International Solidarity of Working
Class Against War—Poverty and Privatization!
An Appeal for June 29 National Workers Rally To Crush the July
G8 Summit in Toyako
National Railway Motive Power Union of Chiba (Doro-Chiba)
May 2008
World imperialism is now in death agony. The ruling class in a crisis
is turning on a desperate offensive: a violent drive for world war and
enforcement of the neo-liberal policy—privatization, unemployment,
poverty and starvation—upon all the working people.
Faced with this offensive, working class and vast layers of people worldwide
have launched a fight-back movement, which is spreading like a wild
fire. We are now entering into a decisive stage of “revolutionary
situation”.
On May Day, an epoch-making struggle was carried out: brothers and sisters
of International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), the workers of
the belligerent country of the Iraq war, and of General Union of Port
Workers in Iraq (GUPWI), are united in issuing solidarity messages and
shut down ports, preventing transportation of US war materials from
the US and of oil from Iraq, respectively. All 29 ports on the West
Coast in the US and the ports of Umm Qasr and Khor Al-Zubair, the largest
ports in Iraq, were shut down by striking workers. It was the greatest
May Day struggle ever since the May 1 in Chicago in 1886, when 350 thousand
workers rose up for a general strike. Eight hour day was won by this
historical struggle. It was an achievement of the US working class with
ILWU, our fighting comrades in the annual November rally, at its head.
Brothers and sisters of KCTU (Korean Confederation of Trade Unions),
too, are going to wage a general strike in June and July. In New Delhi,
the Indian capital, a general strike was fought on April 24 and 25.
In Britain, 400 thousand public service workers recently carried out
strike. French workers and high school students are rising up for struggle.
The port of Marseille was shut down by striking workers. In Germany,
post workers, transport workers in Berlin, nursery workers, education
workers and municipal workers are organizing strike. Also in Sweden,
100 thousand hospital and social welfare workers went on strike. Food
riots are reported in the countries in Central and South America, Asia,
Africa and Middle East.
In solidarity with these fighting workers worldwide, we of Doro-Chiba
waged strike for spring labor offensive.
All-out confrontation is developing in workplaces with young workers
at its head against capital as well as against the misleaders of Rengo
(Japanese Trade Union Confederation). The struggle was culminated in
March 16 rallies in 17 cities all over Japan as a part of coordinated
international struggle against war on Iraq. State repression as shown
by the arrest of six demonstrators in Tokyo arose anger of workers everywhere
and helped develop unity in workplaces and communities. The serious
desire and hope of fighting young workers and students nation wide is
“to forge and expand unity”.
Against this background of general uprising of working class of the
whole world, G8 Summit (of political leaders of 8 countries, including
US, UK, Germany, France and Japan) is going to be held by the Lake Toya
in Hokkaido from July 7 to 9. Anger of revolting workers worldwide will
bitterly hit the G8 Summit.
The aim and agenda of the G8 Summit are no doubt to discuss over how
to find a way out of deepening crisis, through demanding sacrifice of
workers. It will inevitably result in intensifying competition among
imperialist powers and rushing for world war, and in practicing neo-liberal
policy more vigorously to destroy labor unions. Thus the G8 Summit is
nothing but a conference of robbers.
How can we admit this conference to be held before our eyes, to discuss
over war on Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan and even over a world war? Especially
US and Japanese imperialists are planning a fresh war of aggression
on North Korea, China and other east Asian countries, taking opportunity
of the critical situation of the ruling class of these countries.
Another agenda of the G8 Summit is to escalate the execution of the
neo-liberalism in a desperate way, provoking competition and disruption
among workers and bringing unemployment, poverty and starvation. We
shall never allow this.
Let’s organize a general revolt from workplaces to crush G8 Summit!
In response to the explosive development of workers’ struggle
all over the world, rise up for an uncompromising confrontation against
capital in every workplace. Grasp the power in workplaces and stand
up for strike. Let the whole world know how powerful class unity of
working class and international labor unity and solidarity are! Only
expansion of workers’ unity brings us victory. It is imperative
for four essential industrial branches of labor movement, namely, workers
of national railway, post, education and public service labor unions,
to take a lead in this struggle.
Let’s fight the second counter-offensive of national railway workers
and break down the system of the privatized Japan Railway Companies!
Stand up for a struggle to cancel the unjust dismissal of 1047 national
railway workers and for rail safety against rationalization! Organize
for a larger and stronger union!
Fight categorically against privatization of postal service and refuse
overtime.
Let’s fight against enforcement of Hinomaru and Kimigayo (national
flag and anthem) in school ceremonies and refuse to stand up to show
obeisance. Stop disciplinary measures against sisters Nezu and Kawarai,
disobedient education workers and withdraw dismissal of sister Yoneyama,
another dissident teacher in Tokyo.
Oppose overall privatization of municipal bodies. Let’s launch
struggles in workplaces to stop introduction of personnel evaluation
system in public services.
Let’s join all the power of these workplace struggles for a successful
June 29 National Workers Rally! Rise up for a massive demonstration
to shake up Tokyo! We call upon fighting students for a general strike
of students at the head of the nation-wide struggle.
We ask you all, fighting brothers and sisters of militant labor unions
and workers, and other independent organizations to endorse the June
29 National Workers Rally. Join us!
DORO-CHIBA (DC): National Railway Motive Power Union of CHIBA
Email: doro-chiba@doro-chiba.org
Web: https://doro-chiba.org/
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