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No Domination, No Authority; We struggle for more on May Day

Traditionally on May Day, workers of the world receive best wishes in the struggle from organizations all over the world. Many of them will remind them of the struggle for the 8-hour day, which led to the tragic events of 1886. This May Day, besides revolutionary greetings, we'd like to begin with a few words about what else the people who lost their lives after the Haymarket incident were fighting for.

The courtroom speeches of the Haymarket martyrs were written down and show us that these were men of ideals that went far beyond just the struggle for better working conditons. Louis Lingg explained that ”Anarchy means no domination or authority of one man over another”.

This idea is very basic to the ideas of anarchism. That all people should be free and equal. But this equality is not the pseudo-equality of the bourgeoise classes, who usually define this word as a equal right to vote for an elected representative. True equality, in our tradition, is expressed by the idea that divisions caused by wealth or access to natural resources need to be destroyed and that restribution take place. That “from each according to their ability, to each according to their need” be the ethic, not the rule of the market or the idea that anybody deserves more due to the fact they were born into a better position. True equality is also the idea that there are no hierarchies, no person or group of people who dominates others. Historically, domination is supported by factors such as inherited wealth, access to resources or living in a larger and dominant group. An anarchist vision wishes to turn this all on its head. Therefore, we do not accept the logic of the bourgeois democracies and we do not accept the current forms of domination that we encounter.

Anarchosyndicalism is an idea which comes from the anarchist tradition. It sees the need for workers' organizations to carry out a class struggle. But it is not limited to this idea. Historically and today, anarchosyndicalism is also the struggle for libertarian communism and a self-managed society which breaks down all hierarchies and is transformed into a society of equals.

On the Extraordinary Congress of USI – Against the Illegitimate Use of the Name IWA

Following the recent Extraordinary Congress of our Italian Section, USI, an article appeared on that organization’s webpage which could be misleading and which forces us to write a clarification. USI is calling for a “refoundation Congress of the IWA”, to be held parallel to the regular IWA Congress in December 2016. Such an event, called outside of the IWA statutory procedures, would have no relation to the International Workers' Association and constitutes an illegitimate use of its name.

In the past, the Italian Section condemned the illegitimate use of the initials IWA (or AIT). Two decades ago, when USI split and the split faction tried to claim the name USI-AIT, the IWA clearly said that only the part of USI which conformed to our principles and which was recognized by the IWA Congress could use the initials of our federation, the IWA (also known by its English and Spanish acronyms, IWA-AIT). Throughout the years, USI has asked the IWA Secretariat and the Sections to defend it against the split faction usurping its name and we have always done this. The reason behind this is natural: only those which belong to the IWA (or IWA-AIT), who are recognized and comply with the statutes and duties of member Sections (ie, paying dues) should use the name. All others only mislead if they claim they are part of this federation they in fact don’t belong to.

Now things look quite different. USI, is calling for a split Congress, to coincide with the legitimate and statutory Congress of the IWA; it is usurping the name of the International Workers' Association and this may mislead other people and organizations. This use of the IWA or AIT initials is just as illegitimate as the use of the initials USI-AIT by the organization that split from it.

Only the Congress of the International Workers’ Association can decide if it would like to hold an Extraordinary Congress and the regular Congresses are established in the statutes. No single organization or faction of organizations can convene a Congress by themselves in accordance with the Statutes of the IWA.

On The Publication of the CNT Spain Regarding the IWA

Recently, the CNT has published their positions on the ”refounding of the IWA”. Several points of their article could cause misunderstandings and are factually incorrect.

Any official decisions of the IWA related to this matter can only be taken at the Congress of the IWA. It is not possible, under the IWA statutes, for the CNT or any other Sections to convoke a refounding conference of the IWA without the approval, in Congress, of the entire IWA. Only if the IWA Congress approves any Ordinary or Extraordinary Congress dedicated to its refoundation can such Congress be considered organic and legitimate.

We stress that only the decisions of the Congress are representative of the IWA's positions. In turn, only the official positions of each member Section are representative of that Section.

Below we have produced a small FAQ related to the points brought up in the publication and to the many questions sent people from around the world have been asking us from the IWA Secretariat. The information herein is based on the actual Congress decisions of the IWA and other facts documented internally in the federation.

