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Some problems remain, even though A LOT, a great, great deal, has been accomplished since last Tuesday. 1) The strike is now indefinite 2) The union membership is demanding support from the union bureaucracy which is forced to yield 3) Public opinion overwhelmingly supports the strike 4) The economic impact of the blockade is being increasingly felt by the bosses, who are now uncertain whether to follow the government or call for a truce. 5) the strike has bread true comradship between workers of very different sectors, and the blur/white-collar worker gap is slowly being bridged. 6) despite the loss of wages, the determination of workers is still extremely strong, BECAUSE they can actually see that although they are loosing money, so are the bosses. negative points : 1) the government has declared a state of emergency and is threatening to impose prison sentences on "those who seek to destroy the country". Of course, nobody takes those threats seriously, but still... 2) agents provocateurs are burning down public buildings and then blaming this on strikers. 3) the government is trying to appear as "the restorer of order" and is increasingly accusing the unions of "undemocratic behaviour, because picket lines prevent those who wish to go to work from doing so". 4) tensions are rising between the union rank and file and the union leadership. There are rumours that the leadership is ready for a "sell-out". 5) left-wing political parties are telling people that going on strike is well and good, but voting for a "socialist" candidate in the 2012 presidential election is the only way forward. Yeah ! A "socialist" government, just like in Greece ! I've lost a fourth of my monthly salary so far, have had my car window smashed by people unknown, but am feeling very happy by the way ordinary people have decided enough was enough. I suppose I should get ready for a rude awakening. ________________________________________________ Send list submissions to: Marxism@lists.econ.utah.edu Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
