INTERNATIONAL LABOUR GERMANY:

PROTESTING NEO-LIBERALISM IN GERMANY:

It's official now. You know that a ruling class plot has serious opposition when there are mass protests against it in Germany of all places. I speak of the practically worldwide move by governments to make the ordinary person suck it up for the bank and corporate bailouts of recent memory. Yes, even governments have to at least pretend to balance their books occasionally (despite social democratic illusions) or at least not get swamped in a visible sea of red ink. Thus Germany, like many other countries, is trying to download the cost onto its average citizen, and German workers are responding with opposition to this attempt to make them pay for a crisis they didn't create. Here's the story from Deutsche Welle. But I would not be true to form if I didn't make a plug here for my own people, the German anarcho-syndicalist union the FAU, and the German language section of the IWW. Look to them for more consistent opposition than social democratic unions are wont to present.

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Thousands march as German unions protest Merkel government

Tens of thousands of protestors took to the streets of a host of German cities, marching against what they say are unfair social policies espoused by the coalition government of Chancellor Angela Merkel.

A day ahead of an important gathering of heavyweights from Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), tens of thousands have marched across Germany on Saturday protesting government policies and what they say is social inequality.


Umbrella union group DGB, which helped organize the demonstrations, said nearly 100,000 people marched in Stuttgart, Dortmund, Nuremberg and Erfurt to voice their disapproval with the Merkel government.


Chief among the complaints was the offloading of the costs of the financial crisis on taxpayers.


"We don't want a republic in which powerful interest groups decide the guidelines of politics with their money, their power and their influence," Berthold Huber, head of IG Metall, Germany's largest trade union, told demonstrators in Stuttgart.


The union is demanding higher wages and the introduction of a minimum wage, arguing that ordinary Germans should benefit most from the country's economic upswing following the financial crisis.
Pressure mounts on coalition


The protests were timed to coincide with the CDU's annual party congress, at which it's expected Merkel will be reelected to the leadership. The three-day gathering in Karlsruhe in Germany's south begins Sunday.


The congress will be held under the specter of sagging opinion poll figures for Merkel and the CDU. Just over a year into Merkel's second tenure as chancellor, many Germans are angry over a lack of progress on key campaign promises.


Her center-right coalition now trails the center-left grouping of Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens in opinion polls.


Merkel's government has also been dogged by infighting between the CDU and their government partners, the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) and the CDU's Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU).


Most recently, the public was angered when the Merkel government decided to extend the lifespan of the country's nuclear reactors. Nuclear energy remains deeply unpopular in Germany, witnessed most recently last week when tens of thousands protested the transfer of atomic waste from France to a storage facility in the north of Germany.


Merkel has also been criticized from the rightist faction within her own party, who believe she has not been conservative enough in her leadership of the CDU and the country.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR GERMANY:

GERMAN IWW PICKETS EUREST:

The following article is from the website of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), and concerns a informational picket by the German IWW outside the Municipal Services offices in Frankfurt Germany a couple of days ago. The target of the picket was the international catering company Eurest (active in over 80 countries) who supply catering services to the city of Frankfurt. Eurest is emblematic of the "new economy" that is so widely trumpeted as "progressive" by apologists for our managerial rulers, and its "progress" involves squeezing its workers as hard as it can whenever it can. But not just its workers, also its customers. Through its subsidiary Eurest Support Services Eurest has been involved in more than one multibillion dollar corruption scandal over the years and will undoubtedly be involved in many more in the years to come.

In 2005 Eurest hit the news because of a UN procurement scandal, and in 2007 it was also implicated in corruption related to supplying food services to US forces in Iraq.

Here's the story from the IWW. The following has been slightly edited for reasons of English grammar.

IWWIWWIWWIWW
German IWW pickets against austerity measures outside the Frankfurter Stadtwerke [Municipal Services]:
Translated by a member of the British Isles IWW Regional Organizing Committee (BIROC)

Today the IWW distributed the following flyer (image not included) in front of the Frankfurter Stadtwerke [Municipal Services]:

Training outside working hours - "but can they do that?" They keep getting more impertinent!

Today, on Saturday, college students at EUREST have to work, because by now so many people have been made redundant that training can no longer take place during regular working hours. The Compass Group has made fat profits during the crisis- on the backs of their workers. Reduced staff, reduced shifts and unpaid overtime, that's their trick.

So, it's not a surprise that trainings are now happening during the weekend. The location of the Stadtwerke is not the first one where this is practiced. But, no manager has put pressure on the workers quite so shamelessly. He doesn't care, that you have kids you need to care for. He doesn't even care if you're on holiday. You need to show up or have proof that you already booked some trip. But time off is time off, and to force colleagues who have taken time off to go to work is, simply put, illegal.

A person like Tobias Engel does not seem to know, that the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany also apply to Eurest. Therefore, it's not surprising that the IWW Union learnt that he recently opened the locker of a worker. How long do you want to take such infringements?

If you don't resist, you'll soon need to show up every Saturday, for a training, or to clean. And the worst is, that it seems the shop steward agreed to this. Why do the NGG-shop stewards do whatever Eurest wants?

The problem, of course, are not just the cuddly unions and shop stewards, who don't represent the interest of the workers. As a union we can insist on the compliance with legal protections and rights of employees. But their implementation depends on whether the workers in the company resist the dismantling of workers' rights.

If you are ready, we'll support you in a big way!

Related Links
•GLAMROC IWW

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-GERMANY:

'FLASH MOBS' AND LABOUR:

Here's an interesting little item from the German Deutsche Welle about how retailers in Germany are trying to have the tactic of "flash mobs" banned for use by labour during disputes. Well...if they dislike it so much that they are trying to have it banned then it stands to reason that it's a useful tactic and one well worth considering for use outside of Germany. Here's the story.

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Retailers launch legal bid to ban flash mobs:
German retailers say there is no room for flash mobs - large groups of people who assemble suddenly in a public place to perform an unusual action - when it comes to labor disputes.

The Association of German Retailers (HDE) has filed a legal complaint with the nation's highest court in an attempt to ban the use of flash mob tactics in labor disputes.

The term "flash mob" refers to the sudden assembly of a large group of people who perform an unusual action before quickly dispersing. Such gatherings are generally organized via mobile phone messages, social media websites like Facebook, or viral emails.

