| Written by PSTU – Brasil |
| Thursday, 26 April 2012 00:09 |
 We must unify the struggles There are important struggles in the country, such as construction workers strikes, public servants contract campaign, the popular mobilizations against evictions promoted by state governments, and many others. The consequences of international economic crisis will, probably, lead the class struggle polarization in Brazil to rise further. This is why workers need to advance on the unification of their struggles and find an organization that is at their side. Each one of the struggles has less chance of winning if they are isolated. And workers must overcome the illusions on the national government and on the Federations of Trade Unions (CUT and Força Sindical)[1] that support it. The Congress of the CSP-Conlutas should be an alternative to all this. The CSP-Conlutas established itself as the main achievement in the reorganization of the labor, popular and youth movements. We are in a difficult moment for the labor movement: the third term of a PT government still has considerable weight among the workers, asserting a class collaboration policy and a neoliberal plan. So, the existence and strengthening of the CSP-Conlutas have an enormous importance to counterbalance this influence. The Unions Central of the struggles The struggles come in the first place. It is no coincidence that the CSP-Conlutas is linked to the most important demonstrations of the latest period. The fight against repossession of Pinheirinho[2], which had national and international repercussions, was headed by the CSP-Conlutas. The huge rallies in Brasilia, the only big national mobilizations of opposition to the government were also led by the CSP-Conlutas. The trade unions and opposition lists connected to the Central are an important part of the contract campaign of public servants. The construction workers’ strikes of Belém (PA) and Fortaleza (CE) were led by unions affiliated with it. Democratic functioning Secondly because the CSP-Conlutas is a united front organization, plural, with different organizations from different backgrounds, which preserves the workers’ democracy as the basis for its functioning. We live in difficult times in which the Union bureaucracies control with iron hands the trade unions, while political parties impose their bureaucratic control over the organizations (unions, associations). Workers’ democracy allows the basis to decide on the major controversies, promoting unity in diversity. A Unions Central that is not only of labor, but of all movements Thirdly, because it is a Central that goes beyond organizing trade unions. The unity between the labor and popular movements enabled that the Steelworkers Union of São José dos Campos and Pinheirinho’s Community joined to fight back the state government’s attacks. The unity between the youth movement and the workers is another milestone of the Central. The ANEL (National Assembly of Students – Free) also established itself as the only national alternative for students against the pro-government UNE (National Union of Students). The victory of a list formed by ANEL and by UNE’s left sectors for the DCE (Central Union of Students) of USP (University of São Paulo)[3] elections against the Right shows the strength of this alternative. The struggles against sexist, racist and homophobic oppressions have an important role in the Central. The Movement Women in Struggle has established itself in the struggle against sexism. The Quilombo Race and Class[4] has just won a popular struggle in São Luís (MA), increasing its weight among the quilombos of the region. Socialist Central Fourthly, the CSP-Conlutas advocates socialism. In a time when most of the left trends have abandoned socialism, it is very important for the CSP-Conlutas to be part of the mass movement in Brazil. There is no national opposition to the government in the left-wing spectrum compared to the CSP-Conlutas. The two sectors of the Intersindical[5] failed to establish a real attractive alternative to CUT and Força Sindical. The forces from Intersindical that split the CONCLAT in 2010, failed to provide an alternative, and one of the Unions linked to that previous split will be present (Fenasps – National Federation of Workers in Health, Labor, and Social Security) at CSP-Conlutas’ Congress as an observer. It is time then to build a unitary organization. Join this struggle. Source: Opinião Socialista nº 440, April 2012 We must unify the struggles There are important struggles in the country, such as construction workers strikes, public servants contract campaign, the popular mobilizations against evictions promoted by state governments, and many others. The consequences of international economic crisis will, probably, lead the class struggle polarization in Brazil to rise further. This is why workers need to advance on the unification of their struggles and find an organization that is at their side. Each one of the struggles has less chance of winning if they are isolated. And workers must overcome the illusions on the national government and on the Federations of Trade Unions (CUT and Força Sindical)[1] that support it. The Congress of the CSP-Conlutas should be an alternative to all this. The CSP-Conlutas established itself as the main achievement in the reorganization of the labor, popular and youth movements. We are