ARTICLE: Unions Call for National Resistance to Neoliberalism

Mexican Labor News & Analysis
January , 2007, Vol. 12, No. 1

Unions Call for National Resistance to Neoliberalism

[Mexican document signed by many leaders of labor, social movements and political parties, translator unknown. – ed.]

Open Forum for a National Dialogue to Unite Our Resistance against Rightwing Neoliberalism – February 3 – 5, 2007

To the Mexican people:
To all social and civil organizations:

This year of 2007 presents us with threats and challenges directed at the Mexican people. The politicians, militaries, “magistrates”, and big entrepreneurs that through corruption imposed on us Felipe Calderón, are now ready to take advantage of their usurpation of power. They are ready to inaugurate a new and more vicious stage of neo-liberal politics that includes: privatization, budgets that violate public interests and social needs (like the one recently approved), of concentration of wealth for a few and deepening poverty for the majority. In addition, the surrender of sovereignty, and indiscriminate openness to subordinate integration to the United States, as in the case of corn and beans as a consequence of FTA’s. They are ready to regress and close doors to any new process of democratic transformation and elimination of despotism, electoral fraud and corruption that were characteristic of the old “priistas” (from the PRI) regime and are now part of this “new” political system.

The neoliberal right wing enthroned in power, even before the “transition”, and now headed by a new and even more dangerous government “Panista” (from the PAN), has not vacillated in violating fundamental laws of the Republic and universal human rights respected by our country. This past year was the epitome in this respect as demonstrated by the industrial crime in Pasta de Conchos that left 65 dead and continues in impunity; the repression of striking workers at Lazaro Cardenas; the blatant violations to union freedom and autonomy. And by the brutal repression of the people of Atenco and against the popular movement of Oaxaca, that left a trail of dozens of assassination, hundreds of arrests and countless cases of torture, aggression, and sexual violations that until this day have not ceased; the pretense of an investigation of the ’68 and ’71 genocides that remain in impunity.

The worst thing is that this seems to be just a glimpse of what lies ahead from a regime with an iron fist that criminalizes social protest, does not hesitate to use repressive forces and imposes the sinister and infamous torturer ex-governor of Jalisco as head of the Ministry of the Interior. This regime also puts CISEN elements in charge of national “security”- that actually utilizes the supposed war against drug trafficking to increase the militarization of the country. There is no doubt that this regime is ever more distant from a democratic transition and ever closer to a dictatorship, with the goal of imposing its policies and subjugating the democratic will of the people of Mexico.

But that is not all, the neoliberal right wing has made explicit their intention of maintaining power by any means for a long and ominous time, as it is recorded in the 2030 plan elaborated by the World Bank which is publicly accepted by the current governing team that promises 25 years of application for this project.

However, the Mexican people will not conform, they will not allow another dark day of democratic suppression, suppression of the human rights of indigenous people, peasants, workers, youth, and womyn, and of a worsening of their working and living conditions, nor of selling off of the country. Much less now, when in the South of the continent we see new winds of hope that demonstrate that another path is possible. Despite the use of economic power, fraud, and repression to maintain power, that these big entrepreneurs and their politicians have used and their dismissal of social discontent; neoliberalism is increasingly unpopular and there is growing rejection of their policies.

This is demonstrated by the rebellion of the Zapatista community and the dignified indigenous resistance; the resistance against privatization of energy, water, social security, and public education; the persistent resistance of communities like that of Atenco; the exemplary fight and resistance of the people of Oaxaca; and the enormous democratic movement against the electoral fraud and imposition. These struggles all demonstrate that resisting, and confronting are possible means to defeating the intentions of the right wing neoliberals to maintain power.

For this to happen however, it is indispensable to unite the resistance movements and popular alternatives. Fraud and repression should not sow doubt, disintegration, or isolation of these struggles. Before the shadow of violence and the illegality represented by the current federal government, we must raise a united national resistance, constitute a coordinated front where all of the people can take part and strengthen trust in their struggles and in their victories.

In the previous period, a series of initiatives and unifying forces that were developing (which were part of National Dialogue’s past three versions) got caught in the middle of an electoral dispute and the subsequent fraud and imposition of the new right wing government. Meanwhile, initiatives like La Otra Campaña (The Other Campaign) and the persistence of the APPO movement continue to expand their influence, hundreds of thousands of people await the next step in the noted resistance in the National Democratic Convention, and all types of local and national social organizations discuss and process the new challenges and strategies.

