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

Sat Feb 18 21:54:25 GMT 2012

Wow... so much of that echoed my recent thoughts, thanks Mark :)

On 18 February 2012 21:40, Mark Barrett <marknbarrett at googlemail.com> wrote:

> 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
>
> _______________________________________________
>
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>
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>
>
>
> --
> Apathy is Dead !
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>
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