6 articles from WS 45 THE ITALIAN JOB Florence has to be one of the most beautiful cites in Italy if not in the world. Nestled in a Tuscan valley it lies half way between Milan and Rome. Thanks to the hospitality of some friends in the Anarchist Movement of Florence (MAF) three members of the Workers Solidarity Movement were recently able to visit this city. During the week we spent there we were able to be tourists by day and meet with anarchists by night. On the Friday night that we were arrived in Florence the MAF organised a meal and an informal question and answer session in their headquarters. Apres the beautiful food and some glasses of wine we learnt more about each others' activities and current situations. The questions we were asked ranged from the Irish government's current relationship with Sinn FŽin to the possibilities for increased class struggle with the cease-fire? We were also asked for our views on the Internet and the attempts by the US government to have some control over it. COBAS We found out about the Cobas, which is a loose umbrella group of unofficial trade unions. They grew from broad disaffection with the official trade unions in 1987-88, initially in the railway, education and health sectors. In 1991 they went on to organise what by now has become a famous one day general strike against the Gulf War. It was fascinating to talk to someone who was involved in this movement. The talks went on until the early hours. A great deal of thanks must go to our tired translators on that night. The Social Centres On Saturday night we were taken on a whirlwind tour of the various social centres which exist in Florence. These Centres are all in occupied buildings and operated by various groups with different political agendas. The local councils have kicked out people from these squats but they do not seem to do it with any great persistence. The first Social Centre I visited was the 'Autonomist', centre which had a famous rock group playing. The gig itself was free although you were asked to contribute some small amount of money at the door. Outside it looked like a deserted factory with some great graffiti on the walls. Inside you had a bar serving draught beer, a great sound system, a separate area for art, design and street theatre props. The place was alive with about 300 young people, loud music and about 12 dogs! Next up we went to a house/villa on the edge of the public park which was used by the Greens, anarchists, and people who campaign for the rights of American Indians (as some Italian company is trying to build an observatory over their lands). There weren't as many people here but there was still a live rap band, a gallery displaying some interesting art and a lot of young people simply drinking and inhaling. There were some political books and pamphlets on display along with bootleg tapes of concerts. The Blues Brothers, Che and me Finally, we went to a Leninist Social Centre in the south of the city. Here a concert had just finished and hugely loud rock music was being played by a very lively DJ. There was a bar and, as in all the Centres, the drink was cheap. Young people sat around and shouted at each other to be heard while one amorous couple got to know each other better. On the walls there was the flag of Cuba, the hammer and sickle (naturally) and posters for every anti- imperialist struggle from Palestine to Guatemala. Upon this scene of late night/early morning revelry the handsome features of the Che Guevara, coupled with the Blues Brothers looked down from the walls. I wondered what Che would make of it all ? The Social Centres were a great experience to see in operation. Coming from a country that brings the law down on your head with furious vengeance should you dare think of occupying unused buildings, I was impressed at the new breath of life these places had. I can think of many buildings in Dublin that could be used in this way. The Centres provides a place where young people can go and not be told how to dress or be charged exorbitant money for drink. Politics don't seem to get debated on Saturday nights (if it gets debated at all, I cannot say). Importantly, the Centres provide a place where you know there exists a culture which is at least anti- authoritarian. Anarchists in the unions On Sunday we met with anarchists active in the CGIL (a major union federation) who are in official trade union in Education. They see getting anarchists elected as shop stewards as important in an attempt to deal with the heavy bureaucracy which exists within the official trade unions. They too are faced with big unions who have a leadership completely divorced from the issues affecting the ordinary member. Their aim is to build a rank and file movement . Gratzi, heres to the future So after a week of sunshine, art , culture and politics we returned to Ireland. We were treated with great hospitality and shown warm friendship, especially by the comrades of the MAF. I returned hopeful, knowing that the passion for true freedom and anarchy burns not only in some Irish hearts but also in the hearts of friends in Florence. Charlie Parker ********* CGT Doubles vote in Union Elections THE ANARCHO-syndicalist union in Spain, (Confederacion General de Trabajadores (CGT) has doubled its vote in the latest elections for union representatives to RENFE, the State rail company. The way representatives are elected in Spain is to allow the workers to vote for which union they would like to support them, and the union then gets that proportion of representatives. CGT is now the second largest union with 31% of the vote, after CCOO (Comissiones Obreres), the communist-dominated union. The rise of the anarchist vote is due to its more militant stand compared to other unions, in its fight to stop the privatisation of RENFE and its demand to keep it as a single company. The CGT has also