CNT, CGT & works councils WSM & Organise! positions
Mar 24 2006 08:58
Shorty wrote:
You've previously said that discussions about international groupings are not of great importance while we are currently so small in Ireland (I'd agree), but if we are discussing this and in terms of the "differences" between WSM and Organise!, aren't the WSM closer to the CGT and Organise closer to the CNT interms of work councils in spain?
That is a bit of a tangent so maybe Boul could split this bit off.
I'm not sure what Organise's position is on the works councils in Spain is, we don't have one. Our closer relations with the CGT are more to do with the fact that the CNT stopped communicating with us after back in 1986 to mark the anniversary of the Spanish Revolution we toured a vetern who was then (he has died since) a member of the CGT. We actually wrote to both unions but only the CGT replied.
Generally we don't take positions on the various international disputes - why would we, it wouldn't result in anything productive here and to be honest our access to 'what really happened' information is always going to be very limited.
Mar 24 2006 09:19
#2
While its true to say that quite a few (maybe even all) members of Organise! agree with the CNT not participating in works councils we do not currently have a written position on this.
In general in relation to the IWA/AIT (and other internationalis like IFA) our position is one of comradely relations and we have a position of not pursuing international affiliation at this stage - from personal experience international affiliation can be more of a drain on a small group than a benefit.
While no one is hostile to anarcho-syndicalism attitudes among Organise! members vary in relation to the IWA/AIT, or more acurately the current state of it. We are intent on developing our relationship with the AIT/IWA and sections of it. The closest relations we have with any anarcho-syndicalist group is however outside the IWA/AIT with the French (non-IWA) CNT. I'd say that those links are currently stronger than links even with SolFed currently.
Mar 25 2006 19:07
#3
Boulcolonialboy wrote:
The closest relations we have with any anarcho-syndicalist group is however outside the IWA/AIT with the French (non-IWA) CNT.
I was in Montpellier last week when there was an anti-CPE demo on. There was a big, noisy crowd. The red and black flags stood out the most of all the political groups, though less than the big mainstream unions, so we went up to have a chat. Turns out there were two groups of red and black: about 30 (it was hard to tell) people aroung the CNT-F stall, which they were sharing with the regional anarchist group (Anarchist Coordination Group, a split from the Anarchist Federation). Across the way the CNT-AIT seemed to have only 5 or 6 people around their stall. Whatever about the rights and wrongs of the division in the anarchist-syndicalist ranks, and I haven't a clue what the differences are in France, the momentum seems to be with the CNT-F in Montpellier at least.
Incidentally, just opened the post, and we got magazines from the CNT Spain, CNT-AIT (France) and a glossy from the CGT in Spain.
Boul: What's the practical difference between the CNTs in France, i.e. how much clout and militancy do they have? Anybody know the same for Spain?
Apr 10 2006 14:39
#4
In Spain (roughly):
CNT: 5000 and growing fast again
CGT: 60,000-80,000
Others: Solidaridad Obrera (split of CGT in early 90s), about 300.
I can't speak for france, but last time I heard there were about 3000 in CNT-F and 500 in CNT-AIT.
Actually the CNT-AIT have been sending their newspaper over to us since 2004 at least.
In practice we don't have very close relations to the CGT at all, the SIL is as loose a network as it gets really. I'd be interested in having more contact with the CGT, if only to see how a mass syndicalist organisation operates in this day and age, what their problems are, achievments etc.