IHERE WE ARE ONCE AGAIN…Another issue of “Euskal Herritik mundura (From the Basque Country to the world)” is back again for you to read. Onceagain, through the various articles published in this, our/your magazine, we will examine various aspects of the reality ofthe Basque Country and the reality of the international situation.

In our last issue, we condemned the raid that was carried out against Askapena. And we demanded the release of fiveAskapena members who remained imprisoned. Now it's our turn to congratulate each other and welcome them back asthey were released on bail in recent months. However, our joy is shortlived, because behind this "freedom under survei-llance" our companions are in a position where they still face the threat of trial and of possibly being imprisoned again.Once again, we demand an end to the legal proceedings and to put an end to the criminalization of Askapena.

The past few months have also been significant in terms of social and political struggles being experienced in the BasqueCountry. So, we should highlight the success of Bildu (Unite), the coalition of the Basque left-wing separatist party that,despite the threat of being outlawed, managed to achieve a great victory in municipal elections held on May 22nd last,where they gained more than 315,000 votes (22.28 %) and 1138 councillors. You will find an article related to this matter inthis issue.

Also in this issue of our magazine you will find articles about the General Strike held on January 27th in the BasqueCountry, the only nation in the Spanish State that spoke out against the measures to raise the age of retirement and pen-sion cuts implemented by Zapatero's PSOE government. We would also like to inform you about LAB's increased represen-tation in union elections.

Special mention must also go to the demonstration held on April 5th by various trade unions of Nations of the SpanishState, which brought together more than 3,500 union members from the Basque Country, Galicia, Catalan Countries andthe Canary Islands to protest against the anti-labour and anti-social measures being taken by the Spanish government,the employers' association, the CCOO and UGT. Similarly, we demand the need to have an Independent Framework ofIndustrial Relations and Social Security in each of our nations. This demonstration revealed the existence of a class-based,confrontational trade unionism that opposes the CCOO's and UGT's pactist and lame trade unionism, and the Spanishstate, as a state in the process of decline, has a political problem in the first degree with the Nations it denies their sove-reign right to decide their future.

Undoubtedly, the international situation has been marked in recent months by popular revolts in several Arab countries.So, regimes like those of Ben Ali's in Tunisia or Mubarak's in Egypt, loyal allies of the powers of the E.U and the U.S., havefallen spectacularly as a result of the social unrest that existed in those countries and others, such as Saleh's regime inYemen or in Bahrain, to name just a few examples, could end up going the same way.

In this context, the E.U and the U.S. are once again trying to cash in and take their cut, destabilizing other countries suchas Libya or Syria. LAB condemns the imperialist intervention that NATO and several EU countries (including Spain andFrance) is carrying out against the Libyan people. Their sole objective is to take over the largest oil reserves on the Africancontinent. Any nation that is brutally attacked, as is presently happening in Libya, has the right to defend its people. Wedemand that a stop is put to the imperialist aggression so the Libyan people can freely determine their future.

On a different note, we celebrated the 16th Congress of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) from 6th to 9th Aprilin Athens. The fact that the Congress was held in one of the European countries that is most hard-hit by the current capi-talist crisis demonstrates the WFTU's commitment to the most militant class-based trade unionism, which in Greece isrepresented by PAME. Eight hundred and eighty two delegates from all over the world met in Greece, representing morethan two hundred and twenty trade union associations in ninety-four countries. LAB was elected as a member of theWFTU's Presidential Council and will continue at the helm of the General Secretariat of the International Trade UnionFederation (TUI) of Metal and Mining. This is a responsibility that demonstrates the level of confidence the WFTU has inour union. In addition, a resolution was passed that you can read about in this magazine. It's a resolution that supports anegotiated solution to the political conflict in the Basque Country, calling for an end to violations of civil and politicalrights that we are experiencing. You also will find an article on this matter in our magazine.

We will also gain an insight into what is going on in Saharan lands. We emphasize the need for class-based unionism inEurope and our colleagues in the Galician CUT will condemn the repression against the union movement that led to theimprisonment of two of its members, whose freedom, we, at LAB, demand. We conclude with a summary of the work doneby LAB in recent months on an international level.

Once again, we would like to remind you that we always welcome your contributions and collaborations. You can writeto us at the following address: nazioartea@labsindikatua.org

Revolutionary greetings from the Basque Country. United we are in the struggle!In the Basque Country, June 2011

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On May 22nd local elections were held in all towns in thesouthern Basque Country, the area of our country which isgoverned under Spanish rule and where approximately90% of Basque nationals live. The remaining 10% are sub-ject to French administration.

There was a clear winner in these elections, the Bildu coa-lition (meaning Unite in Basque), which represented theBasque left-wing separatists.

After nearly a decade, which has seen more than ten poli-tical parties in the Basque pro-independence left-wingbeing outlawed and more than 600 local platforms thatstood in the various elections in different Basque towns,the independent left once again stood for election for thefirst time on 22nd May.

However, two aspects of these elections must be con-demned, which yet again have clear democratic shortco-mings in the Basque Country:

- The problems posed by the legal system and police for-ces of the Spanish States, attempting to prevent Bildufrom standing in these elections. Their candidates werechallenged and the Spanish Supreme Court had initiallyoutlawed Bildu. Nonetheless, we, the Basque People tookto the streets and tens of thousands of us showed oursupport in demonstrations and we made our presencefelt demonstrating in main squares in Bilbao andPamplona. Finally, on 5th May, just before the start of elec-tion campaign, the Spanish Constitutional Court upheldthat Bildu was legal.

- To date more than 60,000 Basques continue to see theircivil and political rights being violated and they are trea-ted as "second class citizens" in the Spanish state, sincethe Spanish state still does not allow them to stand forelection (vote). Their only "crime" is to have actively takenpart in separatist left-wing political organizations, whichwere legal at that time. This situation is incomparable to

LEFT-WING SEPARATIST party triumphs and enjoys a landslide victory inthe may 22nd elections in the Basque Country

any other across the whole of Europe. The Spanish stateprohibits taxpayers who have no criminal record or convic-tion from standing for election, only because they areBasque and they believe in left-wing, separatist ideologies.

This meant that Bildu electoral candidatures had to beconducted in a situation where rights were infringedupon and under the threat of being outlawed, somethingwhich no other party had to face.

Despite all this and whether the most rotten and fascistright-wing like it or not, the Basque pro-independenceleft, as we pointed out, has achieved unprecedented suc-cess in the elections held in the Basque Country on 22ndMay.

Here are some facts from Bildu in respect of the electionsheld on May 22nd.

- Bildu achieved 314,996 votes and 22.28% of all votes cast.

- In the towns, 1138 councillors won seats. It is the highestnumber of seats won by town councillors in the BasqueCountry.

