FIAT & MELFI

Statement on the repression at the Fiat factory in Melfi

FIAT & MELFI

PROFIT & REPRESSION

CAPITALISM & STATE

ARM-IN-ARM AS ALWAYS

Once again capitalism, in the shape of Fiat, has recourse to the institutional violence of the State in order to safeguard its interests as soon as they are threatened even slightly - this time by the struggle of the workers of Fiat's Melfi factory and the solidarity of thousands of other workers in the Basilicata region [of southern Italy] and of Fiat workers in other factories. Once again State repression is unleashed in order to protect the domination of the capitalist class over its workers, its "property".

After 10 years of total submission, there has finally been, in Melfi, a re-awakening in class consciousness and a will to fight among the workers, based on 4 precise questions: wages, shifts, workload and discipline.

In the Melfi factory, overtime is paid at 45% the usual rate, whereas in other Fiat factories the figure is 60.4%.

In Melfi, there are 18 shifts per week, 3 shifts per day of 8 hours each divided as follows: 7 hours 15 minutes work, 30 minutes meal break, 15 for shift changeovers. The shifts begin at 6am, 2pm and 10pm.

In Melfi, you work 2 weeks doing 6 days in a row then in the third week you do 3 days in a row. Over the following 2 weeks you do not change shift, so anyone (man or woman) doing the night shift has to do it for 2 weeks. The result - hundreds of car accidents involving shift workers on their way home.

In Melfi, the "tmc2" work regulation system is in operation, a system which is designed to ensure an exhausting workrate.

In Melfi, workers' ideas or objections are not listened to, thought the company boasts of factories which operate thanks to the collaboration of all involved.

In Melfi, thousands of disciplinary measures against workers are handed out every year.

In other words: the same old weapons of Capital in the factory, just like it was 150 years ago.

This is what the 5,000 workers of the Melfi factory are fighting against together with 3,300 workers in allied industries. They are being supported by certain unions, for example the (Cgil-affiliated) FIOM and the SLAI-Cobas. Their determined struggle is seeking to force the company to review the rules it imposed ten years ago, using the high unemployment levels of the Lucania region as a threat.

Once again, repressive intervention by the State is confirmation, were it needed, of the government's descent into total authoritarianism which has led it to limit the workers' right to strike, to criminalize self-organized labour struggles, and to intimidate workers with punitive measures, as we saw with the measures taken again those local transport workers who broke the anti-strike law.

Once again the decisions taken by certain unions confirm that their aim is to divide the workers, to ensure they do not unite and have no control over their struggles and their demands.

Once again, agreements are being made which go against the will of the workers, as expressed in their struggles.

But the workers sense of identity is beginning to emerge: long-established transport workers standing with their young workmates on temporary contracts, the 5,000 employees with another 750 outsourced workers and those at the Sata plant in Melfi, the solidarity being shown by workers in other plants and factories.

The world of radical syndicalism and, indeed, all workers must support the Melfi workers struggle and will to organize themselves if we are to ensure that labour is not just another commodity or slavery.

AGAINST EXPLOITATION!

AGAINST REPRESSION!

FOR THE SELF-ORGANIZATION AND UNITY OF ALL WORKERS!

Federazione dei Comunisti Anarchici
Labour Commission

26th April 2004