|
EVENTOS
#35
Conferencia
Caribeña
Caribbean Open Forum English, French
and Spanish.
Building the Caribben Conference of December 2002
 IN THIS MESSAGE
1) Editorial of Inaugural Issue of
"Caribbean Open Forum" (September 2002): "Toward the Caribbean
Conference of December 2002"
2) Roseau (Dominica) Declaration --
April 4, 2002
3) Building the Caribben Conference of
December 2002: "Report on the July 11-12, 2002, Meeting in Guadeloupe -
Conclusions Statement"
--------------o---------------
Toward the Caribbean Conference of
December 2002
1) Editorial of Inaugural Issue of
"Caribbean Open Forum" (September 2002)
Toward the Caribbean Conference of
December 2002
As you can read in this first issue of
"Caribbean Open Forum," a Caribbean Conference will be held December
12-13, 2002, in Guadeloupe around the following topics:
- against deregulation
- for the defence and the reconquest of workers; rights
- for trade union independence
- against the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), which will bankrupt the
economies of the small countries already destroyed by three centuries of
colonization,
- for the right of the peoples of the region to govern themselves.
 It is no coincidence that the
conference is being held in Guadeloupe. Thanks to the Union of Guadeloupe
Workers (UGTG), which is the co-convener of the conference, it can be said that
Guadeloupe is the capital of trade union independence. The complete independence
of the UGTG in relation to the State and all foreign investors, and its refusal
to surrender to the call for a "social dialogue," have enabled the
UGTG to obtain significant victories and and to win the confidence of the
workers, and, more generally, of the oppressed population. One recent example is
the victory of the workers of the National Employment Agency (ANPE), which
created a precedent that their coworkers in France want to use as a precedent
for jurisprudence. [See article inside.]
 The capitalist exploiters have
understood the importance of the independence of the workers' organisations.
This is why they are hell-bent on destroying that independence by trying to make
them collaborate in the implementatioin of their plans -- all in the name of the
"humanisation of globalisation."
You can read in the article titled,
"The European Union and the Promotion of the Social Dialogue in the
Caribbean," the role that the European Union has been assigned in this
region.
In opposition to this generalised
offensive, a movement of resistance has built up, largely around the
International Liaison Committee for a Workers' International (ILC), the San
Francisco Labor Council (AFL-CIO), as well as a whole host of unions, labor and
democratic rights organisations on all continents. This resistance is
manifested, in part, by the regular holding of international conferences against
deregulation and privatisation, in favour of the reconquest of workers' rights,
for trade union independence. The last such conference was held in Berlin,
Germany, in February 2002, gathering delegates from 51 countries. Its complete
report has been published in a book issued in French, English, Spanish and
German.
In our Caribbean region, the Berlin
Conference was prepared by a meeting in Martinique in December 2001 that brought
together militants and unionists from Martinique, Guadeloupe and Dominica. The
Caribbean delegates present in Berlin, in the face of the danger to the entire
region represented by the extension of NAFTA to the rest of the Western
Hemisphere in the form of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), considered
it a necessity to organise -- prior to the Conference of the Americas Against
the FTAA, scheduled for 2003 -- a special conference for the Caribbean at the
end of 2002.
The organisers of the Caribbean
Conference of 2002 stand firmly on the ground of the full independence of
workers' organisations. The framework of this Conference is the one contained in
the Declaration of Roseau (Dominica), which is published in this issues, as well
as the full financial independence of the conference, meaning its total
self-financing.
- The Editorial Board of Caribbean Open
Forum
--------------o---------------
2) Roseau (Dominica) Declaration
On Thursday, April 4, 2002, a symposium
was held at the national headquarters of the National Workers Union (NWU) in
Roseau, Dominica. Delegates from Martinique and Guadeloupe were also present.
Among those in attendance were the following:
- Mr. Bernard Nicholas, of the Dominica
Trade Union (DTU)
- A member of the Movement for a Workers and Peasants Party in Guadeloupe
(MPTPG)
- A representative from the Workers and Peasants Alliance of Martinique (AOP)
- Officers of the National Workers Union of Dominica, including President
General Rawlings F.A. Jemmot.
The symposium took stock of the
following:
* The conclusions of the Conference
Against Deregulation, for Trade Union Independence, and For the Rights of People
to Self-Determination held in Martinique on December 14-15, 2001; and
* The conclusions of both the
International Conference Against Deregulation and For Labor Rights For All -- as
well as the International Working Women's Conference -- held in Berlin, Germany,
in early February 2002.