increased its vote recently in the SEAT factory in Martorell, Spain, from 7 to 12 delegates, due to its superior strike support work. ********** Australian Anarchism ABOUT 350 people turned up for the 'Visions of Freedom' anarchist conference in Sydney, Australia, last January. Workshops dealt with anarchist media, workplace organising, womens struggles, privatisation, and more. During the conference a small computer centre connected to the Internet was set up. The entire Spunk Press archive (which includes articles, pamphlets and policy statements from the WSM) was available to participants on either computer disk or on paper. **************************************************** from WS 46 ** Anarchism in France ** The following piece is taken from a report sent by an American member of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) to their public mailing list on the internet recently (IWW-NEWS@org.com). It provides a personal snapshot of part of the French anarchist movement. The main 2 groups I encountered were the Federation Anarchist Francaise (FAF) which is the oldest and largest French anarchist group, and operates a beautiful bookstore in the Bastille district, as well as a real FM radio station (Radio Libertaire, 89.4 fm), and a popular newspaper (Le Monde Libertaire); and I also spent a lot of time with the French CNT*, which is the second largest French anarchist group (even though it's only really been around for about 5 years) . CNT has it's offices in a beautiful black and red building on rue de Vignolles. It's opening new sections in France almost every week, currently has about 500 members in Paris, and about another 1000 across France, though membership is growing rapidly. " *an anarchist-syndicalist organisation which hopes to become a functioning revolutionary trade union **************************************************** ** The Spanish CNT and the struggle in Puerto Real ** (£1.50 inc. p+p from the Solidarity Federation, PO Box 73, Norwich, NR3 1QD, England.) FOR ABOUT TWO years from July 1936 huge parts of republican Spain were anarchist dominated. Millions were involved in collectives in cities like Madrid and Barcelona, on the land and in anarchist militias fighting Franco at the front. Factories, bus companies, hospitals, gas works and much more were taken over and run by the workers. In 1939 the republic fell and the movement was smashed. Anarchism, though a nice idea now remains little more then a historical curiosity- right??? Wrong!!!! Puerto Real In Spain there are two large syndicalist unions in operation today, the CNT and the CGT. Between them they organise tens of thousands of workers. Both unions have organised highly successful strikes and demonstrations. This pamphlet is based on a talk by Pepe Gomez of the CNT's Puerto Real/Cadiz section given in London in October 1993. It is based on the long running battle between the CNT and the shipyard bosses. This struggle has continued since 1978. Gomez places great emphasis on the way the struggle has been broadened beyond just the shipyard workers. Activities have been directed throughout by village assemblies. These involved shipyard workers and workers from a wide range of other industries, in fact most of the local community; employed and unemployed, men, women and children. This meant that the fight went beyond the shipyard gates. Other issues around education, health services, the campaign against a new golf course, against privatisation of a local cemetery and local taxes. The emphasis was on direct democracy and direct action. The basic tenets of anarchism were used and to good effect. Juan Carlos not welcome here In 1987 a visit by the Spanish monarch became a major focus for action. This involved occupations, sealing off parts of the shipyards and barricading roads. The state responded by drafting in police reinforcements. The union and the community organised their own defence with slings, stones and any handy missiles. Other sections of this pamphlet deal with women's organisation during the strike and relations with other unions, whose members consistently supported the CNT in the assemblies. Anarchism delivers This pamphlet is only a few pages long but a great read. It provides proof positive that anarchism can still be a powerful force and presents strategies that can deliver the goods. For example, after the 1987 flare-up the workers gained major concessions. Eight new ships were brought in to be refitted, and an early retirement scheme with a pension linked to salary increases was conceded by the shipyard bosses. The other major point is to show the importance of linking limited disputes with wider issues and involving the whole community. Conor Mc Loughlin **************************************************** ** The Spanish anarchist unions ** After Franco died in 1975 the National Confederation of Workers (CNT) began to blossom once more. Within a matter of months its membership had increased from a few hundred activists to 150,000. Unfortunately the union split when a dispute arose over whether to sit on the state regulated workplace committees which negotiate with the bosses. Those who stood for election to the committees formed the General Confederation of Workers (CGT). The CNT refused to participate and remained affiliated to the International Workers' Association (the anarcho- syndicalist international). There are also unions which do not declare themselves anarchist but whose policies and structures show a major libertarian socialist influence. These include the unions of the dockers (Co-ordinadora) and the rural workers (SOC). It is important to note that in Spain many workers are not union members. However almost all workers vote to elect representatives onto workplace committees. Anarchists form a majority on the committees in some major workplaces, and a sizable minority in many more.