Re: The Italian general strike

In Defence of Marxism
http://www.marxist.com/Europe/italy20020416.html

Italian workers back on the move!
April 16 general strike a huge success
By Fernando D'Alessandro

The general strike in Italy on April 16 was a huge success, as could 
be expected after the demonstration of nearly 3 million in Rome 
earlier this year. 13 million workers came out on strike. That is 
actually more than the total trade union membership of CGIL, CISL and 
UIL combined. There was a 90% participation in the strike. Two 
million workers came out on demonstrations in 21 cities all over 
Italy. these were the biggest regional trade union demonstrations 
ever seen in Italy.

There were 350,000 in Bologna, 300,000 in Rome, 200,000 in Milan and 
400,000 in Florence where the main speaker was Cofferati, the general 
secretary of the CGIL. But even in the smaller towns there were big 
turnouts: 100,000 in Palermo, the regional capital of Sicily; 30,000 
in Ancona and even in Potenza in the deep south 30,000 workers 
marched through the streets.

The strike did not only affect industry. Hotel workers, government 
workers, bank workers, transport workers, all came out. In the 
hospitals in Rome about 90% of the staff were out. The airports were 
also affected, as anyone who was trying to fly to Italy could 
testify. The country was brought to a standstill.

Now the question being asked is what effect will this have on the 
Berlusconi government. There is a "conciliatory" wing of the 
government around Fini that is hinting that they should try to lean 
more on the CISL and the UIL. In fact one of the tactics of the 
government has been to try to divide the trade union front 
by "isolating" the CGIL. The CGIL went ahead on its own and called 
the massive 3 million-strong demonstration. Rather than the CGIL 
being isolated it was becoming clear that it was the CISL and UIL who 
were out of touch with the mood of the workers. Also the CISL and UIL 
leaders know that if they do backtrack they could lose ground to the 
CGIL, which has already begun to happen.

The position of the government now seems one of open confrontation 
with the unions. The overwhelming majority of the Confindustria, the 
Italian bosses' union, has come out with a hard line. They want the 
government to adopt a hard-line "Thatcherite" policy. The unions, 
especially the CGIL, are saying that unless the Berlusconi government 
withdraws its proposals to abolish article 18 of the Workers' Statute 
they will not sit around the negotiating table.

Enormous pressure is building up for a major confrontation between 
the working class and the government. Cofferati, leader of the CGIL, 
is under enormous pressure. He has been pushed to the left and now 
has enormous support among the workers of Italy, because he is seen 
as leading the fightback. This is the same leader who up until 
recently was seen as a "moderate" and had been collaborating with the 
previous "centre-left" government. This process of radicalisation 
within the main trade union federation in Italy confirms what the 
Marxists have always maintained about the mass organisations. Under 
the pressure of the working class they can become radicalised 
whatever their past position may have been.

Now, it is clear that these trade union leaders cannot be trusted, 
but the problem is that there is very little room for manoeuvre now. 
The bosses are on the offensive. Italian capitalism is weak. It must 
attack the workers and their rights, won over decades of struggle. 
They must try and become "more competitive" on the world market.

The problem Berlusconi is facing in applying his "Thatcherite" policy 
is that he is provoking all sections at the same time - all sections 
of the working class, but also the youth and the students. He is 
creating a united front against him.

Now that the strike has been so successful, the confidence of the 
workers will be growing. Pressure will mount to raise the stakes. 
Already some trade union leaders are raising the idea of applying 
methods of struggle, such as the work-to-rule. This would mean only 
doing what is strictly necessary to abide by one's work contract. 
This would mean slowing down production dramatically, without losing 
out on wages. The metalworkers' union, the FIOM, is also preparing 
for new strike action.

The position is one where both sides find it difficult to back off. 
If Berlusconi does not deliver for the bosses his government could 
enter into a crisis. But the unions, especially the CGIL, also are 
under enormous pressure. Everything seems to point to a new "Hot 
Autumn", in the traditions of the Italian working class.

The period we are entering will be one of heightened class tensions. 
At the moment the CGIL in particular is riding a huge wave of 
support, but the situation that is opening up is one where all the 
organisations of the working class will be put to the test. History 
is coming full circle. After many years of defeat and compromise the 
Italian working class is on the offensive. It will show the way to 
the rest of Europe, and the world. This is only the beginning!

April 16, 2002


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