Fracción Trotskista Cuarta Internacional

Van Heijenoort retrata a un Trotsky tan militante y revolucionario como humano

Media — 2014-08-25T12:35:06Z

http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2014/08/25/cultura/a11n1cul

Por Fabiola Palapa Quijas

Con Trotsky de Prinkipo a Coyoacán: testimonios de siete años de exilio es una narración vívida, basada en los recuerdos del francés Jean van Heijenoort (1912-1936), acerca del periplo del revolucionario ruso, y de él mismo acompañándolo como su secretario, traductor y guardaespaldas.

Van Heijenoort relata el día a día de León Trotsky y sus seguidores, en las difíciles condiciones de la convulsionada década de 1930, con una Europa en crisis económica, con el fascismo, la Guerra Civil española y la contrarrevolución burocrática del estalinismo en la URSS.

Con los comentarios de José Antonio González de León, director de la casa-museo que lleva el nombre del pensador ruso; de Pablo Langer Oprinari, del Centro de Estudios, Investigaciones y Publicaciones León Trotsky (CEIP), y de Jimena Vergara, académica de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, se presentó el sábado pasado una nueva edición del libro traducido al castellano por la escritora argentina Tununa Mercado, en 1979.

Coeditado por el CEIP de Argentina y el museo que lleva el nombre del revolucionario ruso, el libro retrata a un Trotsky tan militante y revolucionario como profundamente humano, aún en las duras condiciones de exilio y la persecución política que padeció.

“El libro tiene la virtud de que presenta mediante un relato agradable y accesible los años de Trotsky y su esposa Natalia Sedova en el exilio, que los llevó de Prinkipo a Coyoacán, pasando por Francia y Noruega, en una corta y poco hospitalaria estadía.

“En particular, se puede ver la actividad de Trotsky, que analiza, por una parte, con pensamiento estratégico, los principales acontecimientos mundiales de ese momento, desde el ascenso del fascismo en Alemania hasta el inicio de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, y desarrolla junto con sus colaboradores políticos el programa revolucionario para intervenir en ese momento, el cual se conoció luego como Programa de transición para reconstruir una nueva organización revolucionaria, la Cuarta Internacional”, explicó Oprinari.

Jimena Vergara y Oprinari coincidieron en señalar que se puede ver en el libro cómo surgió una joven generación militante que dejó todo para formar una nueva organización revolucionaria, cuya tarea fue luchar por la emancipación de la humanidad, y Van Heijenoort fue de los mayores exponentes de esa generación.

El libro, cuya edición estuvo a cargo de Demián Paredes, además de estar completamente documentada por Van Heijenoort, contiene información sobre los hábitos de Trotsky, sus lecturas y estudios, sus opiniones e incluso pasiones, como la caza y la pesca, además de algunas vicisitudes sentimentales.

El autor también comparte facetas poco conocidas del entorno de Trotsky, así como de importantes personalidades que lo visitaron y entablaron relaciones con él, entre ellos el escritor André Malraux, los pintores Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo, y el poeta André Breton.

El público que llenó el auditorio de la casa que habitó Trotsky en el tradicional barrio de Coyoacán, también escuchó el texto de Esteban Volkov, nieto del revolucionario, quien no pudo asistir al acto.

El CEIP anunció que lanzará a la venta el volumen seis de las Obras escogidas del revolucionario ruso: La revolución traicionada, importante trabajo de 1936, donde analiza la degeneración burocrática del primer Estado obrero de la historia.

Así como los escritos de España y otros clásicos, como la gran Historia de la revolución Rusa y Literatura y revolución. También planea publicar Vida y muerte de León Trotsky, de Víctor Serge y Natalia Sedova.

José Antonio González de León, Pablo Langer Oprinari y Jimena Vergara durante la presentación del libro | Foto Pablo Ramos

Huelguistas y Policía Militar se enfrentan en la Universidad de Sao Paulo

Media — 2014-08-20T17:43:56Z

http://www.notimerica.com/brasil/noticia-huelguistas-policia-militar-enfrentan-universidad-sao-paulo-20140820134954.html

Enfrentamientos entre policías y funcionarios en la Universidad de Sao Paulo

Media — 2014-08-20T17:35:17Z

http://www.elmundo.es/internacional/2014/08/20/53f49d56e2704e57228b4583.html

· La policía ha usado gases lacrimógenos para contrarestar los ataques con palos y piedras

· Existen discordancias en cuanto a la cantidad de heridos

EFE Sao Paulo

Agentes de la Policía Militarizada (PM) de brasil y funcionarios públicos de la Universidad de Sao Paulo (USP), que están en huelga y piden mejoras laborales, se esfrentaron este miércoles en el mayor centro universitario de Brasil.