- It is the party that gained the majority vote in mosttowns. Specifically it won in 113 towns in the BasqueCountry, followed by the PNV (Basque right-wing party)who won 98.

- It is the second most voted party in the Basque Country,surpassed only by the PNV, with only 18,000 votes in thedifference.

- It is the most voted party by a large difference in the pro-vince of Gipuzkoa, in the municipality of San Sebastian -Donostia.

These results have, once again, demonstrated the unlaw-ful and fraudulent nature of the current composition ofthe Basque Parliament in Vitoria-Gasteiz, where morethan 20% of Basque society has no legitimate represen-tatives, and where the PSOE govern alongside the PP in atotally undemocratic and minoritarian manner. This hap-pens because the Basque left-wing separatists were ban-ned from standing in the elections for that parliamenttwo years ago. They had to cheat to win and legislateagainst the will of the majority of Basque society. This isexactly what happens in dictatorships.

With regard to the results in the Spanish State politicalchange has resulted, without a political alternative havingbeen put forward, as the PP and PSOE fundamentallyadvocate the same policies.

LAB congratulates the workers and low-income popula-tion in the Basque Country who have made this victorypossible. Firstly, they are the ones who managed to givelegal status to Bildu, mobilizing themselves for that pur-pose. They have also managed to make a powerful pre-sence in the institutions.

Bildu has proposed an alternative left-wing party for theBasque working class, who are hoping for a democraticprocess that will put an end to the political conflict bet-ween the Basque Country and the Spanish State throughexercising the right to self determination that we, theBasque People, are entitled to, like all Nations and Peoplesin the world.

These results have also demonstrated that, we, the wor-king class and low-income population in the BasqueCountry demand a real change, not only political butsocial too.

Institutions must serve the majority of society and thenation, and this requires an equitable distribution ofwealth, a different fiscal policy that makes those whohave more pay more. We need institutions that defend astrong public sector in strategic branches of the economyand welfare of a country (education, health, transport,banking, social services, etc.). For all this, it is necessary todefend the Basque Framework of Labour Relations andSocial Protection. We live here and we work here, so wedecide here.

In short, institutions that are there to serve society arenecessary.

We believe that the success of Bildu is a breakthrough inthe struggles fought by the Basque working class in thesetimes of capitalist crisis, a step forward in the struggle forsocialism and independence in the Basque Country.

This new situation opens up new possibilities and newhorizons.

Gora Euskal Herria askatuta eta sozialista! = Long live thefree, socialist Basque Country!

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Gaizka Rial and Imanol Txaparro (LAB Delegates)

We are living through times of savage neo-liberalism, andthe working class is facing a big offensive under the pre-text of the economic crisis raised by the capital system.

In the Basque Country, we start off with some of theworst parameters in economic terms and working condi-tions in the European Union (levels of unemployment, jobinsecurity, wage index, social protection, fiscal policy ...). Itis evident that there are two union models.

One is a bureaucratic, centralist and conciliatory model,for the sake of the capital system, consistent with thealmost unanimous electoral political representation(CCOO, UGT); the other is a country-oriented model ofconfrontation and anti-establishment sentiment (theBasque union majority representing 65 per cent in theBasque Country), that responds to the consequences ofthe adjustments of the capitalist model against the wor-king class.

The Spanish PSOE Government's pension reforms and thecall to general strike on January 27th by the Basque unionmajority came in this context. LAB's assessment of thestrike is highly positive, as it was hugely successful: it sho-wed the combative attitude and the commitment of tensof thousands of people from numerous sectors andlevels. It was the third general strike in a year and a half inthe Basque Country.

The other two general strikes were held in 2009 and 2010,and demonstrated that the Basque society is respondingto this capitalist crisis with its own union agenda. TheBasque Country is the sole European nation without a

SUCCESSFUL GENERAL STRIKE HELD on 27th january: the Basque Country demonstrated against raisingthe age of retirement and the pension reforms agreed by the spanishgovernment, the employers' association, the CCOO and UGT

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State that has held three general strikes since the currentcapitalist crisis began in 2008 - that proves that this terri-tory features a different union, social and political reality.

The mass demonstrations and the degree of participationin the strike show the growing social unrest and enable usto visualize the need for an alternative economic andsocial model.

- Both the members of LAB and the Basque union majoritycondemn that privatizing the public pension system isbeing promoted to favour private pension funds, a furtherblow from the banking system, which the governmentregularly injects with public money.

- On January 27th, we went out onto the streets to defendthe Basque framework of industrial relations and socialprotection. So, we are in a position to not only decide oneconomic and social issues, but also on political matters,because we are a different people and as such we havethe right to decide.

We do not agree that decisions are to be made at Statelevel through subsidized and pactist trade unionism,because that model favours the workers paying for theeconomic crisis. We defend what is being done withregard to Basque trade unionism outside of what theState sets and outside pactist trade unionism.

In the same way, the approval of the Labour Reform hasonly served to reduce the cost of redundancies, to perpe-tuate job insecurity and to continue destroying employ-ment. Before this unprecedented attack, unseen in thepast 30 years, the CCOO and UGT made their mark by legi-timizing that an ever-growing sector of the populationdoes not have access to a decent retirement pensionwhen they finish their working life and encouraginginvesting in the banks private funds.

Public systems are of no interest, because they do notyield profits to the capitalist system. We are told that theviability of the pensions system is in danger of promotingprivatization to force us to resort to private pension plans,which do provide benefits to the bank. Political will isdirected once again to favour the financial powers thatbe. Nonetheless, the pensions system is not in good

health and has no surplus, even if they want us to believethe contrary.

The entire working class is being attacked. Therefore, weemphasize the need for contact points between Basquetrade unions and the popular movement. To join forces.

Before the greed of the capitalist system to continue spre-ading and appropriating public services, LAB sees theneed to stand up and to keep fighting to prevent this con-tinuous theft and to achieve a change in the socioecono-mic model.

These reforms have the blessing of the IMF, which is thelargest implementer of the restructuring plans carriedout in Latin America and Africa, breaking down all socialrights and dragging their people to a general impoveris-hment and a perpetuation of the economic crisis.

The neoliberal discourse persists in "the myths of absolu-te truth", according to which the deficit and debt have tobe reduced by decreasing the public spending on socialpolicy and preventing the State from intervening in themarket. However, when banks and employers realizedthat they had to face the crisis that they generated, theState gave them billions of euros to get by. The ones thathave brought us to this unprecedented crisis are preciselythe banks, the capitalist system and the financial powers.They ones that dictate the rules of the free market. Butwhen they are in the need of governmental intervention,they got it. For social policy, however, there is never anymoney.

Society is demanding the current pattern to be changed.We need another model, based on the fair distribution ofwork and wealth, centred primarily on employment andsocial protection, which favours people, which ensuresemployment and social rights of people, and does notturn them into a commodity.

