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Victory in the conflict against SOS Children's Village and Creation of Union

On February 7, 2014, our comrade from CNT in Spain was dismissed from his job as educator at an SOS Children´s Village in Catalonia. He had begun to observe various violations of workers rights including unpaid overtime, not being able to use vacation time, some health and safety violations, etc. etc. He tried to get the employer to comply with norms and also informed the work inspection of these violations. A few days later he was fired. The CNT and the IWA consider that the dismissal was retaliation for the worker insisting that the employer comply with regulations. Action were held on the national level on Spain and solidarity was shown internationally by the IWA Sections. We are pleased to inform that recently this comrade was reinstated in his job.

Great anarcho-syndicalist farewell to Emilio Botín

Just one day after the banker's death, the International Workers Association and affinity groups call for dozens of boycott actions against Santander Bank, Isban and Panel Sistemas in Spain, Germany, UK, Portugal, Argentina, Poland, Mexico and Norway.

The trial for wrongful dismissal is set on the next September 29th in Madrid. Whatever happens, direct action has shown to be the working class's strongest weapon along the conflict.

A CNT union section was formed in Isban-Santander Bank on August 19th, 2013 at Madrid. This group of precarious workers denounced illegal trafficking of staff from Panel Sistemas to Isban.

More than 10,000 workers around the world are affected. They are not considered Isban workers, although they work for Isban in its facilities, with their tools and under their managers' orders.

Communiqué on the Death of Emilio Botin

We strongly condemn what we consider to be the terrorist acts of the Santander group, such as the semi-slave working conditions of thousands of workers not recognized by Isban, the selling of junk bonds and mortgages, investment in arms, tax evasion, etc.

These practices have ultimately ended in the death of a decrepid old man of 79 who bore the "burden" of being the most powerful man in Spain and powerful abroad. All the riches in the world could not prevent him from landing up in the grave at some point.

One year of direct action against Santander Bank

A CNT union section was formed in Isban-Santander Bank on August 19th, 2013 at Madrid. This group of precarious workers denounced illegal trafficking of staff from Panel Sistemas to Isban.

More than 10,000 workers around the world are affected. They are not considered Isban workers, although they work for Isban in its facilities, with their tools and under their managers' orders.

Panel Sistemas and dozens of "meat traders" companies benefit from workers renting. This way, Santander Bank has free sacking whenever they want.

This makes workers ACCEPT free overtime, neverending working days, and depreciated salaries.

After several weeks of fight in the company, the CNT delegate is fired by Isban-Santander Bank and sent to work at Panel Sistemas offices. The conflict spreads thanks to the solidarity of the International Workers Association.

During six months, Panel Sistemas managers KEEP pressing the worker at his new workstation, trying to make him stop claiming for decent working conditions for the staff. At the street, an international boycott campaign against Isban, Santander Bank and Panel Sistemas is supported by dozens of revolutionary unions worldwide.

International Presentations in Asia

In the first weeks of August, a series of presentations and discussions on anarchosyndicalism took place in Asia. Many IWA Sections presented topics and took part in meetings and round table discussions with a wide-range of activists from Hong Kong and Taipei.

Besides a presentation and discussions on the principles and practice of anarchosyndicalism and a presentation on the IWA, its history and how it works, seven Sections of the IWA took part, presenting something about themselves and how they organize. There were plenty of examples of successful direct actions, accompanied by videos. There were explanations about how some organizations choose to carry out certain campaign and also examples of social protests or activities the Sections have been engaged in, ranging from mass protests in Brazil to cooperatives in Spain to tenants movements in Poland.

The events generated lots of discussion and exchange. We also got to learn something about the local realities in Hong Kong and Taiwan, setting extra meetings with activists. A separate meeting was held on anti-gentrification movements in which some of the Hongkong activists participate, sharing their experiences.

The comrades who took part in organizing the events assessed them positively and would like to continue dialogues and produce some more basic texts geared towards people in that region.

We thank everybody who helped to organize the events in these cities, everyone who helped with the space, translations, food or just showed hospitality! Thanks also to those who showed up, organized extra meetings and shared their local experiences! We hope to see or hear from you again soon.

Victory against Portinox – Teka

The CNT-AIT Granada announces the end of the conflict with the metal company Portinox, from the Teka group. The past Wednesday, July 16, a court decision was handed down from the hearing of the 14th. The dismissal was voided and our comrade Pablo, the CNT union delegate in this company, returned to work on July 21. The company was ordered to pay his back salary and reinstate him immediately.

