Haiti: Batay Ouvriye "supports" U.S. Transport Workers BUT not Haitian Transport
For True Labor Solidarity With Haiti (FTLSH) | 11.01.2006 08:38
How can Batay Ouvriye claim "solidarity" with New York's Transit Union Workers, when they have never claimed or shown "solidarity" with Haitian transport unions?
Following the Feb. 2004 overthrow of democracy in Haiti, dozens of busses of the DIGNITE program were destroyed, being torched and torn apart by the death squad former FRAPH rebels. These schools had allowed for children from poor communities to get transportation to school. The Aristide government had heavily invested in education and literacy programs. The transportation union workers in Haiti were decimated by the Coup.
Ironically, in January 2006, an NED backed "leftist" union, the Batay Ouvriye, claimed it was in "SOLIDARITY WITH TWU LOCAL 100", the NY Transit Union Workers that has been a target of repression. How can Batay Ouvriye claim "solidarity" with New York's Transit Union Workers, when they never claimed or have shown "solidarity" with Haitian transport unions? Instead they called for the democratically elected government, who supported the transport workers, to "leave the country", stating that they were "criminals" and an "occupation" government.
Bear witness to the irony, read this “solidarity” communiqué from Batay Ouvriye sent out Tuesday, January 10th, just one day after admitting its NED funding.
>Batay Ouvriye (Haiti) Solidarity with Transit Workers' Union On-Going Struggle
>BATAY OUVRIYE (HAITI)
>
>January, 2006
>
>
>
>SOLIDARITY WITH TWU LOCAL 100'S WORTHY STRIKE!
>
>
>
>We, at Batay Ouvriye, want to take the opportunity of the year beginning to
>salute the TWU's Local 100 recent courageous battle. We have no doubt on the
>justness and legitimacy of the workers' demands and the ardor with which
>they have battled to obtain their satisfaction. The permanent mobilization
>they maintained, despite the repression of the New York authorities and the
>press supporting these dominant structures and individuals will remain an
>example that the working class can continue to put forward when confronting
>its major enemies.
>
>Internal debates, far from leading towards divisions and thus weakening our
>struggle, should, on the contrary, thanks to the genuine democratic dynamic
>they contain, advance the movement, constantly in the interest of the united
>workers
>
>We also wish to denounce the attitude of the Transit Union Workers of
>America's International President, Michael T. O'Brien, who, by withdrawing
>his support and even going so far as to declare the union's action illegal,
>left it dangerously vulnerable. We join our voices to all those demanding
>this president's immediate dismissal for having held such an attitude
>against the workers' fight and take this opportunity to suggest that, as
>quick as possible, solid mechanisms be put in place for such betrayals to
>never happen again..
>
>Lastly, we ask for all workers of the entire world to be ready to support,
>if need be, this TWU Local 100 workers' mobilization since their battle,
>which is also ours, may just be beginning.
>
>
>
>DOWN WITH THE NEW YORK AUTHORITIES' REPRESSIVE STAND!
>
>DOWN WITH THE TWU'S INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT'S BETRAYAL!
>
>FORWARD THE STRUGGLE AND MOBILIZATION OF TWU'S LOCAL 100 WORKERS!
>
>FORWARD THE STRUGGLE AND MOBILIZATION OF WORKERS ALL OVER THE WORLD!
It is vital to note that Batay Ouvriye has begrudgingly admitted its funding relationship with the NED (which receives its funding from the U.S. State Department). Stating FINALLY in a January 9th communique, "it appears Haiti's Batay Ouvriye union may be a "targeted beneficiary" for $100,000 this year, through the Solidarity Center which solicited the NED. "
We can only wonder, what story will they whip up for their next batch of communiqués?
Ironically, in January 2006, an NED backed "leftist" union, the Batay Ouvriye, claimed it was in "SOLIDARITY WITH TWU LOCAL 100", the NY Transit Union Workers that has been a target of repression. How can Batay Ouvriye claim "solidarity" with New York's Transit Union Workers, when they never claimed or have shown "solidarity" with Haitian transport unions? Instead they called for the democratically elected government, who supported the transport workers, to "leave the country", stating that they were "criminals" and an "occupation" government.
Bear witness to the irony, read this “solidarity” communiqué from Batay Ouvriye sent out Tuesday, January 10th, just one day after admitting its NED funding.
>Batay Ouvriye (Haiti) Solidarity with Transit Workers' Union On-Going Struggle
>BATAY OUVRIYE (HAITI)
>
>January, 2006
>
>
>
>SOLIDARITY WITH TWU LOCAL 100'S WORTHY STRIKE!
>
>
>
>We, at Batay Ouvriye, want to take the opportunity of the year beginning to
>salute the TWU's Local 100 recent courageous battle. We have no doubt on the
>justness and legitimacy of the workers' demands and the ardor with which
>they have battled to obtain their satisfaction. The permanent mobilization
>they maintained, despite the repression of the New York authorities and the
>press supporting these dominant structures and individuals will remain an
>example that the working class can continue to put forward when confronting
>its major enemies.
>
>Internal debates, far from leading towards divisions and thus weakening our
>struggle, should, on the contrary, thanks to the genuine democratic dynamic
>they contain, advance the movement, constantly in the interest of the united
>workers
>
>We also wish to denounce the attitude of the Transit Union Workers of
>America's International President, Michael T. O'Brien, who, by withdrawing
>his support and even going so far as to declare the union's action illegal,
>left it dangerously vulnerable. We join our voices to all those demanding
>this president's immediate dismissal for having held such an attitude
>against the workers' fight and take this opportunity to suggest that, as
>quick as possible, solid mechanisms be put in place for such betrayals to
>never happen again..
>
>Lastly, we ask for all workers of the entire world to be ready to support,
>if need be, this TWU Local 100 workers' mobilization since their battle,
>which is also ours, may just be beginning.
>
>
>
>DOWN WITH THE NEW YORK AUTHORITIES' REPRESSIVE STAND!
>
>DOWN WITH THE TWU'S INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT'S BETRAYAL!
>
>FORWARD THE STRUGGLE AND MOBILIZATION OF TWU'S LOCAL 100 WORKERS!
>
>FORWARD THE STRUGGLE AND MOBILIZATION OF WORKERS ALL OVER THE WORLD!
It is vital to note that Batay Ouvriye has begrudgingly admitted its funding relationship with the NED (which receives its funding from the U.S. State Department). Stating FINALLY in a January 9th communique, "it appears Haiti's Batay Ouvriye union may be a "targeted beneficiary" for $100,000 this year, through the Solidarity Center which solicited the NED. "
We can only wonder, what story will they whip up for their next batch of communiqués?
For True Labor Solidarity With Haiti (FTLSH)
Comments
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The NED
11.01.2006 09:50
NED stands for National Endowment for Democracy. It's a US foreign policy tool set up by President Reagan in the 80s, and basically exists to fund US-friendly politicians abroad. This sounds reasonable enough, but in fact they use US tax money to meddle in foreign elections and buy their favoured candidates into power.
Can you imagine what the US govt would say if China or India or the EU started funding the campaigns of politicians in the US that they liked?
The NED is also used to put tame unions in place abroad, with the enthusiastic help of the AFL-CIO, a large US trade union umbrella group with many tame unions and bent union leaders in its ranks.
Read on:
John