The attitude of the CCOO and the UGT regarding thisreform, handing an agreement to the employers' associa-tion and the Government, is social fraud. At LAB, we reaf-firm the commitment made to the working people.Because that is the path that Basque trade unionism andthe popular movement are going to take.

Gorka Berasategi (Member of LAB's Executive Committee)

During the months of September 2010 and March 2011,we, in the unions of the Southern Basque Country1 havebeen engaged in a process of renewing union representa-tion in companies, what we call an intensive period ofunion elections. More than 12,000 delegates were electedin numerous companies across the Basque Country.

This was a major challenge for LAB. As LAB has limitedfinancial resources when compared to the four unions withthe greatest representation (LAB, ELA, CCOO and UGT), thenthe difficulties for presenting candidacies multiply for aunion that is developing a union model of confrontationsuch as ours. Even so, the work our members have done haspaid off and today we can say that the union has beenstrengthened by this great turnout at the polls.

LAB is the only union that has increased its representa-tion during this intensive period of renewing majorityunion representation in workplaces. During this periodwe have renewed more than half of our representationand we are ranked as the trade union that has achievedthe second highest number of representatives over thepast seven months. Considering that in the four southernprovinces of the Basque Country, our union is rankedfourth in terms of representation, we consider it a greatvictory the fact that we gained more representatives thanthe reformist, state-run unions, CCOO and UGT, duringthis intensive period. All this has contributed to closingthe gap that separates us from the union ranked third.Being ranked the third union in terms of representation inthe four southern provinces of the Basque Country is now

more than a challenge, it is an alternative that is growingin strength.

Navarre is one of the provinces where we have obtainedthe best results. In this province, where the Spanish regio-nal right-wing is widely established, LAB is the union thathas increased its representation the most. In areas ofNavarre, where the economic crisis has been the mosthard-hitting is where LAB's union intervention, funda-mentally committed to defending employment, hasachieved the most.

In turn, we manage to hold 26% representation inGipuzkoa, a region where currently nearly 7,000 represen-tatives are elected in various companies. Special mentionmust go to the territory of Bizkaia, especially the capitalBilbao, where we increased our representation by morethan one percentage point and figures for the otherunions are falling.

But without a shadow of a doubt, if there is any resultthat is worth highlighting, it is the results LAB obtained inthe public sector. LAB is the strongest union in the publiceducation sector in the four southern provinces. Takinginto account the representations obtained in the variousareas of public education (from age 0 to university), weare the strongest union. Considering the attacks carriedout by different institutions against the educational lin-guistic models, and the right to study in our national lan-guage, euskara2LAB's fierce opposition has resulted inhundreds of votes against the policies of the govern-ments in Vitoria - Gasteiz and Pamplona - Iruñea.

In the case of Navarre, we are the strongest union in thepublic sector (education, health, administration, justice

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Intensive period of union elections: LAB IS EVEN STRONGER

1 The Southern Basque Country is the part of our country which is ruled by the Spanish State, an area where 2.7 million Basque natio-nals live. Another 300,000 Basques nationals live in the northern area, which is ruled by the French State.2 Euskara or Basque: the national language in the Basque Country, the oldest language that is still spoken in Europe and that bears noresemblance to any other language.

...). We must highlight the strong support we have recei-ved from administrative bodies in general, as far as citycouncils or regional authorities are concerned, in all sou-thern provinces of the Basque Country.

As regards the private sector, LAB has a presence in eachand every one of the eighteen private companies emplo-ying over a thousand workers in the Basque Country, andin eight of them we are ranked first in terms of unionrepresentation.

In short, at LAB we have seen our line of union action bac-ked up during this intensive period of union elections. Thetrust that Basque Country workers are placing in the

union confirms LAB's commitment in relation to the crisis.The three general strikes that the union has called toge-ther with the union majority and LAB's consistency in thecompanies have been our best letter of representation. Asthe months pass, it is becoming increasingly clear thatpactist unionism, which has sold out to the right-wingpolicies of governments and the capitalist system, is noalternative for the working class. The CCOO and UGT tradeunions are losing power and LAB's confrontational tradeunionism is winning, giving clear messages in favour ofpolitical and social change for our country.

Every day it is increasingly clear to us that while we conti-nue to fight, we will continue to grow.

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From 6th to 10th April, the 16th Congress of the World Federation of TradeUnions (WFTU) took place in Athens. A LAB delegation led by AinhoaEtxaide participated at the Congress.

Eight hundred and eighty two delegates (882) representing one hundredand eighty unions from ninety four (94) countries took part in theCongress.

The Greek union PAME organized the meeting in conjunction with theWFTU.

The event drew together eight hundred and eighty two delegates andanother five thousand individuals marked the beginning of the Congresson 6th April. A large group of people attended the convention - thus, theefficient organization by the Greek PAME comrades was obvious, as well asthe influence they have on young people. There are few European unionsthat can say the same thing.

The presentation of the Congress and the management report detailingthe work that the WFTU has conducted over the past five years have alre-ady been sent by email, and are also available to view in the Internationalsection on our website.

At the 16th Congress, the WFTU confirmed its commitment to the classunionism, and stressed that we must defeat capitalism in order to overco-me the current crisis. Likewise, it highlighted how capitalism has develo-ped in recent years to the point of getting us into this situation.

Also condemned was the role played by the ITUC (International TradeUnion Confederation) and the ETUC (European Trade UnionConfederation) in supporting and, above all, legitimizing the current EUmodel.

In respect of the organizational area, the need to strengthen the branchesin each continent (LAB involved in the European Secretariat) and in the TUI(International Trade Union) that are organized by sectors was also empha-sized. The WFTU has done much, but still there is as much to do.

- General overview of the Congress:

On an organizational level, we have to applaud the excellent organizatio-nal capacity of the PAME Greek union members. Taking charge of 882 peo-ple is no easy task, but all PAME comrades, including the youngest mem-bers, did a great job. They are obviously a strong union and have great ope-

ASSESSMENT OF THE WFTU CONGRESS

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rational capacity. That is why, once again, we would like toexpress our thanks.

- Congress Agreements that affect LAB:

LAB continues as the Secretary General of the WFTU's TUI-Metal. Up to now, the Secretary General has been JesúsMª Gete, Purri; henceforth, it will be Igor Urrutikoetxea,who also remains in his post as International Secretary ofLAB. Also, we organized a meeting with members of theTUI-Metal who were in attendance at the Congress.

LAB will participate on the WFTU Presidential Council alongwith 39 other members. The Council is the governing bodyof the WFTU, and within the Council, the Basque Country isthe only Nation without a State. The Council is made up of,among others, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Cuba, India, Brazil,Mexico, South Africa and Vietnam. The fact that LAB is partof this is of utmost importance and value, not only from apolitical, but also a union standpoint.