ZSP: Hospital Workers Win Contracts

The women who have been fighting to return to work in Belchatow Hospital have won their jobs back! They will have work contracts through the new service provider.

We think this outcome shows that if you organize, stay in solidarity and don't give up, it is worth it. We consider this victory, which happened outside the mainstream unions, to be the most significant we know of so far this year in Poland. We thank everyone who supported this struggle.

We however note that there are still problems since the workers have not been compensated for lost time and have not been hired directly by the hospital.

The union in the hospital will continue working to improve conditions and fight for better job security.

Solidarity With the Workers of Atento, Against the Planned Reductions

Workers at the call center – help desk giant Atento from several unions, including the CNT, are on strike today in Spain against planned reductions. More than 800 workers are expected to lose their jobs, although the firm plans an increased workload in the near future and is currently recruiting.

Atento is the second largest firm in this industry and had well over 2 billion dollars in revenue last year. It employs 155,000 workers in 16 countries. The firm was created about 15 years ago when the company Telefonica decided to transfer their call center and other services to a new company that it would own. In 2012, it was bought by Bain Capital, a US holding company, co-founded by Mitt Romney. Bain decided to float the company this year and, in order to make the company more attractive to investors, they decided to cut the workforce. At least 823 jobs will be cut in Spain.

While cuts are planned, an increased work load is expected, as some tasks sent to Latin America will be sent back to Spain. In general, the workers have been complaining about increased workload since Bain Capital took over in 2012. Median salaries in Atento Spain are about 750 euros per month.

The redundancy plan is now in a 30-day consultation period and strikes are planned throughout the month. The IWA would like to express its solidarity with the workers against the corporative greed of those who will destroy more jobs and squeeze more work out of those still employed to make even more money. We send special greetings to the comrades of CNT in Madrid and Leon who are unionized in Atento. At times like this, syndicalists can be targetted so we wish them much strength for the upcoming struggle.

NO TO THE ERE AT ATENTO!

Dominos Pizza: We Condemn your Actions

The IWA condemns the actions of a Domino's Pizza in Vigo, Spain, which has unfairly dismissed Emilio, a long-term employee with no previous problems at work. After working there for 9 years, the company decided that the unionist must go and dismissed him for an alleged small theft in the restaurant. The CNT union considers that this allegation was made as a pretext and to avoid eventual compensation they would have to pay for unfair dismissal.

The CNT has been picketing Dominos in response and on July 7, this case comes to court.

We are sending a notice to Dominos that a conflict with the CNT is a conflict with all of us. If this situation is not resolved, we will mobilize ALL OVER THE WORLD. You have already seen us do this. DO NOT TEST US AGAIN BECAUSE WE WILL NOT TOLERATE ATTACKS AGAINST OUR MEMBERS.

Dominos Pizza, enough is enough!
Reinstatement for Emilio NOW!
Immediate compensation for all time he was without work!
Stop the harrassment of employees!

International Day of Action against Repression, June 28

Social struggle is not a crime! Solidarity against repression!

We want to express our support and solidarity with Carlos and Carmen, who participated in the Granada 15M picket during the General Strike on March 29, 2012 in the state of Spain and who were convicted to three years and one day imprisonment for their participation in this picket.

For the General Strike in Spain on March 29, 2012, the Granada 15M movement organized an informational picket that swept the streets of the city calling for solidarity with the day of strike. Carlos and Carmen were randomly identified by the police out of a bar where the picket had entered. During this picket there were no violent attitudes or threats and, in fact, the picket continued its passing by Granada and the bar was not closed. The bar owner filed a complaint and some months later a trial began in which the prosecutor asked for an "sentence to set an example, not only for them but also so that none else comes up with similar things". Finally, the judge sentenced Carlos and Carmen to three years and one day imprisonment for an alleged "crime against the right of workers". Following the conviction, an appeal was brought to the Granada Provincial Court, but this upheld the verdict based only on the testimony of the bar owner.

In recent years in Spain, repression against social movements has developed from fining participants in social protests into sentencing them to imprisonment. Meanwhile people live in a context of insecurity and spending cuts, while the government introduces law reforms meant to stop social struggle.

And we cannot allow it.

We call on every city to go out onto the streets on the 28th of June to follow the protest evoked by this repression and injustice.

Asociación Internacional de los Trabajadores

International Workers Association