in a difficult moment for the labor movement: the third term of a PT government still has considerable weight among the workers, asserting a class collaboration policy and a neoliberal plan. So, the existence and strengthening of the CSP-Conlutas have an enormous importance to counterbalance this influence. The Unions Central of the struggles The struggles come in the first place. It is no coincidence that the CSP-Conlutas is linked to the most important demonstrations of the latest period. The fight against repossession of Pinheirinho[2], which had national and international repercussions, was headed by the CSP-Conlutas. The huge rallies in Brasilia, the only big national mobilizations of opposition to the government were also led by the CSP-Conlutas. The trade unions and opposition lists connected to the Central are an important part of the contract campaign of public servants. The construction workers’ strikes of Belém (PA) and Fortaleza (CE) were led by unions affiliated with it. Democratic functioning Secondly because the CSP-Conlutas is a united front organization, plural, with different organizations from different backgrounds, which preserves the workers’ democracy as the basis for its functioning. We live in difficult times in which the Union bureaucracies control with iron hands the trade unions, while political parties impose their bureaucratic control over the organizations (unions, associations). Workers’ democracy allows the basis to decide on the major controversies, promoting unity in diversity. A Unions Central that is not only of labor, but of all movements Thirdly, because it is a Central that goes beyond organizing trade unions. The unity between the labor and popular movements enabled that the Steelworkers Union of São José dos Campos and Pinheirinho’s Community joined to fight back the state government’s attacks. The unity between the youth movement and the workers is another milestone of the Central. The ANEL (National Assembly of Students – Free) also established itself as the only national alternative for students against the pro-government UNE (National Union of Students). The victory of a list formed by ANEL and by UNE’s left sectors for the DCE (Central Union of Students) of USP (University of São Paulo)[3] elections against the Right shows the strength of this alternative. The struggles against sexist, racist and homophobic oppressions have an important role in the Central. The Movement Women in Struggle has established itself in the struggle against sexism. The Quilombo Race and Class[4] has just won a popular struggle in São Luís (MA), increasing its weight among the quilombos of the region. Socialist Central Fourthly, the CSP-Conlutas advocates socialism. In a time when most of the left trends have abandoned socialism, it is very important for the CSP-Conlutas to be part of the mass movement in Brazil. There is no national opposition to the government in the left-wing spectrum compared to the CSP-Conlutas. The two sectors of the Intersindical[5] failed to establish a real attractive alternative to CUT and Força Sindical. The forces from Intersindical that split the CONCLAT in 2010, failed to provide an alternative, and one of the Unions linked to that previous split will be present (Fenasps – National Federation of Workers in Health, Labor, and Social Security) at CSP-Conlutas’ Congress as an observer. It is time then to build a unitary organization. Join this struggle. Source: Opinião Socialista nº 440, April 2012 We must unify the struggles There are important struggles in the country, such as construction workers strikes, public servants contract campaign, the popular mobilizations against evictions promoted by state governments, and many others. The consequences of international economic crisis will, probably, lead the class struggle polarization in Brazil to rise further. This is why workers need to advance on the unification of their struggles and find an organization that is at their side. Each one of the struggles has less chance of winning if they are isolated. And workers must overcome the illusions on the national government and on the Federations of Trade Unions (CUT and Força Sindical)[1] that support it. The Congress of the CSP-Conlutas should be an alternative to all this. The CSP-Conlutas established itself as the main achievement in the reorganization of the labor, popular and youth movements. We are in a difficult moment for the labor movement: the third term of a PT government still has considerable weight among the workers, asserting a class collaboration policy and a neoliberal plan. So, the existence and strengthening of the CSP-Conlutas have an enormous importance to counterbalance this influence. The Unions Central of the struggles The struggles come in the first place. It is no coincidence that the CSP-Conlutas is linked to the most important demonstrations of the latest period. The fight against repossession of Pinheirinho[2], which had national and international repercussions, was headed by the CSP-Conlutas. The huge rallies in Brasilia, the only big national mobilizations of opposition to the government were also led by the CSP-Conlutas. The trade unions and opposition lists connected to the Central are an important part of the contract campaign of public servants. The construction workers’ strikes of Belém (PA) and Fortaleza (CE) were led by unions