The lawsuit lodged with the Federal Constitutional Court is directed at the Verdi services union, which organized a flash mob at a supermarket where unionized staff members were striking in 2007.

The flash mob protest saw 40 participants block the store's checkout area for about an hour by simultaneously purchasing small items worth just a few cents. They also filled shopping carts with goods and abandoned them in the store for strike-breaking workers to clear away.
Questionable tactics
The latest complaint comes three months after the Federal Labor Court ruled that flash mobs are a legitimate form of industrial action given that they do not constitute a blockade of company facilities.

Judges recommended that store owners counter the spontaneous protests by closing their stores for a short time or banning participants from entering the premises.

But the HDE says that decision is both impractical and unfair.

"The people who suffer are customers who are not involved in the dispute," HDE labor expert Heribert Joeris told the Associated Press.

Joeris warned that the term 'labor dispute' would become disreputable if flash mobs were permitted to make a nuisance of themselves in retail outlets, or if store workers could only clear protesters from their premises by using physical force.

"That would be a legal situation that we retailers cannot and will not accept," he said.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-BERLIN GERMANY:

LEGAL SETBACK FOR NEW BABYLON CINEMA WORKERS:

In Germany the , Freie Arbeiterinnen und Arbeiter Union, Free Workers' Union (FAU), the German section of the AIT-IWA, carries on the historical tradition of anarchosyndicalism. For almost a year now the workers of the FAU have been struggling for a collective agreement with the management of Berlin's 'New Babylon Cinema'. Through this time management has employed various legal manoeuvres to try and avoid recognition of the union. Here is the latest example, a temporary court injunction against the union. From the A-Infos site...

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Germany, FAU Berlin may no longer be called union:

The Free Workers Union Berlin has, on 11.12.2009 by a temporary injunction of the Berlin district court, been prohibited from calling itself a union or base union. This is the culmination of a series of attempts of New Babylon Berlin GmbH to take legal action against the strongest and most active union workers in the company. ---- Without hearing the district court followed the reasoning (argumentation) of the opposing side, who already in October got the Labour court to divest FAU Berlin of it's union status. In this judgement although the FAU Berlin was forbidden the boycott of the cinema, the union status, however, was not negotiable. ---- It is a novelty (new factor) in German law, that an organisation would be forbidden to call itself a union.

It is all the more absurd, if it concerns an organization that has for a good year led a labor dispute, which ultimately forced collective bargaining.

"This attack on the fundamental right of freedom of association is a union ban (in the sense of immediacy). It is our understanding that it is still always the workers themselves, who decide how they organise themselves. Should this decision survive/be long lasting, it is not only an attack against the FAu but against every form of independent grassroots/base organising." said Lars Rohm, Secretary of the FAU Berlin.

The FAU Berlin announced, however, to take action against this decision.

Chronology of the conflict in Babylon Cinema

*13/02/2009 Rally of the FAU Berlin in front of the cinema for higher wages during the Berlinale

*11/03/2009 Dismissal of employee and active member of the FAU

*04/06/2009 Presentation of the collective agreement of the FAU at the Babylon cinema

*17/06/2009 Rejection of collective bargaining by the New Babylon Berlin GmbH

*25/06/2009 Demonstration for the establishment of collective bargaining with the FAU

*13/07/2009 Calling for a boycott of the cinema by the FAU Berlin with the aim of bringing management to the negotiating table

*23/07/2009 Expansion of industrial action/workers struggle onto the second GmbH the management operated open air cinemas

*29/07/2009 Complaint for trespassing against members of the FAU Berlin at a leaflet campaign in the cinema

*03/09/2009 Intervention in the labor dispute by verdi

*25/09/2009 Protests of the FAU Berlin at the "Left Cinema Night" in Babylon Mitte. „Die Linke“ distributed flyers on which it indicates mediator/arbitrator of the intervention is ver.dis

*06/10/2009 First official meeting between ver.di and the FAU Berlin about forming a Tarifgemeinschaft (I think they mean common rate?)

*07/10/2009 Temporary injunction by the Labor Court Berlin prohibiting the boycott at the request of the New Babylon Berlin GmbH

*12/12/2009 Prohibition against FAU Berlin, by preliminary injunction, to describe themselves as a trade union or base trade union by the Berlin District Court on application by the New Babylon Berlin GmbH

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HOW YOU CAN HELP THE FAU:

Well, from the above it is certainly plain which side the German courts are on. The only way that the FAU can win through in this fight is by political pressure. Here, from an English section of their mostly German website is what they suggest you can do in solidarity.

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How to support us?:
Get involved: Solidarity is our weapon!

English: Here you find every information you need to support the FAU Berlin.Deutsch: Hier findet ihr alle nötigen Informationen, um die FAU Berlin zu unterstützen.
You can help us – amongst your own ideas – by:
♠Carrying out protest actions in front of German diplomatic missions (embassies, consulates) or other institutions that represent the German state.
♠Sending protest letters to German embassies in your country, including a carbon copy to the management of the Kino Babylon Mitte.
♠Sending protest faxes to the responsible Berlin court.

Here you find a list of all German diplomatic missions. Look if there is an embassy or consulate in your city. This file also includes information on how to contact the embassy in your country. The listed country names are given in German.

Here you find – if necessary – a table to find out how your country's name is in German.

Here [soon to come] templates for protest letters you can direct to the German embassy.

The contact to the Management of the cinema Babylon Mitte is:

Fax: +49 - (0)30 - 24727-800

E-mail: grossman@babylonberlin.de

hackel@babylonberlin.de

The contact to the competent court (Landgericht Berlin) is:Fax: +49 (0)30 90188 - 518

Here [soon to come] templates for protest letters you can direct to the Landgericht (court).

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Please stay tuned to the FAU website (or later here at Molly's Blog) for the details from the German comrades.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR/INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-GERMANY:

SUPPORT THE WORKERS OF BABYLON CINEMA:

The following appeal is originally from the anarchosyndicalist FAU of Germany. It comes Molly's way via the Anarkismo website.

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Support the workers of Babylon Cinema in Berlin:
On March 11, Benoit Robin, a projectionist at Babylon Cinema in Berlin and an activist of FAU, was fired from his job. He was in the midst of organizing for improved working conditions in the cinema.