The new vision is clearly outlined and overtly determined by the new offensive of the right wing neoliberals placing at risk the survival of any democratic and popular hope demands a new encounter of the diverse movements and resistance. A new force of convergence and unity is required, even if it is over basic issues, without weakening the forces and projects from each sector. As a step towards this path, we propose to all the movements and social actors, the need for a new National Dialogue, which we see not as a simple continuation or an end to previous ones, but as a new opportunity to come together and redefine some common strategies for this new context.
We firmly and humbly believe that in this new phase of struggle against neo-liberalism enough consensus and agreement exists between the political, civic, and social movements that are determined to assure that Mexico transition into democracy, justice, and liberty through a National Political Pact to confront and defeat the common enemy. An agreement that, with out ignoring differences, can be shared with no reserve and where the consensus over basic points can be the basis for unity, and where the autonomy of each one will not undermine the common platform and united action. A probable route would be to sign an initial agreement based on a political declaration, a minimal platform for struggle, and a plan for immediate action.

It is with these aspirations that we call for a new National Dialogue, taking place from February 3rd to the 5th in the headquarters of the Mexican Electricians Union located in Antonio Caso 45, Col. Tabacalera in the city of Mexico, that can be used as a stepping-stone in this direction.

The National Dialogue Program, that starts February 3rd at 13hrs, will include the following themes:

1.- Evaluation of the diverse movement and unitary forces, and discussion of strategies for new perspectives.

2.- Wages, Employment, Social Security, Retirement and Pension Systems, and Migration.

3.- Electricity, Water, Petroleum, Biodiversity, Cultural Heritage, Internal and External Debt, FTA’s, PPP (Pan Puebla Panama) and ASPAN (Alianza para la Seguridad y la Prosperidad de America del Norte)

4.- Education, Research, Technology, Science, and Culture.

5.- Democratic Liberty, Human Rights, Militarization

6.- Gender Discrimination and Equality

7.- Agricultural Crisis, Indigenous Rights and Culture

IN SOLIDARITY

End the price hikes for products of basic consumption!
No to the militarization of the Country! For an alternative National project!
The country is not for sale, sovereignty will be defended!
NATIONAL DIALOGUE


Document signed by the following organizations and individuals:

Frente Sindical Mexicano (FSM), Red Mexicana de Acción Frente al Libre Comercio (RMALC), Asociación Latinoamericana de Medianos y Pequeños Empresarios (ALAMPYME), Asociación Nacional de Industriales de la Transformación (ANIT), Centro de Investigación Laboral y Asesoría Sindical (CILAS), Red Nacional Género y Economía (REDGE), Servicios y Asesoría para la Paz (SERAPAZ), Movimiento Nacional Organizado “Aquí Estamos” (MONAE), Movimiento “La Esperanza se Respeta” (MER), Organización Nacional del Poder Popular (ONPP), Frente Amplio Progresista (FAP), Promotora de la Unidad Nacional Contra el Neoliberalismo (PUNCN), Paz con Democracia, Cultura, Trabajo y Democracia, Frente Nacional de Resistencia Contra la Privatización de la Industria Eléctrica (FNRCPIE), Frente Socialista, Coordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación (CNTE), Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores Minero-Metalúrgicos y Similares de la Republica Mexicana, Alianza de Tranviarios de México (ATM), Sindicato Único de Trabajadores de la Industria Nuclear (SUTIN), Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (SITUAM), Sindicato de Trabajadores de Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (STUNAM), Sindicato de Trabajadores de Transporte de Pasajeros del Distrito Federal (STTP), Confederación de Jubilados, Pensionados y Adultos Mayores de la Republica Mexicana A.C., Frente Autentico del Trabajo (FAT), Frente Popular Revolucionario (FPR), Sindicato de Trabajadores al Servicio de los Poderes del Estado de Querétaro, Asociación de Trabajadores del Estado de Michoacán (ATEM), Confederación de Ferrocarrileros de la Republica Mexicana A.C., Sindicato Mexicano de Electricistas (SME).

