade or territorial levels; our trade
   unions will defend to the utmost these rights and in
   particular we oppose the freedom-destroying European
   laws known as Bassaninni, Perbene and LOLS. Some of the
   unions present will put forward a demand against the
   Supreme Court at Strasbourg and = will demand meetings
   with the pertinent commissions of the European Parliament.

   The right to autonomy in collective negotiations between
   employers and direct workers, without higher-level pacts or
   agreements that condition or limit their capacity.

   The right to strike without limitations.

 3.Our trade unions will open debate on and specially prepare the
   following mobilisations:

   A mobilisation aimed against the Lisbon Summit on
   Employment.

   A demonstration in Paris in December, 2000, together with the
   EuroMarch Network.

   A mobilisation against the European Summit in Gothenburg in
   2001.

   A millennium meeting and demonstration in Paris in May,
   2000.

 3.With these immediate objectives our trade unions reaffirm:

   The links between the current struggles and the desire towards a
   social transformation which will permit the setting up of a
   free, equalitarian and solidarious society based on the
   sharing of work and wealth.

   Solidarity with the societies and workers of the third world who
   are fighting against the world order and dictatorship of
   capitalism.

   Our demand for absolute equality between men and women,
   between female and male workers.

   Our struggle for equal rights and against the discriminations
   that affect youth, unemployed and precariously employed,
   immigrants and all categories or groups that are hit by the
   policies of exception created by the States.

   Our fight against war.

The trade unions present in Malaga and which subscribe to
this declaration call for common and solidarious action by all
collectives of workers, unemployed and precariously employed
who share our desire to struggle.

The emancipation of the workers will be by the workers
themselves.

Participants:

France: CNT-AIT (Paris), SUD Education, SUD Rail,
SUD-PTT

Italy: FLTU-CUB, UNICOBAS

Morocco: VĚa Democratica

Spain: CGT, STEs

Sweden: SAC

Switzerland: F-SUD

The declaration was not signed by the CNT-AIT (Paris),
SUD-Rail and STEs who wish to discuss it with their
members first.

++++++++++++++++++
The CNT-AIT (Paris) is the majority faction of the French CNT which was
expelled from the IWA.



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