A basis trade union (basis trade union movement: frz. syndicalisme de cousin, ital. sindacalismo di cousin) is a trade union, which is so organized that power is not separated from the basis. Only like that the direct and equal sharing of all is ensured at the consent identification, so that each individual can bring in its ideas and thus in the resolutions of the collective sees itself representing. Hierarchies are rejected strict, since they always mean patronizing, which and lead to it it can limit liberty of individual members that the actual interests of the basis are not articulated.

Historically basis trade unions exist already since beginning of the workers' movement, particularly in the anti-authoritarian wing the first international one (1864 to 1876) up to their splitting 1872 and later in the 1922 again-created international female worker association (IAA) on anarcho and/or to in a revolutionary manner syndicalistic basis. Their wedding had the IAA into the 20ern/30er years. But also today sections of the IAA and different still exist anarcho and in a revolutionary manner syndicalistic trade unions, like the FAU in Germany, the CNT in Spain, the SAC in Sweden or the IWW in the USA.

Into France and Italy years stepped new trade unions into feature since end of the 1980er, which in their contents and organisational structures differ from the established large federations of trade unions. Although in terms of figures small, have these basis trade unions in both countries in the course of the 90's in labor disputes and social arguments a role of the pioneer played. Their emphasis predominantly lies in the range of public services (post office, transportation sector, educating and health service), in addition, in the industry exercises basis trade unions an increasing influence.

Basic principles

Basic principles of the basis trade unions are:

• Basis-democratic structures, renouncement of hierarchical apparatuses.

• Basis trade unions understand themselves both and organizations for the agency about interests of the and for the transformation of the society and overcoming of capitalism.

• Basis trade unions understand not purely operational-as fixed in the tariff interests, but totalsocial interests in higher quality of life by interests about female workers and workers.

• Refusal of the "concentrated action": Basis trade unions do not look for alliances and agreements with the federations of the capital.

• Instead basis trade unions of alliances with other social movements strive on (globalization criticism, ecology, toolism).

• Refusal of according to professional status thinking: Basis trade unions turn against privileged requirements of skilled workers opposite unskilled ones and do not represent not interests of an occupational group, but all persons employed of an enterprise.

• Fight against privatisations and for democratically controlled public services.

• Basis trade unions use themselves for alliances of working and consumers for qualitatively high-quality products and services.

• Fight against Prekarisierung: Basis trade unions contact persons employed in uncertain employer-employee relationships in particular and fight for human being-worthy social basic safety devices.

• Basis trade unions endorse independent organizing of the unemployed persons.

• Fight against racingism, occurring for the rights illegaly of the immigrating.

France

The historical origins of the French basis trade union movement go back up to the experiences of the yearly 1973, when the staff of the Uhrenfabrik Lip threatened of locking occupied the enterprise, which locked management out, who reorganized production after its own conceptions (release of the working from the assembly-line clock) and the clocks over a solidarity net sold. The active women and men of the Lip fights were at that time in the socialist federation of trade unions CFDT organized, in which at that time the left tendency of administered socialism coined/shaped by the revolt of 1968 was strongly embodied. In the 80's the CFDT guidance carried out an increasing adjustment to neoliberale orientations, connected with Ausgrenzung of the left current, against which 1988 with exclusions one proceeded. In connection with strikes at the post office the new trade union movement SUD developed - solidaires, unitaires, in the autumn 1988, which first above all former opposition from the leftal CFDT groups followed. Another part of the south members came from independent strike committees. The right to strike is in France, different than bound in Germany, an individual fundamental right of and not to a trade union organisation. This favours the possibility for autonomous acting and the formation of basis structures outside of the established apparatus trade unions.

The SUD-PTT within the range post office/telecommunications ascended for the second-strongest trade union of the industry. Center and end of the 90's were based further south trade unions, which could obtain numerous successes also in the private industry with work council elections. Meaning attained in particular the SUD Rail with the course.

The south trade unions closed that already since 1981 existing roof federation Groupe of the DIX (G10) , in which some historically older small industry and single trade unions had united, the large federations CGT (communist), CFDT (socialist) and FO (party-politically independent) not to on assign itself wanted (under it the trade union of the financial officials SNUI). Within the G10 the south trade unions became soon the coining/shaping Kraft. 1998 were renamed the G10 in union Syndicale - Solidaires; some more conservative G10-Gewerkschaften left the federation. The total number of members of the Solidaires is with approximately 80.000.

The members of the south trade unions do not represent predominantly the traditional skilled worker environment, which organizes itself in the old trade unions according to professional status. South members belong to proletarisierten intelligence to large parts: Persons with high education level, who are busy in far employer-employee relationships which are under their qualification particularly in the service sector. (A well-known activist of the SUD-PTT is Olivier Besancenot, postman with historical study, that with the presidency election 2002 as a candidate of the Ligue Communiste sensation made.) these environments of the "new Proletariats" have apart from purely economic also to a considerable degree "post office-material" interests: Self-determination and individual development on the job, respectful treatment. The south trade unions turn to the underprivileged parts of the at the same time such as immigrants and small particularly qualified themselves, who do not find hearing in the traditional trade unions. The SUD-PTT engages itself strongly for the legalization sans of the papers (immigrated one without residence permit).

Also in France anarcho and/or in a revolutionary manner syndicalistic CNT ( national you travail) exists, the upswing strong into the 90ern also particularly by the studying strikes took and in the meantime several thousand members united.

Italy

In Italy the situation presents itself more unclearly than into France, since the Italian basis trade union movement stepped out since end of the 1980er background due to more differently local and more politically is arranged into many branches, in which it to various regroupings with splitting and combinations came. Spreading the basis trade unions are often called Cobas (comitati di cousin, basis committee). The main groups are today:

• CUB (Confederazione Unitaria di Base): In terms of figures strongest federation, based 1992. To it the RdB (Rappresentanze Sindacali di Base) with strong influence belongs in the public service and the FLMU (Federazione Lavoratori Metalmeccanici Uniti) in the metallurgy. The CUB seized 1998 a political initiative for a guaranteed minimum income.

• Confederazione Cobas: Union from Cobas groups around the Cobas Scuola influential in the educating nature. Historical ones background rich partly on autonomia operaia (see Operaismus) the 70's back. Co-operates with Rifondazione comunista and engages themselves strongly in the globalization-critical motion.

• SinCobas: very actively in the automobile industry. Driving Kraft of the successful strike of the staff in the Fiat work Melfi in the spring 2004. The IVTH international one and Rifondazione are politically close comunista.

• Slai Cobas (Sindacato Lavoratori Autorganizzati Intercategoriale): Center of the 90's in fights in the automobile industry stepped out, then however by splitting off of the SinCobas weakened and increasingly the offside guessed/advised, there the political line of the Slai Cobas (extreme anti-Americaism) in far parts that linking is not consentable.

• USI (Unione Sindacale Italiana), historical trade union, based 1912, at the beginning of the 90's very actively, however since 1996 by splitting strongly weakened.

Scardanelli 16:29, 28 January 2005 (CET)

Articles in category "Basis trade union"

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