After the government had reached an agreement with the other two trade union
federations (CISL and UIL), the main federation, the CGIL, under the
pressure of millions of workers, is preparing to organise another general
strike for October 18. This time Cofferati is forced to go it alone. This
will be the first time since 1968 that Italy will experience a "non-unitary"
strike.
This month marks 80 years since the rise of Fascism in Italy. The
Fascists
were able to rise to power because the workers had faced a terrible
defeat
during the struggles of 1920. This article explains why that movement
went down
to defeat and draws the lessons for today. In the autumn of 1920 all
the conditions for socialist revolution existed. At the crucial moment
when the workers could have taken power their "leaders" blocked the
road to revolution.
On October 18 the CGIL called a general strike without the support of the
other two main trade union federations, the CISL and UIL. The latter actually
opposed the strike and did everything to make sure it would not be a success.
The bosses were also belittling the strike. Unfortunately for them this general
strike was a huge success. There were demonstrations in 120 towns all over Italy and at least 1
million workers took part in the demonstrations. According to some reports the
figure could even be close to 2 million.
The 50,000 people taking part in the European Social Forum last week in Florence
were far more than the organisers had expected. The last day, Saturday, saw one
million people marching in Florence against the war in Iraq and the Berlusconi
government. There was a thirst for revolutionary ideas among the youth who were
present, not seen since the 1970s.
During the past few months a bitter struggle has unfolded at most of Fiat's
plants in Italy. Roberto Sarti of the Editorial Board of FalceMartello outlines
events as they have unfolded.