A-Infos (en) „The people have nothing to lose…“ – Interview with an Romanian Anarchosyndicalist

The following Interview was first published on the 29th May 2010 in a German Version on 
Syndikalismus.tk--- The following Interview about the announced social cuts of the 
Romanian Government was done with the Comrade Diogenes (30) from Bucharest. He is 
Anarcho-Syndicalist and a socialworker under contract by the town of Bucharest. From the 
announced payment-cuts and layoffs he is directly affected.---Syndikalismus.tk: On 19th of 
may went more then 50.000 workers, teachers and pensioners in Bucharest on the streets. In 
the shouted slogans they demand the withdrawal of the government. Do you think the 
demonstration was an success and that the government will take back their decisions of the 
social- and money cuts? What do you think about the demonstration from 19th of may?

Diogenes: The protests that took place on May 19th were initiated by
the trade unions that are operating in Romania. These unions have
nothing to do with defending worker’s rights – in my opinion, and they
are very close to the definition of yellow unions. Many of these
union’s leaders are millionaires and these unions are collecting huge
amounts of money (1% from the gross income of an employee); and
because the law obliges the employer to sign a collective labour
agreement (which must be negotiated with the unions), even if you
refuse to contribute in the account of such a union, the Romanian
state, will automatically stops 0,6% from your gross salary under the
pretext that this money will form a special fund for collective
bargaining. There are huge amount of money – millions of Euros per
month. That’s pure mathematics, no speculation at all. Administrating
all that amount of money – why they need also to rob those people that
refuse to join the union? I guess that if you’ll rent the Hermitage
Palace for the collective bargaining it would be a cheaper business.

Within these unions there is no transparency at all. The union leaders
hold their positions for life, I never heard about sessions within the
union and also no elections. The conclusion that necessarily resulting
is that these unions are a dubious business and have nothing to do
with defending worker’s rights.

What do I think about the protest that took place on May 19th? Sorry
to say this, but I think a mob of 50.000 people was taken there
without any result and I think also that the opposition sees the
current situation as an opportunity to replace the current poor
governance with another one – equally poor, but a governance of their
own. I am convinced by the fact that all this criticism that is put on
the government by the unions, it represents, nothing more but an asset
for the opposition. Why would a union leader compromise his position?
They will stay for the interest of the opposition because the
government is compromised anyway. Until an authentic spirit of
rebellion won’t come out to the surface, nothing will be changed.

I don’t know if the government will cancel the wage cut decision but I
know that this crisis will be set on the shoulders of the poor however
– as it is set right now within this government’s project of wage cuts
or within any other alternative project of the government or of the
opposition in the parliament. This is the state policy guideline. This
is its morality.

Syndikalismus.tk: In the foreign countries, also in Germany, got the
demonstration very well realized. Especially in the left radical and
the official FAU- report is the anticipation there, that in Romania
happen now that, what is in Greece the fact: General strikes and mass
protest. Is this expectation realistic?

Diogenes: Such a great expectation will lead to great disappointment
if things will follow another path. How should be that possible
knowing the activity of the unions that are activating in Romania?
General strike and massive protests must start at the initiative of
the workers without the interference of these so cold unions – which I
have no doubt – will make everything possible to misappropriate the
worker’s revolt towards something unproductive and in favour of a
government or another.

However – the possibility for massive protest to take place it is born
right now, caused by the increasing poverty within the working class:
growing unemployment, the inability of borrowers to pay their rates
for their ugly, small and very expensive houses, etc. The main
conditions for these protests to take place are: 1. to take place
spontaneously and 2. To be organised outside these parasitical
organisations that are operating under the mask of syndicalism.

The conditions that generate massive protests in Greece are much
softer than the harsh conditions that Romanian’s workers have to deal
with. We’ll see if the solidarity spirit will be as strong as the
solidarity among the Greeks… but we must notice that Greeks have a
long tradition in operating with grass roots unions and also they are
familiarized with radical ideas, while Romanians are not. However – we
must create precedents for these kind of situations and anarchist
agitation would be very useful in these times.

