Man the trenches, comrades - defend!

[Dirk]

The FAU - Freie Arbeiter Union - was legislated against by the regional court in Berlin, claiming that it couldn't call itself "grassroots" (and actually even a union). This means, basically, that the Government is dictating how workers should organise themselves. This is just the last straw in a series of legal maneouvres by Neue Babylon Berlin GmbH (a cinema). It basically amounts to banning the union, and setting a worrying precedent.

The FAU is the German part of the IWA, so that's how i know about it.

To mock-quote Churchill, we will fight in the courts, we will fight in the workplaces, we will fight on the streets...

 

[myp]

They said that the organization couldn't label themselves "grassroots"? Sounds like some censorship there too. While that is wrong, wouldn't they still be able to organize under another label, or am I missing something here? Don't get me wrong, I think the block on "grassroots" should be fought, but what does this mean in terms of functionality for the group?

 

[deanhills]

The FAU - Freie Arbeiter Union - was legislated against by the regional court in Berlin, claiming that it couldn't call itself "grassroots" (and actually even a union).

I can't imagine the Germans banning anything without a very good cause. Those guys know how to do their research well, not only for banning, but making sure they are right when they do it. Rather sort things out at the roots, than wait for them to create problems. The moment I saw the words "Freie" and "Arbeiter" I got suspicious anyway. How could workers be free unless they stop working? :cry:

 

[David]

The FAU - Freie Arbeiter Union - was legislated against by the regional court in Berlin, claiming that it couldn't call itself "grassroots" (and actually even a union). This means, basically, that the Government is dictating how workers should organise themselves. This is just the last straw in a series of legal maneouvres by Neue Babylon Berlin GmbH (a cinema). It basically amounts to banning the union, and setting a worrying precedent.

The FAU is the German part of the IWA, so that's how i know about it.

To mock-quote Churchill, we will fight in the courts, we will fight in the workplaces, we will fight on the streets...

So a German union can no longer organize as such and American corporations are declared as having the same speech rights as just 1 lowly plebeian.

Don't you love the 'logic' of the right.

 

[deanhills]

So a German union can no longer organize as such and American corporations are declared as having the same speech rights as just 1 lowly plebeian.

I don't see any logic in this statement. First of all there is a huge difference between meanings of anything between Germany and the United States. The one not being better than the other, just completely different. I'm almost certain in reality that American corporations have much more power than plebs, that is the crux of the problem right now: too much corporation and too little small business. The Government apparently likes it that way as well, as it has to be easier to back large corporations that back the Government, than worry about piddly plebs.

 

[David]

I don't see any logic in this statement. First of all there is a huge difference between meanings of anything between Germany and the United States. The one not being better than the other, just completely different. I'm almost certain in reality that American corporations have much more power than plebs, that is the crux of the problem right now: too much corporation and too little small business. The Government apparently likes it that way as well, as it has to be easier to back large corporations that back the Government, than worry about piddly plebs.

To the bolded, I said nothing relevant to that. What was your point?

 

[deanhills]

To the bolded, I said nothing relevant to that. What was your point?

So a German union can no longer organize as such and American corporations are declared as having the same speech rights as just 1 lowly plebeian.

Don't you love the 'logic' of the right.

I was probably presumptuous to come to my own conclusions and should have asked you instead:
(1) Can you explain why you think German Unions can't organize
(2) Why do you think American corporations have the same speech rights as lowly plebs? Do they really have the same speech rights?
(3) What do you mean with: "Don't you love the 'logic' of the right"

 

[David]

I was probably presumptuous to come to my own conclusions and should have asked you instead:
(1) Can you explain why you think German Unions can't organize
(2) Why do you think American corporations have the same speech rights as lowly plebs? Do they really have the same speech rights?
(3) What do you mean with: "Don't you love the 'logic' of the right"

1. That particular union. Ya they could call themselves something else but some anti-union politician will pull a 'walks, like a duck, looks like a duck...' and still shut them down.

2. Because the SCOTUS said so.

3. That was me being partisan, sorry. :redface:

 

[Dirk]

They said that the organization couldn't label themselves "grassroots"? Sounds like some censorship there too. While that is wrong, wouldn't they still be able to organize under another label, or am I missing something here? Don't get me wrong, I think the block on "grassroots" should be fought, but what does this mean in terms of functionality for the group?

It is indeed censorship. But just a bit more dark than you have interpreted. The union can no longer be grassroots. I might note, it is a grassroots organisation. But the courts want it institutionalised in some form. You can't have unions being formed and operated by workers themselves! God* forbid!

I can't imagine the Germans banning anything without a very good cause. Those guys know how to do their research well, not only for banning, but making sure they are right when they do it.

Depends from whose perspective. If you mean for ordinary people, then this is terrible news.

Rather sort things out at the roots, than wait for them to create problems.

Unfortunately, that's precisely the view of Neue Babylon GmbH.

The moment I saw the words "Freie" and "Arbeiter" I got suspicious anyway. How could workers be free unless they stop working? :cry:

Freie Arbeiter Union translated is Free Workers' Union. It means that the Union is independent from Governments, corporations and politicians. Otherwise, it's a grassroots union that operates through direct democracy.

*pantheistic sense