Greeks Prepare For A 48-Hour General Strike

[Rakhmetov]

The General Strike is one of the weapons workers have but there must be unity. This explosive situation in Greece will turn to revolution sooner or later.



http://www.marxist.com/greek-government-survives.htm

[Decolonize The Left]

The General Strike is the most powerful weapon the working class have at their disposal. I can only hope there is enough solidarity to maintain it through what is certain to be a powerful counter-strike backlash.

- August

[chegitz guevara]

No, the General Strike is NOT the most powerful weapon the workers have. The most powerful weapon is revolution.

[chegitz guevara]

And a 24-48 hour general strike is not a weapon. It's a warning and a training exorcize. Only when it becomes indefinite, when it refuses to end until its demands are met, does it become a weapon.

[FSL]

No, the General Strike is NOT the most powerful weapon the workers have. The most powerful weapon is revolution.
That's like saying the most powerful weapon you have in a war is winning the war.




And a 24-48 hour general strike is not a weapon. It's a warning and a training exorcize.

It's the first 48-hour general strike in decades. It's probably the first one to come in Europe for years (maybe there was one in France?).
Not to sound cocky -and I shouldn't because the fact of the matter is that we live in two different countries that happened to have different cultures which we probably just found there- but you have no idea what a 2day general strike is. Or a single day general strike even. The amount of pressure employers will put on their employees, the terror, the "Do you want to lose your job, end up on the street?" argument.

Let me tell you, there have been a dozen general strikes last year, many more involving seperate sectors or businesses, 5 more this year including the one that comes now. Many many people lost their job in retribution and still many many people found the guts to go on strike for the first time in their life.

So no, this is not a warning. It's a clear act of class struggle from the workers.

[Ocean Seal]

As an American the general strike sounds almost mythical. It literally sounds like the proletariat is just magically connected during those 24-48 hrs and is using some kind of telekinetic powers to break the rule of the bourgeoisie. I mean the idea of a strike where I live is odd and the idea of a New York general strike, I can't even envision.

[thefinalmarch]

That's like saying the most powerful weapon you have in a war is winning the war.
Not at all. Revolution is a means to an end, not an end in itself.

Besides, stopping production is quite distinct from restarting production in a democratic manner without the capitalist management hierarchy, in the process indefinitely removing the bourgeoisie from their power and ridding its individual members of their class status.

[Reznov]

No, the General Strike is NOT the most powerful weapon the workers have. The most powerful weapon is revolution.

And what exactly is Revolution, according to you? And how is it used as a weapon compared to this 48-hour general strike?

[Rusty Shackleford]

At the regional conference (north east) on Socialism hosted by the PSL in Boston, there was a speech given by a comrade on the recent developments in the class struggle world wide. Its primary focus was on Wisconsin but it was also pretty general. The speech was given on May 14th so a few weeks before the current Greek situation but i think it is applicable.

I would have put a link in, but this was issued in hard print only in the paper. (at least thats what im assuming since i cant find it online)

June 10. 2011. Volume 5, No. 11 Liberation News
A new period of class struggle.
From Egypt to Wisconsin, workers and young people rise up


Workers can realize their own power

So to conclude, I want to go back to the concept of the general strike-because this is a way for the working class to take the next step in realizing their own power and the potential for workers' control of the economy-or socialism.

The general strike exposes to the workers and to all of society two important-in fact, foundational-lessons that must be incorporated as we enter this new period of class struggle.
It shows-on one hand-that when the workers withhold their labor, exercising their most fundamental power, you can see that everything shuts down.

but once the general strike happens, it raises a second question: If everything is shut down, how do the sick people get attended to, how to fires get put out, who picks up the trash, how do we ensure that people get food and basic services needed to sustain life?

So immediately some production must resume and vital services must be delivered. And when that production does resume, it does so under the direction of the general strike. The leadership body for the general strike says to different sectors of the working class: We are on strike, but you should go to work because we should provide these services and goods.

And as soon as that happens, the power of the working class is show, not just in its capacity to withhold labor, but in its ability to resume and direct production itself. And so it shows instantly, and for everyone to see, that the old ruling class and managers are in fact unnecessary if the workers take control of society.