In addition to the above mentioned, LAB put forward amotion, requesting the WFTU to favour a negotiated set-tlement in the Basque Country and to demand the res-trictions on civil and political rights to be stopped. As longas many motions were put forward at the Congress, aCommittee was formed to examine them. Finally, theresolution that we proposed was approved.

- Conclusions:

The Congress that has just taken place has served todemonstrate that much has been done in recent years. Itis worth remembering that in the 90’s, after the fall of theSoviet Union, the WFTU was about to disappear. LAB beca-me part of the WFTU in 2004, at the 15th Congress, held inCuba.

The WFTU has overcome the deep crisis it was plungedinto in the 90’s, but of course there are also some pointsimprove.

Anyway, we consider WFTU's interpretation of the crisisand the global situation to be adequate; therefore, LABreaffirms the WFTU's commitment.

This is evident since LAB assumed responsibility for theTUI Metal in 2008, which it now confirms, and in additionto being on the Presidential Council, we are part of theEuropean Secretariat. It is evident that there is an alterna-tive to the ITUC and ETUC globally in international tradeunionism. That alternative is the WFTU.

We believe in it. And we will contribute our two cents inthe coming years. Similarly, the fact that LAB holds asenior position in the WFTU can be helpful in this newpolitical cycle that is spreading in the Basque Country.

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LAB will attend the 16th Congress of the World Federationof Trade Unions (WFTU) with their mind set on highligh-ting the cooperation between the alternative unions,believing that "in this globalized world we must also glo-balize militant and class-oriented trade unionism".

The 16th World Trade Union Congress, which runs untilSunday in Greece, gets underway tomorrow, with the aimof closing the Athens Pact. Two hundred organizations willbe represented, backed by seventy-eight million workers.The slogan is "Workers, rise up! Against capitalist barba-rism, for social justice, for a world without exploitation".

What would you highlight from the Congress?

Previous agreements will be strengthened, with the aimof maintaining a distinctive voice to the official tradeunionism represented by the ETUC in Europe and the ITUCinternationally. The WFTU will be reaffirmed as a class-oriented trade unionism, marked by the radical criticismof the capitalist system, not to improve or sugar-coat thecapitalist system, but to eradicate it.

Are you critical of the International TradeUnion Confederation (ITUC)?

Yes. Because, along with the European TUC, they suppor-ted the Treaty of Lisbon. Policies on privatization, cutbacksin social welfare, raising the age of retirement and othersuch policies had already been established in the Treaty ofLisbon. All measures are being implemented under theguise of the economic crisis, but they had already beendetermined beforehand. And more seriously, they weresupported by the majority, ruling trade unionism. As such,

at WFTU we want to relaunch a commitment to realchange.

Was Athens chosen because of the economiccrisis it is currently experiencing?

It is no coincidence that Athens is the greatest exponentof EU neoliberal policies. They are more than those thathad already been implemented in the eighties in LatinAmerica, with some slight differences. At WFTU, we fier-cely criticise the Lisbon Treaty, because it targets the poli-cies to cut social, labour and economic rights of workersand reduce the public sector, public spending. The EU ishiding the drive towards the private sector, giving com-panies greater opportunities to move from one countryto another, and make the labour market more flexible,with the aim of reducing the cost of redundancies. Wehave already been aware of these measures in Greece,Portugal and Spain. But, at the same time, raising theage of retirement is being encouraged.

What can you do to change that course ofaction?

In Europe, there is a conflict between two union models.One is the ruling model, which is in the process of decline,with the CCOO and UGT and others. The ETUC and ITUChave opted for social dialogue in the ongoing meetings,leaving aside the struggle and industrial action. As a resultof this commitment, European trade unionism is not res-ponding, except for a few exceptions, to such seriousissues as raising the age of retirement. Neither in Denmarkand Ireland, for example, has there been a response aswould have been expected by the unions. Because thebadly named "social dialogue" means that the union

This interview was conducted by the journalist Juan Basterra and published in the Basque newspa-per Gara on April 5th

«Without a struggle and with noindustrial action, there is no social dialogue of worth»

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struggle is somewhat isolated, and those sectors of thepopulation that are increasingly removed from unionismsee it as something negative. The third factor is the depen-dence on public subsidies, which has led the ITUC and theETUC to jeopardize the union line.

What is the WFTU proposing at this Congress?

We are backing an emergent union model, aware that itis a minority, but that it has counter proposals and hasthree fundamental hallmarks. The first is the rejection ofsocial dialogue as has been considered so far. There is theneed to consider the struggle in the streets and pressuregovernments to reach agreements in favour of the wor-king class. Without a struggle, there is no real dialogue ofworth. We also believe that there is a need for a socio-political trade union movement, propounding struggleswith other sectors of society, students, grassroots organi-zations, etc. And finally, a union movement that is basedon independence and economic autonomy. Because,otherwise, you are in the hands of the institutions. At thistime of crisis, it has been seen most clearly in those par-ticipating at the negotiating tables who are in favour ofsocial dialogue.

Is there a standard approach in Europe basedon what is it said, albeit a minority?

Yes, there is a standard approach in Europe indeed. As in thecase of Greece with the organization Pame; in Portugal withCGTP, which prompted the demonstrations that have led tothe temporary resignation of Prime Minister Jose Socrates;

the case of Italy, with the USB and rank-and-file trade unio-nism, that on March 11th called the general strike... Andthen, we have the case of the Basque Country, the onlynation without a state in Europe which has responded witha struggle and their own union agenda, organizing threegeneral strikes with a union majority with different keysapproaches. On a global level, this is more complex.Governments are being conditioned by the struggle, becau-se those responsible for the crisis have not paid up, andgovernments, on the other hand, support precisely thosewho got us into this recession. As the slogan says, it's notthat there's no money, but that there are too many thieves.Salaries have to be increased in line with the cost of living,and the working hours reduced, so that the unemploymentfigures reaching 10 per cent in Europe and more than 12 percent in the Basque Country decrease.

Is there any other commitment to the 35-hourworking week?

We have never rejected the 35-hour working week; it isnecessary to maintain this demand. No one can arguethat unemployment is on the rise. The solution put for-ward is to implement reforms that reduce the cost ofredundancies, as they did in Greece, in Spain or inPortugal, for example. For unemployment to be reduced, itis necessary to reduce working hours. The 35-hourdemand is valid across the board. Nevertheless, they areconsidering increasing the working hours, but WFTU willorganize a campaign that each organization will lateradapt in their respective country, not to increase the timeworked either in terms of years or days.

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Igor Urrutikoetxea (LAB International Secretary)

We are mired in a deep, capitalist crisis caused by the esta-blishment that has extended throughout the world. Butevery place and country has its own particular issues todeal with. On the one hand, that's how we see it in Europe,where governments are adopting conservative measuressuch as raising the age of retirement, lowering public wor-kers salaries, implementing cutbacks, privatizing publicservices and reducing the cost of redundancies. On theother hand, uprisings are happening in Arab countries.The reasons and situations vary from one country to ano-ther, but, in the case of Egypt and Tunisia, these uprisingshave been based on the concerns of workers.