Solidarity with the Puppeteers from Below: The State is the Biggest Terrorist

March 21 is World Puppetry Day and on this occasion we would like to remind the world of the situation faced by our comrades, Alfonso and Raul from Puppets from Below. At the beginning of February, the puppeteers from Granada were invited to Madrid carnival celebrations by the muncipality to present their show, The Witch and Don Cristobal. During the performance they were arrested and face up to 7 years in prison.

The puppet show itself was a political commentary on the state practice of framing politcal activists and other serious problems of attacks on freedom and abuse of power. As part of the plot, the police attack the heroine of the story and plants a placard in her premises which serves as the basis for branding her a terrorist. This scene was used to accuse the puppeteers of “glorifying terrorism” and “incitement of hatred”.

For all who know the show and the puppeteers, it is clear that this was an example of critical theatre. It is a gross example of state encroachment on conscience and freedom to try and criminalize people for their political thought.

It may well be that the event organizers in Madrid had no idea what they were sponsoring – but who's fault is that? The puppeteers warned that there may be content inappropriate for children, but parents paid no attention, deciding to denounce them to the police instead.

Much can be said about the show, but one thing is clear: this was not any glorification of terrorism or incitement. Such charges are simply characteristic of the very problems that the puppeteers were denouncing. The abuses of the state have been stepped up in Spain recently, where new laws have been introduced and we see increasing incidents of political repression.

The lnternational Workers' Association send our solidarity to the puppeteers and we demand that all charges be dropped.

Solidaridad con “Títeres desde Abajo”: El estado es el principal terrorista

El 21 de marzo es el Día Mundial de las Marionetas y, en esta ocasión, nos gustaría recordar al mundo la situación que enfrentan nuestros compañeros, Alfonso y Raúl, de Títeres desde Abajo. A principios de febrero, los titiriteros de Granada fueron invitados por el ayuntamiento a presentar su espectáculo, la Bruja y Don Cristóbal, en las celebraciones del carnaval de Madrid. Durante la representación fueron detenidos y se enfrentan hasta a siete años de prisión.

El espectáculo de marionetas, en sí mismo, era una farsa política sobre la práctica estatal de hacer montajes a activistas políticos y sobre otros problemas graves de ataques a la libertad y de abusos de poder. Como parte del argumento, la policía ataca a la heroína de la historia y coloca una pancarta en su casa, lo que sirve de base para etiquetarla como terrorista. Esta escena es la que se utilizó para acusar a los titiriteros de “apología del terrorismo” y de “incitación al odio”.

Para todos los que conocen el espectáculo y a los titiriteros, es claro que se trataba de un ejemplo de teatro crítico. Es un ejemplo en bruto de la invasión del estado en las conciencias y en las libertades para intentar criminalizar a la gente por sus ideas políticas.

Muy bien podría ocurrir que los organizadores del evento en Madrid no tuvieran idea de lo que estaban patrocinando -pero ¿de quién es la culpa de esto? Los titiriteros advirtieron de que podría haber contenidos inadecuados para los niños, pero los padres no prestaron atención, decidiendo en cambio denunciarlos a la policía.

Se pueden decir muchas cosas sobre el espectáculo, pero una cosa es clara: no se trataba de apología ni incitación al terrorismo. Dichos cargos son simplemente característicos de los mismos problemas que estaban denunciando los titiriteros. Los abusos del estado han ido en aumento en España últimamente, donde se han introducido nuevas leyes y donde vemos incrementarse los incidentes de represión política.

La Asociación Internacional de los Trabajadores envía su solidaridad a los titiriteros y demandamos que se anulen todos los cargos.

March 18 General Strike

On March 18, our ltalian section, USl-AlT, along with CUB and SI Cobas will hold a general strike for one day, with national demonstrations in Milan and Naples. The strike protests:

*Against the war and any military intervention of Italy, in Libya or anywhere else;
* Against the Jobs Act, which frees dismissals and fosters precariousness among workers;
* Against agreements and laws limiting the freedom of trade union association, granting a monopoly to trade unions acknowledged by bosses and the government, against restrictions to the right to strike;
* Against separation into company and individual contracts, for national collective bargaining;
* For wage increases and decent wages for the unemployed and precarious workers;
* Against unemployment, for a reduction in working hours with no wage loss;
* For the free circulation of people and equal rights to immigrants.

