Liverpool Dockers end strike
Atter 2 years and 4 months the Liverpool Dockworkers have decided to end their dispute. According to strike co-ordinator Jimmy Nolan, "in certain key areas, the campaign had started to falter and, in order not to see good men and women lose everything or risk a collapse from within, we decided to conclude a collective agreement on the best possible terms achievable.
Following the last secret ballot in October 1997 in rejection of the employers offer, greater support actions should have been launched. The new Labour government could have used their 14% shareholding [in the Port], the leadership of our own union, the TGWU, could positive role.
This didn't happen. In fact, both Labour and the TGWU supported our employer's claim that the dispute was
The terms of the settlement were based on up to £28,000 redundancy paystrikers previously employed by Mersey Docks. These payments will be subject not only to debt repayment but also be reclaimed by the social security benefits office. [...]
We have to recognise that work in Liverpool is a rare commodity and we expect that all our comrades will experience great difficulty over the next few years. It is with a great sadness in our hearts that we write to all our magnificent supporters and express our deepest gratitude. We have to build upon our internationalism, upon the experiences of all our
Let the words of the great Irish trade unionist James Larkin capture our thoughts; 'Who is it speaks of defeat? ! tell you a cause like ours is greater than defeat can know. It is the power of
Fascists march in Vukovar
On March 12th, the Croatian government prohibited public gatherings in Eastern Slavonia (Vukovar region), following demonstrations organised by the neo-nazi Croatian
According to the Croatian Helsinki Committee, at one recent event "700 people dressed in black, using Nazi salutes and iconography, marched through the streets of Vukovar, with the blessing of the police who watched indifferently from the sidelines." In many parts of Croatian Party of Rights participates in local government coalitions with the ruling HDZ party of President Franjo Tudjman.
"Rather than use Article 174 of the Criminal Code to charge the initiators of the gathering with disseminating national and ethnic hatred... the government instead, as a smoke screen, laid a few misdemeanour charges," complains the Helsinki Committee. "This is common practice for the Ministry of excesses against minorities, even physical violence." In fact, abundant legislation forbidding ethnic, racial and religious hatred has almost never been used to protect the country's large Serbian
According to Helsinki Committee spokesperson "international community" might be inclined to 'look the other way' at this type of behaviour from the Croatian government. But the fact is that the Croatian authorities are using their own ineffectiveness to offer tacit approval to a meeting of neo-nazis in Vukovar! What is really at issue here is an intentionally staged incident, used as an excuse for the introduction of restrictions which retard the complete development of human freedoms, democracy and civil society in the Republic Source: Croatian Helsinki Committee Statement #69 the other Europe * Union left co-ordination Border unemployment
Left trade union currents demonstrations from several of Western
French and German unEurope's largest trade employment associations unions met in Rome at the and organisations have end of May. The meeting agreed decided on joint was called by the Alternativa initiatives for the following Sindical current in Italy's CGIL
• an immediate improveparticipants came from the ment in the material living Sector Crítico in Spain's CC.OO federation, unemployed and the right to Germany's IG Metal, and
La liveable income, France's CGT.
• the right to a stable and
The aim of the meeting fixed employment and for a massive reduction in working currents within the major trade unions, in the face of a
May 8 will be a day of joint neo-liberal offensive across action in France and Germany. Demonstrations are
Participants discussed the planned on bridges in political and trade union situfrontier towns, including the ation. All agreed in the
European Bridge between necessity to struggle for the
Kehl and Strasbourg, home reduction of the working of the Council of Europe and week to 35 hours, with a final one of the European objective of 30 hours/week.
Parliament buildings. They agreed to continue co-
The French unemployment ordination efforts in an open associations will also be spirit, taking into account the sending a large delegation different situation of left wing currents - some of which demonstration of German dominate a particular union, unemployed, planned for others holding a minority September 11.
No current should be Paris, March 7, 1998. Signed: ALV
(Arbeitlosenverbandes Deutschland), KOS excluded from this co- Bielefeld (Koordinierungsstelle Gewerkordination, which will focus schaftlicher Arbetslosengruppen), BAG-
SHI (Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der on debate, and will not
Sozialhilfeinitiativen), AC! (Agir ensemble develop either structure or contre le Chômage), MNCP (Mouvement responsibilities at this time National des Chômeurs et des Précaires),
APEIS (Association pour l'Entraide,
The next meeting will take l'Information et la Solidarité) place in Paris, France, on May 30. The central theme will be the 35 hour week and reduction of labour time. There is an ongoing discussion about the possibilities of organising a subsequent meeting on the 35 hour week
Militants active in left currents in the major European trade unions are invited to make contact as soon as possible, if they wish to be invited to the Paris and subsequent meetings. [JA] Araceli ORTIZ, Verde Olivo 16, 41927, Mairena del Aljarafe, Sevilla, Spain. Mobile: +34-07-517907, office +34-54217495 <mpedraza@arrakis.es> Jean-Pierre PAGE CGT International Department, 263 rue de Paris, 53516, Montreuil cedex, France. office +33-1-48188127, mobile +33608061789, Fax +33-1-48188443 <internat@cgt-fr> Gian Paulo PATTA, CGIL, Corso d'italia 25, 00198 Rome, Italy office +39-6-8476528 mobile +39-335473569 fax +39-6-8476300 <org. alternativasind@cgil.its Jesus ALBARRACIN, Madrid, Tel +34-14135659 <albarra@teleline.es>
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* Cover feature From the sheltering greenery of the Lacandona Forest, Zapatista Sub-commandante Marcos sends this original geostrategic analysis of the new world situation.
"War is a matter of vital importance for the state; it is the province of life and death, the road which leads to survival or elimination. It is essential to study it in depth" Sun Tzu, The Art of War
As a world system, neoliberalism is a new war for the conquest of territory. The ending of the third world war - meaning the cold war - in no sense means that the world has gone beyond the bipolar and found stability under the domination of a single victor. Because, while there was 12 International Viewpoint #299