Syndikalismus.tk: In the past got generalstrikes several times by the
specific branch unions announced. De facto doesn’t followed so many
union-members this calls or the mass of the strikers stood at home and
brought the protest not on the street and with that not to the public.
Are the unions at all able to create real pressure? And in which
branches do you see the must success of union-actions?

Diogenes: A large part of the employees that was called to participate
remained not at home but at their work program under the pressure of
the employers. I said before – the yellow unions are monopolist and
all this situation smells as a fraud. Who announced the employees that
it will be a large protest? Not the union leaders. The employers did
that and the employers also decided who should go to the protest and
who should stay at work. There is no communication at all between
these leaders of the unions and the members of the unions. Bosses and
leaders of the unions have no will and no interest to make real
pressure.

However – I was impressed, as you were impressed, by the actions took
by pensioners. I know several pensioners associations are activating
in Romania but I can’t tell who organised them so well. Driven by
despair, they shown solidarity as no one expected. They also announced
that Monday, on May 31st they will protest again tied with chains to
show their slave condition. Their social category is one of the most
disadvantaged and they fight for survival. I don’t exaggerate telling
you that 2010 and 2011 would be the years with the most increased
number of mortality among the pensioners. With their subsistence
pensions they could not afford more than food in the past. With this
15% cut from pensions, with no medical assistance (the government
already closed many medical units) and no subventions for heating and
other necessities, these years that are coming will be the worst years
in the last 60 years for them. This cut is nothing more than genocide.

Syndikalismus.tk: Are colleges of your branch also involved in the
protests? Is there a discussion under your colleges about the cuts and
for common actions against?

Diogenes: I am not a member of the union and I don’t want to be. In
case of reorganisation, because I am not a member of the union I will
be the first to become unemployment because the employer will make a
list with all those people that will have to go and that list will be
negotiated with the union leaders. This is more than sure. Discussions
with my colleges are related with these reorganisations and many of
them decided to join the union and participate in protests.

Also the discussions about these cuts incite to revolt but a revolt
that is repressed inside before it comes out. Propaganda by word is
not enough to make this revolt explode just like that. The people must
become conscious by their huge power that is at their hand and it is
called: solidarity.

Syndikalismus.tk: What is your estimation about the mood under the
people? Especially in the working class? Are Topics like class
struggle and the fight for an anti-capitalist society on the agenda?

Diogenes: The outraged situations that determine the mood of the
people it can not be something else but rage and that is predictable.
The unions know that, the government knows that and the opposition
take advantage of that. It’s nothing new under the sun. How much is
orchestrated in this protest manifestations and how much is authentic
– that should be the question. In this situation when people fight for
survival the protests should reach and follow the concept of
illegality. Having these parasite unions on our back imagine that anti
capitalism and class struggle are not common topics on people agenda
and revendications are in general limited to alternative solutions,
like progressive taxation instead of salary and pension cuts.

The minimum salary here is 705 lei per month. That means – at the
National Bank currency – 160 Euros. On the other hand, the prices here
are sometime bigger than prices in Germany. After 20 years of
capitalism, when you have to pay 65.000 Euros for a one bedroom flat
although most of the workers gain around 200, 300 Euros per month –
that simple fact should make people realise that capitalism simply
doesn’t work.

Syndikalismus.tk: Was there a notable Participation of
anarcho-syndicalists or anarchists in the protests?

Diogenes: Not really. I am not organised and there are not grass roots
unions here. The anarchist movement in Romania is at its beginnings
and it is more active among artistic manifestations and in underground
culture.

Syndikalismus.tk: What would be the best, to stop the attacks of the
governement?

Diogenes: General strike to paralyse the economy and I would add, as a
hobby – sabotage over the banks that robber the whole existence of the
people. People have nothing to loose. Anarcho-syndicalism for the
future!

Syndikalismus.tk: Thanks a lot for this interview!

http://syndikalismus.wordpress.com/2010/05/29/%E2%80%9Edie-leute-haben-nichts-zu-verlieren-%E2%80%93-interview-mit-einem-rumanischen-anarchosyndikalisten-zu-den-protesten-gegen-die-sparmasnahmen-der-regierung/
http://asinforomania.wordpress.com/category/anarcho-syndicalism/
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