It demonstrates-in an embryonic but powerful war-what socialism is: a government and economy of, by and for working people, directed by working people.

In other words, it takes the concept of socialism and workers' control off the pages of ideological textbooks and puts them into a real life situation every worker can understand.

That is what the general strike does. That is what's coming. That is what the new period means.

And brothers and sisters, we hope that you will join us in this struggle, and we hope that you will join our party, because together, we can constitute a new leadership, and we can win.


What Chegitz was saying about it being a training exercise is pretty much dead on. You can strike all you want if you but if you dont learn anything from it, or make any more advanced moves, or even try to advance the struggle, then it is just a general strike.

In the case of the article, If workers are actually directing production during a general strike, that has basically just become revolution. So, the general strike can turn into a weapon of sorts. but in and of itself, it is not inherently a weapon but a drill. And it should be viewed as such.

In the case of Wisconsin, a general strike must happen, but not just to reverse the new law or to simply get him out of office, but to train the working class of that state, to let them realize their own power an then moving on that and not just defending their rights, but demand more or take more.

[FSL]

Not at all. Revolution is a means to an end, not an end in itself.
Winning a war is also a means to an end, not an end in itself. Are we playing with words here?





What Chegitz was saying about it being a training exercise is pretty much dead on. You can strike all you want but if you dont learn anything from it, or make any more advanced moves, or even try to advance the struggle, then it is just a general strike

That's extremely disrespectful. You try to strike all you want.
People do learn things from it. They learn to act as a class for itself. People now shout slogans calling for a revolution. This is an advanced move. It is the first 48hour strike, I repeat, in decades.
When you "train" there is nothing at stake. People who go on strike put everything on line, their job, which brings them their only income.



This is just ridiculous, you say that only an indefinite strike is a real weapon? Well, I can outbid you and claim that an armed revolution is the only real weapon. Or maybe a full scale, global nuclear war is the only real weapon, anything else just means you're capitulating to cappies.
The truth is that class conscience is advancing and that class militancy in increasing, this is a clear example of that.

I'm sorry but all I get from what you people are saying is petty bourgeois revolutionism, the need for something "big", lack of the discipline needed to commit to a long fight and walk the distance. Check out Lenin's "Left-Wing Communism", might come in handy.

[punisa]

When is the strike going to be?
How many will participate?
Also, what are reactions to "Greek government survives" fact?

[NoOneIsIllegal]

I hope the Greek people easily lose track of time. Have some confidence, why limit yourself to 48? ;)

[The_Outernationalist]

Without a vanguard party, this revolution is next to meaningless.

[Dunk]

Without a vanguard party, this revolution is next to meaningless.

1. Is it a revolution yet?

2. Piss off, they only need each other. They don't need their bosses, and they don't need bosses with red hats.

[Rusty Shackleford]

all you want[/I].
People do learn things from it. They learn to act as a class for itself. People now shout slogans calling for a revolution. This is an advanced move. It is the first 48hour strike, I repeat, in decades.
When you "train" there is nothing at stake. People who go on strike put everything on line, their job, which brings them their only income.


I think i didnt convey my idea correctly.

And thank you for catching that.

I think i was writing from the perspective of calling for strikes all you want making them unimportant. But, i was also coming from that hypothetical "what if nothing is learned from it" "what if it simply becomes routine over a long (im talking decades) period of time"?

My post want so much a comment in attack or support of the upcoming 48 hour general strike but a look at the Wisconsin situation where something of a generalization was made. I am fully behind the 48 hours strike. I am fully behind any general strike. I just hope the most can be made of them.


EDIT: im bad at interpreting and explaining things sometimes. I am very excited about the call for a 48 hr. gen strike. with PAME, there is a high chance of success.

[Delenda Carthago]

If stupidity was useful, revleft would be the main political force of the proletariat worldwide.

[Rakhmetov]

If stupidity was useful, revleft would be the main political force of the proletariat worldwide.

If Revleft is so stupid then why do you post so much on here?? :confused:

[Delenda Carthago]

So that things like "a 48-hour strike is not revolutionary" by people who never even seen what a general strike looks like is not all its heard.