The symposium also took note that an
International Trade Union Conference in Defence of the ILO Conventions was being
planned for June 16, 2002, in Geneva, Switzerland.
It further noted that the delegates
from North and South America gathered at the Berlin Conference in February 2002
had pledged to convene a Western Hemisphere Conference Against the Free Trade
Area of the Americas (FTAA) some time in 2003.
On the basis of these observations, the
participants in the Roseau symposium therefore took the following decisions:
* To organise a conference among the
people of the Caribbean
- against the deregulation of labor rights
- for the defence and reconquest of trade union rights
- for the independence of the trade unions
- against the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), which will have a
devastating impact on the weak economies of the region
- for the rights of the peoples of the Caribbean to self-determination.
It was therefore agreed to hold a
Caribbean Sub-Regional Conference on these issues in December 2002 in
Guadeloupe.
It was also decided that a delegation
from the Caribbean should be present at the June 2002 International Labor
Conference in Defence of the ILO Conventions and that a regionwide campaign
should be launched around the following demands:
- for the defence of maternity rights
and the reconquest of ILO Convention 103;
- against child labor and for the
defence of ILO Convention 138, and
- against the dismantling of the Labor
Administration in Martinique undertaken by the French government, which among
other things, is responsible for the attacks leveled against Mr. Jacques
Bertholle, the director of the Labor Administration in Martinique.
The participants in the Roseau
symposium also agreed to publish documents in Spanish, French and English
informing about and exposing the conditions of employment of workers in the
Caribbean. The first publication should be out by August 2002.
It was further agreed that a
Preparatory Committee should be set up to review the objectives of the
Conference to be held at the end of the year in Guadeloupe. The committee will
be responsible for gathering contributions for the conference preparatory
bulletin and preparing the conference agenda around the following proposed
items:
* the problems of the trade unions and
the struggle for trade union independence
* the consequences and impact of the
"free trade" agreements for the peoples of the Caribbean region
* the problems incurred by the foreign
debt and the structural adjustment plans of the IMF
* the crisis in agriculture, fishing,
tourism, and education
* the situation of working women
* the problem of child labor
* the systematic undermining of the ILO
Conventions and of all bodies aimed at protecting the rights contained therein.
--------------o---------------
3) BUILDING THE CARIBBEAN CONFERENCE
OF DECEMBER 2002
(on the basis of the Roseau Declaration - April 4, 2002)
Report on the July 11-12, 2002
meeting in Guadeloupe
Conclusions statement
On Thursday and Friday, July 11-12,
2002, representatives from the Movement for Workers and Peasants Party of
Guadeloupe (MPTPG), the Workers and Peasants Alliance of Martinique, the
National Workers Union (NWU) of Dominica, and the Dominica Trade Union (DTU) met
in Guadeloupe at the invitation of the MPTPG with the aim of giving a concrete
continuation to the proposal to hold a Caribbean Conference that was submitted
at the April 4, 2002, meeting in Roseau (Dominica) with those same
organisations.
A solidarity gathering was held at the
striking workers' picketlines at Chronopost and SO.TRA.PEINT. A fruitful
discussion was organised with UGTG trade union section representatives from
GADDARKHAN enterprises. These enterprises are also established in Dominica,
where the workers are represented by a DTU section. That discussion will lead to
mutual information initiatives and solidarity between UGTG and DTU unionists
from those same enterprises.
A meeting was organised with UGTG
leadership which declared itself to be in total agreement with the conference
objectives such as set out in April 4, 2002 "Roseau Declaration" and
expressed a principled agreement, in accordance with its congress mandate, to
totally be one of the partners of that conference.
The following decisions were taken:
… The conference will take place on Thursday 12 and Friday 13 December 2002 in
Guadeloupe;
… It will be set on the basis of the financial independence; it means
self-financing of all delegates;
… It will be within the framework of April 4, 2002 "Roseau
Declaration";
… The first issue of "Caribbean Open Forum" (new formula) will be
out in the first week of August 2002 in English, French, Spanish.
