OscailtGrassroots Union: Prohibited!Urgent call for international solidarity2009-12-22T22:27:40+08:00Anarkismoanarkismoeditors@lists.riseup.nethttp://www.anarkismo.net/atomfullposts?story_id=15290http://www.anarkismo.net/graphics/feedlogo.gifSupport FAU-IWA,! Send protest emailshttp://www.anarkismo.net/article/15290#comment120492009-12-22T22:27:40+08:00W.S.A.Dear Friends & comrades,
We hope this quick email finds all well. Please excuse...Dear Friends & comrades,<br />
<br />
We hope this quick email finds all well. Please excuse the rather impersonal and mechanical nature of this email. <br />
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Many of you may already be awate of the big fight the Berlin Local of the Free Workers Union (FAU-IWA) is now engaged. What started as a single workplace struggle has turned into one of national <br />
importance for all German workers who struggle for independent, membership controlled unionism. <br />
Fpr those of you whi are not aware of this struggle, background information can be found on the FAU website <a href="http://www.fau.org/verbot" title="http://www.fau.org/verbot">http://www.fau.org/verbot</a><br />
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If members of your organization can be encouraged to send protest emails (see below) that would be great. If your organization can send one as well, that would also be important. We are encoraging as many emails as possible. There is a lot at issue here that goes beyond the struggle of one small group of workers against a boss. To a large measure, the future of indpendent working class self-organization is one the line in Germany. <br />
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The Polish Syndicalists of the ZSP have set up an email protest thingy which will make it easier for those who haven't already sent a protest:<br />
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<a href="http://fau.zsp.net.pl/send-a-protest-to-kino-babylon/emailpage/" title="http://fau.zsp.net.pl/send-a-protest-to-kino-babylon/emailpage/">http://fau.zsp.net.pl/send-a-protest-to-kino-babylon/em...page/</a><br />
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The W.S.A. and its previous groups has had a more than 30 year relationship with the FAU and they have always been decent, honest and non-sectarian comrades and would always stand in solidarity with others. It's our turn to stand in solidarity with them. Any and all help would be most appreicated. <br />
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Thanks in advance.<br />
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Yours in solidarity,<br />
Mitch<br />
WSA Corresponding Secretary<br />
<br />
Workers Solidarity Alliance (W.S.A.)<br />
Offices: 339 Lafayette Street - Room 202<br />
New York, New York 10012 usa <br />
The court rulinghttp://www.anarkismo.net/article/15290#comment120732010-01-03T02:55:46+08:00Watersidewalkingbeard at gmail dot comHi,
Please can we have a background to and copy of the court ruling? We must kn...Hi,<br />
<br />
Please can we have a background to and copy of the court ruling? We must know why the court has banned you from being a union.<br />
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Thank you.First they came for the FAU...http://www.anarkismo.net/article/15290#comment120772010-01-04T04:07:21+08:00Michael SchmidtThe situation is a really difficult one for the FAU Berlin. If they abide by the...The situation is a really difficult one for the FAU Berlin. If they abide by the ruling they effectively step outside the legally protected ring of union organising and are fair game for the bosses and the authorities who will dearly love to break them organizationally and financially - besides perhaps making themselves irrelevant to workers who might otherwise want to join them. <br />
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If they fight the ruling, it will no doubt prove lengthy and expensive - maybe even as expensive as the fines they'd incur for defying the ruling. It would seem to me that what is really needed is a legal strategy: find a solid, reputable leftie lawyer (if the likes of a Henri Torres of the 2000s exists!) willing to take up the cudgels pro deo, and to make a public stink about this, a concerted campaign in defence of the right of all German workers to organise - because that is the real issue here, not the suppression of a marginal union, but the sharpening of the axe against all worker organisation. <br />
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One can only think of Pastor Martin Niemoller's famous self-excorciation: "First they came for the trade unionists, but I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist..."<br />
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Red & Black regards<br />
Michael<br />