In January a FAU group was organized at the cinema. The workers there have poor wages: from 5.5-6 euro per hour, 6.4 euro for projectionists. This is a very poor wage in the industry. Many of the workers are precarious and have no contracts. They have no paid holiday or other benefits. By comparison, workers in another cinema chain receive 8.5 euro per hour plus 30 paid paid vacation.

Currently 27 people work at the cinema.

The cinema cannot be said to be in poor financial condition. As an art cinema, it receives a large government subsidy - almost a half million euros per year. Despite this, the workers in Babylon Cinema get extremely low wages - even less than in some workplaces known for their extremely poor work conditions.

The workers at the cinema organized a protest during the Berlin film festival. A month later, Robin was fired. It is believed that he was fired due to this organizing campaign.

Robin was not the only comrade ever fired from Babylon. Last year one comrade was fired for no reason but later received compensation for this. He is currently involved in the protests and organizing campaign.

The workers of the cinema have a blog: http://prekba.blogsport.de

There is also an online petition you can sign: http://prekba.blogsport.de/solidaritaets-erklaerungT

here is a video here (in German) with a machine translation of an article about the situation, but you can get the sense.

http://freundeskreis-videoclips.de/en/arbeitskampf-kino-babylon-berlin-mitte/

FAU is asking people to send letters to the cinema:

Neue Babylon Berlin GmbH

tgrossman@kinoundkonzerte.de

hackel@babylonberlin.de

Tel.: 0049 (0)30-24 727 804

Fax: 0049 (0)30-24 727 800

Re.: Dismissal of Benoit Robin

It has come to my attention that staff at the Babylon Cinema and the FAU-IWA, which has a presence there, have been opposing the precarious working conditions at the cinema.

I was sorry to learn that projectionist and union member Benoit Robin was fired just before he would have become entitled to job protection. This message is a strong protest against that unfair labour practice. Beyond the issue immediately at hand, I urge you to desist from interfering with organizing in your shop.

Best Regards

Copy of your letter to: faub5@fau.org

INTERNATIONAL ANARCHIST MOVEMENT:

PROTEST THE NATO SUMMIT:

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This year marks the 60th anniversary of the the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Orginally founded as the 'foreard base" of the American Empire against the Soviet Empire in Europe, the organization has served other functions for the imperium over the years, including participation in the Korean War. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union and its empire, however, the alliance has been called increasingly into question, and despite participation in the American war in Afghanistan there is an underlying current of differing interests amongst the members.

On the 60th anniversary a summit is planned to be held jointly in the French city of Strasbourg and the German city of Kehl. Protests are being planned by a wide coalition of groups who feel that NATO should be abolished, that it existence does more harm than good in the modern world. Here is a statement from a coalition of anarchist communist groups about the upcoming summit. From the Anarkismo website...

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Anarchist-communist appeal against NATO summit:

In the current context of economic crisis and rarefaction of natural resources, tensions increase between powerful countries fighting for control over the world. So western countries strengthen their device of domination, NATO, and use it in their aggressive and imperialistic politics (Afghanistan, Iraq, Georgia, Ukraine, and so on). Sixty-year-old NATO will celebrate its birthday at its yearly meeting this April the 3rd and 4th on the border between France and Germany (Strasbourg and Baden-Baden), claiming to be representative of liberty, peace and democracy.

NATO was founded in 1949 in order to unite North America and Western Europe against the Soviet Union. It had to find a new legitimacy in 1989 after the collapse of the Eastern Bloc. According to Sarkozy and Merkel it should take into account “in addition to military issues, (…) the global financial situation, the supply of energy or migratory issues” (1). Thus NATO becomes the device of global domination of Western capitalism.

While NATO troops embody an imperialistic attack on Afghanistan, like American troops in Iraq, people suffer from the oppression of both foreign troops and puppet governments aimed to ensure the plundering of resources by Western companies. NATO’s aims conflict with downtrodden people’s interests and their democratic rights; in those countries NATO opposes the possibility of people’s self-organization to fight oppression and manage resources democratically.

We fight the domination of international organizations (NATO, UN, IMF, G8, G20, WTO…) which are the devices of capitalism to reinforce the exploitation of workers and people.

We appeal to demonstrate against NATO everywhere in the world and to get involved in the counter-summit, within the alternative anti-NATO village, from April the 1st to April the 5th, in order to counteract warmongering and imperialistic politics with demonstrations, actions, meetings and debates.
Against capitalism, imperialism and authoritarianism!

Withdrawal of NATO troops everywhere in the world!

Solidarity with oppressed peoples!

Freedom of movement for people!

Federazione dei Comunisti Anarchici (Italy)

Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Front (South Africa)

Alternative Libertaire (France)

Union Communiste Libertaire (Canada)

North-Eastern Federation of Anarchist Communists (United States)

Common Cause (Ontario, Canada)

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This appeal has been published io a number of different languages, including French, German, Italian, Greek, Spanish, Arabic and Chinese. Voice l'appel en français.

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Appel communiste libertaire contre le sommet de l'OTAN:

Dans le contexte actuel de crise, de raréfaction des ressources naturelles et énergétiques, les tensions s'accroissent entre les grandes puissances pour le contrôle de la planète. Pour répondre à cette nécessité les pays occidentaux développent leur bras armé, l'OTAN, afin de mener leur politique agressive et impérialiste (Afghanistan, Irak, Géorgie, Ukraine, etc.). L'OTAN, qui fête ses soixante ans d’existence, organise son sommet annuel les 3 et 4 avril sur la frontière franco-allemande (Strasbourg et Baden-Baden) sous la bannière de la liberté, la paix et la démocratie.

Fondée en 1949 pour rassembler l'Amérique du Nord et l'Europe de l'Ouest face à l’Union soviétique, l'Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique Nord (OTAN) doit trouver une nouvelle légitimité, dès 1989, à la chute du bloc de l’Est. Selon Sarkozy et Merkel, elle doit prendre en compte « …outre les questions militaires, (…) la situation financière internationale, les approvisionnements énergétiques ou les questions migratoires » (1). L'OTAN devient l'instrument de domination globale du capitalisme occidental.

Alors que les troupes de l'OTAN incarnent une intervention impérialiste en Afghanistan, à l’instar de la coalition américaine en Irak, les peuples subissent la double oppression des troupes étrangères et des gouvernements fantoches mis en place pour garantir le pillage des ressources par les multinationales occidentales. Les visées de l’OTAN sont à l’opposé des intérêts des opprimé-e-s, de leurs droits démocratiques ; dans ces pays dominés l'OTAN contrecarre la possibilité de s'auto-organiser pour combattre les oppressions et gérer démocratiquement leurs ressources.

