Social demands

Since its foundation, the anarcho-syndicalist union has occupied itself not only with aspects related to work, like pay, work day, etc. Our unions always had libraries, maintained schools, carried out cultural activities and participated in favour of marginal sectors of capitalist society. The economic defence commissions of the CNT, managed to convene general strikes to demand the fall of the prices of articles of food, clothing and rent. Our unions boycotted the construction of jails. At present, we have agreements on the following:

1.Women

quote from Joan Ferrer. La Revuelta Permanente

Historically, the marginal condition of women in our society has been addressed in the congresses of the anarcho-syndicalist union from 1871 in Saragossa, to 1989 in Bilbao. In those distant (remote) times our comrades dictated? that women were free human beings, equal in rights to men, that women must organise themselves and be present in the committees of management of the unions and in as many commissions they created. It was recognised that women were fighting with so much or more energy and daring than their (male) companions in difficult situations, and that their activites had been determinative (decisive?) in the triumph of strikes and conflicts. Unfortunately ideas were in the habit of going much more slowly than society and equality of women respect by man was not achieved. It is more, in our times, the equality to refer to that women can do the same stupid things, nonsense, and crimes as men, like be police, military and executives.

Women have always worked. During the industrial revolution in the factories, in the mines, in the field. They have been always lower paid than men, with more days of work and have been the first to be unemployed when times have been bad. Nowadays, more than three quarters of the world economy they must themselves to the work of women. (is wormens work) In places african, asian, american, women work really more than men, in the field, in the factories, transporting water, firewood, food apart from the housework that only/just of for itself they are already hardworking, besides the curse of not being paid, and in that they carry out the functions of maids-servants-slaves of men. To the men that do not question the social transformation, the perpetuation of this slavery is of interest to them. However this must not succeed inside the anarcho-syndicalist confederation. The CNT bases its demands on the following points:

- Inside of the unions, to secure the access of women to the charges of management, internal debates on the situation of women in the CNT, to pay attention to sexist language, as much spoken as written, and exert the men and women in order to eradicate machismo in the confederation.

- Equal education in order to impart the same education to male and female children.

- Consideration on the role of men in the home, and the necessity to assume the domestic tasks.

- Consideration in the sexual terrain, promoting and demanding access to all types of contraceptive means.

- To put an end to the utilisation of women as sexual objects in prostitution, publications, film and journals.

- No discrimination in the industrial terrain, demanding equality in the access to employment and salary to impose points in the collective agreements that guarantee the hiring of women.

- Collective social services (canteens, nurseries and free laundries 24 hours a day)

- Repeal of all types of law that discriminates against women.

- Free abortion, free and socially accepted. Repeal of the current law that supposedly penalises abortion. But in order to live to achieve it, opening of centres of family planning in all areas, with free access to all types of contraceptive methods, including abortion.

- To promote the employment of male contraceptions, condoms and vasectomies.

- Plans of sexual eduction in (school) education. The aggression and crimes against women in form of violence, abuse, sexual harrasment (acosos sexuales) only diminish in a climate of freedom that abolishes the (unknown) castration and sexual taboos that we have been subjected to since our birth.

- A climate of total sexual liberation and comradeship only follows with the radical transformation of society. Whilst these times arrive we must prepare them with the previous series of basic demands and others that occur to us.

2. Prisoners

Prisons and so-called crime are consequences of this society: of its injustices, repressions and lack of liberties. The judicial system (persecutes, prosecutes, pursues) at some personal determination to those that it buries in life, with the stupid argument that we have to rehabilitate them. Neverthless, organised crime passes itself with (is allowed) absolute impunity to rob, extort, assassinate, hijack, [timar, engana y amedrentar].

We do not refer to the capitalists, bankers, police, military, judges and politicians. This [calana -model/pattern] without scruples is the creation of a delinquency that they describe as “illegal” in order to conceal. its multiple crimes against the world and the people. The agreements on this matter are:

- Aid to the prisoners assumed for the unions of the CNT, imprisoned for carrying out actions in accordance in the anarcho-syndicalist confederation.

- Aid to the libertarian prisoners, or imprisoned for their ideas as the “insumisos” (those who refuse military or civilian service) are for military service.

- Aid to the ordinary prisoners, formed by a repressive society that firstly creates the prison and then the delinquents.

- Permanent demand of a total amnesty and erasure of antecedents and destruction of police criminal records.

- To secure the removal from prison all possible people, by whatever means we have at our disposal.

