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mosfeld
10th August 2009, 15:10
Im so hyped over this. Me and my friend discuss frequently how Haiti really requires socialist change. Full support to the Haitian workers, let's hope something big comes out of this!


Workers Seize Sweatshops in Haiti

http://mikeely.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/batay_ouvriye_haiti.jpg?w=350

Over 10,000 workers including Batay Ouvriye members at the industrial parks (i.e. mass sweatshop district) of Port au Prince occupied their factories Tuesday in support of the demand for the enactment of the minimum wage legislation passed by parliament, but stalled by the President.

August 6th 2009

Over 10,000 workers including Batay Ouvriye members at the industrial parks (i.e. mass sweatshop district) of Port au Prince occupied their factories Tuesday in support of the demand for the enactment of the
minimum wage legislation passed by Parliament, but stalled by the President.

The workers are demanding the full 200 gourdes minimum wage, while the President and capitalists are trying to negotiate a lower wage. The bosses fled the factory in a panic through the back door as workers took over. Workers then marched to Parliament where a meeting was being held on the objections to implementing the minimum wage law.

Flags from occupying nations were torn down and burnt by the workers (Alterpresse 08/04/09).

The first event occurred on August 3rd, and then subsequently by other groups of workers. Batay Ouvriye, a combative workers’ organization, has called for the full 200 gourde minimum wage to be implemented, and has mobilized to fight in communities and factories to see it through.

Miami Autonomy and Solidarity supports the struggles of Haitian workers and students, and will be picketing the Haitian Consulate in Miami on August 19th in coordination with other Haitian solidarity groups. MAS asks progressives and revolutionaries to organize similar pickets and struggle alongside Haitian workers this August 19th. In the days following August 4th similar occupations and activities have been reported in the industrial parks of Port-au-Prince.

http://www.alterpresse.org/spip.php?article8600

The article can be found here (http://mikeely.wordpress.com/2009/08/09/workers-seize-factory-in-haiti/).

Pogue
10th August 2009, 15:11
This is really good I am optimistic about this.

Lolshevik
11th August 2009, 02:20
This is great news. Being of Haitian descent myself this hits especially close to home.

Is there a conscious socialist current operating in Haiti?

Axle
11th August 2009, 08:21
I'm happy with this. Maybe it'll lead to better times for Haiti.

Kukulofori
11th August 2009, 08:52
holy shit what

YES

PRC-UTE
11th August 2009, 08:54
yeeeooo :cool:

GPDP
11th August 2009, 09:00
This is a most welcome development. Haiti is one of the most exploited nations, if not THE most exploited nation in the Caribbean, if not all of the Western Hemisphere.

I just hope the US doesn't feel particularly bound to tradition, as anyone who knows anything about US involvement in Haiti should no doubt fear.

OneNamedNameLess
11th August 2009, 12:13
10,000! I thought this was going to be a small factory occupation or something, not that I would undermine one. Very, very good news.