sunfarstar
8th April 2009, 22:54
Letter to Chinese Workers
Brothers and sisters,
We are trade unionists living in France. We are engaged today in a fight to defend the very existence of our jobs.
In our country, the government has officially acknowledged that added redundancies figures reached 92,000 in January alone. And the worst level is not reached yet. They talk about 75,000 firms threatened by closure. The government and bosses take advantage of this wave of lay offs to attack our collective rights, pensions funds, collective bargaining system.
Millions of workers went on strike on January 29th, answering the call of the trade union confederations of our country and they will do so again on March 19th. On this occasion, we see the importance for workers to have trade unions. We consider that the historical experience of the labour movement shows that there should be no borders concerning workers’ rights to organise, negotiate, strike.
For years, capitalist governments and multinationals have proclaimed that lower labour costs in China constrained them to delocalise their firms and lay off workers in Europe. But today, there is an economic crisis, and they withdraw their investments from China or are ready to do so, and once again, workers should be the ones to pay the bill.
We are aware that you are fighting for your rights in many manners.
As for us, for 20 years now, as labour activists, trade unionists, workers, we have been organising a solidarity evening to express the fact that Chinese workers interests are ours.
This year, this event is to take place on April 30th.
Dear brothers and sisters,
On this occasion, we wish to inform French workers about your struggle and actions today.
That’s the reason why we ask you to let us know about your struggle by sending documents, leaflets, narratives of your fights.
We will be pleased to make them known at the occasion of this event of course, but also to all French workers in factories and firms.
Hoping we will be able to have an exchange of information.
Best greetings
The editorial board of Tribune review
Paris, March 17th, 2009.
Brothers and sisters,
We are trade unionists living in France. We are engaged today in a fight to defend the very existence of our jobs.
In our country, the government has officially acknowledged that added redundancies figures reached 92,000 in January alone. And the worst level is not reached yet. They talk about 75,000 firms threatened by closure. The government and bosses take advantage of this wave of lay offs to attack our collective rights, pensions funds, collective bargaining system.
Millions of workers went on strike on January 29th, answering the call of the trade union confederations of our country and they will do so again on March 19th. On this occasion, we see the importance for workers to have trade unions. We consider that the historical experience of the labour movement shows that there should be no borders concerning workers’ rights to organise, negotiate, strike.
For years, capitalist governments and multinationals have proclaimed that lower labour costs in China constrained them to delocalise their firms and lay off workers in Europe. But today, there is an economic crisis, and they withdraw their investments from China or are ready to do so, and once again, workers should be the ones to pay the bill.
We are aware that you are fighting for your rights in many manners.
As for us, for 20 years now, as labour activists, trade unionists, workers, we have been organising a solidarity evening to express the fact that Chinese workers interests are ours.
This year, this event is to take place on April 30th.
Dear brothers and sisters,
On this occasion, we wish to inform French workers about your struggle and actions today.
That’s the reason why we ask you to let us know about your struggle by sending documents, leaflets, narratives of your fights.
We will be pleased to make them known at the occasion of this event of course, but also to all French workers in factories and firms.
Hoping we will be able to have an exchange of information.
Best greetings
The editorial board of Tribune review
Paris, March 17th, 2009.