Nous combattons la domination des institutions internationales (OTAN, ONU, FMI, G8, G20, OMC...) qui sont les instruments du capitalisme pour renforcer l’exploitation des travailleuses, des travailleurs et des peuples.

Nous appelons à manifester contre l'OTAN partout dans le monde et à participer au contre-sommet, au sein du village alternatif anti-OTAN, du 1er au 5 avril afin de contrecarrer les politiques bellicistes et impérialistes, par des manifestations, des actions, des rencontres et des débats.
Contre le capitalisme, l’impérialisme et l'autoritarisme !

Retrait des troupes de l'OTAN partout dans le monde !

Solidarité avec les peuples opprimés !

Liberté de circulation des personnes !
Federazione dei Comunisti Anarchici (Italie)

Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Front (Afrique du Sud)

Alternative Libertaire (France)

Union Communiste Libertaire (Canada)

North-Eastern Federation of Anarchist Communists (Etats-Unis)

Common Cause (Ontario, Canada)

(1) Déclaration de Nicolas Sarkozy et Angela Merkel, 4 février 2009.

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Et aussi, plus d'information de Alternative Libertaraire, une organisation platformiste français.

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Mobilisation contre le sommet de l’OTAN
Un sommet de l’OTAN se tiendra à Strasbourg début avril 2009. Alternative libertaire participe aux mobilisations contre ce sommet.
**Communiqué d’Alternative Libertaire du 17/03/09 : L’OTAN n’aura pas la paix !

**Appel communiste libertaire contre le sommet de l’OTAN

**Tract AL Alsace du 14/03/09 : Strasbourg occupée par l’OTAN

**Article du mensuel AL de Mars : Sommet de l’Otan : Strasbourg outragée, Strasbourg brisée, Strasbourg martyrisée mais…

**Carte du contre-sommet à Strasbourg

** Communiqué de la Coordination Internationale (ICC) « Non à la guerre Non à l’Otan » du 28/02/09

**le tract fédéral d’AL du 23/02/09 : Retour dans l’OTAN, La machine de guerre est prête !

**le bulletin de février d’AL Alsace : OTAN suspends ton vol

**Le tract de février de la coordination anti-OTAN : Retour dans l’OTAN… La France prépare de nouvelles guerres coloniales !

**le bulletin de janvier d’AL Alsace : Palestine, Géorgie, Irak, Afghanistan… L’empire contre attaque

**commander des autocollants AL pour le retrait de l’OTAN d’Afghanistan

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Finally, from the War Resisters International, one of the groups organizing against the summit, here is what this meeting means in terms of democracy and citizens' rights.

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NATO summit 2009: A democracy free zone:
Español
Français
Deutsch

When the alliance of democracies meets, there is no space for democracy on the streets.

When NATO celebrates its 60th birthday in Baden-Baden, Kehl and Strasbourg on 3 and 4 April 2009, there will be a lot of nice speeches about the values of democracy, and the need to defend democracy against a multitude of threats. But while NATO might talk about democracy, democracy will be temporarily suspended in huge areas of Baden-Baden, Kehl and Strasbourg.
Security zones and “no-go areas”
The complete picture of “security zones” and controlled areas is not yet clear, but it is clear that the scale of this security operation and the restriction to freedom of movement, freedom of assembly and democratic protest will be unprecedented.

What is know so far is that in Strasbourg access to the old town will only be possible with special access passes. All street markets, schools, kindergardens, historic sights and more will be closed on 4 April. In addition, public transport will be severely effected, with trams not being able to enter the security zones, and the train line from Strasbourg to Germany will suspended from Friday afternoon until Saturday morning. Strasbourg's mayor Robert Herrmann did not rule out police searches of houses in the old city, and adviced tourists not to visit Strasbourg on 4 April.

In Kehl, 700 people who live near the Passerelle, a pedestrian bridge over the Rhine which will be the site of a symbolic handshake and photo opportunity for the heads of states and governments, will be severely effected. From Friday evening until Saturday morning (when all is over) they will not be able to leave their houses without prior consent from the police, and only accompanied by police. In addition, access to the Europa bridge, the main road connection over the Rhine, will be closed for several hours, and even traffic on the Rhine will be halted.

A similar concept will be in force in Baden-Baden, where German chancellor Angela Merkel will receive the heads of states and governments on 3 April at 17.30hrs, before they dine at the Kurhaus Casino in Baden-Baden. Details for Baden-Baden are not yet known, but it is expected that in Baden-Baden too there will be no-go areas.
Democracy suspended
All this security leaves little room for democratic protest. At the time of going to press, the authorities of Strasbourg halted the negotiations with the International Coordination Committee No-to-NATO 2009 about the route for the international demonstration, planned for 4 April 2009. While the organisers of the demonstration want a route which will bring the protest close to the summit itself, the authorities do not want to allow any demonstration in the centre of Strasbourg, and want to divert the demonstration to the outskirts, where it cannot be seen or heard by the presidents and prime ministers of the NATO countries. This in fact is contrary to the French constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights, as it will deny the citizenry to voice their protest close to the object of their protest. Thus, the way the NATO summit is organised turns all speeches and declarations of democracy that might be made at the summit into a farce.
Block-NATO
Nevertheless, preparations are well under way to confront NATO with our protest. War Resisters' International is part of a coalition of groups that plan to blockade the NATO summit. Within the framework of this coalition called “Block-NATO”, and founded at the Activist Conference in Strasbourg on 14/15 February, War Resisters' International works closely with its Belgian affiliates Vredesactie and a range of German nonviolent groups in organising a blockading point (see the call on page 1 and 2).

We will meet in the protest camp in Strasbourg-Neudorf (La Ganzau), to finalise the preparations for the action and to provide a last opportunity to take part in a nonviolence training. To make this blockade a success, we need your support. Come to Strasbourg from 1-5 April 2009, to reclaim democracy!
Andreas Speck
Published in The Broken Rifle, February 2009, No. 81

STUDENT MOVEMENT-GERMANY:

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS STRIKE IN GERMANY:

The following report is from the British anarchist communist site LibCom.