Los manifestantes bloquearon las vías de acceso a la Ciudad Universitaria y la línea del metro que opera en el barrio Butantá fue cerrada por precaución, situación que provocó un caos de tráfico en la región oeste de Sao Paulo, la principal ciudad del país.

La PM indicó que, a pesar del uso de gases lacrimógenos para contrarrestar el ataque con palos y piedras de los manifestantes, ninguna persona resultó herida, mientras que el presidente del Sindicato de Trabajadores de la universidad, Magno de Carvalho, señaló a periodistas que cuatro manifestantes resultaron heridos.

Con la acción de la PM, que se movilizó hasta el lugar en diez vehículos, las avenidas Vital Brasil y Francisco Morato, importantes arterias viales de ese sector de la ciudad, fueron desbloqueadas y las puertas de la universidad reabiertas dos horas después del enfrentamiento.

Los manifestantes, que están en huelga desde el pasado 27 de mayo, muchos de ellos acampados dentro de la universidad, quemaron neumáticos y basura.

El sindicato convocó este miércoles a una nueva asamblea para decidir si los 300 trabajadores que están en huelga continuarán en paro.

La huelga, la más prolongada de la universidad en los últimos diez años, fue motivada por la "congelación" de salarios de los empleados y algunas unidades retomaron parcialmente sus actividades docentes el pasado lunes hasta la celebración de una nueva reunión de negociaciones a comienzos de septiembre.

Após confronto entre PM e manifestantes, entrada na USP é liberada

Media — 2014-08-20T12:13:18Z

http://educacao.uol.com.br/noticias/2014/08/20/apos-confronto-com-manifestantes-entrada-na-usp-e-liberada.htm

Por Fernanda Cruz

Da Agência Brasil, em São Paulo 20/08/201409h56

20.ago.2014 - Pelo menos sete viaturas da PM estão estacionadas perto da entrada principal da USP, o chamado Portão 1

Após ação da Tropa de Choque contra manifestantes, a entrada principal da USP (Universidade de São Paulo) foi totalmente liberada, por volta das 8h de hoje (20). No início da manhã, ás 4h30, funcionários que estão em greve há mais de 80 dias e estudantes da instituição fizeram um protesto que bloqueou as três entradas da cidade universitária.

Quando os policiais chegaram, atiraram bombas de gás e de efeito moral contra os manifestantes, que dispersaram. Funcionários da Companhia de Engenharia de Tráfego removeram barricadas e entulhos que impediam a circulação de veículos na rua Alvarenga. Uma longa fila de carros se formou nas proximidades da USP.

Segundo o diretor do Sintusp (Sindicato dos Trabalhadores da USP), Magno de Carvalho, o ato ocorreu em resposta ao corte no pagamento dos funcionários, que já tiveram um mês descontado. Ele diz que 500 pessoas, entre funcionários, estudantes e alguns professores, participaram do protesto. Magno estima que aproximadamente 80% dos servidores da USP em todo o Estado estejam parados.

A categoria reivindica reajuste salarial, o fim da suspensão de 35% no corte na verba destinada ao ensino e ã pesquisa e a contratação de professores e funcionários. Eles também são contrários ã transferência dos Hospitais Universitários da instituição para a Secretaria Estadual de Saúde. "É um conjunto de coisas que vai resultar no sucateamento da universidade. A gente acha que o objetivo é sucatear para depois privatizar, o que aconteceu com o ensino fundamental e médio. Esta luta nossa é uma resistência contra este projeto", declarou Magno.

Por volta das 11h, os funcionários se reúnem para uma nova assembleia que definirá os rumos do movimento grevista. "A greve continua com toda a força. Eu acredito que essa truculência vai levar ao acirramento dos ânimos, principalmente agora que os estudantes estão entrando. Com certeza, não vamos recuar", disse o diretor do Sintusp.

PM e grevistas da USP entram em confronto na zona oeste SP

Media — 2014-08-20T11:57:32Z

Policiais militares e grevistas da USP entraram em confronto na manhã desta quarta-feira, após servidores trancarem o acesso aos três portões da universidade. Segundo o diretor do Sintusp (Sindicato dos Trabalhadores da USP) Magno de Carvalho um grande contingente de policiais da Força Tática da PM chegou logo nas primeiras horas da manhã.