[Delenda Carthago]

that's extremely disrespectful. You try to strike all you want.
people do learn things from it. They learn to act as a class for itself. People now shout slogans calling for a revolution. This is an advanced move. it is the first 48hour strike, i repeat, in decades.
when you "train" there is nothing at stake. People who go on strike put everything on line, their job, which brings them their only income.



this is just ridiculous, you say that only an indefinite strike is a real weapon? well, i can outbid you and claim that an armed revolution is the only real weapon. Or maybe a full scale, global nuclear war is the only real weapon, anything else just means you're capitulating to cappies.
The truth is that class conscience is advancing and that class militancy in increasing, this is a clear example of that.

I'm sorry but all i get from what you people are saying is petty bourgeois revolutionism, the need for something "big", lack of the discipline needed to commit to a long fight and walk the distance. Check out lenin's "left-wing communism", might come in handy.
+1000

[Ele'ill]

I was expecting some more pessimistic criticism from AttackGr but am happy to agree here. The fact that workers, students and whoever from the community can mobilize like this is a pretty big deal. Wisconsin was a big deal to me. Someone standing up for themselves in any place of work in the US with support from any of their co workers without a 'well i'm on ur side boss I'm just happy to have a job' mentality is a big deal- just as some perspective.

[Wanted Man]

I think people on Revleft are consistently misunderstanding both the posts from Greek users and the Greek situation in general. Reading these threads is like living with a bunch of bipolars. One moment they're like "ZOMG revolution is here!", then tomorrow it's all "Pff, just a lousy 48-hour general strike, that's not going to get you anywhere; why aren't they setting up Soviets yet?"

You know something is wrong when the anarchist guy and the KKE guy are in full agreement with each other about the crap that gets spouted on here all the time. I wouldn't go as far as saying that it's "disrespectful", I would basically say that people just don't know much better. It's not necessary to have personally witnessed every situation before judging it, but how can people to whom "general strike" is only an abstract demand, casually wave their hands at an actual one on the other side of the world? "Just a general strike", LOL. :lol:

[punisa]

One moment they're like "ZOMG revolution is here!", then tomorrow it's all "Pff, just a lousy 48-hour general strike, that's not going to get you anywhere; why aren't they setting up Soviets yet?"

I think people (leftists) are genuinely "scared" of what is going on in Greece. On one hand it has huge potential to be something as a fire-starter like Tunisia was - to kick start mass protests that could spread, this time in Europe.

On the other hand.. we know that capitalists are not dumb, they know that over time Greek population will accept the new measures and continue living their exploited lives. Why? Because the bloody system is still able to keep the majority of population in "ok" condition.

It's sad, but I think Greece will have to be pushed much deeper into agony for a real revolution to take place, be it vanguard or from bottom up.

[Hit The North]

I agree with the sentiment expressed on the triteness of this thread.

Of course, a general strike is a welcome and momentous thing. It is the class acting consciously as a class. People who sniff at this fact betray some ignorance. Of course, it is not the ultimate weapon open to the working class and the time-limit of 48 hours tells us something about the confidence of the leadership. But a successful 48 hour general strike will be a heavy blow delivered against an already toppling government. At the moment the Greek workers are refusing to take the hits for the incompetence and corruption of the Greek and global bourgeoisie. If the bourgeoisie can't force the Greek workers to pay, then Greece will default on any loans it might get to bail it out, and this will have serious implications for German, French and British banks.

The ultimate weapon in the class struggle is obviously the seizure of the means of production by the workers themselves. The Greek bourgeoisie has so little wriggle-room in this crisis, and the political crisis of the State is so acute, that it might just end with workers having no choice but to seize control simply to keep the country running.

[chegitz guevara]

That's like saying the most powerful weapon you have in a war is winning the war.

Overthrowing the state isn't winning the war. It's the declaration of war by the oppressed.


So no, this is not a warning. It's a clear act of class struggle from the workers.

I'm not minimizing the reality of what it is. The masses are learning their own power. They are learning what they can do. That is huge! It is a threat to the capitalists, not to pass any more austerity measures, but it's not a battle in and of itself ... unless the bosses try to force you back to work, which they could well do, but I think, atm, they are too weak to do this, and they know you're going back to work in two days.