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Germany: high school students strike:

High School students struck and marched across Germany yesterday in protest against classroom overcrowding, lack of teachers, and the pressure of examinations.

Some 100,000 participated in demonstrations across the country, walking out of classes and marching in over 40 cities. They protested for more permanent staff, smaller classes, and against a sped-up version of the school leaving exam, called the “turbo-abitur”. School students face intense exam pressure in Germany, where they are "streamed" at the age of 10 and selected to go to either a vocational or grammar school, often determining their prospects and chances in adult life. Demands that the pressure be relieved were made, and many teachers are also reported to be supporting the students' efforts.

A 10,000 strong protest march in Berlin ended with the invasion of the prestigious Humboldt University, where the conference room and terrace were occupied and draped with banners. There are reports of university staff battling with the students to defend statues of Hegel and Fichte, and of the university president Christoph Markschies barricading himself inside his office. 8,500 marched in Hanover, 8,000 in Stuttgart, and 6,000 in Hamburg.

The protests follow demonstrations by German university students in late October against the introduction of tuition fees, and student revolt in Italy, covered on Libcom here.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-GERMANY:

GERMAN MEATWORKERS ASK FOR SOLIDARITY:

Without contract since 2005 workers at the German Sudfleisch plant are calling for online solidarity to put pressure on management to settle. Here's the appeal from the IUF.

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German Meatworkers Strike Against Harsh Attack on Working Conditions:

The conflict continues at Germany's Südfleisch meatpacking operations, where the IUF-affiliated German Food and Allied Workers' Union NGG's is fighting through strike action management efforts to radically lower working terms and conditions. Südfleisch was acquired by the Netherlands-based food TNC VION (meat, ingredients, prepared and convenience foods etc.) in 2005. Since then, no new collective bargaining agreement has been negotiated due to management refusal.

On June 23, negotiations for a new CBA broke down over management's insistence on lengthening the workweek from 38.5 to 42 with no increase in pay. Rolling warning strikes and longer, open-ended strike actions have been carried out by 700 workers at plants in Waldkraiburg, Lauda, Traunstein, Weiden, Bayreuth and Bamberg. The conflict intensified when negotiations broke down again on July 7. The union is seeking improved overtime and better wages in the form of a new agreement, which management categorically rejects.

VION has aggressively attacked wages and conditions in other German companies it has purchased. The NGG therefore sees this conflict as significant not only for Germany, but for Europe and internationally – German "cheap meat" is an attack on meatworkers everywhere through social dumping.

The NGG has requested international support through an on-line campaign. Click here to support their struggle by sending a message to Vion corporate management in the Netherlands.

You can also send a message of solidarity to the union in your own language by e-mail to the regional NGG at lbz.bayern@ngg.net

Copies of your messages will be automatically forwarded to the IUF and to the union. We thank you in advance for your solidarity and support.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-GERMANY:

WOBBLIES ORGANIZE IN GERMANY:

The following article is from the main IWW website. The Industrial Workers of the World have a vibrant and growing branch in German speaking countries such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and they are organizing workers their to press for their rights. The following is a report of one of their efforts- against the Boesner Art Supply chain store. The following article has been slightly edited for reasons of spelling.

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German IWW And Supporters Take On Boesner Art Supplies Chain
On June 7, Wobblies and supporters held loud and visible protest rallies at the stores of the art supplies chain Boesner in Cologne, Frankfurt, Berlin, Vienna and Graz. With these actions, they protested against the management of the Boesner shop in Cologne, who prevented an organizing drive of the Cologne IWW by harassing workers who had tried to form a works council (Betriebsrat) there.

The German labour law guarantees the formation of works councils elected by the workers in shops with 5 workers or more and prohibits management action against the election process of these institutional bodies. When members and supporters of the IWW at the Boesner shop announced the elections for a works council the management began to panic. Workers were questioned and taken under pressure in interviews at the managers office. One day before the election should take place, the management held a meeting with all workers, where they threatened to cut wages and extend working hours if a works councils would be formed. The forced the workers to vote publicly in front of the managers against a works council. Frustrated by the divisions successfully made by these illegal employers actions, the IWWs withdraw their election announcement.

A few months later the management of Boesner Cologne began to implement the first measures they had threatened the workers with: the extension of working hours by opening of the stores on Saturdays (which hadn't been the case before and obviously had been intended by them anyway). But neither did they employ more workers to staff the extra shifts, nor did they pay a weekend bonus, which is not uncommon for weekend work in Germany. The shifts should have to cope the extra-load of work with more intensified stress at work.

So the Cologne IWW decided to call to action at the local shop and other Boesner stores in Germany and around. While the IWW branches in Cologne and Frankfurt organized the rallies on their own, the Berlin branch of the FAU supported the move and held a rally in front of the Berlin Boesner store too. In Austria the anarcho-syndicalist Federation of Workers Syndicates (Foederation der Arbeiter Innen-Syndikate, FAS) where some Austrian IWW members are also organized, held rallies in Vienna and Graz.

At the rallies, we got some very positive reactions from customers, who took the leaflets into the store and signed a petition to respect workers rights at the workplace. We used printed transparencies with the motto "Democracy for workers too!" which surely will be used for further rallies. Furthermore, we could make contacts to radical trade unionists and workers activists who supported the action. Pressure will be put on the company until they'll finally back down. Our chances are not bad, as he Boesner company is strongly deponent on their image facade of a fair and friendly social responsible firm and can?t be interested in earning a bad reputation as a union-busting sweatshop.

Lutz Getzschmann, x356711 - wobblies.de

Related Links
General Distribution Workers Industrial Union 660
Links from Article Text
wobblies.de

GERMANY:

ACTION DAYS IN BERLIN:

The following is a report from the A-Infos board about recent actions around squatting in Berlin, Germany.

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Germany, Berlin: Action Days Report Back

A personal report from last week's action days for autonomous spaces in Berlin. This report reflects the thoughts and opinions of the authors, not of any campaign, although these opinions may be shared by others.

---- Berlin - in Chaos! ----

Report back from Action Days for Autonomous Space May 27 to June 1

"We do not wish to find ourselves in a world where no one really lives, where no one really knows anyone else, where everyone has become a mere cog in a machine meshing with other cogs but remaining truly alone, then we must have the strength to attack alienation in every way we can." ---- "We believe for a space to be truly autonomous it must first be liberated. Liberated in our sense doesn't just mean taking something out of the hands of capitalists (the mere re- appropriation of a building) but rather taking space and finding ways to use it as a weapon against the State and Capital."