The strike is also called:

*against the counter-reform of education, which takes resources away from public schools to give them to private ones, and offers bosses students’ free labour;
* for the right to a home against evictions, for the assignment of vacant council and private houses to the homeless;
* against the profit rationale which produces pollution and environmental devastation.

The 18 March strike is a first step towards the unification of struggles, now isolated within single sectors and companies, for the formation of a common class front in defence of workers against the internal and external war waged by bosses and the government.

To All Anarchosyndicalist Sisters

On this March 8, we salute all the women of the anarchosyndicalist movement.

Ours is a movement which aims to develop an egalitarian and libertarian society. Sexism is one of the forms of discrimination and hierarchy that needs to be eradicated and there is no better place to start than where we may encounter it. In many social movements we can experience de-facto leadership patterns which favor males and in many ways discourage women from being equally valued in organizations. We need not only to question the need for de-facto leaders but also to change our notions of what is valuable when when we see such dynamics.

Let us never fail to treat such issues seriously and let's neutralize anyone who tries to enable forms of male domination.

Our liberation is not just a matter of class struggle but of a complete social transformation where we treat each other as equals and all forms of privelege and overthrown. And for us, this state of respect and egalitarian behaviour must happen in the here and now.

Against all forms of hierarchy – not just the state and capitalism.

lWA Secretariat

IWA Events in Australia

For 12 days at the beginning of February, members of the lWA Secretariat visited Australia. A series of public events, workshops and visits with anarchist and libertarian people took place. The trip promoted the ideas of anarchosyndicalism and presented the types of workers actions that are possible, using successful actions of the lWA Sections as an example. It was also a trip of goodwill and solidarity on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the ASF-lWA, our Australian section, and 60 years of the lWA in Australia. (Both the Bulgarian and Spanish CNT in exile had organizations in Australia and tried to carry on the legacy and spread anarchosyndicalist ideas in that country.)

Public events were held in the largest cities in Australia – Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. The talks were well attended, not only by members and supporters of the ASF, but by a variety of other libertarian people. Workshops and discussions also took place. An event was hosted by Jura Books and discussions took place in the Melbourne Anarchist Club. Members of the ASF and the Secretariat also visited the last living veteran of the Spanish Revolution in exile and another long time activist of the CNT exile, born in exile. On behalf of the lnternational Workers Association, we wished them much health and happiness and thanked them for their work in bringing the ideas of anarchosyndicalism and the lWA to Australia.

Solidarity with Ali and All Victims of State and Religious Terror

Since November 13, France has been in a „state of emergency”, during which protest has been criminalized and many have been arrested and subject to house arrest. One of them is our comrade Ali from the CNT-AlT, who was put under house arrest at 3:30 AM on November 28.

From the lWA, we roundly denounce the actions of the state. We remind that it is different states and religious zealots who are battling against each other to gain control over people and divide them. All of us are potential victims. We must unite and bring down the tyrants – all those existing and all those who wish to be.

Down with the state of emergency and long live international insurgency!

Conflict with OZ Dive maky

OZ Dive maky is an NGO in Bratislava. Priama akcia is taking action to protest wage theft in the organization. Michal worked in the NGO for almost a year and a half, on a fake self-employment contract, because the NGO did not want to make health and social security contrabutions. A few months ago, M. decided to leave and they signed an agreement terminating their "cooperation". The NGO recognized that it should pay him 950 euros, but haven't paid it yet. M. tried many times to get his money. Finally, Priama akcia visited the NGO, demanding payment. lnstead of paying what was owed, the NGO's lawyer threatened them.

Priama akcia is calling on individuals and organizations to support the efforts to get M.'s long overdue pay.

There is an e-mail form on their webpage, which you can use to send a protest.
http://www.priamaakcia.sk/index.php?action=soliMail&soliMail_id=61

International Workers Association

Asociación Internacional de los Trabajadores