- To colloborate with organisations and movements that inside and outside of the prisons try to improve the conditions in them.

- Co-ordinate the activities of aid, the committees of law (legal) and prisoner support, which is set aside 12% of union dues.

- Aid to persons imprisoned will be extended to the people that depend on them.

All this until that the day arrives in which the shattering pickaxe, the unions of construction and the people in general, wipes from the face of the earth these blemishes that are prisons.

3. Ecology

The devastation at which capitalism is conquering the planet, in its course to produce, consume, grow and obtain profit for the capitalist, it is carrying out the edge of destruction, and at a point in which it will be impossible to turn back. Greenhouse effect, ozone hole, acid rain, contamination, nuclear accidents, deforestation, oil slicks, pesticides, insecticides, hormones, fertilizers, extermination of species, fumes, noise, residues, rubbish tips .. Agreements on this matter are:

- Dissemination of an awareness of protection of environmental means.

- Demands of utilization of means of total purification of liquids, noise, fumes, aromas, gases and water with charge to capital.

- Urban ordinance that places the removed industries of the urban core.

- Substitution at cost to capital, of fossil fuels and contaminants by renewable and clean energy like [unknown - la eolica], solar.

- Study of the real necessities of society and elimination of the industries, buildings, anuncios and systems that squander energy. To produce less and repartir more.

- Recycling of primary materials on the part of the enterprises: paper, glass, aluminium, metal..

- Defence of natural zones, parks [montes], species in danger of extinction.. Impeding the construction of motorways, introduction of non-indigenous species, electrification networks, high velocity trains, airports, destructive plans of the states, etc.

- To help and boost to the collectives, groups, [ateneos] that act in the ecological field to the fringes of the state and of political activity.

- All these basic activities holding clear that it is Capital/State which degrades and destroys nature, and that the solution of this problem is not what particular governments legislate for this or another form in favour of the planet. The summits of the States, like that of Rio, [lo unico que pretenden es - that only they pretend) is not to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs [la gallina de los huevos de oro – the hens of the golden eggs]. The creation of a society that does not squander our resources is a matter for the people.

4. Antimilitarism

"...Nos hemos ocupado de la guerra. Las guerras todas obedecen a rivalidades
entre los estados que forman esos capitalistas. Pero compañeros, los pueblos han comprendido la criminal injusticia que significa esa carnicería humana que se produce por el capricho del capitalismo, y se disponen a acabar con la guerra sublevándose contra todas esas formas de tiranía legal y proclamando la revolución redentora. La guerra debe terminar así para que el estado pague sus culpas y muera con la ignominia del crimen, con el estigma de la incalificable injusticia que representa. Las leyes en que se basa son leyes leoninas, son leyes tiránicas. Su militarismo no puede dar fin a la guerra. Esta han de terminarla los obreros con su protesta vigorosa. No puede ser de otra manera, porque si la guerra la terminase el sindicalismo burgués, se volvería a producir, y tal vez de forma más sangrienta e ignominiosa"... (al llegar aquí, el delegado del gobernador intentó suspender el mitin organizándose un jaleo) "...
Voy a terminar compañeros, que no sean mis palabras la excusa de la autoridad burguesa para suspender el hermoso y trascendental acto que estamos realizando. Si no hacemos la revolución seremos víctimas de los estados, si no acabamos con la guerra, la burguesía nos dará batalla luego en condiciones de superioridad. En esta contienda somos beligerantes, somos enemigos de todos los causantes de la guerra"
(Fornells, de la federación local de Barcelona en la clausura del congreso de Barcelona de junio de 1918)

The role of the army in capitalist organistion is none other than the planning of murder, mass execution, systemic destruction, the destruction of life… For this it staffs itself of an ideology that converts persons into machines without will, that must execute orders without thinking, that has to obey how it is. The anarcho-syndicalist confederation has been, since the moment of its birth, anti-militarist.

The only valid definition of antimilitarism is of which that social movement aspires, not only to the dissolution of military institutions, but also to the elimination of all values of domination. Anti-militarism must flow in our relation with companeros at work, and in the union demands: demanding the cancellation of industrial hierarchies, opposing all authoritarian action of some workers over others, or of the bosses and their representatives, negating the utilization of psuedo-military uniforms, rejecting the work of security forces. Militarism kills from the same moment in which the minister signs the budgets dedicated to the army, however it diverts great sums of money that they need in other fields. It kills however the biggest part of arms production in industrialised countries are used as currency of exchange for the countries of the south, that maintain war-like conflicts, to exchange for primary materials. And it kills those of the lower class, not the high command nor leaders of the State. It commits an outrage against civil society by means of dictatorships, boycotts strikes creating strike-breakers and splinters… (Agreements of the 7th Congress of the CNT, Bilbao, 1989)

The agreements on this matter are:

- Not to accept any type of military service, nor community service [Prestaction civil substitution – community service for conscientious objectors]

- Negate of our union sections to admit those conscientious objector work in the workplaces performing said service.