In those two particular countries, the heads of govern-ment have spent years in power in an apparent pseudo-democracy, although in reality they were dictatorial regi-mes. In addition, both Ben Ali and Hosni Mubarak wereexemplary leaders to the Western powers, the EuropeanUnion and the United States of America: leaders fromwhom the Arab countries should take example. In theyears that they were in power, both leaders obeyed thedemands of Western powers, leaving their natural andeconomic resources in the hands of foreign, European andAmerican companies.

Meanwhile, the governments of Egypt and Tunisia hadbeen neglecting the needs of their citizens for years. Theunemployment rate in these countries was very high(more than 20 per cent), working conditions were poor,and wages very low. This led to social unrest. For two yearsnow, companies and industries have been holding strikesand demonstrations in support of broader socialdemands. In both countries, the huge demonstrationsthat have taken place in recent months have been moti-vated to a large extent in the aforementioned strikes.

There was also another point: the bureaucratic leadersfrom the Egyptian ETUF trade union and the TunisianUGTT, as well as the official lines of work, always agreedwith the policies of Ben Ali's and Mubarak's governments.

It is true that some mid-range leaders from these unionsand thousands of workers affiliated to the unions were atthe forefront of the fight, but the same can't be said of theunion leadership.

In Europe, we are seeing a very different situation, but themain union line in past decades -which the CCOO andUGT represent in Spain, and the European Trade UnionConfederation represent in Europe- is about to fall into astate of decline. At a time when the rate of unemploy-ment exceeds 10 per cent in the Eurozone (more than 20per cent in Spain) and one-third of workers in the labourmarkets have insecure jobs, conservative measures arebeing taken throughout the EU - measures which we refe-rred to at the beginning of this article. Workers are notbeing represented by the model of unionism that the leftthe workplace and street struggle to one side long ago,which has flown the flag of the badly named "social dia-logue", and which has defended the current model in theEuropean Union, legitimizing the U.S. and European pro-ject of the capitalist system in the area of employment.

The capitalist crisis which we are experiencing has shown,among other things, that there are two conflicting unionmodels in Europe. They are not structured groups orhomogeneous blocks, but different union models.Different in their interpretations of the crisis we are expe-riencing, as well as in the way of understanding the tradeunion action.

On the one hand, there is a union model that is about tofall into decline. In fact, it is the model that has beenimposed and which is still being imposed in Europe today.The ETUC has defended the model that is currently inforce in the EU, promoted the Lisbon Treaty and favouredthe measures contained therein. Those measures arecurrently being implemented in different States, but werealready provided for in that Treaty before the onset of thecrisis (privatizations, raising the age of retirement, debili-tating the public sector, etc.).

Reducing wages, implementing cutbacks in social bene-fits and debilitating labour rights would not have beenpossible without the approval of the ETUC union bureau-

CLASS TRADE UNIONISM, needed now more than ever

16

cracy and the majority of unions that are part of it. Ofcourse, there are those within the ETUC trade unions thathave argued against such measures in their respectivecountries and have fought against them, but most unionshave adopted those policies.

In our opinion, this union model is on the point of fallinginto decline. The comedown on membership is a clearexample of this, and in particular the unions' decreasedability to mobilize. We are of the opinion that this unionmodel is in decline for three reasons:

1.- The commitment to the so-called "social dialogue":Governments are using Europe's prevailing model of"social dialogue" to legitimize anti-social and neo-liberalpolicies. But, in truth, there is no dialogue or negotiation.Union defenders enter into a dynamic of short-lived mee-tings, refusing to use them to put on pressure out on thestreets and in the workplace, and they are therefore abi-ding by conservative measures that governments havetaken in advance, thereby backing the union struggle intoa corner. A clear example of this can be found in relationto the pensions reform that the Spanish Government hasjust approved. Zapatero had previously said that measu-res should be adopted on 28th January, and Toxo andMéndez approved them on 27th January, dinner included.

2.- Because they understand the union struggle as beingsomewhat isolated, independent from other strugglesand social movements. There are therefore increasinglymore sectors (women, youth, and people in situations ofjob insecurity) that don't identify with this model of unio-nism - especially older men in the industrial sector.

3.- It is a model of unionism dependent on public subsi-dies, and this dependence leads unions to supportgovernment policies, since by failing to do so, they risklosing the revenue they need to survive.

In contrast to this union model which is about to fall intodecline, there is another alternative, class-based unionmodel of confrontation that is slowly gaining strength.

This union model strongly criticises the other model thatwants to create another model of unionism, which is toreform and is going to adopting new standards. It bringstogether the following characteristics:

1.- A position contrary to what we nowadays call "socialdialogue", as it is neither "dialogue" nor "social." It backs anew unionism of struggle and confrontation both in theworkplace and on the street, and calls into question thecapitalist system, especially in these times of capitalistcrisis.

2.- It advocates socio-political unionism. That is, the unionstruggle cannot be independent from other struggles. Ithas to be an active agent in other social and politicalstruggles. In this manner, alliances and common strug-gles with other movements are sought: youth, feminist,environmentalist and international movements, amongothers.

3.- Independence and financial autonomy, as opposed todepending on government and public institutions. Unionfunding should come through memberships. It advocatesfinancial independence, to be able to independentlydemand our rights and not to have to submit ourselves toblackmail from governments and public institutions.

This is the model that we should promote. The WorldFederation of Trade Unions has defended this model bothin Europe and worldwide, as mentioned at the 16thCongress of the WFTU, which recently took place inAthens. In addition to the unions that make up the WFTU(the Greek PAME and the Italian USB, to name a few), theyhave also shown that they are in favour of this newmodel, platforms for alternative trade unions in Europeand other activist unions in Europe.

Although we are unions from very different backgrounds,in Europe there are many of us who endorse this new,activist union model - those of us who are very critical ofthe EU and those of us who support a particular model ofunionism, in spite of the difficulties. At LAB, we believethat the challenge lies in building bridges and overco-ming the divisions among the trade unions. Similarly, wesee the need to give unified and coordinated responses.

Certainly, the current context makes it clearer than everthe need for trade union struggle and promoting unionaction that is not under the control of governments, as wehave seen in Tunisia and Egypt, where people have turnedtheir backs on the union leaders of the establishment.

On the other hand, we are observing that labour rightsand trade union rights are being strongly attacked bothin the EU and the U.S. Let us take the U.S., for example,where they want to undermine the right to collectivebargaining in some states, or where there are attemptsto criminalize trade union activity imposing fines fororganizing strikes in order to financially stifle the activistunions, as happens in the Basque Country, or in somecases, jailing union members in a bid to punish them forthe union struggle, as has happened with two membersof the Galician CUT union. These repressive attacksagainst workers unions are not coincidental, anddemonstrate the value and relevance of the resultingunion struggle.

