1st INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF YOUNG WORKERS
FINAL DECLARATION -
Responding to the call of the World Federation Trade of Unions and the General Confederation of Workers of Peru (CGTP), the 1st International Conference of Young Workers was held in Lima, on November 18-20 2009, year of the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution. 32 trade union organizations from 25 countries took part in the conference representing by more than 250 trade unionists from America, Africa, Europe, Middle East and Asia. We agreed to declare:
At the beginning of the 21st century the World remains a victim of a political and economic order that is unfair, exclusionary and exploitative. This order is leading the planet to its own selfdestruction, which now is threatened by the climate change that comes in the middle of the biggest
crisis in the history of capitalism.
crisis in the history of capitalism.
Young workers are the first victims of the labor market deregulation, produced by the imperialist globalization, and the results are alarming: millions of young workers are unemployed, subemployed or working in slavery-like conditions without health or social security; there homeless
and persecuted emigrants, as well as child labor. In conclusion, a whole generation of young workers in material and spiritual ruin, with no promising future.
and persecuted emigrants, as well as child labor. In conclusion, a whole generation of young workers in material and spiritual ruin, with no promising future.
In our societies, laws and ideological and cultural values of a lifestyle that exacerbates individualism and violence, are imposed on us. It is not only the injustice of a minority that has concentrated a large proportion of wealth while impoverished masses can hardly survive. It is alsothe hegemonic system operating as a social extermination mechanism, in which the destiny of the excluded has no importance, much less their values and cultures, their identities and communities, which are subjugated to the market imperative.Given the far-reaching technological advances of our world today, young people act on processes
that have changed the composition of the working class. The capitalists demand a “new professional” with initiative, critical awareness and ability to improve the production process. They demand team work with commitment to collective results, knowledge of languages, philosophy,
continuous training, etc. But all these has one single purpose, to serve the labor market and not to contribute to the economic, social and political change, that our countries require.
that have changed the composition of the working class. The capitalists demand a “new professional” with initiative, critical awareness and ability to improve the production process. They demand team work with commitment to collective results, knowledge of languages, philosophy,
continuous training, etc. But all these has one single purpose, to serve the labor market and not to contribute to the economic, social and political change, that our countries require.
How can we as young people accept these requirements that demand from us more alienative debilitation when the system – which only acts according to the interests of the capital – while demanding more from us, destroys our youthful dreams, discriminates and separates us for being
migrants, for the way we dress, we talk and even for our sexual orientation? Is it fair for us to comply with these requirements when we are subjected to humiliating and unfair discrimination between rich and poor, between different ethnic groups, between men and women, between rural
and urban areas and even among relatively prosperous and backward regions into one nation?
migrants, for the way we dress, we talk and even for our sexual orientation? Is it fair for us to comply with these requirements when we are subjected to humiliating and unfair discrimination between rich and poor, between different ethnic groups, between men and women, between rural
and urban areas and even among relatively prosperous and backward regions into one nation?
We express our conviction that the evolution of science and technological knowledge should be at our service as the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) demands and raises. The historical Federation which has never been allied to the transnational corporations or the governments that
cover up predatory policies. The WFTU which has supported a permanent refusal to surrender on the setbacks of the history. Despite the difficulties, it has remained firmly in the struggle and it has equipped us with the authentic working-class solidarity.
cover up predatory policies. The WFTU which has supported a permanent refusal to surrender on the setbacks of the history. Despite the difficulties, it has remained firmly in the struggle and it has equipped us with the authentic working-class solidarity.
The WFTU has been strengthened after the 15th World Trade Union Congress held in 2005 in Havana. This successful event today is a proof of this. Aware of the preparations for the 16th Congress, we hope that this will be a vital space offered to discuss the conclusions of this first
meeting and to encourage the trade union youth movement. We believe that in this space specific policies for young workers should be analyzed and proposed, contributing to the updating of our struggles and to the integration of them in the trade union movement, as well as making young
people aware of the fair positions of the WFTU.
meeting and to encourage the trade union youth movement. We believe that in this space specific policies for young workers should be analyzed and proposed, contributing to the updating of our struggles and to the integration of them in the trade union movement, as well as making young
people aware of the fair positions of the WFTU.
The impetus given to this Conference by the WFTU will make possible in its 16th Congres to intensify our efforts to make more and more young workers understand the social development in class oriented terms, to relate our individual problems to the united collective struggle.
Let’s globalize the struggle, let’s globalize the hope!Latin America, where this first conference is being held, lives a change of time with democratic
progresses and victories of progressive forces that must be defended and deepened.
progresses and victories of progressive forces that must be defended and deepened.
The response of the retrogrades, which are consolidated in the North American imperial government and with the support of its allies, is to prevent the self-determination of peoples, even by force. This
fact demonstrates that they do not change. Their failed regime has nothing more to offer. The only thing that they can offer is domination, coercion, oppression, threats, aggression, imposition of the war.
fact demonstrates that they do not change. Their failed regime has nothing more to offer. The only thing that they can offer is domination, coercion, oppression, threats, aggression, imposition of the war.
In Honduras, the people are heroically fighting against this model of empire. The resistence of this people is an inspiration that prooves that it is possible to defend our rights and sovereignty against the hypocritical and treacherous maneuver of the U.S. government and the oligarchs to circumvent the popular will and the demand of the international community. Once more we quote Che “…We cannot trust the imperialism, not even a little bit…”. We demand the immediate and unconditional
return of the legitimate government of Manuel Zelaya!
return of the legitimate government of Manuel Zelaya!
