ILPS SUPPORTS GENERAL STRIKE OF WORKERS IN FRANCE, CONDEMNS EXTREMELY EXPLOITATIVE AND REPRESSIVE POLICIES

ILPS | 28 – 10 – 2010 |

By Prof. Jose Maria Sison

Chairperson, International League of Peoples’ Struggle

19 October 2010

We, the International League of Peoples’ Struggle, are in solidarity with and support the millions of workers, youth and other people in France who are conducting a general strike against the extremely exploitative and repressive policies of the French state and its master class, the monopoly bourgeoisie.

We condemn the so-called pension reform raising the minimum retirement age from 60 to 62 and all other austerity measures calculated to further shift the burden of crisis to the working class and the people.  We likewise condemn all the repressive measures that the Sarkozy government has undertaken to suppress the strikes and mass protests against the high rate of unemployment and the ever deteriorating working and living conditions.

We consider as of decisive importance all concerted actions of the workers and people that expose the root causes of the current grave crisis of the world capitalist system.  Such  actions counter the diabolical scheme of the monopoly bourgeoisie and its Rightist agents to use chauvinism, xenophobia, racism, religious bigotry and other forms of reaction in order to conceal the roots of the crisis, apply state terrorism on the people and further exploit them.

We salute the working class and people of France for adopting brilliant tactics in order to make their general strike effective against the vicious efforts of the Sarkozy government to stop it.  The blockade on the major fuel refineries and oil depots and other tactics have paralyzed the system of oppression and exploitation.  We are pleased that the transport workers and all labor unions throughout France are participating in order to make the strike even more effective nationwide.

We commend all member-organizations and allies of ILPS in France for participating resolutely and militantly in the general strike.  We call on you to help intensify the struggle in coordination with all other striking organizations.  All member-organizations and allies of the ILPS throughout the world wish the utmost success for the current general strike and for all the further just struggles of the working class and people of France.###