17

Julen Zulaika (Member of Askapena)

The stories of the oppressed people are not easy to explain,since going against the official history makes it very difficultto do so. Nonetheless, we have the case of the Saharawi peo-ple, a case that is supported by the social majority and anissue that is on everyone's lips. The Sahara is apparently onthe agendas of almost all political parties, although in somecases just for appearances, such as for example the proposalthat was unanimously approved by the Basque Parliamentin April. How is it possible that a nation that has been thefocus of so much attention has yet to be freed? How is it pos-sible that it has not yet been decolonized? There are thosewho are of the opinion that food programmes are notenough and it's time for those responsible for the repressionto be held accountable.

The historical and moral responsibility of the situation lieswith the Spanish State. In the late nineteenth century, afterthe fragmentation of Africa and as part of the Treaty ofBerlin, the Western Sahara was given to a retrenching impe-rial Spain, having lost the last treasure on the other side ofthe ocean. It can't be said during the early years there was afull occupation of the country, but as they started to findphosphate and other natural resources interest became gre-ater. In spite of this, it took a lot to gain control of the entireterritory, since the Saharawi people strongly resisted andthey had to resort to using French aircraft to do so. In 1975,under the illegal Madrid Accords, the country was divided intwo. Under the agreement the north was offered to Moroccoand the South was left for Mauritania, but profits fromminerals and fishing grounds lined the pockets of the usualsuspects.

Saharawi resistance, under the command of the nationalistPolisario Front did the only thing that a nation can doagainst the occupiers, which is to fight. The Saharawis sho-wed tremendous courage in the desert war, and althoughMauritania withdrew and pulled out, Hassan II fought hardagainst the civilians using napalm and white phosphorous,a real atrocity. In the end, in 1991, the two countries signed apeace treaty on the eve of the referendum which was to beheld under the supervision of the United Nations. It's nowtwenty years on since then and the situation is much thesame. While thousands of Saharawis are still surviving inrefugee camps in Algeria, in one of the harshest deserts inthe world, in the liberated territories they have enough to begetting on with repairing the damage done to the people.On the other side of the wall stretching about 2,700 km, bycontrast, the occupied territory is there: a prison where there

are more soldiers that the local inhabitants of the territory,an exile where the number of settlers increases year afteryear.

Since diplomacy could not manage to turn the situationaround, they began to demand their rights in the occupiedterritories. In 2005, tired of being second class citizens intheir own country they embarked upon the peaceful intifa-da. The campaign for cause conducted last year was alsocarried out in the same manner. This time, twenty thousandpeople drew together at a camp near Laayoune. Socialdemands figured predominantly in the condemnations, inaddition to being oppressed as a nation, the profits andnatural resources only serve to line the pockets of those whoare a world away.

It appears, however, the European Union has responded toits requests and has just signed an agreement with Moroccoon fishing in the waters of the Sahara. In exchange for 114million euros, going against the rules of the United Nations,European fishing vessels will remain in the waters of a rene-gade people, in one of the most prolific fishing grounds inthe world. Only Sweden has rejected this breach of law. Butthe sea is not the only source of profit for foreign interests. Athird of phosphate exported by Morocco leaves from thecompany Phos Bucraa, which is located between Laayouneand Smara. This is one of the largest phosphate reserves inthe world. There are no Saharawi workers there as they wereousted in favour of the settlers. Furthermore, given to taking,sand is also being taken abroad for the recovery of beachesor for use in construction. But they are not the only types ofcontracts signed between the EU and Morocco. In 2008,France sold most of their weapons to Mohammed XI, andZapatero's Government has also significantly increased itssales. Responsibilities for the control of immigrants nowa-days comes with a heavy price to pay.

Changing the situation, therefore, seems difficult. In spite ofthis, it appears that the desire for revolution in the Arabworld is also being embraced in Morocco, although newsagencies do not report this news. So, attention must be paidto what might happen in the coming months, as it is notclear at all what the consequences of the internal debatemight be, what will be said to one another, what influencethe young people who are willing to do anything have. Thetruth is that whatever is done, they will continue on with thesame dignity they have shown throughout history, like otheroppressed nations, proud to be Saharawis, looking back andwithout losing the traces that have been left on the desertsand, taking on the challenge of advancing the struggle untilfreedom is achieved.

SAHARA: a nation fighting for theirdignity

Manolo Camaño Fandiño.Secretary of the National Executive forInternational Relations

On December 15th 2010, a young CUTactivist, Miguel Nicolás Aparicio, wasarrested in Vigo. After being detainedfor the maximum custody period atthe police station, he was broughtbefore the court and the records ofthe proceedings were sealed with anon-disclosure order and he wasdetained awaiting trial. On March9th, Telmo Varela Fernández, theRegional CUT Secretary, and anothermilitant from Vigo, Xosé M. Prado,were arrested. Two days later, thecourt lifted the non-disclosure orderof the proceedings and imposed theimprisonment of Telmo and therelease of the second detainee. Sincetheir arrest, the colleagues are still inprison.

Since the metal strike which tookplace as a result of the CollectiveAgreement of Pontevedra in May2009, there is evidence of policemonitoring increase against the CUTand its most prominent members -above all, against activists in theshipping industry.

Despite the defeat of majority tradeunions in that strike, the fightingspirit of the working class and espe-cially the younger population wasbeyond dispute. The overwhelmingmobilization demonstrated the abili-ty of the working class in Galicia,when there is union leadership asseen from the class perspective. Inthat strike, the city of Vigo was liter-

ally besieged by three anti-riot com-panies who, together with the sanc-timonious positions of the unionmajority, made the enemy capable oftipping the conflict of the collectiveagreement in favour of the employ-ers' association.

In that scenario, the first police"seizure" operations are alreadyunderway in the shipyards of Vigo,according to the language of thepress of the regime. Specifically,there is evidence of a nocturnalpolice operation in the HJ Barrerasshipyards - of course, with the coop-eration of the management of theshipyard, in which they try to link the"findings" with CUT activists. Thesepolice operations have been magni-fied intentionally.

The union defeat was not enough forthe enemy. As it is now confirmed,the police forces got to work. The rea-son was none other than to break upthe labour movement and the fightin the streets of Vigo. Trials are heldagainst fellow detainees in thatstrike, and the tendency of theinstruments of the regime (police,prosecutors and the media) pointboldly to the criminalization of thelabour class movement. Sometimesin the abstract and on other occa-sions pointing the finger of blame atthe CUT union.