- Artículos en portugués / Noticias, USP en lucha

Argentina: Workers Occupy RR Donnelley Factory After Illegal Closure

Media — 2014-08-14T23:32:24Z

http://revolution-news.com/argentina-workers-occupy-rr-donnelley-factory-illegal-closure/

REVOLUTION NEWS
Argentina: Workers Occupy RR Donnelley Factory After Illegal Closure

Buenos Aires: Another multinational company from USA has left hundreds of people jobless in Argentina. RR Donnelley, headquartered in Chicago, IL has declared bankruptcy and closed its factory doors leaving over 400 families without work. The closure has been deemed illegal. Workers have set up roadblocks on Panamericana Highway, not far from Lear protests that are still ongoing. Donnelley workers occupied the factory yesterday, August 12th and put it into production.

“The workers at Donnelley are calling for a general assembly at 7.30am at the gates of the factory, on the Pan-American Highway, Km 36.7. We have just learnt that the company has been closed down, and in a totally illegal manner because the bankruptcy petition it submitted has not been accepted by the courts. We will assess what measures to take in order to denounce this abuse of the workers. If necessary, we will blockade the Pan-American Highway. We will also take steps to protect the factory and its assets, to prevent the illegal disposal of its stock and machinery, and to defend the 400 jobs.”

Another trade union delegate, René Córdoba, explained:

“After making $218 million in 2013 at a world level, the company presented a financial insolvency application in order to sack the entire workforce. This application was rejected by the shop stewards' committee, the trade union and the Ministry of Labour. The workers not only demonstrated that this company is not in crisis, but that it has also been carrying out shameless manoeuvres in order to empty the factory and divert production to other printing companies. Now it is engaging in a new manoeuvre by filing for a fraudulent bankruptcy in order to intimidate and threaten the workforce, with the aim of implementing its plan for mass lay-offs.”

A third trade union delegate, Martin Killing, added:

“The workers denounce this closure as illegal and we are not going to allow it. We demand the immediate re-opening of the factory and make a call to other workers, social organisations and the local community to support our struggle for the defence of our jobs.”

Shop Stewards' Committee and Workers at R.R. Donnelley, Garín, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
Contact Information:

Jorge Medina: +54 9 11 6799 1276
Martin Killin: + 54 9 11 6612 6255
Rene Cordoba: 0348 154540744
Juan Sepulveda: +54 9 11 2003 2050
Facundo Gomez: + 54 9 11 6504 6530

News about Donelley

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-2722339/US-printing-company-shuts-Argentina-operation.html

http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/166840/printing-giant-rr-donelley-files-for-bankruptcy-in-argentina

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2014/08/11/3796010/us-printing-company-shuts-down.html?sp=/99/602/

http://www.timescolonist.com/mysubscription/us-printing-company-rr-donnelley-sons-shuts-down-argentina-plant-cutting-about-400-jobs-1.1307660

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20140811/EMPLOYMENT/140819978/r-r-donnelley-shuts-down-argentina-operation

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/nation_world/20140812_ARGENTINA.html

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/photo/2014-08/12/c_133549811.htm

Police deployed in Panamericana highway as picket halts traffic

Media — 2014-08-05T10:24:22Z

http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/166348/police-deployed-in-panamericana-highway-as-picket-halts-traffic-

Workers of the Lear auto-parts company were blocking the Panamericana highway this morning near the Buenos Aires province locality of General Pacheco with police officers being deployed in the area to ease traffic in the road's main track.

The picket began at around 7 am today. Lear workers have being staging several protests over the past weeks to demand the reinstatement of employees dismissed by the company this year.

Dura represión contra trabajadores de Lear

Media — 2014-07-29T11:31:38Z

http://www.perfil.com/sociedad/Dura-represion-contra-trabajadores-de-Lear-20140729-0006.html

Agentes de la Policía bonaerense reprimieron la protesta que protagonizaron esta mañana trabajadores de la autopartista Lear en la colectora de la autopista Panamericana, en la localidad bonaerense de General Pacheco, partido de Tigre.

Según fuentes policiales hubo al menos tres operarios detenidos.

El procedimiento, del que también participó personal de Gendarmería, se realizó para permitir el ingreso de otro grupo de empleados a la fábrica ubicada en el kilómetro 31 de la autopista.

