[Marxism] Update on this situation in Guadeloupe--Feb. 27

[nada <dwaltersMIA@xxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Sisters and Brothers:

I received an update on this situation in Guadeloupe this morning 
(Friday, Feb. 27) from Robert Fabert, a leader of the UGTG trade union 
federation and editor of Travayé è Payzan.

Brother Fabert reports as follows:

As mentioned in my last update, the French government did not support 
the local employers' association packet for implementing a 200 euro 
monthly wage increase (which they had issued publicly on Tuesday, Feb. 
24). On Wednesday (Feb. 25), big demonstrations were held to demand that 
the French government give in and accept the deal for a 200 euro wage 
increase that was proposed by the Guadeloupan employers' groups.

Yesterday (Thursday) was a hectic and confused day, with representatives 
of the French government publicly denouncing UGTG general secretary (and 
LKP Strike Collective Spokesperson) Elie Domota for his "incendiary" 
statements on class and race. A mass march in defense of Elie Domota 
took place, led by the unemployed youth. Later in the day, statements 
from the employers -- and even from the French-appointed Prefect -- took 
strong issue with the French negotiating team for looking for pretexts 
to derail the negotiations. The French government ended up totally 
isolated, even among its stalwart employer groups, beginning with the Medef.

Negotiations resumed in the evening on Thursday, and after a marathon 
session an agreement granting both the 200 euro minimum wage increase, 
as well as across-the-board-wage increases for workers with higher wages 
was signed in the wee hours of Friday morning. The French-appointed 
Prefect signed the agreement.

The agreement grants a 200 euro monthly increase to workers making the 
minimum wage, or SMIC) and up to 1.4 times the minimum wage. All workers 
making between 1.5 and 1.6 times the minimum wage get a 6% pay increase. 
Workers making 1.7 times the minimum wage or more get a 3% wage increase.

The French government was forced to accept some of the strikers' key 
demands.

Negotiations are continuing today on the remaining 27 of the core 33 
demands of the LKP Strike Collective.

Brother Fabert writes that similar progress on these other points could 
lead the LKP Strike Collective to end the strike, having won on their 
main demands.

More later.

Thanks again for your interest and support. The international solidarity 
statements, delegations to French consulates and embassies, and other 
protests have made a difference. The French government would do well to 
heed this powerful and growing international protest movement and accept 
the other just demands of the strikers in Guadeloupe.

In solidarity,

Alan Benjamin

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