[FSL]

I think i didnt convey my idea correctly.

And thank you for catching that.

I think i was writing from the perspective of calling for strikes all you want making them unimportant. But, i was also coming from that hypothetical "what if nothing is learned from it" "what if it simply becomes routine over a long (im talking decades) period of time"?

My post want so much a comment in attack or support of the upcoming 48 hour general strike but a look at the Wisconsin situation where something of a generalization was made. I am fully behind the 48 hours strike. I am fully behind any general strike. I just hope the most can be made of them.


EDIT: im bad at interpreting and explaining things sometimes. I am very excited about the call for a 48 hr. gen strike. with PAME, there is a high chance of success.
Just to clear it up on my behalf as well, sorry if I came out a bit harsh.

[Rusty Shackleford]

Just to clear it up on my behalf as well, sorry if I came out a bit harsh.
no, its understood.


I mean, the General Strike in any case is a form of class struggle. Probably didnt make that clear enough in my post lol.



Anyways, im excited as all hell

[Die Rote Fahne]

Without a vanguard party, this revolution is next to meaningless.
Lolz lolz lolz lolz.

Gtfo rookie.

[Die Rote Fahne]

No, the General Strike is NOT the most powerful weapon the workers have. The most powerful weapon is revolution.
Revolution is not a "weapon".

It's an inevitability. The mass/general strike, is a weapon to achieve it.

God.

[Rocky Rococo]

Occupied London (http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/2011/06/28/632-updates-from-the-first-day-of-the-general-strike-in-athens-june-28/) and ContraInfo (http://en.contrainfo.espiv.net/2011/06/28/tuesday-june-28th-constant-updates/) will be providing ongoing English-language coverage of the events of the next couple days.

[MarxSchmarx]

I think people (leftists) are genuinely "scared" of what is going on in Greece. On one hand it has huge potential to be something as a fire-starter like Tunisia was - to kick start mass protests that could spread, this time in Europe.

On the other hand.. we know that capitalists are not dumb, they know that over time Greek population will accept the new measures and continue living their exploited lives. Why? Because the bloody system is still able to keep the majority of population in "ok" condition.

It's sad, but I think Greece will have to be pushed much deeper into agony for a real revolution to take place, be it vanguard or from bottom up.

This analysis sounds about right to me. What is lamentable about the Greek situation especially to people outside of Greece, is that the ONLY message we are hearing is "no to cuts, no to this, no to that".

This is a problem because workers abroad who have a vague impression of the situation on the ground cannot help but wonder "well, what would you do?" And for many who have been through these kinds of committed activism before, the endgame is all too apparent.

The government seizes the opportunity left by the vaccuum, pleads that it's hands are tied and they've done all they can but have no other choice yada yada yada and workers outside Greece, who hear no compelling alternative from the Greek protesters have nothing to be inspired to take action in their countries - if anything a "thank god it's not happening here" mentality sets in.

The contrast I want to highlight is with Argentina. When Argentina had its debt crisis and the economy was crippled, workers occupied factories hotels etc... and kept the economy alive, people employed and mouths fed, without the capitalists or the state. They showed other Argentines, and the international workers more generally, that they can do just fine without the parasitic classes. This also arguably enboldened the "respectable" popular sentiment to demand a government's hard line stance on its creditors and the international press with an alternative message to convey to workers abroad.

There's been some of that in Greece, but not nearly enough.

[Delenda Carthago]

The contrast I want to highlight is with Argentina. When Argentina had its debt crisis and the economy was crippled, workers occupied factories hotels etc... and kept the economy alive, people employed and mouths fed, without the capitalists or the state. They showed other Argentines, and the international workers more generally, that they can do just fine without the parasitic classes. This also arguably enboldened the "respectable" popular sentiment to demand a government's hard line stance on its creditors and the international press with an alternative message to convey to workers abroad.

There's been some of that in Greece, but not nearly enough.
Yeah and now, ten years later, they are paying the same debts with the same political party in power as before... Fuck that.

If i would have an advise to give, this would be to organise the propaganda. Tell people around you that this is coming to your country to. Tell them that this is capitalism. Tell them what created this crisis. Fuck the converstation about the debt. And dont be disapointed if nobody listens. Just be patient. Its an investment. When shit go down, all the work will pay off.