Last week, anarchists set their own dates for a confrontation with the State and Capital. Not prepared to be crushed by increasing repression against the spaces in which we live, plot and fight from, the Action Days for Autonomous Spaces put Berlin in chaos.

Following the three-day 'Interspace' meeting in Kesselberg (a previously squatted land project outside Berlin) from May 24-27,many people headed into Berlin to put theory into practise and to join forces on the streets with those already preparing for the Action Days. An info-point was set up at the Kopi, radical left projects provided ie (people's kitchen) for the week as well as hosting theoretical and practical workshops.But, most importantly, hundreds of people from Berlin and from elsewhere went on the offensive and instigated 6 charged days of diverse and often militant action. In a city which has one of the harshest anti-squatting policies in Europe - the Berlin Line -where squats can be evicted immediately and brutally, people showed they were undaunted and defiant.

The focus of these action days in many ways remains the defence of certain threatened physical structures. However, as the diversity of actions that took place demonstrates, what was being fought for is not confined to or by the walls of such buildings. By expanding the definition of what we understand by 'free space' we are able to broaden our attack beyond these physical spaces to an attack against social control as a cornerstone of capitalist logic ie from autonomous space to liberated space.

Highlights of the week taken from the info-ticker:

*(4 cars burnt and disabled (bent-nail devices used to puncture tires) left on the surrounding streets to deter cops and the fire brigade from getting there in order to put the fires out.

*Construction crane burnt

.A truck and four more cars burn.

*Squatting of building on Michael-Kirch Platz.

8 cars burnt as a response to eviction of Michael-Kirch Platz and in solidarity with those arrested.

*Anti-Gentrification Rally at Bethanien.

*Parts of Rigaer 84 squatted and opened to public.

*Luxury apartment attacked with paint bombs and stones.

*Bike Tour of Media Spree buildings, the company responsible formuch redevelopment in Berlin

*.A Mercedes, a rental car and 2 cars from atelecommunications/security company burnt out.

*Windows of bank Sparkasse smashed.

*8 luxury cars, 2 bins and billboards burnt or destroyed.

*Offices of estate agent Oliver Rohr who works for Rigaer94/Liebig14 landlord Beulker attacked with graffiti, paint bombs and glue in the locks.

*O2 advertising screen at Warschauer Strasse attacked with paintbombs

*.McDonalds in Kreutzberg- trashed.

*2 unfinished lofthouses have their windows smashed- one attack takes place in broad daylight.

*Cop car windows smashed by Mauer Park.

*18 windows of SAP, a software company connected to arms trade,smashed.

*Windows of Verdi Hotel by Kopi smashed.

*Cops attacked with stones and bottles outside Kopi.Banner drop in support of Rigaer94 from the roof of the cathedral Berliner Dom.

*Barricades built in Friedrichshain, Kreuzberg and Wedding.

There was also a pirate radio (originally set up for the April Daysof Action in Defence of Free Spaces) and a web-based real time info-ticker which provided up-to-the-minute information on everything from demos, actions, arrests, police locations and detailed descriptions of undercover cops and their vehicles.

The constant prowling of undercover cop cars and a rumoured 250 civil police (as well the politically motivated crime unit) deployed in Kreuzberg did not deter people from taking action, and nor did brutal attacks on crowds of demonstrators or the imposition of Platzverweiseâ or banning orders from particular areas anyone who looked 'autonomous' – the use of these was ruled illegal by a judge later in the week. Despite beatings and arrests,the cops were finally unable to contain, control and crush the spirit, energy and daring of the week-long revolt.

After years of simply responding to dates set by institutions,governments and trade fairs etc, those acting to resist the repression of free space which extends to the totality of what we conceive as freedom we are left with a revived feeling of strength and energy. Discussions and analyses have been sparked; creative,autonomous participation has been inspired and face to face affinities built on. Above all, what has emerged from and what underpins these elements is the offensive action that people have taken which has let loose the reins of our imaginations and our resistance.

We hope it does not stop here, and that the quality and diversity of attacks, as well as a deepening understanding of what it means to liberate space in lives held hard in the velvet claw of capitalism, continues everywhere.

Put Berlin in Chaos

Put Everywhere in Chaos! ..

One note of sadness and anger from last week is the state-murder of an 18 year old boy in custody on May 29. Not known to be connected to the autonomous scene, he was arrested with two friends after attacking traffic lights and a car and was found hanged in his cell at 1.20am, only 3 hours after the time of his arrest. It is unlikely that it was suicide as the cops have stated - because of the design of the cells in Temple of nick and the short amount of time that would have been available to him while being driven to the police station and processed.

For more information on the free spaces campaign in Berlin, go to

http://wba.blogsport.de

GERMANY/RUSSIA:

GERMAN DEMONSTRATION AGAINST POLICE REPRESSION IN RUSSIA:

The following is translated from the Russian anarchist site Avtonom. As Molly has previously reported on this blog the Russian anarchists are the target of increasing repression on the part of Putin's autocratic state, but they have fought back within Russia, and they have international support. The following is a report of one such solidarity demonstration in Germany.

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Action against lawlessness of Russian authorities in Berlin

On April 25 in Berlin ,opposite the Russian embassy (Unter den Linden 63-65), there was an action of solidarity with the victims of police lawlessness in Moscow on 4 April, and with all the victims of state violence in Russia and the world.

The anarchist action was sponsored by Abolishing The Borders From Below and Autonomous Action. For two hours day, activists held banners opposite the Russian Embassy with the slogans "Gegen Staatsterror Welweit" ( "state terror against the world") and "Solidaritat mit den von dem russichen staatsterror opfenden" ( "Solidarity with the victims of state terror in Russia").

There were leaflets, telling passers of the incident in Russia,and chants of ", respect human rights", "No police lawlessness" and other slogans, to the at passersby. A few Russian speaking anarchists and one of the defendants came to support the action.

GERMANY:

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO 'STRIKE-BIKE' ?

The developments at the Nordhausen, Germany bicycle factory where, last year, workers occupied the premises and began bicycle production under their own self-management gained huge attention from libertarian activists across the world. This factory became something of a cause-celebre as the word went out and orders poured in for the workers' product from across Europe and the world. Anarcho-syndicalists did themselves proud in publicizing this struggle and laying the groundwork for the system of orders and distribution.

