A LUF seminar in May attracted widespread interest from union leaders in the private sector, including organisers in the local free trade zones. But the problem is the public sector. "These workers see themselves as more of an ellite group," complains Pepe Gasapa "They don't see why they should sit down with workers from the infor mal sector." Only the nurses union is convinced of the need to unite wit the private and informal sectors.
On a brighter note, LUF has managed to integrate groups of workers from the informal eco nomy. These groups face massive difficulties in organising, and lack even the smallest budget for thei work. Although they can offer little practical solidarity to other workers at this point, their strategic importance is enormous
LUF also participated in mobilisations against the Visiting Forces Agreement, which invites the USA to reopen its military bases in the Philippines. Participating groups recently resolved to accelerate their programme of seminars and coordinated interventions on key political questions, in the hope of reinforcing the organisation.
The underground Revolutionary Workers Party, the country's largest regroupmentof anti-Maoist revolutionaries, believes that groups like LUF are the key to building a truly autonomous labour movement, in which communists can strive to lead by example and argument, rather than organisational manipulation. * Contact: CLEAR, 3rd Floor, F.Lao Lim Building, Highway Maguikay, Mandaue City, Cebu Province, Philippines, fax 032-3441933, email <rgenita@yahoo.com>.
ambiguity. "We never really thought out what kind of role this enterprise was supposed to play. Nor how to subject it to proper control. Nor where it fitted into our combination of military, mass movement and party work." As long as the money kept rolling in, the party didn't ask too many questions." Even when ATC used an inflated exchange rate to retain almost half the dollars earned by its Panay farmers.
The new party leadership is trying to transform its former activities in line with a new strategy, respecting the autonomy of the mass movements, and relegating the guerrilla units to a strictly support and defensive role. "But even if we wouldn't necessarily set up
La company like ATC nowadays, we can't avoid responsibility for solving the problem that exists, say rebel leaders. Reappropriation
Party, worker and peasant leaders are unsure how to proceed. Some party militants think it could be possible to organise a broad coalition of civic groups to support worker and farmer demands for a return to the original charter of ATC. Others think any confrontation will inevitably involve violence.