This journal will be the centralising
organ of contributions to the conference.
signed/
S. APATOUT for the MPTPG:
J. PETITOT for the AOP
L.B. NICHOLAS for the DTU
R.F.A. JEMMOTT for the NWU
Inicio de página
--------------o---------------
Delegación
del Partido Social-Revolucionario Democrático en la Conferencia del Caribe
La delegación del Partido Social Revolucionario
Democrático de Cuba en la Conferencia del Caribe de sindicalistas y activistas
sociales que se celebra en la Isla de Guadalupe teniendo en su agenda como
problemas prioritario la necesidad de la integración del Caribe, eso si,... con
una acción determinante del movimiento obrero organizado, único garante de los
intereses del pueblo frente a la globalización, el ALCA y la desregulación
laboral, últimos engendros de la sociedad capitalista, ya en su crisis
colapsante.
En la conferencia de San Francisco hace
aproximadamente tres años los social-revolucionarios cubanos, hicimos especial
énfasis, en que la globalización, instrumento del liberalismo económico,
sólo era posible detenerla, por la acción coordinada a nivel internacional del
movimiento obrero organizado, independiente de gobiernos y partidos políticos.
En la conferencia de Berlín, al principio del
presente año. Los social-revolucionarios cubanos, denunciamos, la gran ofensiva
por la desregulación laboral, acción prioritaria del nuevo orden que se
pretende imponer, en esta fase final del capitalismo. El cual considera que el
trabajo es una mercancía más, que su precio se determina por la oferta y la
demanda.
Expresamos además, lo urgente y necesario que
es crear una fuerte coordinación en el Caribe de trabajadores y activistas
sociales para enfrentarnos decididamente a la desregulación del trabajo y el
ALCA, instrumento para subordinar a los pueblos de América Latina y el Caribe,
que nos pretende imponer la condición de pueblos marginales solo útiles para
el trabajo en las maquilas y en centros turísticos.
Los social-revolucionarios cubanos, consideramos
la necesidad de una amplia coordinación para crear un fuerte, y eficiente
movimiento social que nos permita enfrentarnos al ALCA y la desregulación
laboral.
Estudiar las posibilidades de la Anfictionía
del Caribe, comprometida con un movimiento obrero organizado no subordinado a
los gobiernos o a los partidos políticos, y en la cual podamos formular un
proyecto de crecimiento económico complementando nuestros recursos naturales y
capacidades de nuestros pueblos.
Inicio de página
Jan.
18, 2003:
MASS DEMONSTRATIONS in DC & SF
Jan. 19, 2003:
GRASSROOTS PEACE CONGRESS IN WASHINGTON, DC
The International A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition calls for all those who oppose a new
war in Iraq to participate in the People's Anti-War Referendum and to organize
to attend the mass demonstrations in Washington, DC and San Francisco on January
18 and the Grassroots Peace Congress in Washington DC on January 19. Scroll down
to find out about centers organizing transportation to this from many cities
around the U.S. If there's no one organizing this campaign in your city, email nowardc@yahoo.com
or fill out the form below to become an Organizing Center and begin getting the
word out. Also, fill out the form if you are organizing transportation to the
Peace Congress on Jan. 18-19 from your area and your contact information is not
listed here! It will be posted on this page.
For more information, go to www.VoteNoWar.org/congress.html
Click here
to ENDORSE the January 18-19 Mass Demonstrations and Grassroots Peace
Congress! Click here
to view endorsers.
AREAS Organizing for Jan. 18-19 Mass Demonstration and Peace Congress:
CONNECTICUT
FAIRFIELD, CT Peace For EveryoneCONTACT: Everett Briggs at fairfieldbus@internationalanswer.org
or (203)336-1515
FLORIDA
MIAMI BEACH, FL CONTACT: Sarah Iglesias at miamibeachbus@internationalanswer.org
or 305-205-1693
GEORGIA
ATLANTA,GA CONTACT: (770)989-2536, or email atlantabus@internationalanswer.org
, or go to www.atlantaiac.org for more info
RICHMOND HILL, GA CONTACT: Mandy Morris at: richmondhillbus@internationalanswer.org
or (770)989-2536.
UNION CITY, GA Woman's WorldCONTACT: Betty Couvertier at: unioncitybus@internationalanswer.org
or (770)969-3123.
ILLINOIS
CHICAGO, IL CONTACT: chicagobus@internationalanswer.org
or (773)250-7006 TRANSPORTATION: Contact for more details
INDIANA
TERRE HAUTE, IN Terre Haute Stop War on Iraq CONTACT: Cathy McGuire at: terrehautebus@internationalanswer.org
or (812)235-8351TRANSPORTATION: Contact for more information.