- To eliminate all types of requirements to have miliary service completed in order to be able to work. There are organisations like Amnesty International that demand this in determined cases)

- Aid to all the insumisos (military refusers) and deserters: economic, legal, [ocultamientos, autoinculpaciones].

- Denounce those workplaces and industries related with the military.

- To stimulate whatever means of objection active and conscientious.

- Anti-militarist campaigns in general.

- No to the incorporation of women in the army.

- To transfer antimilitarism to work, we oppose of all types of industrial hierarchies.

- To promote the objection to pay the proportional share of taxes destined for military expenditure and to succeed in the refusal to pay taxes.

- Before war, the general strike.

- As an immediate objective, the dissappearance of the Spanish army. In the ultimate extreme, the abolition of all types of armies and [cuerpo armado- armed corps] and the elimination of industries and laboratories of investigation related with the fabrication of armanents. Destruction of all existing arsenals, as much conventional, as chemical, biological and nuclear.

- A society without militarism will only be achieved when the cause that produces it disappears, which is the defence of the interests of State-Capital.

5. Homosexuality

“On the subject of sexuality, homosexuals and lesbians are degraded by the archaic concepts of a dogmatic society and subjected to the directives of power, humilated as if they were not human beings, because nature cannot be subjected to this filth of values to which it subjects our dominant ideology. Of all the species that populate the world (rational or not, and this is another very debatable concept), we are the only to have pretended to regulate sexuality. We are for freedom of each individual respect to his sexuality and way of life.”

- For the continuation of right of one’s sexuality and way of life.

- For no discrimination by reason of the sexual characteristics of each individual.

- Against the system that though the administration of justice it continues repressing these collectives

- For sexual freedom (Agreements of the 6th Congress of the CNT. Barcelona 1983)

6. Nationalism

The anarcho-syndicalist union is internationalist, it sees the world as a whole over differences – racial, language, cultural, etc. In this sense, it opposes the oppresion that the States exert over the people. We are against the Spanish State oppressing the Basque people, in favor of the Basque people, Catalan, Palestinian, Saharan, Tibetan, Kurdish people… they are owners of their destiny, they are agreed in territories more or less [delimitados - delimited?], that participate in the wealth of society in general, that [se federen – federate] as they wish, that independence of the states, but equally we oppose the creation of a State whether Palestinian, Sahara, Kurdish .. with its police, army, currency, government and repressive apparatus.

We are against what the Spanish State had intended for decades to put an end to the Basque, Catalan or Galician languages, that watches over, detains and persecutes this very day communities for the simple right of belonging to some of these cultures.

But we are against helping statism, whether Basque, Catalan or of whatever type. For that it serves the nationalism already it is going in the former Yugoslavia, in order to organise wars, concentration camps, acts of genocide, massive deportations, ethnic cleaning, murder of children, destruction of entire people, all that with the excuse of the Great Serbia, Mother Croatia and such nonsense.

Our alternative is Internationalism, Self-Management and Federalism. That the people can federate as they think suitable, without permanent artificial borders, with the right to separate and unite at times as they desire, to maintain their cultures and language, to not suffer discrimination by the colour of skin, hair or eyes. For this, we promote the creation of a body opposed to hierarchical and authoritarian organisation of the state.

“The Free Municipality, that will welcome as many organisations, collectives, entities and groups that work with independence of political parties and state bodies and its goals are not to re-establish the structure of the state (and work in opposition to it). The Free Municipality contemplates globally the social and cultural action, in base to the freedom, directed to establish social relations of equality” (agreement of the 6th congress of the CNT, Barcelona, 1983)

Over the geographical, economic, cultural and social ambits in which they will operate the different free municipalities is something that will be held that to go making and studing as we go along. The true Free Municipality, the authentic autonomy and independence, will not emerge more than with the disappearance of the states.

7. Education

Since it carried out its first reports and congresses, the anarcho-syndicalist union has insisted on the necessity of the people to access culture and grow from ignorance.