The attempts to provide the U.S. imperialism with a human face have been exposed. The facts reaffirm the same aggressiveness and the warlike and anti-popular character that has characterized the U.S. government and its allies, including the promotion o privatizations such as the case of electricity and energy in Mexico City. U.S. military bases in Colombia and the Cuarta Flota, near Venezuela, are, as comrade Fidel said, a dagger stuck in the heart of “Our America”.
For this reason the workers and our peoples increase the resistance.
Also in Peru important battles are given in defense of workers’ rights and against the policy of starvation, submission and authority followed by the government of Alan García. The CGTP, prestigious and historic trade union organization, was founded by José Carlos Mariategui. This
organization that has welcomed us so warmly, has struggle firmly and with exemplary maturity, organization and belief, to reverse the anti-popular policies and laws that have been implementingneoliberal governments in recent years. The 1st Conference expresses its solidarity with the workers in the branches of agroalimentary, shipping, textile and garments, miners, teachers, civil construction etc.., who are struggling for their fair rights and demands.The war, promoted by the imperial eagerness, has a terrible impact on Iraq and Afghanistan. It presses on Pakistan, Iran and Sudan. It keeps the provocations in the Korean peninsula. It protects Israel in its crimes against the Palestinian people while their legitimate struggle for an independent and sovereign state is criminalized.The imperialism of the European Union and the decisions of the Lisbon Strategy, Bolkestein etc. strengthen the transnationals and the monopolies against the rights of workers and contribute with NATO on wars against the peoples. They attempt to create competitiveness among workers promoting the discrimination against immigrants, xenophobia and racism and still persists the occupation and the division of Cyprus by the imperialism. Besides, it would be a reason to laugh if it was not such a dramatical situation that there are people who celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, as if it had opened a happier time for humanity. However those people remain silent towards the walls that exist today in Palestine, in Mexico, the walls of the exploitationof man by man.In Asia, the Nepalese people fight for the success of the peace process and for the establishment of a constitution that guarantees the power of the people and improves the people’s lives.
organization that has welcomed us so warmly, has struggle firmly and with exemplary maturity, organization and belief, to reverse the anti-popular policies and laws that have been implementingneoliberal governments in recent years. The 1st Conference expresses its solidarity with the workers in the branches of agroalimentary, shipping, textile and garments, miners, teachers, civil construction etc.., who are struggling for their fair rights and demands.The war, promoted by the imperial eagerness, has a terrible impact on Iraq and Afghanistan. It presses on Pakistan, Iran and Sudan. It keeps the provocations in the Korean peninsula. It protects Israel in its crimes against the Palestinian people while their legitimate struggle for an independent and sovereign state is criminalized.The imperialism of the European Union and the decisions of the Lisbon Strategy, Bolkestein etc. strengthen the transnationals and the monopolies against the rights of workers and contribute with NATO on wars against the peoples. They attempt to create competitiveness among workers promoting the discrimination against immigrants, xenophobia and racism and still persists the occupation and the division of Cyprus by the imperialism. Besides, it would be a reason to laugh if it was not such a dramatical situation that there are people who celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, as if it had opened a happier time for humanity. However those people remain silent towards the walls that exist today in Palestine, in Mexico, the walls of the exploitationof man by man.In Asia, the Nepalese people fight for the success of the peace process and for the establishment of a constitution that guarantees the power of the people and improves the people’s lives.
YOUTH IS THE FUTURE OF MILITANT TRADE UNIONISM
WITH CLASS ORIENTED PRINCIPLES
WITH CLASS ORIENTED PRINCIPLES
The participants in the 1st International Conference of Young Workers understand that the current political and economic powers deny the highest values conceived along the history and they subjugate the youth who works at a brutal alienation. They want a indifferent humanity, a uniform one without aspirations for a better future.
We declare that young workers resist to such claims and we will oppose them with our convictions and principles that have historically encouraged workers’ struggles. We will raise our IDEAS higher than ever. Those ideas that continue to fuel the search for a superior society, for justice for the
people.
people.
We fight for:
1)The peace. The humanity is one only. To the hypocrisy of the globalization and the capitalist barbarism and pillage we must oppose the globalization of solidarity. No to war and imperialism!
2) The defense of our planet, facing the transnational corporations pollution that in their pursuit of profit are leading us to our own destruction.
3)The right to work and to reduction of working time with equal pay and the elimination of precarious employment and contracts. No one is illegal.
4)The youth’s right to education, to work with rights and to health.
5)The trade union autonomy is not neutrality, but the assertion of the class interests.
For the freedom of trade union association with youth features to boost trade union affiliation and the generational renewal in our movement.
Young workers say, as we were taught by Mariategui, that. “… The proletariat does not enter in the history politically but as a social class; at the moment that it discover its mission to build a higher social order …. ”.
WE, THE YOUTH, BELIEVE IN THE FUTURE!
A DIFFERENT WORLD IS POSSIBLE AND
THAT IS SOCIALISM!
TO CONQUER IT, TO BUILD IT, TO PRESERVE IT IS
THAT IS SOCIALISM!
TO CONQUER IT, TO BUILD IT, TO PRESERVE IT IS
THE HISTORICAL BATTLE THAT
YOUNG WORKERS HAVE IN FRONT OF US!
YOUNG WORKERS HAVE IN FRONT OF US!
Lima, Peru, Novembre 20th 2009.