IOWA
IOWA CITY, IA Campaign Against WarCONTACT: David Goodner at iowacitybus1@internationalanswer.org
or 319-354-9200 x6141,Douglas Anderson at iowacitybus2@internationalanswer.org
or 319-337-6874,Claire Oconnor at iowacitybus3@internationalanswer.org
or 319-354-2085 TRANSPORTATION: Buses leave at 5pm on Friday the 17th. The cost
of each ticket is $100 and there may be possibilities of financial reimbursement
for those who cannot afford to pay the full amount. Contact us!
KANSAS
KANSAS CITY, KS Outreach:HumanityCONTACT: contact Genevie Gold, Steven
Gold at kansascitybus@internationalanswer.org
or (913)788-8697Transportation: Contact for more details
MANHATTAN, KS CONTACT: Sarieah at: manhattanksbus@internationalanswer.org
or (785)564-0501TRANSPORTATION: Contact for details.
OLATHE, KS CONTACT: Patrice Cuddy at: olathebus@internationalanswer.org
or(913)648-2256TRANSPORTATION: Leaving early Friday morning, departing DC on
Sunday. Van rental cost about $55 per person.
OVERLAND PARK, KS Kansas City Peace Coalition CONTACT: Bill Douglas overlandparkbus@internationalanswer.org
or(913)648-2256TRANSPORTATION: Contact for details
LOUSIANA
BATON ROUGE, LA Progressive Student Alliance - Louisiana State University
CONTACT:: Erin batonrougebus@internationalanswer.org
or(225)766-1202 TRANSPORTATION: Contact for details
MARYLAND
BALTIMORE, MD - Oct. 26CONTACT: (410) 235-7040 or email baltimorebus@internationalanswer.org
for more info.
MASSACHUSETTS
BOSTON, MA CONTACT: A.N.S.W.E.R. Boston at (617) 522-6626, or email answerboston@iacboston.org
or go to www.iacboston.org/answer for more info.Volunteer Mtgs: Fridays 6:30 pm
284 Amory St Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 617-522-6626 VOLUNTEER MTGS: Fridays 6:30
pm 284 Amory St Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 617-522-6626 http://www.iacboston.org
/directions
SPRINGFIELD, MA CONTACT: 413-538-8537 springfieldbus@internationalanswer.org
MICHIGAN
DETROIT, MI CONTACT:contact phone: 313-831-0750contact email: detroit@internationalanswer.org
MISSISSIPPI
GULFPORT, MS CONTACT: Glen Sandberg at gulfportbus@internationalanswer.org
or (228)864-5700 TRANSPORTATION: Contact for more details
MISSOURI
JACKSON, MO SE Missouri Coalition for Peace and Justice CONTACT: Rebecca
Walkere at jacksonmobus@internationalanswer.org
or (573)204-8125 TRANSPORTATION: Contact for more details
NEW HAMPSHIRE
MANCHESTER, N.H. CONTACT: Gerry Scoppettuolo at manchesterbus@internationalanswer.org
or (603)627-2507
NEW JERSEY
HACKENSACK, NJ CONTACT: Steve Cooper at: hackensackbus@internationalanswer.org
or 201-487-3748, 201-487-3748TRANSPORTATION: Pickups in Hackensack (Essex St
train), Newark (West side of Penn Station), New Brunswick (Rutgers University
Student Center on College Ave). Departing 4:45 am Saturday January 18, returning
late same evening. Please call for rates and info.
LINWOOD, NJ Coalition for Peace and JusticeCONTACT: Norm Cohen at linwoodbus@internationalanswer.org
or (609)601-8583>TRANSPORTATION: Bus will leave from Value City, in the back
of Shore Mall Pleasantville NJ, at 7:30 AM on 1/18; Cost is 25.00 per person and
15.00 for student/fixed income
NEW YORK
ALBANY, NY Capital District for Justice and Peace CONTACT: Yunus Fiske at albanybus@internationalanswer.org
or 518 273 0167.TRANSPORTATION: Contact for details. Most likely several buses
and vans will be leaving, tickets approximately $30 (scholarships will be
available)
BUFFALO, NY CONTACT: Buffalo ANSWER, 716-604-9515, buffalo@internationalanswer.org
CANANDAIGUA,NY CONTACT: Thomas Payne at: canandaiguabus@internationalanswer.org
or (585)615-8380 TRANSPORTATION: Bus seats are $45 per person/ based upon
ability to pay. Contact for more details
CORNING, NY CONTACT: Lisa Chacon at corningbus@internationalanswer.org
or (607) 936-6032TRANSPORTATION: Buses depart Saturday, January 18 at 1 Am and
will Depart DC at 6 pm for 12:30 am arrival (Sunday January 19). For those
wishing to participate in the Grassroots People's Congress on January 19,
special return trip arrangements may be made.
