Our second day at the International Automotive Workers Conference in Pune, India

One correspondent reports:

We would like to give you a brief summary of the country reports:

Unfortunately, due to repression in the country, no Turkish delegation was able to attend in person.

They report that Turkey is the 10th worst country in terms of trade union rights. Only 12-13 percent are organized in trade unions. They explicitly state that we must combine economic and political struggles instead of allowing chauvinism and racism to divide workers.

The report from Belarus provided insight into the political actions of the working class. In 2020, they protested after the election of Lukashenko, who is said to have been elected with 80 percent of the vote. There were strikes and demonstrations against this massive electoral fraud. They also report that the police are being deployed against workers in factories.

From France, it is reported that the situation with Stellantis is similar to that in Germany. A number of plants are to be closed. They advocate for an offensive international coordination of workers.

Friends from Italy reported that it is common practice for large companies to outsource their production to smaller ones in order to circumvent laws, which means worse conditions for workers. Ferrari in Bologna has an influence on politics there because it provides prosperity, e.g., there are criminal proceedings against workers. They want to organize a general strike on November 28.

The Russian delegation reports massive job cuts in industry.

Before the war in Ukraine, there were 18 production facilities, now there are only 6. Renault, Toyota, and Ford have cut jobs massively or closed down completely.

Reports from Germany indicate that the automotive industry is the most important branch of industry. The working class is international and well organized in a unified trade union, a consequence after World War II, when the unions were very fragmented. Today, the MLPD supports them in their workers' struggles with its expertise. They protested against the visa refusals for the conference, especially that of Gabi Fechtner. Finally, they brought a video greeting from the children's organization Rotfüchse from Braunschweig.

The report from Mexico provides information about the precarious conditions of workers. This means working 48 hours per week, but also up to 12 hours per day and 72 hours per week. They report systematic bullying against sick people.

The representative from the USA spoke about how tariffs against China would endanger globalization. Combustion engines are being promoted because Trump, as a climate denier, rejects the switch to e-mobility. The United Auto Worker (UAW) trade union has been greatly strengthened by strikes in 2023. But the UAW leadership has adopted the ideas of the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement. This is destroying the foundations of the union's fighting power. Workers are increasingly participating in actions against Trump.

Venezuela is under military and imperialist siege by the US. Since 2017, there has been a sharp decline in the automotive sector, with job cuts and plant closures. There have been no collective bargaining agreements since 2015. Jobs are being cut mainly through voluntary retirement and severance payments.

The report from Brazil refers to restructuring processes that have been accompanied by job cuts and wage reductions. The far-right Bolsonaro government has introduced pension and labor reforms that are detrimental to workers. The Lula government has not repealed these. Against the capitalist direction, the delegation demanded, among other things, a 30-hour week with full wage compensation and an end to the oppression of women, LGBTQ people, black people, indigenous people, and migrants.

Portugal reported on the STASA trade union, which is still very young. The automotive industry is not particularly large, but it is significant, especially because of exports. VW, Stellantis, Mitsubishi, and Toyota produce there. Labor law is to be changed, which, among other things, is an attack on the right to strike there. A general strike is planned for December 11.

Some reports argued that plant closures should be “socially acceptable,” similar to Germany. In contrast, German participants reported that there should be no illusions, as jobs are constantly being destroyed in Germany.

Following the country reports, the ICOG opened the delegates' meeting with an introductory statement. It reported self-critically that significantly more participants had attended the last IAC. This has a lot to do with bureaucratic and repressive entry restrictions. But mobilization was also tackled far too late. The motto “No struggle should stand alone today” is important, as it highlights the international character of the event. The ICOG commented on key issues such as the genocide in Gaza, its assessment of the war in Ukraine, and more.

While the delegations were able to discuss and debate at length, an event on the fascist group “Zentrum Automobil” was held for the other participants. Since we did not have a Hindi translator available, one participant spontaneously volunteered. This is how workers organize their international exchange themselves. Everyone was very interested in how anti-fascist work functions in the workplace. Among other things, it was discussed that younger colleagues need to learn from their older counterparts that, just like “Germany first,” there is also, for example, “Hindu first.”

In a workshop afterwards, the participants were able to contribute culturally. Workers' songs from all over the world were rehearsed, accompanied by drums and guitar.

India organized the evening program as the host country. We saw various Indian dances, and our Indian comrades thrilled us with singing and drumming. The evening ended with everyone dancing together.