South Africa: The WFTU condemns the recent acts of violence against foreign nationals

The World Federation of Trade Unions representing 90 million workers in 126 countries around the world condemns the recent acts of violence against foreign nationals in South Africa.

Suffering under the chronic results of colonialism, imperialism, the plundering of natural resources by the monopolies and capitalist exploitation, local and foreign workers, no matter which country they end up living in, are powerful only in joint fraternal struggles in social alliance with self-employed and poor farmers against their common enemies. Racism, xenophobia and all other acts of discrimination are an instrument of division and tactics to scapegoat the vulnerable sections of the working class in order to hide the real culprits for the people’s suffering.

The WFTU at the same time distinguishes itself from the cosmopolitanism promoted by various Organizations towards migration using phrases such as “global village”, “migration must be seen as economic growth factor” and “cultural mixing” which put workers in the shoes and mindset of their exploiters. This perception aims to justify the inhumane consequence of imperialism which is economic and labour migration. This is a phenomenon which greatly assists the capitalists to double exploit the desperate migrant workers while pushing further down the rights of all working class in each country. Many times, when foreign workers are not needed any more in the specific profit-making endeavors of the monopolies, they are dealt with as a problematic factor for the economy. The WFTU and the class-oriented trade union movement struggle so that no worker is forced to abandon their homes and families for survival or employment.

Local and migrant workers in each country have no other way but to fraternally come together inside the trade unions and in the same struggles demanding equal rights, better working and living conditions, increased wages, social and labour rights and ultimately the abolition of capitalist exploitation and imperialism which are to blame for their suffering.

The WFTU, noting the experiences, the traditions and the values of the South African people and especially the black population who have suffered greatly under the colonialism and apartheid, feels optimistic that the South African working class will confront such acts and those who instigate them, will utilize its internationalist and proletarian solidarity to further infuse unity amongst workers inside and outside of the country and will find the causes of the problems in the political level and capitalist mode of production which is to blame for the continuing existence of poverty, unemployment and inequality.

THE SECRETARIAT

“Murderers, thieves, hypocrites are the European Imperialists” said the massive rallies

In Cyprus, trade unions of PEO staged a protest outside of the offices of the European Union in Nicosia. Pampis Kyritsis, WFTU Vice-President addressed the participants.

In Greece, the mass rally organized by PAME concluded at the offices of the European Union in Athens, opposite to the Hellenic Parliament. Trade Unionists climbed to the building of the European Union with latters to hang the banner with the slogan “Murders, thieves, hypocrites are the European Imperialists”, while the rally shouted “Murderers”. The flag of the European Union was put on fire in an act of defiance and protest while the entrance of the building was painted red in the colour of our brothers and sisters who are being drown in the Mediterannean seeking for a better life.

In Italy, the demonstration organized by USB outside of the Parliament was attended by many migrant workers, migrants who had followed in the past the same route though the Mediterannean but managed to survive. They mourned their compatriots and promised to continue the struggle against the imperialist policy. President Boldrini denied the protestors request to meet with them and hear their demands. Aboubakar Soumahoro, National Executive Member of USB addressed the rally exposing the cruel reality that migrant workers face.

WFTU Statement on the tragic deaths of hundreds of refugees and immigrants in the Mediterranean 

MURDERERS AND HYPOCRITES

The World Federation of Trade Unions representing 90 million workers in 126 countries of the world expresses its grief and frustration for the tragedy that took place in the Mediterranean resulting to the death of hundreds of immigrants and refugees on April 19^th, 2015.

The deaths of hundreds of people in the Mediterranean and particularly South of Italy are added to the long list of immigrants finding their death looking for a better livelihood while being exploited by smugglers.

However, these are not accidents, they are crimes. Immigrants and refugees were forced to this position by the imperialist policy of NATO, of USA and of the European Union, by their aggressiveness and intervention in Libya, in Syria, in Iraq, in Mali, in Yemen etc., by the policies of the multinationals and the plundering of the natural resources of the people in Africa and the Middle East, by the destruction and manipulation of the countries’ economies and finally by the inhumane policy of the European Union and its Governments against the migrant workers.

With anger and frustration we listen to the Heads of the Governments in Italy, in France, in Greece and other EU countries expressing their sorrow for the incident and repeating generic phrasing for “a new policy” while their countries Governments have fully supported the imperialist wars actively and while they have co-signed and fully implemented the policy of the European Union against the immigrants and refugees.

That makes them both Murderers and Hypocrites!

The World Federation of Trade Unions with its anti-imperialist and internationalist position and action denounces the murderous and hypocritical policy of the European Union and its Governments and struggles for the elimination of the aggressiveness against the people of North Africa and the Middle East, for the dissolution of NATO and for the utilization of the natural resources by the people for their own interests and for the popular development that will bring the reconstruction and the prosperity of the people.

We demand the immediate end of all imperialist interventions. We ask from the International Organizations to support the countries of origin of economic immigrants and of the political refugees.

The phenomena or racism, neofascism and xenophobia must be fully confronted.

We express our condolences to the families of the victims who lost their lives in the Mediterranean Sea.

Egyptian Textile Trade Union Federation visits WFTU HQ

A delegation from Egypt’s Textile Trade union Federation visited the WFTU Headquarters in Athens today, April 21st 2015. The delegation was headed by Mr. Abdel Fatah Ibrahim, President of the delegation. WFTU delegation was formed by George Mavrikos, General Secretary, Valentin Pacho Quispe Deputy General Secretary and Mohhamed Iqnaibi, Arab Relations Adviser.

During the meeting, the delegations discussed about issues concerning the textile sector in Egypt and the Arab world. Highliting the fraternal relations between the Egypt Textile trade union Federation and the WFTU, the delegation discussed ways to strengthen even more their cooperation and planned joint activities. The Egyptian union will also visit Greek trade unions and hold bilateral talks.

BSNL STRIKE TOTAL.
The country wide two days Strike has started today and it is total everywhere.
The strike called by the Forum of BSNL Unions and Associations was necessiated due to the utter negative approach of the central government by not even holding a negotiation on the demand of ‘Revival of BSNL’.The strike will continue on tomorow also.
All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association members joined the striking workers in the demonstrations held before the BSNL offices. Com.K.G.Jayaraj addressed the demonstration conducted at General Managers’ office, Alappuzha.Coms P.Monikandan, M.P.P.Panicker, P.Surendran,P.R.Shajimon etc participated.