Moyano and trade union leaders dont want the general strike

Translated and published by SEP of Turkey

We share the article which is sent to our site on the latest developments of class struggle in Argentina by Juan Giglio, who struggles there from the organization of Convergencia Socialista. The great protest in the city of Buenos Aires on the past 21st February showed that the popular hatred towards the government and its politics has increased qualitatively.

Even if Hugo Moyano, who is the leader of Argentina’s largest union federation CGT, organized this action to defend himself for the corruption charges against him, hundreds of thousands of protestors has participated this great meeting not to support him but to defeat boss supporter, rightist president Macri, to give voice to their temper and action. Other union leaders accompanying to Moyano have shown that their problems with the Macri regime is not very rooted, just like Moyano.

The fact that the other union leaders in CGT, who oppose or are logrolling with Macri, accept the capitalist system reveals that the difference between them, in fact, is not so great. These names are intertwined with the capitalist circles and the other power groups. On the other hand, the historical Peronist tendency in trade union bureaucracy, as a reflection od the breakdown of Peronism, is divided on the attitude to be taken against Macri. Macri is also trying to subdue the union bosses through blackmailing and from there the contradiction between the power centers reveals.

At this point, the socialist organizations come to the forefront as the only sincere focus claiming the rights of laborers. On the other hand, the matter is making use of this situation. Even if all the socialist organizations participated to the public meeting of 21st February, they couldn’t present a very significant participation. It is hard to say that the advantageous situation brought by this great public meeting has been remunerated well. This massive demonstration could have been turned into an opportunity to raise the stress of a general strike.

The corteges of the other socialist organizations could not evoke their existence among the extensive participation of the union apparatus and the unemployed corteges led by Pope Francis. We are talking about a situation in which union bosses are quite pressed and challenged by general strike demands. On one hand a general strike demand from the labor side is increasing and on the other side they are under the pressure of the corruption investigation of Macri government.

On the other hand, this union leadership does not want to really struggle against the Macri government but wants to assure its position by negotiating with it. In this way, they also will not face with such annoying situations like the radical actions of the working class and the further strengthening of the socialists. Socialist organizations and the other combative components should not pull themselves down to the point of “pressure groups”. What must be done is being able to de facto leading for the resistances. In the significant conflicts of December 18, the socialists showed who the real alternative for the Macri government is.

In this experience, the laborers have seen to whom they can trust and that such an activism is both possible and necessary. Now, the socialists must organize Independent Workers Congress, plan and direct the struggle against the Macri government from there. Regional strike decisions, actions at industrial centers and blockages at the vital points of transportation networks can be led by this Congress. This is, of course, a difficult task, yet this is also the way to take advantage of the weak situation of the union apparatus.

There are real, good and concrete opportunities in front of us, at this moment. The tendency of the ones who is opponent to Macri in union apparatus is to be prepared the elections by bringing the pieces of Peronist together. Namely, they want to be strong, flush with cash and in the heart of power just as they used to be. On the other hand, Macri is not in strong position. People’s opposition has reached to serious extend.

The anger of the poor labors and the petty bourgeois becomes increasingly apparent. In football matches, huge crowds cheer as a whole against Macri at stadiums. Spectacular scenes emerge. In the end, the ruling class is weakening and the power balances between the classes are constantly progressing for the benefit of the working-class’ problem. On the other part, the actions coming to the fore as a result of the compression of the union bureaucracy are also important.

From these channels, class rage shows up itself and, just like it was on 18th December, it can turn into revolutionary explosions. Argentina evolves slowly but sure towards Argentinazo, like in 2001. Moreover, this time the organized working class is more radical and powerful, and the Marxist wing is so strong and in the fore ground that it cannot be compared to 2001.

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