Molly also reported on this, as did thousands of other bloggers across the world. But why the silence now ? For the life of me I cannot find any sources other than the original Strike-Bike site that tell how it all turned out. Sadly more with a whimper than a bang. On the 1st of November last year the bankruptcy trustee Wutzke moved in to the factory and changed the locks. A "rescue company" began a gradual process of trying to rebuild the company on November 5th. Be aware that these legal actions were not the consequence of what the workers at the factory did but rather a response to the massive debt built up by previous management. The workers continued production under their own management and proved that the factory was viable and profitable.

The actions of the workers in accepting this outcome are fully understandable. While the anarchosyndicalists rose to the occasion and proved that they could set up a marketing system for the products of self-managed factories they obviously couldn't swing the political muscle that the workers would have needed to actually challenge the decisions of the German trustees and the legal system behind them. That sort of muscle requires much longer organizing efforts and a broadening of the syndicalist base. At the present time only Spain provides an example of where such a defense would be even vaguely feasible. The CGT of Spain has earned a sustained "influence" over perhaps 5% of the population. That may not seem like a large number, but it is number from which public campaigns can actually be launched to gain support around a specific issue. It would make such defense possible. In its absence no number of riots and so-called "direct action" on the part of rootless anarchists could provide any real power. The Strike-Bike people made a reasonable choice.

Does this mean that we have to wait like the dogmatists of "only the revolution will solve all the problems" ? I say no. This apocalyptic response is borrowed from the same tradition in many religions. It is in the end a recipe for futility and uselessness. During the development of Spanish anarchism the FAI often defended their futile tactics of hopeless insurrections by calling them "revolutionary gymnastics" ie training exercises. As anyone familiar with this blog will know I am not a "revolutionist". But I see no reason not to apply a similar term to what has happened in this instance. What is sad is that the end of this struggle was not reported to 1/10,000th the degree that its inception was. There is much to be learned here. "Training" is only of any use if you actually have a memory. Molly says that the capacity of the international syndicalist movement (and its worldwide supporters) in this case should be recognized, and that this capacity should be graven in stone in their minds as to what is possible. I also say that there will be other such instances, and we should do our best to encourage them. But we should also take note of the difficulties ahead to such instances where workers are forced to try and take over a workplace that has been run into the ground by half-assed management.

Far too much of present day anarchism consists of hopping blindly from issue to issue without learning much of any use when such issues eventually dissipate as they will always do. There are some, of course, who think that this situation is just the cat's pajamas, and they do their best to perpetuate such a state of affairs. But others who see anarchism not as existential justification nor as a "business opportunity", who see it as a real possible alternative for ordinary people should not fall into this trap. When such situations come and go questions such as "what was done right", "why did we fail in the end", "what did we do wrong" and "what more could we do in similar situations" should always be asked. First...recognize that something is over, and then question from there. Simply pulling something out of the black hole of old internet postings may be a necessary first step.

Molly is of the opinion that such workers' takeovers are not inevitably doomed, though the likelihood of their success will vary from case to case. What factors would influence whether such things would work or not ? Molly is also of the opinion that proving that such takeovers could work in the situations that they are likely to occur in today (unfortunately usually due to mismanagement by previous owners) is an absolute necessity for the next stage- takeovers in situations where financial crisis is not part of the local weather. Not that such takeovers shouldn't be contemplated even before there were other examples of success in crisis situations. The power of pension funds is an untapped power for such a project. What has to be done is to convince people that such a use is reasonable. So give it some thought.

GERMANY:
STRIKE-BIKE PRODUCTION STARTS, PRESS RELEASE #4:
The following is the latest press release from the International Secretariat of the FAU-AIT (the German section of the International Workers' Association) on the 'Strike-Bike', now resuming production under self-management.

Production will start again on Monday, the 22nd of October at 6:30 am!. Finally, on October 22nd the bicycle factory in Nordhausen will start operations again. From 6:30 am the 'Strike-Bike' will be produced under full self management and without bosses. The 1,800 bicycles will be produced and delivered to the customers at the beginning of November. People who are interested in a 'Strike-Bike' but who didn't get one of the 1,800 now have the possibility of putting their name down on a reservation list at the webpage http://www.strike-bike.de/ .

Media representatives from press, radio and television are welcome. we strongly ask for advance notice. Due to public interest accreditation is needed.

Those present will include colleagues from 'Bikes-in-Nordhausen e, V as well as members of the FAU, of the Cafe Libertad Collective and other unions from other countries.

Please register in a timely fashion by fax:
Bikes-in-Nordhausen e. V
Freiherr-vom-Stein-Str. 31, 99734 Nordhausen
Tel. 03631-622 124; Fax 03631-622 170
email: fahrradwerk@gmx.de

GERMANY:

THE STRIKE-BIKE WILL BE PRODUCED:

SENSATIONAL SUCCESS FOR WORKERS OF OCCUPIED BICYCLE FACTORY:

After only two weeks of effort most of the needed orders for bicycles from the occupied factory in Nordhausen Germany have been received. The target is 1,800 by the end of October, and so far over 1,300 orders have been received from all over the world. The workers at the factory have decided to start production of the "strike-bike" which will, appropriately be coloured red. With help from the anarcho-syndicalist FAU (Freie Arbeiterinnen und Arbeiter Union) of Germany people all across Europe made presentations, visited bicycle dealers and spread the word in numerous other ways. Hundreds of websites reported on the events. It was picked up by the mass media in Germany. The home page of the strike-bike http://www.strike-bike.de was visited 64,000 times. The workers at the factory plan to start up production at the end of October, but orders are still needed. To see more go to the website above or...