COLUMBIA COUNTY, NY CONTACT: Valerie Edwards and Kurt Lehner at columbiacountybus@internationalanswer.org
or (518)392-4131 TRANSPORTATION: Contact for more details
GENEVA, NY Finger Lakers Against War CONTACT: Jackie Augustine at: genevabus@internationalanswer.org
or (315)789-0929TRANSPORTATION: Transportation: Buses should depart at 11pm
Friday, Jan 17th, return early am (2 or 3) Monday, Jan 20th. One night hotel
(Saturday night), location to be determined. Price approx. $150/person, but
financial assistance will be available.
KINGSTON ,NY Mid-Hudson National People's Campaign CONTACT:(845) 255-5779
kingstonbus@internationalanswer.org
LONG ISLAND, NY CONTACT: Heather Cottin longislandbus@internationalanswer.org
NEW YORK, NY CONTACT:International A.N.S.W.E.R., 212-633-6646, or email: nyc@internationalanswer.org
ROCHESTER, NY CONTACT: Eugene Clancy at rochesterbus@internationalanswer.org
or 585-436-6458
SAG HARBOR, NY Sag Harbor Coalition Against the War CONTACT: Dan Steiger
at sagharborbus@internationalanswer.org
or 631-725-4461TRANSPORTATION: cost approximately $50 per person. Contact for
more details
STONY BROOK, NY Stony Brook Coalition Against War - SUNY at Stony
BrookCONTACT: Adelaide Pangemananstonybrookbus@internationalanswer.org
or 631-689 7965
VESTAL, NY Broome County Peace Action CONTACT: George Haeseler at vestalbus@internationalanswer.org
or (607)729-1044TRANSPORTATION: Bus leaves from Binghamton at 6 AM and depart DC
at 5 PM to arrive back at 11 PM. Seats are $35. To reserve a seat, send a check
for $35 payable to "BC Peace Action" to: BCPA, PO Box 1611,
Binghamton, NY 13902. Include name and e-mail address.
NORTH CAROLINA
WINSTON-SALEM, NC Community for PeaceCONTACT: Mischi Binkley at: winstonsalembus@internationalanswer.org
or (336)777-1812
OHIO
CLEVELAND, OH CONTACT: Peoples Fightback Center, 216-531-4004, clevelandbus@interna
tionalanswer.org
PENNSYLVANIA
MEADVILLE, PA Campus Greens of Allegheny CollegeCONTACT: Blair Anundson at alleghenycollegebus@internationalanswer.org
or (814)332-2148 TRANSPORTATION: Contact for details.
PHILADELPHIA, PA CONTACT: philadelphia@internationalanswer.org
or (215) 724-1618
PITTSBURGH, PA CONTACT: Linda Levin-Messineo at pgh@internationalanswer.org
RHODE ISLAND
PROVIDENCE, RI CONTACT: providence@internationalanswer.org
or (401) 726-2922
SOUTH CAROLINA
MT PLEASANT, SC ThinkingPeople CONTACT: Merrill at mtpleasantbus@internationalanswer.org
or 843-881-9352TRANSPORTATION: Bus leaves Charleston Fri. 5pm returning on Sun.
$72 a person. Need to make own hotel arrangements at Comfort Inn, Falls Church
(703-534-9100) (special "ThinkingPeople" rate).