From there, police presence has beenblatantly increased in all CUT actsand demonstrations in the past twoyears: 10th March, 1st May, the gener-al strike on 29th September, etc.Government fines start appearingfrom nowhere for union work such as

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THE REPRESSIVE CAMPAIGN against the CUT unionputs activists Miguel Nicolas and Telmo Varela in prison

putting up posters, painting graffiti... Not to mention themore than 300 sanctions left in the wake of the metalstrike. Union corporations, far from addressing this repres-sive campaign, they are negotiating with the RegionalGovernment Representative submitting to their blackmail.

The repressive delirium led the police to stand in wait atthe CUT pickets at the very gates of the union, both inCompostela and Vigo, during the call to General Strike onJanuary 27th. In the first city, an indiscriminate chargetook place only a hundred metres from the union head-quarters.

The charge hanging over the imprisoned comrades isquite diffuse and has a marked incriminating profile withno evidence. Access to the summary did nothing but con-firm clues: an entire police set-up has been arranged tobreak up and criminalize the CUT. The media play theirpart: anything goes, even though there is no single con-sistent piece of evidence. The objective is to lynch the col-leagues in the media. The background of the political pris-oner Telmo is being used against him and blown out ofproportion. The police operation is still ongoing, the unionphone tapping, the surveillance including legal notices,etc. Our colleagues Miguel and Telmo are framed as FIESprisoners (internal files for special monitoring), whichmeans that their communications are intercepted.

As we have just pointed out, the repressive campaign isstill ongoing. And, according to the police questioning

that the colleagues have undergone, there is a manifestpurpose to criminalize and dismantle the CUT.Throughout this whole process, there are issues of theutmost seriousness regarding the police and judicialaction that remind us of the early stages of the CSICandido and Morala case in Asturias.

Everything portends to the fact that we are facing a full-scale and far-reaching repressive crackdown. The state-ment in Miguel and Telmo's imprisonment file is cause forscandal: “Similarly, the risk of repeat criminal acts giventhe proliferation in recent years of incidents of radicalactivism arising from current economic difficulties beingexperienced as a result of the global crisis must be bornein mind". As said by the Judge in the case, this is truecause for social alarm.

As stated repeatedly, the CUT is a class-oriented, Galician,assembly-based, sociopolitical and militant union. Theiractivity is limited only to union action. Any other distort-ed definition obviously aims to criminalize this tradeunion organization.

Finally, the conspiratorial silence of the union majoritiesin respect of this repressive campaign should be noted.Only the CGT union have, until now, transmitted their sol-idarity in Galicia. However, there are many expressions ofsolidarity from other nations in the Spanish State andEurope.

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Inter-union ManifestoELA CIG LAB STEE-EILAS CSC IC EHNE HIRU

REFORMS AND PUBLIC POLICIES INCONFLICT WITH OUR INTERESTS

Since the crisis began, the SpanishGovernment has undertaken awhole series of far-reaching, anti-social reforms, and has taken harshmeasures in economic terms. Thisset of initiatives promoted by thePSOE Government responds to theinterests of economic, financial andbusiness powers. It is not only anunprecedented offensive, but alsothe most serious attack in recentdecades against the rights of theworking people and the workingand living conditions of the low-income population. We wish tohighlight:

Labour reform to exclusively benefitcorporate interests: it facilitatesreducing the cost of redundancies,consolidates job insecurity, increas-es internal flexibility within compa-nies, adjusts the balance of power infavour of the employers' associationand debilitates the working peopleand the trade union movement.

The largest and most severe cut inpensions perpetrated throughoutthe whole of history: it raises the ageof retirement, reduces the amountof pensions, toughens the condi-tions for gaining access to a publicpension and favours the expansion

of private pension plans to the ben-efit of the banking sector and thegreat financial capitalism.

The reform of collective bargainingthreatens to make it easier for com-panies not to implement the agree-ment, to individualize labour rela-tions enhancing flexibility and tocentralize the collective bargainingstructure by strengthening nation-ally to the detriment of strengthen-ing on a provincial level. All thisinvolves undermining collective bar-gaining, labour rights and our rightto negotiate in our own nationalcontexts.

A direct attack on wages, togetherwith the reform of collective bar-gaining. Separate wage increasesfrom the CPI, taking into accountproductivity is nothing more thanyet another measure that benefitsthe employers' association, cheap-ening labour costs in the name ofbusiness competitiveness.

In addition to these reforms, thePSOE Government has been impos-ing very harsh restructuring meas-ures against the working people(wage cuts on staff in the public sec-tor, social spending cuts, an increasein indirect taxes, ...). Not satisfiedwith this, there are now threats offurther reforms, ostensibly to end

the crisis. Reforms that are based onnothing more than to continue cut-ting rights. Reforms that, therefore,neither alleviate the effects of thecrisis nor do they lead to economicrecovery, since they are based on fur-ther intensifying the same policiesthat got us into this situation.

The only economic policy that isbeing implemented is the one thatmeets the demands and endlessgreed of economic and financialpower of the employers' association.The crisis has provided them withthe perfect excuse to lay the foun-dations for a new cycle of accumula-tion of benefits, but now on muchharsher and more abusive condi-tions of insecurity and exploitationto penetrate further into the currentneoliberal model of capitalism.

THE CCOO AND UGT PROVIDE“SOCIAL” COVERAGE TO THE CUT OFRIGHTS

This offensive from the economicpowers and from the employers'association, conducted by theState's political power with the helpof other political parties, also has"social" coverage of the CCOOs andUGTs pact and alliance-orientedunionism. As those unions lack offinancial autonomy, they put their

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MADRID DEMONSTRATION, 5TH APRIL 2011

For the right to decide our workingand social conditions

own interests ahead of protecting the interests of work-ers. The only function of that trade unionism is to cushionand garnish impositions and direct attacks on the inter-ests of the working people behind a veneer of "social dia-logue".

This is a vertical, bureaucratic model that aims to use thecollective bargaining reform to achieve union monopolyin an anti-democratic manner, seeking to isolate thoserepresentative union organizations, whose union modelwe oppose.

The signing of the Socioeconomic Agreement is an exam-ple of all this. That Agreement calls for demobilization,renounces the debate on the change to the socioeconom-ic model, includes only those measures that are of interestto the Government and the employers' association, anddoes not consider any action that may implicate or dis-turb the financial capitalist system.

OTHER PROPOSALS AND ALTERNATIVES ARE POSSIBLE

Apathy and resignation are being interestedly fed, andalternatives moving away from the capitalist pattern arebeing denied - those that portray a different type of soci-ety. We know that another economic and social model ispossible, and we continue to demand that the role of soci-ety, as a whole, and the working people, in particular, is akey factor.

In recent years, we have been facing up to the measureswhich have been imposed on us, but we have also consid-ered alternatives that guarantee basic rights of citizens(education, health, work, housing, energy ...), as well as afairer distribution of wealth. Measures have been deliber-ately rejected and hidden by the authorities: progressivetax policy, persecution of tax evasion and the under-ground economy, abolition of tax havens, public controlover the financial sector, creation of public banking, oppo-sition to privatization of services and public enterprises,elimination of general subsidies to procurement, anincrease in productive public expenditure, boosting stableemployment...