"Bikes in Nordhausen e.V."

c/o Andre Kegel

Bruno-Kunze-Str. - 99734 Nordhausen

Telefon: 03631-622 124 and 03631- 403 591

Fax : 03631- 622 170

email fahrradwerk@gmx.de

For further information about the campaign of the FAU Strike-Bike Solidarity Group:

Folkert Mohrhof

-mobile 0179-4863252

Monday through Friday 10:am-3pm:

+49 40-20 90 68 96

presse@strike-bike.de

GERMANY:

BICYCLE PLANT UNDER WORKERS' CONTROL:

Since the 10th of July workers at the Bike Systems GmbH factory in have been on strike and occupying the Company's factory in the Thuringian Nordhausen area of Germany. The Company applied for bankruptcy protection on August 10th, a possibly very planned move as the factory was "stripped" of productive assets before the strike actually began. Yes...you can indeed make good money out of being bankrupt, especially if you plan ahead. Production at the plant had actually stopped as of June 30th. Various plotters have been operating to acquire the facility and restart operations under what can only be described as a "weapon of mass destruction of workers' rights" (see http://www.bike-eu.com/news/2484/bikes-systems-possible-re-start-after-insolvency.html ). The workers who have been occupying the plant, however, have their own ideas. They have now decided to resume bike production under a self-managed system. The German anarcho-syndicalist union, the FAU (Freie Arbeiterinnen und Arbeiter Union) has joined them in solidarity and is arranging to build a solidarity marketing campaign for the bikes that will be produced by the new self managed factory. Molly reproduces below an article from the Libcom site that provides a translation from the German. Molly has slightly edited this article for reasons of proper English usage. Molly's comments follow.

"Hamburg/Nordhausen, 19th of September in 2007:

Staff of occupied bicycle factory in the Thuringian Nordhausen take up production in self-management again:

The 135 colleagues of the bicycle factory Bike Systems GmbH in the Thuringian Nordhausen who have occupied the factory since the 10th of July, 2007 decided to resume the production of bicycles under self-management. To achieve this aim 1,800 binding orders on bicycles must be received before October 2nd. So the colleagues are working together with the anarcho-syndicalist union FAU (Freie Arbeterinnen und Arbeiter Union-Free Workers' Union) which has formed for this campaign the internet page www.strike-bike.de .

For more than two months the staff have kept the factory in the south of the Harz Mountains occupied in a triple shift. They want to prevent the definite dismantling and sale of the factory. The filing for bankruptcy as of August 10th faces long odds: The factory is exploited and run down. The hall was emptied except for the coating line. the staff receives unemployment compensation and hopes for a new concept and a new investor.

THE "STRIKE BIKE- SOLIDARITY BIKES FROM NORDHAUSEN:

During the occupation and in the wake of discussions during the visits of solidarity people the colleagues of the factory developed the idea to initially take up production under self-management for a short time. Because it is not only the point to only prevent the removal of the last machines and to wait for a new investor, the idea of a "Strike-Bike" met with more and more response. Now the opportunity arises to show the ability for the workers to develop their own concepts and to self-manage production and distribution.

If all goes well and 1,800 advance orders are collected for the bicycles produced under self-management, we will spread the idea of solidarity and bolster colleagues in similar situations to not let themselves be restructured to zero. By whomsoever !

The staff receives assistance in solidarity from the member of the anarcho-syndicalist union Freie Arbeiterrinnen und Arbeiter Union (Free Workers' Union) which will become active in the whole of Germany to spread the knowledge of the striking bicycle workers and to support the sale of the 'Strike-Bike'.

For more information go to http://www.strike-bike.de

For background information and the history of the occupation see http://www.labournet.de/branchen/sonstige/fahrzeug/bikesystems.html

To get in contact with the staff and to take orders see:

Bikes in Nordhausen e.V.

c/o Andre Kegel

Bruno-Kunze-Str 39- 99734 Nordhausen

Telefon 03631-622-124 and 03631-403-591

Fax 03631-622-170

email fahrradwerk@gmx.de

For further information about the FAU-Strike Bike solidarity Group see spokesperson

Folkert Mohrhof

-mobile 0179-4863252 and:

from Monday to Friday 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

+49- 40- 20906896

The original unedited communique can be seen at the Libcom link given above

MOLLY COMMENTS:

THIS is the sort of thing that all rational anarchists should celebrate, encourage, support and publicize as widely as possible. With all its limitations this is about 2,000 light years closer to the anarchist idea of "direct action" than dozens upon dozens of set piece theatrical confrontations with police at various "summits". NONE of these little spectacular (in the situationalist sense) acts of theatre ever accomplish more than building an illusion of a movement while at the same time demonstrating to those outside of the charmed circle that anarchists are more than slightly demented because they like to lose battle after battle after battle. The workers at this plant do actual real direct action. It is actions that actually accomplishes something, that has at least a reasonable chance of success. It is not symbolic play acting.

Yes... there are problems with this action by the German workers. In the present configuration of forces it can only be temporary. It is a delaying action while waiting for the "new investor". Its great success will be that it will show that workplaces can be managed without bosses, and it will show this to a particularly "conservative" audience in Germany. The "legend" will live on after the reality has died.

Molly wants to call attention to a certain aspect of this dispute. The workers at the plant receive unemployment payments". This means that they can hold out much longer and "take the chance" of trying to restart production under self-management. This advantage is the result of the German state having a long tradition of a "tamed social democracy". This is not necessarily the case in other countries. Here in Canada the workers would have been cut off long ago, assuming that they could ever have collected EI. In a country such as Venezuela, ruled by a pseudo-populist demagogue the workers would have had the choice of one of three options: 1)integration into a nationalized system at much lower wages ,2)simply being ignored just like Canada or 3) being subjected to the full force of a much more violent repression if the owners of the factory were "bum buddies" of Chavez (part of the 'BoliBourgeoisie' as it is called down there). Molly thinks that this is further proof of her contention that a mild and tamed social democracy is the best environment in which to build libertarian socialism. NO...no demands for nationalization, but many demands that make peoples' lives easier whether they are in struggle or not.

It would be interesting to compare and contrast these sort of things in Germany with the "recuperated workplaces" in Argentina. Germany is not Argentina. Argentina today is not Spain circa 1936. The terrain for the struggle for liberty changes. Both the Argentinian examples and the German one as well depend far too much on the benevolence of the state. THIS is where Mutualism supplements syndicalism. There will be no more "sudden overturns". Just a long and grinding struggle. The "Revolution" today is not Blitzkrieg. It is trench warfare. Initiatives such as those of the German bike workers are a great advance. What is needed is the financial muscle to support such initiatives. This can only be provided by Mutualist credit organizations. Only such things can offer the financial muscle to make self-management not just a holding action until a new boss is found but rather a viable alternative to the cloying arms of the state. Can our present Credit Unions be reformed so that they can provide such support ? Are other institutions needed ? What will they be ? All these are open questions. How do we escape dependence on the state ?