Sandwichman wrote:
It's all very well to "connect the crisis to the underlying capitalist
system." The proof, though, comes in whether one presents a program
for BOTH responding to the current crisis within the constraints posed
by that system while at the same time moving beyond those very
constraints. That is the difference between calling for a program of
work-time reduction and wool-gathering about the need to replace the
system.
Fat chance that a neoliberal like Obama will be for work-time reduction
although it is resonating elsewhere:
Venezuela revives plan for six-hour workday
Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:03pm IST
CARACAS, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Venezuela has revived a popular plan to cut
the workday to six hours, just weeks before regional elections in which
socialist President Hugo Chavez is expected to lose control of some
cities and states.
Labor Minister Roberto Hernandez, a former Communist Party leader, said
he will ask Congress this year to approve the reduction from eight hours
ahead of a labor law overhaul in the oil- exporting nation in 2009.
The six-hour workday was first proposed as a sweetener in a reform
package that would have allowed Chavez to run for re-election
indefinitely and given him more powers. The package was rejected in a
referendum last December.
At the time, Chavez said the workday plan would create 150,000 jobs. But
business leaders characterized it as a heavy-handed measure that would
slow investment.
The referendum was narrowly defeated and was the first time Chavez had
lost a major vote since he was elected nearly 10 years ago. It has
emboldened a fractured opposition ahead of elections for mayors and
governors next month.
Chavez allies now dominate the South American nation's states and cities.
The president is popular for redistributing oil wealth to the poor but
widespread corruption, crime and rising prices are likely to cost the
outspoken U.S. critic some posts.
Chavez has nationalized large swathes of Venezuela's economy, including
oil projects, steel works and a telecoms company. The state is now the
OPEC country's largest employer.
Several unions are renegotiating labor contracts with the government and
demanding higher wages and better working conditions. (Reporting by
Frank Jack Daniel; Editing by Xavier Briand)
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