affiliated with it. Democratic functioning Secondly because the CSP-Conlutas is a united front organization, plural, with different organizations from different backgrounds, which preserves the workers’ democracy as the basis for its functioning. We live in difficult times in which the Union bureaucracies control with iron hands the trade unions, while political parties impose their bureaucratic control over the organizations (unions, associations). Workers’ democracy allows the basis to decide on the major controversies, promoting unity in diversity. A Unions Central that is not only of labor, but of all movements Thirdly, because it is a Central that goes beyond organizing trade unions. The unity between the labor and popular movements enabled that the Steelworkers Union of São José dos Campos and Pinheirinho’s Community joined to fight back the state government’s attacks. The unity between the youth movement and the workers is another milestone of the Central. The ANEL (National Assembly of Students – Free) also established itself as the only national alternative for students against the pro-government UNE (National Union of Students). The victory of a list formed by ANEL and by UNE’s left sectors for the DCE (Central Union of Students) of USP (University of São Paulo)[3] elections against the Right shows the strength of this alternative. The struggles against sexist, racist and homophobic oppressions have an important role in the Central. The Movement Women in Struggle has established itself in the struggle against sexism. The Quilombo Race and Class[4] has just won a popular struggle in São Luís (MA), increasing its weight among the quilombos of the region. Socialist Central Fourthly, the CSP-Conlutas advocates socialism. In a time when most of the left trends have abandoned socialism, it is very important for the CSP-Conlutas to be part of the mass movement in Brazil. There is no national opposition to the government in the left-wing spectrum compared to the CSP-Conlutas. The two sectors of the Intersindical[5] failed to establish a real attractive alternative to CUT and Força Sindical. The forces from Intersindical that split the CONCLAT in 2010, failed to provide an alternative, and one of the Unions linked to that previous split will be present (Fenasps – National Federation of Workers in Health, Labor, and Social Security) at CSP-Conlutas’ Congress as an observer. It is time then to build a unitary organization. Join this struggle. Source: Opinião Socialista nº 440, April 2012 [1] CUT – Central Única dos Trabalhadores – and Força Sindical are the major labor federations in Brazil. [2]To know more about Pinheirinhos’ eviction read: http://litci.org/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1958:governor-alckmin-has-his-hands-bloody-by-pinheirinhos-massacre&catid=8:brazil [3] University of São Paulo(USP) is a public university in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. It is the largest Brazilian university and the country’s most prestigious educational institution. [4]A quilombo is a Brazilian hinterland settlement founded by escaped slavesof African origin, called the Quilombolas, during colonization of Brazil. Quilombo Raça e Classe is an organization that fights against racism. [5]Intersindical – Labor organization that split in two sectors 3 years ago. One of them joined the Conclat in 2010 to found a new labor federation, but left the congress after being in the minority on important issues. [1] CUT – Central Única dos Trabalhadores – and Força Sindical are the major labor federations in Brazil. [2]To know more about Pinheirinhos’ eviction read: http://litci.org/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1958:governor-alckmin-has-his-hands-bloody-by-pinheirinhos-massacre&catid=8:brazil [3] University of São Paulo(USP) is a public university in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. It is the largest Brazilian university and the country’s most prestigious educational institution. [4]A quilombo is a Brazilian hinterland settlement founded by escaped slavesof African origin, called the Quilombolas, during colonization of Brazil. Quilombo Raça e Classe is an organization that fights against racism. [5]Intersindical – Labor organization that split in two sectors 3 years ago. One of them joined the Conclat in 2010 to found a new labor federation, but left the congress after being in the minority on important issues. [1] CUT – Central Única dos Trabalhadores – and Força Sindical are the major labor federations in Brazil. [2]To know more about Pinheirinhos’ eviction read: http://litci.org/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1958:governor-alckmin-has-his-hands-bloody-by-pinheirinhos-massacre&catid=8:brazil [3] University of São Paulo(USP) is a public university in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. It is the largest Brazilian university and the country’s most prestigious educational institution. [4]A quilombo is a Brazilian hinterland settlement founded by escaped slavesof African origin, called the Quilombolas, during colonization of Brazil. Quilombo Raça e Classe is an organization that fights against racism. [5]Intersindical – Labor organization that split in two sectors 3 years ago. One of them joined the Conclat in 2010 to found a new labor federation, but left the congress after being in the minority on important issues. |