In short, we still are in opposition to the labour reform, tothe pensions reform and to the reform of collective bar-gaining, as well as the economic policies on public spend-ing cut backs, wage reductions, reduced taxes on the cap-italist system or privatization of businesses and publicservices, as all these measures are part of a previouslydesigned strategy that serves the financial capitalist sys-tem. They thus seek to transfer public resources and work-er resources to the financial capitalist system, and toweaken the working people and public services.

AN INDEPENDENT FRAMEWORK OF LABOUR RELATIONSAND SOCIAL SECURITY PROTECTION: A DEMAND WITH APOLITICAL DIMENSION

We also maintain our strong, fair and democratic claim tohave independent frameworks of labour and social rela-tions that allow us to participate, negotiate and decide onour rights and labour and social conditions in our respec-tive nations.

The current legal and political framework prevents theworking people from having real instruments of tradeunion action, which we need to effectively defend ourclass interests. The aforementioned framework, which iscompletely exhausted, is being put in jeopardy in a newprocess of regression and recentralization.

Therefore, we, the signatory unions of this manifesto,have decided to mobilize and confront the situation, togive a political dimension to the demand for anIndependent Framework of Labour Relations and SocialProtection.

Along with the social and labour demand, the possibilityof articulating another model of society is at stake. We askthe collaboration of those who share and defend thescope of decision in a bid to politically confront those whodeny us these rights.

Much is at stake for the working people and for our families.

Madrid, 5th April 2011

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No to pension reforms and collective bargaining!

22

2010 December:- The Head of the EconomicSecretariat and member of theExecutive Committee, RafaIzquierdo, and the Secretary forInternational Relations, IgorUrrutikoetxea, participated in the"First World Conference on SocialWelfare Systems", held from 1stto 5th December in Brasilia(Brazil), invited by the Braziliangovernment.

- A LAB delegation, headed by JabiAmorrortu, National Secretary ofthe Construction, Chemistry andWood sector, attended the WorldCongress of International TradeUnion (TUI) Federation ofConstruction and Wood held inSalvador de Bahia (Brazil).

2011 January:- LAB participated on 20th of thismonth in the meeting of theSecretariat of the EuropeanRegional Office of the WFTU, whichwas held in Prague (CzechRepublic). The courses of action tobe taken in 2011 were agreed at themeeting.

- On January 22nd, we participatedin the meeting of the Spanish Statealternative unions, to which LABwas invited to explain the detailssurrounding the preparation of theGeneral Strike called on January27th in the Basque Country, againstboth raising the age of retirementand the pension reforms as passedby the PSOE government.

- A LAB delegation, headed byDavid Rasines, the NationalSecretary of the Sea and TransportSector, participated in theEuropean Conference organized bythe British RMT union in London.

- February:- Zaloa Ibeas de la Cruz and MaiteArgoitia, members of LAB'sSecretariat of Women, participatedin the WFTUs European Women'sSecretariat meeting and organizedby the PEO union of Cyprus, from7th to 9th February.

- Meeting of LAB and the Frenchtrade union Solidaires at theheadquarters in Bayonne, on 22ndFebruary, where viewpoints wereexchanged on what both unionsare doing about the crisis andmade a commitment to streng-then and deepen the relationshipbetween the two trade unionassociations.

- March:- LAB participated in the EuropeanConference organized by theTurkish unions DISK and TURK-ISfrom 17th to 19th March inIstanbul, to analyze the situation inthe food industry sector on thecontinent. We also participated inthe “Newroz”, which was held inIstambul on 20th March.

- Jagoba Zulueta, a member of theNational Committee, participatedin the Conference on HumanRights that CTA, the ArgentineanTrade Union Association, organizedin Parana on March 16th. He alsoparticipated in the CTA Congress,held in Mar de Plata (Argentina)from 23rd to 25th March.

- April:- On 2nd April, the "First Palestine -Basque Country Day" was held, anevent that was organized by the"Palestinian- Basque CountryNetwork", which LAB is activelyinvolved in together with otherunions, political parties and socialmovements.

- On 5th April, a demonstrationby the Nations unions of theSpanish State took place inMadrid, to protest against thePSOE Spanish government's anti-labour and anti-social measuresand to demand an IndependentFramework of Labour Relations.Despite being a Tuesday morning,we brought together more than3,500 colleagues to call fromunions such as LAB, ELA, STEE,EHNE, HIRU, CIG from Galicia, theIntersindical Canaria (CanarianInter-Union) and the CSC fromCatalonia.

WHATHAVE WE BEENUP TO?LAB has continued in itsundertaking of significantinternational activity over thepast months. Various boardmembers have participatedin several internationalevents. Below is a summaryof the main activities:

23

- From 6th to 9th April, the 16th Congress ofthe World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)was held in Athens. 882 delegates from 94countries worldwide participated, representingmore than 220 trade union associations. LABwas elected as a member to the PresidentialCouncil and adopted a resolution supporting anegotiated and political solution to the con-flict our people are experiencing, whichdemanded the Spanish government to put anend to the violations of civil and politicalrights of Basque citizens.

- LAB participated in the Congress of the UGTGfrom Guadalupe, held from April 6th to 9th.

- May:- LAB participated in the May 1st events inCuba, alongside the Cuban CTC.

- June:- Although it was impossible for us to attend,the LAB salutes the Solidarity Congress whichis being held in Villefranche sur Saone (France),from 6th to 10th June.

- Three member of our executive - José LuisRezabal,"Txurdo" and Amaia Almirall – tookpart in a meeting against the repression oftrade unions, organised by CUT of Galicia, inVigo, on 23rd to 25th June.

- LAB also took part , from 22nd to 25th June, inthe World Congress of the Union ofInternational Trade Unions (UIS) – FoodIndustry – which was organised by the CGTand FSM. We were represented by Juan CarlosVizan and Haizea Isasa, who both work in thatindustry.

- LAB was invited by the Conference of TradeUnions in Pakistan (GFTUP-APFUTU) to visitthat country in December 2010, to see howthey were dealing with the consequences ofthe floods which hit that country a year ago,leaving tens of thousands dead.

The International Secretariat decided to givethe money which we would have spent on thevoyage to help fight this human catastrophe,and to co-operate with the work being doneby this class-conscious trade-union inPakistan.

With this small contribution from LAB, theGFTUP bought school materials for 129 chil-dren; gave medical treatment to 71 women;and bought basic requirements (water, milk,salt and bread) for 209 families

"¡NO TO THE IMPERIALIST ATTACKAGAINST THE PEOPLE OF LYBIA !"