[Broletariat]

Tell them what created this crisis. Fuck the converstation about the debt.

What created the crisis specifically if you don't mind? I haven't kept up with the situation sorry.

Or if you could direct me to something to explain it, thanks.

[Decolonize The Left]

Revolution is not a "weapon".

It's an inevitability. The mass/general strike, is a weapon to achieve it.

Exactly.

- August

[RadioRaheem84]

http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/HktJK5z.zlGuXeFCaQcLRg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD0zMjY7cT04NTt3PTUxMg--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/bd1960cf6ac1700ef10e6a706700a49e.jpg

[black magick hustla]

It's an inevitability. The mass/general strike, is a weapon to achieve it.

they aredifferent. the general strike is called by union bosses. the mass strikes is all out social war, it is an accumulation of massive strikes, both legal and illegal. the general strike is voted in by official institutions, the mass strike is u and your buds deciding fuck it i wont work and ill throw rocks at the police instead.

[Delenda Carthago]

What created the crisis specifically if you don't mind? I haven't kept up with the situation sorry.

Or if you could direct me to something to explain it, thanks.
qOP2V_np2c0

thats pretty good for beggining.

[MarxSchmarx]

If i would have an advise to give, this would be to organise the propaganda. Tell people around you that this is coming to your country to. Tell them that this is capitalism. Tell them what created this crisis. Fuck the converstation about the debt. And dont be disapointed if nobody listens. Just be patient. Its an investment. When shit go down, all the work will pay off.

But that's my point. The workers on the ground in Greece are right now not controlling the message that is getting out of Greece. It is the Greek government and ruling class that are saying that these protesters aren't offering any alternative and are not and the international press is largely buying it, even the left-leaning reporters.

That's because the international journalists are owned by the ruling class. But it also means that the protesters need to focus their message not just on the greek gov't but also on the international workers. And a big part of that is to show the workers of the world by example.

It is an example of the latter kind of alternative story that the activists and workers outside of Greece are waiting for right now.

[Delenda Carthago]

But that's my point. The workers on the ground in Greece are right now not controlling the message that is getting out of Greece. It is the Greek government and ruling class that are saying that these protesters aren't offering any alternative and are not and the international press is largely buying it, even the left-leaning reporters.

That's because the international journalists are owned by the ruling class. But it also means that the protesters need to focus their message not just on the greek gov't but also on the international workers. And a big part of that is to show the workers of the world by example.

It is an example of the latter kind of alternative story that the activists and workers outside of Greece are waiting for right now.
And what the hell do we have you for, if not to spread the real message?

[Delenda Carthago]

And buy the way, we are bassicly saying "No to cuts, the crisis should be payed by the capitalists" and "We did not created it, you pay for it". So, you are getting it half right...

[Olentzero]

I wouldn't say the left is 'scared' of what's going on in Greece - I wish to God I actually had my permanent residency card from Sweden so I could go to Athens! - but genuinely awestruck. The sleeping giant that is the working class stirred in Tunisia and Egypt, and has awoken in Greece. And we're standing at its feet going "Holy shit, that thing is BIG."

While it is true that this general strike was called by the union bosses, it was called by them as a direct result of tremendous pressure from below. GSEE - one of the two unions that called it - is widely hated by workers because of its history of compromising with the bosses, so you get a good idea of how hard this pressure is on them.

That's the main weakness, as I understand it - the strikes are still being led by those who think that the capitalist class can be compromised with, and who don't fully understand (if at all) that the bosses have raised the stakes. Writing off the general strike simply by looking at its leadership, however, is a terrible mistake. Revolutionary socialist ideas are going to find a much bigger audience in the rank-and-file resistance. AttackGr is right - we need to organize the propaganda. The austerity isn't coming to our respective countries, though; it's already here. Wisconsin proves that. Iceland proves that. Tunisia and Egypt prove that. We have to act on it and build the fightback where we are, looking to Greece as an example. Which is why the coverage from leftist sources is going to be hugely important.

[Delenda Carthago]

something more interesting about the crisis:
http://www.iccr.gr/site/en/issue1.html