ROCK HILL, SC Not In Our NameCONTACT: Mary Keenan at or rockhillbus@internationalanswer.org
or (803)324-2568TRANSPORTATION: Bus tickets are $50. Contact for more details
TEXAS
HOUSTON, TX CONTACT: Joanne Gavin or Njeri Shakur at houston@internationalanswer.org
or (713)523-8454 or (713)521-0629
VIRGINIA
RICHMOND, VA CONTACT: Richmonders Against War and Racism, richmondbus@internationalanswer.org
WASHINGTON,DC
WASHINGTON, DC CONTACT: International A.N.S.W.E.R., (202)544-3389, dc@internationalanswer.org
WEST VIRGINIA
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV CONTACT: Jan at shepherdstownbus@internationalanswer.org
or(304)876-1582TRANSPORTATION: Buses leave at 8:30am from White Hall @ Shepherd
College parking lot on the 18th. Contact for more details.
WISCONSIN
MILWAUKEE, WI A Job is a Right CampaignCONTACT: Art Marburg at milwaukeebus@internationalanswer.org
or (414)374-1034
ORGANIZING CENTERS IN THE WEST:
ARIZONA
TUCSON, AZ CONTACT: Contact James Jordan at Turnwind: turnwind_az@yahoo.com
CALIFORNIA
CHICO, CA Chico Peace and Justice CONTACT:(530) 893-9078
EL DORADO/PLACERVILLE, CA CONTACT: (530) 642-1120
EUREKA/ARCATA, CA CONTACT: Redwood Peace and Justice Center(707) 443-7926
FRESNO, CA CONTACT: (559) 485-6356
LOS ANGELES, CA CONTACT: (213) 487-2368 or email iacenterla@action-mail.org
or go to www.actioncenterla.org
for more info
MARIPOSA, CA (209)966 4894
MODESTO/MERCED, CA (209) 821-6454 / (209) 484-0226 (cell)
REDDING/SHASTA CO., CA CONTACT: (530) 275-8559>
SAN DIEGO, CA CONTACT: San Diego I.A.C., (619)-692-4422, or
sdiac@earthlink.net
SAN FRANCISCO, CA CONTACT: (415) 821-6545 or email answer@actionsf.org ,
or go to www.actionsf.org for more info
SANTA CLARA, CA CONTACT: (408) 855-0715
COLORADO
LAKEWOOD, CO CONTACT: Kathy Mannion at lakewoodbus@internationalanswer.org
or(720)962-5654
TELLURIDE, CO This Republic Can! CONTACT: Ernest Eich at telluridebus@internationalanswer.org
or(970)369-5289TRANSPORTATION: planning to travel by bus or plane, contact for
more details.
NEW MEXICO
LAS CRUCES, NM Student Voices for Peace- New Mexico State UniversityCONTACT:
Casey Stevens at: lascrucesbus@internationalanswer.org
TRANSPORTATION: Contact for details.
NEVADA
RENO, NV stewartreno@yahoo.com
OREGON
SOUTHERN OREGON CONTACT: (541) 482-6543
WASHINGTON (STATE)
SEATTLE, WA CONTACT: (206) 325-0085 or email iac_sea@actionseattle.org
or seattle@internationalanswer.org
SPOKANE, WA CONTACT: (509) 838-7870
Inicio de página
La
Unión Europea y la CES contra la independencia sindical
El movimiento político del Manifiesto por la
independencia sindical ha sido constituido a iniciativa de militantes de la CGT
y de la CGT-FO. El movimiento se adhiere al Acuerdo Internacional. Publica un
boletín, uno de cuyos artículos avanzamos extractado.
Boletín de información y de discusión del
Movimiento político del Manifiesto por la independencia sindical.
Las organizaciones sindicales transformadas en
colegisladoras
La segunda gran propuesta en materia de Europa
social del informe adoptado por el Consejo Económico y Social está formulada
así: "Proseguir la mejora de la concertación social y económica."
¿Qué oculta esta fórmula? Leemos en el informe:
"A través de su declaración común, con ocasión de la cumbre de Laeken,
los agentes sociales europeos han expresado su deseo de una organización
unificada y más coherente de un diálogo macroeconómico en el que lo
económico y lo social no sean dos dimensiones separadas, sino por el contrario,
dos elementos que dependan uno de otro y, por lo mismo, se influyan
recíprocamente. En continuidad con la cumbre de Barcelona (marzo de 2002), la
Comisión, en su comunicado de 26 de junio de 2002, acaba de abogar a favor de
una mejor organización del diálogo social y económico y propone al consejo la
creación de una cumbre anual tripartita de concertación por el crecimiento y
el empleo:
"La Comisión:
- apoya el reforzamiento de la concertación
entre los agentes sociales y las instituciones europeas sobre las políticas
económicas y sociales y propone crear una nueva "cumbre social
tripartita", destinada a concentrar las contribuciones de los agentes
sociales en el marco de la estrategia de Lisboa;
- desea reforzar la participación de los
agentes sociales en los procesos abiertos de coordinación, especialmente
consultando a los agentes sociales antes de la redacción de las propuestas de
directrices para el empleo, a fin de que puedan contribuir a ellas en las
mejores condiciones."
