On the other hand, participation in the demonstrations and meetings associated with the strike was relatively modest. While the participation of both the retired and public sector workers (threatened with very severe pay cuts) was very high, industrial workers were only involved to a very limited extent. It is true that a certain disarray was provoked, especially in Milan, by the fact that some coordinations of rank and file committees and of the Federation Of United Metalworkers (FLMU - a small trade union born out of a split in Milan from the Federation of the Metalworking Industry [FIM]), had decided to go on strike three days later, independently of the trade union federations - the coordinations then rectified this decision and associated themselves with the October 22 strike.
But the relative passivity was fundamentally the result of mistrust of the trade union leaderships. The workers wanted to give a signal by supporting the strike, but were not ready to turn out for meetings of a purely routine character.
It is interesting to note that, ten days before the strike, the Movement of Communist Refoundation (MRC), which originated out of left currents of the now renamed Italian Communist Party, had called a national demonstration against numerous youth — Antonio Moscato. * mon manoeuvres and a lot of discussion about expanding the existing Francoshould also apply to conscripts, including the rights of freedom of speech and assembly and the right to a fair trial. The Charter also states that boys cannot be forced to serve in two armies.
This is important for example for Turkish boys living in the Netherlands, and even with Dutch nationality, who can be forced to serve both in the Netherlands and Turkey. Besides this, when they want to be exempt from Turkish military service they have to pay more than 10,000 Dutch guilders. Conscripts have to be regarded as workers in uniform with the same rights. For example, in the Netherlands the VVDM in 1990 became a member of the FNV, the Dutch trade union congress. Conscripts should receive a normal salary, be stationed near their homes and have the right to return to their normal job after their service.
One chapter deals with safety, health and well-being during work. The commanders are responsible for safe and healthy work. Well-being is also dealt with in the fourth chapter. This says that a human being can only lead a worthy life in a democratized environment. There has to be a good health service and no discrimination against homosexuals and Black soldiers.
It is more than every important to build up a strong international soldiers' movement against the rapid deployment forces and against the capitalist and militarist unification of Europe. This Social Charter can be a weapon against the power of the authorities and the army leadership. *
Finnish gremlin news
The last line of the article on the Finnish anti-austerity protest in the last /V mysteriously disappeared. The last sentence should have read: "Such scandals are one result of the 'Casino economy' of the 1980s." Many apologies!
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International Viewpoint #216 • November 11, 1991 lence and nationalist radicalization of a good part of Basque society, nor in politically isolating HB and ETA (which is short term), nor in impossible in the