El choque comenzó pasadas las 8.20, cuando un grupo de trabajadores que bloqueaba el tránsito en la colectora se apartó y buscó impedir el ingreso a la empresa de otros operarios.

Un comunicado del Partido de los Trabajadores Socialistas señaló: "A las 8:30 la Policía Bonaerense reprimió a los trabajadores de Lear en lucha contra los doscientos despidos y la ilegalidad de la empresa que no deja ingresar a los delegados a pesar de los cinco fallos judiciales que ordenan su reinstalación. La Bonaerense hizo ingresar a la planta a la patota que responde a la conducción del SMATA, personas ajenas a la empresa Lear que simulan ser trabajadores. Detuvieron al delegado Silvio Fanti, otros trabajadores y miembros de las organizaciones solidarias que acompañan la lucha contra los despidos".

En los últimos días la empresa Lear reincorporó a 30 trabajadores despedidos, pero los delegados insistieron en que "el conflicto persiste porque quedan 110 cesanteados".

A New Form of Picketing Baffles the Gendarmerie

Media — 2014-07-28T17:23:37Z

translated from spanish version of
Nació una nueva modalidad de piquete que desconcertó a la Gendarmería
http://www.infobae.com/2014/07/23/1582671-nacio-una-nueva-modalidad-piquete-que-desconcerto-la-gendarmeria

A New Form of Picketing Baffles the Gendarmerie

Workers and Left organizations were planning on impeding traffic with a traditional protest, yet as they were prevented from doing so by security forces they managed to stop traffic via a new methodology.

The new pickets are called "Caravans of Solidarity.” This is the name Lear's dismissed workers and activists chose on Wednesday at the Mobilization in Panamericana Highway, where they demanded answers to the Buenos Aires province's government.

This new method of protest arose this morning after the Gendarmerie (Argentinean police) blocked access to the main entrance road that leads to Panamericana Highway. A group of people, who support the workers' demands, used their own cars to take part in a chain of vehicles. This blockade of vehicles slowed down when it reached Pacheco, where the protest was planned.

This maneuver in fact generated a picket and heavy congestion, leaving the Gendarmerie without recourse. The troops, who had cordoned off an area to prevent entrance to the Panamericana, limited themselves to just recording the numbers of the license plates of the cars that were stopped on the highway. Drivers, who led the "Caravan of Solidarity", argued that the members of the Gendarmerie were blocking traffic and that their intention was to continue advancing towards the capital city. While discussions with members of the security forces succeeded, another caravan came in from the opposite direction and for a few minutes the Panamericana Highway was blocked entirely.

Is the Caravan of solidarity punishable by law? There is currently a great legal debate on the scope of Article 194 of the Penal Code, which punishes with jail ranging from three months to two years anyone who "prevents or hinders" transportation. Some judges believe that the pickets should be punished but others believe they shouldn't. There is even a case where Security Secretary Sergio Berni was prosecuted for attempting to prevent a demonstration.

In the case of a "Caravan of Solidarity" the debate is similar. There is a deliberate attempt to disrupt traffic in addition to any traffic tickets for driving at speeds below the minimum allowed and even for parking in a prohibited place as happened in Panamericana with these actions.

From Lear, Gestamp conflicts emerge left-wing, independent groups

Media — 2014-07-18T11:42:55Z

http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/164767/out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new-%28unions%29

By Mariano Parada López
For The Herald

From Lear, Gestamp conflicts emerge left-wing, independent groups

Around 650 workers at the car-parts company Lear are pressuring their bosses to respond to the dismissal of 100 of their colleagues. They have organized several demonstrations in the past two weeks, as well as a picket that was eventually countered by security forces last Tuesday. So far the firm has not allowed the shop stewards to enter the factory.

A similar situation is playing out for the workers of Gestamp, which also manufactures car parts. They have demanded that the company rehire 70 dismissed workers. Meanwhile, employees of the printing firm RR Donnelley joined Lear workers at a recent rally to protest the layoff of 123 of their colleagues.

Early in the year, SUTEBA – a Buenos Aires province teachers' union – staged a lengthy strike against what they regarded as an insufficient pay hike (i.e. below the official inflation rate) offered by Governor Daniel Scioli's administration. Roberto Baradel, the head of the teachers' union, denied that left-leaning parties had been behind the conflict, despite some observers having considered the strike to have been propelled by left-wing activists within SUTEBA.