El Consejo Económico y Social apoya la
propuesta de decisión sometida por la Comisión al Consejo que supone la
creación de esta cumbre y desea una respuesta positiva por parte de éste, de
manera que se asegure la preparación de la próxima cumbre de primavera en las
mejores condiciones.
Así pues, las organizaciones sindicales, vía
CES, pasarían a ser parte integrante de una cumbre social tripartita para
actuar " en el marco de la estrategia de Lisboa" y
"contribuir" a la elaboración de las directrices para el empleo (que
ya se ha visto lo que representan)
¿Qué otra cosa es esto sino transformar las
organizaciones sindicales en colegisladoras? ¿Y todo esto en nombre de la
"estrategia de Lisboa"? Pero ¿qué es esta estrategia de Lisboa, que
se convertiría en un símbolo del "modelo social europeo"?
Volvamos a las conclusiones de la cumbre europea
de Lisboa de los días 23 y 24 de marzo de 2000. Y atengámonos, una vez más, a
los hechos.
- Punto 17: "El Consejo Europeo demanda
pues a la Comisión, al Consejo y a los Estados miembros, teniendo en cuenta sus
respectivas competencias (...) que se acelere la liberalización en sectores
tales como el gas, la electricidad, los servicios postales y los transportes. Y
lo mismo en lo relativo a la utilización y la gestión del espacio aéreo.
"
La estrategia de Lisboa es, en primer lugar,
esto: la aceleración brutal de todas las privatizaciones de los servicios
públicos, cuyas consecuencias vemos ahora en Francia especialmente con la
EDF-GDF. ¿Y tendrían que integrarse las organizaciones sindicales en esta
estrategia? Se comprende que la Comisión Europea y los jefes de Estado tengan
interés en ello, vista la oposición de los asalariados a las privatizaciones,
tal y como se ha vuelto a expresar el pasado 3 de octubre.
Pero el papel de una organización sindical independiente no puede ser, de
ninguna manera, insertarse en una estrategia semejante de privatización.
Prosigamos:
- Punto 23: "Reducir la presión fiscal que
pesa sobre el trabajo, en especial sobre el trabajo poco cualificado y
escasamente remunerado." Es exactamente la política seguida por todos los
gobiernos sucesivos en todos los países de Europa, que busca, en nombre del
descenso de la presión fiscal, bajar los impuestos sobre las sociedades y, a la
vez, exonerar las cotizaciones sociales adeudadas por los patronos,
representando éstas últimas no una presión fiscal, sino una parte del salario
diferido.
- Punto 26: "Introducir en las escuelas,
los centros de formación, las empresas y los establecimientos de
investigación, colaboraciones para la adquisición de conocimientos que sean
provechosos para todos."
Hablando claro, se trata de dejar toda la formación inicial en manos de la
patronal, y esto en toda Europa. ¿Y tendrían las organizaciones sindicales, a
través de una cumbre tripartita anual, que integrase en esta política de
destrucción de los diplomas y de la cualificación?
.. Punto 8: "Los agentes sociales deben
asociarse más estrechamente a la elaboración, la aplicación y seguimiento de
las directrices apropiadas."
Hemos visto antes lo que suponen estas directrices. ¿Puede tomarse como
"modelo social" el hecho de que las organizaciones sindicales se
asocien más estrechamente a semejante regresión de todos los derechos¿
Habría mucho que decir sobre otros aspectos del punto de vista adoptado por el
Consejo Económico y Social durante su sesión del miércoles 23 de octubre de
2002.
Pero hay motivos para inquietarse por su
alcance, ya que lo que está en juego es la manera en la que el futuro tratado
europeo, preparado por la Convención Europea presidida por Giscard, quiere
integrar a las organizaciones sindicales y cuestionar la soberanía de las
confederaciones nacionales.
Así pues, más que nunca, es la
hora del combate en defensa de la independencia sindical.
Inicio de página
|