Sindicato de Trabajadores del H. Ayuntamiento de Patzcuaro Michoacán, Sindicato Independiente de Trabajadores del Colegio de Bachilleres del Estado de Michoacán, Sindicato Único de Trabajadores Académicos del CONALEP, Sindicato Único de Trabajadores del Colegio de Estudios Científicos y Tecnológicos del Estado de Michoacán, Sindicato Único de Trabajadores del Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Tacambaro, Sindicato Único de Trabajadores del Instituto Tecnológico Superior Purhepecha, Sindicato de Maestros y Empleados del Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Uruapan, Sindicato Único de Trabajadores del Instituto Tecnológico Superior de los Reyes, Sindicato Único de Trabajadores del Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Apatzingan Michoacán, Sindicato Único de Trabajadores del Icatmi, Sindicato Único de Trabajadores del Organismo Público Descentralizado Servicios de Salud de Michoacán, Instituto de la Probidad A.C., Asociación de Médicos y Enfermeras Suplentes del ISSSTE, Sindicato Único de Trabajadores de la Universidad Tecnológica de Morelia, Sindicato Independiente de los Trabajadores al Servicio del Ayuntamiento del Municipio de Ario Michoacán, Cooperativa, Asociación Nacional de Jubilados y Pensionados de la Secretaria de Salud A.C., Sindicato de Empleados de la Junta de Caminos del Estado de Michoacán.

Asociación Nacional de Empresas de Comercio del Campo, Alianza Mexicana por la Autodeterminación de los pueblos, Coordinadora Nacional de Mujeres (COM), Coalición de Organizaciones Mexicanas en Defensa del Agua (COMDA), Coordinadora de Trabajadores en Defensa del Carácter Público del Agua (CTDCPA), Movimiento Mexicano de Afectados por las Presas y en Defensa de los Ríos (MAPDER), Red de Genero y Medio Ambiente (REGEMA), Red de Mujeres Indígenas, Red Nacional de Promotores Rurales (RNAPROR), Asociación Nacional de Trabajadores del INVI (ASTINVI), Casa de Derechos Humanos de los Pueblos Indios, Centro de Derechos Humanos Agustín Pro, Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Francisco de Victoria, Comisión Episcopal de la Pastoral Social, Comité Ollín Mexica, Consejo Campesino Urbano Popular Obrero (CCUPO), Coordinadora por la Unidad de los Trabajadores del GDF, Coordinadora de Unidades Habitacionales INFONAVIT (CUHI), Estudiantes Fac. Ciencias UNAM, Estudiantes Fac. Arquitectura, Estudiantes CCH-Sur, Estudiantes CIECO-UNAM, Estudiantes UAM-I, Estudiantes y Profesores UACM, Estudiantes y Profesores UAM-X, Investigadores de la IIS-UNAM, Investigadores de FLACSO, Maderas del Pueblo del Sureste, Movimiento de Unificación y Lucha Triqui DF (MULT-DF), Unión de Trabajadores de la Educación, Unión Popular Revolucionaria Emiliano Zapata (UPREZ), Comunidad del Pueblo de Tulpetlac, Guardianes de los Volcanes A.C., Movimiento Mazahua por la Defensa y Cuidado del Agua (MOVMAZDA), Unión de Pueblos del Oriente de Chalco y Cocotitlán (UPOCHCO) Consejo de Ejidos y Comunidades Opositores a la Presa La Parota (CECOP), Estudiantes Normalistas "El Mexe", Pobladores de Guadalajara Opositores a la Presa el Arcediano, Asociación de Colonos de Manantiales de Cuautla, Pastoral de la Tierra, Sistema de Agua Potable Xoxocotla, CIPO-REM, Movimiento Ciudadano Unido de Puebla (MCUP), Consejo Indígena Popoloca (CIP), Unión Campesina Emiliano Zapata vive (UCEV), UPD- Quintana Roo, Ciudadanos Unidos al Rescate de la Laguna de Acuitlapilco (CURLA), UCIVER – Pobladores, Centro de Investigaciones Económicas y Políticas (CIEPAC), AC, Alianza Arco, Alianza Braceraproa, Oaxaca, Alianza Ciudadana, Asamblea de Trabajadores de Michoacán (ATM), Asamblea Nacional de Trabajadores Democráticos del Seguro Social, Asamblea Nacional en Defensa del Agua y de la Tierra y contra su Privatización, Asamblea Popular de los Pueblos de Chiapas, Asamblea Popular de los Pueblos de Michoacán (APPMich), Asamblea Popular de los Pueblos de Oaxaca (APPO), Asociación de Jubilados y Pensionados “17 de marzo”, Central Unitaria de Trabajadores-ONPP, Centro de Apoyo al Movimiento Popular Oaxaqueño A.C., CAMPO., Centro de Derechos Humanos Tepeyac del Istmo de Tehuantepec (CDHTT), Coalición Nacional de Trabajadores del INEGI, Consejo Nacional Obrero y Campesino, Convergencia Sindical y Social de Morelos, Coordinadora del Movimiento Urbano Popular de Jalisco, Coordinadora Nacional de Electricistas CFE-SUTERM, DECA Equipo Pueblo, Escuela Normal Rural de Mactumacza-Chiapas, Frente Sindical de Organizaciones Democráticas de Oaxaca (FSODO), Federación de Trabajadores del Liberalismo Sindical (FTLS), Federación Sindical Revolucionaria (FSR), Frente Campesino Popular de Chiapas, Frente Cívico Huamantleco Tlaxcala, Frente Estatal Magisterial Obrero Sindical y Popular-Zac. (FEMOSP), Frente Nacional de Defensa del Patrimonio Cultural, Frente Patriótico de Puebla, Frente Popoluca del Sur de Veracruz (FREPOSEV), Frente Popular Francisco Villa (FPFV), Frente Revolucionario de Acción Patriótica A.C., Coalición Trinacional en Defensa de la Educación, Movimiento Agrario Indígena Zapatista (MAIZ-Nal), Movimiento Nacional Petrolero, Movimiento Proletario Independiente (MPI), Asociación Nacional de Abogados Democráticos (ANAD), Sindicato de Trabajadores de Casa de Moneda, Sindicato Independiente de Trabajadores del Colegio de Bachilleres, Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de Uniroyal, Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores Productores de Semilla, Sindicato Nacional Revolucionario de Trabajadores de Euzkadi, Sindicato Único de Trabajadores de la Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México, Sociedad Cooperativa de Trabajadores Pascual S.C.L., Unidad Ciudadana de Tlaxcala, Unidad Sindical del SNTSS, Unión Campesina Democrática, Unión de Campesinos Pobres (UCP), Unión de Empresas Sociales Cooperativas del Distrito Federal, Unión de Juristas de México, Unión Nacional de Trabajadores de Confianza de la Industria Petrolera, A.C. , Unión Popular de Vendedores Ambulantes “28de octubre” (UPVA “28 de octubre”), Universidad Mexicana de los Trabajadores “Ricardo Flores Magón”.