These labour conflicts follow a common trend: new union organizations emerge, rejecting old leadership, before rallying for support from nervy businessmen. The result has been the renaissance of leftist trade unionism, which has also absorbed so-called “independent” workers.

“The working-class is waking up,” said Silvio Fanti, a Lear worker and member of the local union representing the 650 employees. While he admits there are some union members in Lear who are part of left-wing parties, he said he himself is an “independent.” Fanti has worked at the car-part manufacturer for 15 years and became a regional shop steward in 2011, when his group won the internal elections against the pro-government SMATA auto workers union led by Ricardo Pignanelli.

Fanti accuses SMATA officials of turning their backs on Lear workers in their demands for better working conditions. “Trade unions don't want independent members, and even less so left-wing activists,” Fanti told the Herald. “We work with a lot of different people, but it doesn't mean we're all left-wing,” he added. “There are local committees which are claiming their independence from the trade unions. The working-class is waking up and demanding fairer working conditions,” he said.

Fanti says he's certain there will be more “democratic” trade unions as a consequence of the emergence of these regional committees, and accused SMATA of sharing the same interests as the company.

Roberto Amador from Gestamp largely agreed: “The union wouldn't listen to us. They told us in April that nothing was going to happen but then the firm fired 23 people, all of whom were opposed to the union.” He said the unions claim they're powerless, suggesting that anyone with a critical opinion of them is considered a “leftist.” A PTS party activist, Amador told the Herald that a committee member was threatened: “One of the shop stewards received a letter which said he would be killed.”

Local delegates have been operating within Gestamp since 2007. The committee was comprised of pro-Pignanelli activists until 2012, when three “independent” shop stewards were voted in. According to Amador, the election came as a result of a new generation of workers: “There were lots of young people hired by Gestamp who didn't trust the ruling bloc. It's not a case of the leftist parties agitating for change, but because of our own colleagues within many SMATA factories who are expressing their anger.”

The relationship between the union and the local committee is quite different at RR Donnelley. “The union has declared that it is opposed (to the dismissals). Union support is really important for us,” stressed Jorge Medina, a shop steward.

The eight members of the local committee at Donnelley, who form the “Brown List,” are against the ruling “Green List” linked to the Buenos Aires Province Graphics Union, still led by Raimundo Ongaro, a long-term union leader and the founder of the CGT de los Argentinos in the 60s. Despite their political differences, Medina has not criticized Ongaro: “We're permanently in touch with the union. They've publicly denounced the dismissals and called on the entire union to be on the alert.” Both Lear and Donnelly workers recently held a protest in front of the US Chamber of Commerce in Buenos Aires.

Economic restraints

If the increasing mistrust of unions is one of the pillars of local committees, the country's current economic situation is another.

Romina del Plá is the delegate of the La Matanza section of SUTEBA and the niece of Claudio del Plá, a Workers Party politician in Salta province. She shared her views on why some long-standing union leaders risk losing support: “Leaders who follow sitting governments and give up on (traditional labour) demands are likely to lose workers' support. Workers feel fed up with fake nationalism. Peronism has been a serious burden for workers for the last 40 years, which has resulted in the emergence of a new generation of workers who see leftist parties as an exit strategy.”

From the business perspective

Business leaders, meanwhile, are sensing the emergence of these new trade unions, though they see them as a temporary phenomenon.

“It's drawn our attention to the year's economic problems,” said Juan Cantarella, General Manager of car-parts industry group AFAC. “There are shared problems among (workers of) the entire industry, and they're usually employment problems, like dismissals and the desire to work fewer hours.”

Unless Gestamp and Lear conflicts appear on the front pages of newspapers any time soon, AFAC doesn't see the phenomenon turning into anything bigger. “They (the conflicts) are concentrated in northern Greater Buenos Aires, where many leftist groups are headed. They don't have the sufficient structure to expand across the entire industry. It is true that their task is made easier when the economic situation worsens,” Cantarella suggested, admitting the relationship between SMATA and his industry is “good.”

AFAC, like workers in the industry, have stated that the conflict has escalated on occassions: “They can't take over a plant and threaten those workers who want to work as usual. There have been acts of sabotage.”

The Herald was able to determine that some in the Argentine Industrial Union (UIA) see the conflict as a consequence of economic stagnation and the high rate of inflation. The UIA also does not expect the new organizations to expand, but is “aware” of their existence. “These are times of uncertainty,” a senior UIA source told the Herald.