Since the last century, our unions maintained schools as much for children as adults in which they were educated every type of material. Pioneers like Francisco Ferrer, founder of the Modern School, gave us pedagogical orientation: mixed education, male and female children in the same classroom.

Schools without exams, without rewards, without punishment. Voluntary apprenticeship, without mechanical repetition of knowledge that has no interest to children. Apprenticeship with transparency with [con globos terraqueos – globes]… Ferrer sought in his schools, new people, capable of reflexion and comprehending with critical spirit what was happening in its surroundings “Capable to always seek the best… “ Francisco Ferrer was murdered in 1909 by the hatred that he attracted over it for all these innovations.

In 1939 all the libertarian educational project was destroyed by fascism. Until our days they have not started new projects of this type in Spain.

In 1978, the Paideia de Merida (Badajoz) collective, started the most important experience that existed in the field of anti-authoritarian apprenticeship. After more than 15 years, this and other attempts, have innovated the pedagogical field. Paideia did not propose that the children acquire knowledge, that they learn to read and to write, to add up. Paideia intends and follows that the children are capable of living their lives, that they are responsible, free, secure the same, that they learn to speak in assembly and to resolve their business there, that they [unknown - planifiquen – planificar - to plan?] that they want to learn and when they want to do it.

Paideia is a school without established programs of education, that respect the rhythms and stages of maturation of children, that does not come as a series dependent on what one must educate, but as small comrades, jointly which we are as in order to help them overcome the difficulties when they arise?, if it is necessary. That promotes co-operation, comprehension, development of intelligence and equilibrium of personality.

“Infront of [aggresividad - agression?], tolerance and comprehension, and in front of superiority of some over others, self-management and social and collective self-determination” (Josefa Martin Luengo. From our school, Paideia)

They are already many years of pace in solitary, without any type of subsidy from State institutions. Paideia covers what is nowadays the EGB. Despite not being a school recognised by the Ministry of Education, and its children being obliged to complete the examination of school grade in order to pass the BUP, the children pass the official tests.

We always remember the school as torture, a place at which you went to waste time, boredom, to suffer punishment, silence, paralysis… The anti-authoritarian school is a place of happiness. The children are happy, they enjoy these first years of life so important, they have positive experiences. There are some that think that when they leave school and enter into contact with the “normal” world, they do not go to know to adapt themselves. It is exactly the opposite. The persons that learn to know themselves, to have confidence in themselves, that know to avoid and to overcome problems, they do not respond to the situations that impose this world, of neurotic form, violent, competitive, aggressive and irresponsible, that is exactly that they make the persons educated in the traditional school. The libertarian education is now in permanent process of investigation and reforming, coming to new conclusions, because when it is all said and done no libertarian school can compete with the school of life.

Our unions must promote these types of experiences, and to give its help to those already existing, respecting always its autonomy, evolution and independence.

8. Religion

Whist it is maintained within the limits of individual beliefs and philosophical conceptions, it respects it. But as authoritarian oraganisation that imposes a moral, helps the capitalist system and co-erces persons with stories of terror, or as economic groups that exploit the people, it combats religions with (conclusiveness). In the confederation we have a special rejection of the catholic religion.

9. Esperanto

It recommends the study and diffusion of this simple international language.

10. Other matters without agreements linked(?) to make those which they exist mutual support.

Naturism. There is a current that values the simple practices of hygiene and maintenance of health, that promotes the various schools of naturism, hygienism, nudism, etc.

Drugs. Some people promote its total legalisation in order to put and end to the traffic of narcotics, adulteration and illegal prices. Each one has to be responsible for to know what and how they must consume, and why it is done. On the other hand drug addiction in society is maintained by the state capital for the many benefits that it obtains from it. Which brings us to the constant enemy, which is the state. Other people think simply that it is best not to consume any type of drug.

Cars. It is convenient its progressive subsitution for free and efficient public transport. In front of the motorway and the car, the railway and collective transport. The trains of high velocity. Another absurdity of capitalism. We prefer better (unknown - viarias) networks in general that unite the populations.

Racism and xenophobia. Here more people fit, than all may come. (cabe que venga – it may come)

And almost all the things against which one can be against in this world. Reaons for opposing this are many and weighty. From the moment that you decide to enter the anarcho-syndicalist confederation, you give a step in order to accelerate the transformation of this society in a world in better conditions, without violence, without authority, without sin, without reward, without punishment.