[OccupyComms] Fwd: [Squares] #1 Am. Eng. translation - - RE: draft - Open letter towards rank and file union members/labour activists and critical union executives

[Mark Barrett]

FYI draft letter to union rank and file ..
---------- Forwarded message ----------
+1

I highly approve of this statement and will gladly sign on.

I translated it to American English grammar, spelling etc. and am sending
it back now as such.  I will be happy to 'edit' any future drafts if you
wish.

Michael_Asheville
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 21:18:38 +0100
From: orsan1234 at gmail.com
To: squares at lists.takethesquare.net
Subject: [Squares] draft - Open letter towards rank and file union
members/labour activists and critical union executives

comrades,
Inspired by the comrades from spain (valencia:
http://unidxsporunacausacomun.blogspot.com/), London,US and eslewhere we
have felt the need to prepare a positive open latter to work on, discuss,
adopt, and declare towards labour.considering the general strike wave,
planed global strikes, 1M, 15M, and other actions like 29 Feb [European
union action day, Shutdown the corporations day in the US}, 31March
European day against capitalism, 28-29 March Spring Conference,etc
would clarifies our support to working union members as well as our obvious
different positions, this would contribute overall widening participation
these mobilisations and solidairty among movements. That would be good to
wok on it until 29 february!
orsan

--------------

Dear fellow workers, comrades,

We are ordinary people.  We are outraged, like you. We are called
Indigrandos and/or Occupy Movement across the World, describing those who
stand at the edge or outside of the disastrous global system.

We are sometimes highly educated, mostly working precariously, unemployed,
homeless people who have risen up in 2011 globally; not only to defend the
rights of people like us but also for all the others, the 99% who has worse
or relatively better conditions than ourselves as well as the planet.

We do not claim to represent others, or even each other. We just choose to
struggle not only for us but also for the others who can't do that at the
moment.

We have stood up against the bankers on Wall Street, wars lords in Egypt
and Israel, environmental murderers in Monsanto, the business and state
elite everywhere, for the good of all alive and not alive, all women and
men, young and old, working or not working.

We have formed, distributed and self-organised egalitarian networks in
order to lead this struggle and build credible alternatives to the failing
system. Before it falls down on top of all of us.

We believe that a system excluding us also threatens the people with
relatively secure jobs and contracts. Their job and income, their today and
future. It also leaves millions of innocent children and elderly to die
every second.

Some of you are a part of a union that should be protecting your rights and
'representing you' against those forces robbing all of us and destroying
all of our futures.

We honestly believe that, because of the legal and professional
constraints, professional union cadre can posses very limited power to lead
a strong struggle. Especially without you, rank and file members being
strongly self-organised in your workplaces, in your neighbourhoods and
within your unions.

We do not adopt and agree with the 'limited democratic' structures be it
local government, national parliament, UN, or even the union board to which
you pass your voice, and so your power. These structures were designed by
the elite thinkers like John Locke and Thomas Hobbes for the sake of the
class leading this offensive towards us.

Since we very well are aware of the pitfalls of the representative system
especially for the people at the bottom we believe that unless we are
strong at the grass-roots, self-organised, so we can make our own decisions
and enforce them, people at the top will always have a possibility to reach
a consensus that goes against our will.

Therefore, while we declare that we see you as part of the 99% and we will
support your struggle without pre-condition, wherever possible, be it
general strikes, protests, marches, collective bargains we want you and
everybody to know that our support is to those at the bottom, the rank and
file workers, not the end will of union executives and officials, not to
their demands and programs seeking consensus and return to business as
usual.

Our vision is a wider one and goes beyond the production and distribution
system globally with its structures, cultures, and all other aspects. We
want to build a much healthier, inspiring, free, and advanced system that
works for and gives equal possibilities to all. Today we have the knowledge
and infrastructure we need to realise this.

With this text we first call all Indignados and Occupy assemblies to
consider, discuss and if accepted, give unconditional support to the
working peoples' struggle in events like 29 European Trade Union Action
Day, 31 March European Action Against Capitalism, 1st of May celebrations
or local, national, international general strikes,

Then we call all the workers, rank and file union members, to get involved
in our assemblies, in your city center or neighbourhoods, or form your own
workplace assemblies, exercise with direct democracy, collective decision
making, horizontal self-organising and support Indognados/Occupy Movement
where and however you can.

Remember that this is a common fight for our common future.

An injury to one, is an injury to all!


_______________________________________________ n-1 working group:
https://n-1.cc/pg/groups/104127/take-the-square-international/ Squares
mailing list Squares at lists.takethesquare.net for unsubscribe/etc:
https://lists.takethesquare.net/mailman/listinfo/squares or
Squares-owner at lists.takethesquare.net

_______________________________________________

n-1 working group:
https://n-1.cc/pg/groups/104127/take-the-square-international/

Squares mailing list
Squares at lists.takethesquare.net
for unsubscribe/etc:
https://lists.takethesquare.net/mailman/listinfo/squares or
Squares-owner at lists.takethesquare.net




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Apathy is Dead !
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