Alberto Guerrero Flores, Alfredo López Austin, Alicia Castellanos, Ana Esther Ceceña, Armando Bartra, Arturo Huerta, Benito Mirón Lince, Carlos Payán, Consuelo Sánchez, Cristina Barros, Dip. Alejandro Chanona Burguette. Coordinador del Grupo Parlamentario de Convergencia, Dip. Javier González Garza. Coordinador del Grupo Parlamentario del PRD, Dip. José Antonio Almazán González. Secretario de la Comisión de Trabajo, Dip. Ramón Pacheco Llanes. Secretario de la Comisión de Energía, Dip. Ricardo Cantu Garza. Coordinador Parlamentario del PT, Dolores González, Eduardo Miranda Esquivel, Elvira Concheiro, Epigmenio Ibarra, Flavio Sosa Villavicencio, Gabriel Vargas Lozano, Gerardo de la Fuente, Gilberto López y Rivas, Guillermo Almeyra, Guillermo Briseño, Guillermo R. García Romero, Héctor Díaz-Polanco, Jesús Trapaga Reyes, John Saxe-Fernández, José Antonio Rueda Martínez, José Enrique González Ruiz, José Luis Vega Núñez, Juan José Calixto Rodríguez, Lucio Oliver, Magdalena Gómez, Massimo Modonesi, Oscar González, Pablo González Casanova, Raúl Álvarez Garín. Comité del 68, Rodolfo Stavenhagen, Senadora Rosario Ibarra, Víctor Flores Olea, Miguel Álvarez, Marco Buenrostro, Javier Flores.

Responsible for publication: Fernando Amezcua Castillo
Exterior Secretary for the SME

SOURCE:
http://www.ueinternational.org/Mexico_info/mlna_articles.php?id=113#636

Contributed by:
Ne74

-------------------
La Nueva Raza News
www.lanuevaraza.org