[Marxism] Guadeloupe: general strike spreads

[sabocat59@xxxxxxx]

Guadeloupe: general strike spreads Submitted by WW4 Report on Tue, 02/10/2009 - 
17:02.   After 22 hours of negotiations, on the morning of Feb. 8 management 
and strikers in the French overseas department of Guadeloupe reached a 
preliminary agreement that could form the basis for ending a general strike 
that has paralyzed the island since Jan. 20. 

Under the agreement, the 45,000 Guadeloupean workers who earn up to 1.6 times 
the minimum wage (SMIC, for Minimum Interprofessional Growth Salary in French) 
would get an increase of 200 euros (about $259) a month, while workers with 
higher salaries could negotiate with management for raises of 2.5% to 3%. 

Of the strikers' 146 demands, the government and business owners have already 
met about 50, including measures to bring down the cost of fuel. (Nouvel 
Observateur, France, Feb. 8; Le Parisien, France, Feb. 8) The strike has been 
led by the Collective Against Extreme Exploitation (LKP, Liyannaj Kont 
Pwofitasyon in Guadeloupean Creole), which includes 47 unions, along with 
political parties and grassroots organizations. The movement has received broad 
support from Guadeloupe's 450,000 residents. Some 25,000 people demonstrated in 
Pointe a Pitre, the capital, at the beginning of the strike, and a 
demonstration held as negotiators met on Feb. 7 drew about 50,000 protesters. 

Guadeloupe has an unemployment rate of more than 20% and a large disparity in 
wages between workers in the public and private sectors. The cost of living is 
a central issue: many goods have to be imported, and prices are sometimes twice 
as high as in France. Conditions are similar on the nearby island of Martinique 
and in French Guiana, also French overseas departments. On Feb. 5 a dozen 
unions held a one-day general strike in Martinique, shutting down 
transportation and businesses. Some 15,000-20,000 protesters marched through 
Fort-de-France, the capital. "Sarko, Fillon, we want work!" they chanted, 
referring to French president Nicholas Sarkozy and Prime Minister Francois 
Fillon. Encouraged by the strike's success, the unions extended the job action 
to Feb. 6. 

The General Union of Guadeloupe Workers (UGTG), considered the leading force in 
Guadeloupe's strike committee, is distrustful of Sarkozy's conservative 
government. On Jan. 26 UGTG secretary general Elie Domota charged that 
employers were "gearing up for a lockout, thinking that they can thus starve 
people, provoke confrontations and ask the colonial authority to suppress us. 
For that purpose, several hundred forces of repression arrived in Guadeloupe a 
few days ago, armed to the teeth." 

Noting that in May 1967 the French government killed more than 100 
Guadeloupeans following a construction workers' strike, Domota appealed for 
international solidarity; e-mails can be sent to ugtg@xxxxxxxxxxx (Le Parisien, 
Feb. 8; UGTG Emergency Solidarity Appeal, Jan. 26;Liberation, France, Feb. 6, 
some from AFP) From Weekly News Update on the Americas, Feb. 8
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