Organise!

Joint Statement on Adelaide Uni Tute cuts

2011-09-10T10:36:00.000-07:00

Our education is under threat. The Adelaide University’s Faculty of
Humanities and Social Sciences has cut tutorials from 12 a semester to 10 in
a number of classes, and such cuts will likely be implemented in further
classes next year. Moreover, sources indicate that the faculty has even
considered cutting tutorials down to 9. Professor Pascale Quester and
Professor Nick Harvey maintained at a recent forum that the cuts were driven
by pedagogical reasons. However, the lack of student consultation prior to the cuts puts the lie to this position.

The recent leak of internal email proved that the cuts were driven by a budget hole,after the faculty was forced to pay tutors to mark students’ minor essays, rubber-stamping what we already knew. Even so, Quester and Harvey have continued to maintain the farce that these cuts aim to improve learning.

Raff Piccolo, President of the Student Union, having met with Quester and Harvey, said that, “They have agreed that the plan to introduce the reduction in tutorials into the school of history and politics will not go ahead for semester 1, 2012. It will be confined to the course in the school of social sciences and the few history and politics courses that trialled it this semester. There will be an evaluation of the impact that this has had on the teaching and learning experience of students”. Cleary, Quester and Harvey have been forced to backpedal due to the student/teacher backlash and the subsequent embarrassing media attention.

In trying to disguise the true rationale behind tutorial cuts, Pascale Quester and the faculty’s management have demonstrated that they cannot be trusted. It appears they are largely concerned with cutting costs while attempting to save face with students and the media. Their promise to evaluate the effect of the cuts at the end of the year is a known tactic used by management to split opposition movements with vague and intangible promises for the future.

In a broader context, these cuts can be seen as a natural outcome of
the neo-liberalisation of Australia’s education system. With the decline of
federal funding for university education – predicated on principles of the
free market and privatised education – student learning will suffer as
universities increasingly come to resemble businesses; financial entities
looking to maintain their profit margins rather than genuine providers of
meaningful education.

Students need to continue to organise to fight these cuts! We must not be fooled by
hollow promises made by management, which are meant only to divide us.
Instead, we must put forward demands of our own:
No to the tutorial cuts!
No to attacks on our education!

We must continue to organise and fight to make sure our demands are met!

'They have taken untold millions that they never toiled to earn,
But without our brain and muscle not a single wheel can turn.' - Solidarity Forever

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This joint statement was written by members of Organise! & Resistance Wednesday 7th of September, and given out at a student assembly in the evening on the 8th.

Adelaide Uni cuts, forum recording

2011-08-28T10:07:00.000-07:00

Having faced unannounced cuts to Humanities tutorial classes at Adelaide University, students demanded answers from Uni heads of school. A forum was held on Tuesday the 23rd August, hundreds of students packed the Horace Lamb lecture theatre, where heads of school and the deputy vice chancellor defended the cuts from a whole range of perspectives: about money, government doesn't give enough, not about money, it's just an experiment, blah blah. Here's a voice recording of the forum for download and sharing.

Cuts Forum AMR (mobile)

Cuts Forum M4A 

Cuts Forum MP3

Kulon Progo Self-organised Struggle Against Neoliberal Megaproject

2011-03-14T05:02:00.000-07:00

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Organise! is working on building solidarity actions such as demonstrations, and any other aid we can provide to the peasants of Kulon Progo. It is urgent, and especially relevant for us in Australia due to Indonesia's proximity, and the involvement of Australian mining companies Indo Mines Limited and Australia Kimberly Diamond. International attention to the issue will also inhibit the police from carrying out the usual extent of brutality against the peasants.

Kulon Progo is a coastal area in Indonesia inhabited by tens of thousands of people who grow crops on the iron-rich sand. They are self-sufficient and self-governing. A conglomeration of mining companies want to mine the iron under the sand, but so far have been unable to because of the resistance of the people living there. The blog 'hidup biasa' has a history of the region here, and a description of earlier struggles here.

The people of Kulon Progo have just issued an appeal for solidarity:

The people of Kulon Progo call for your international solidarity as they resist corporate greed and ecological destruction, please spread this information and act. More info + links to follow.

Thursday Morning, 24 February, mining corporation wants to re-open its office and operational sites which already been closed and destroyed by the peasants December last year. Failed.

Monday, 28 February, media noted that Jogja Magasa Iron and some Japanese investors failed to come.

Wednesday, 2 March, 9 cars with heavy arms police guard came to the pilot project for only 10 minutes.

Yesterday Morning, 7 March, 31 Police truck, 700 special police force (called Mobile Brigade), water cannon, detention car, police dogs, tear-gas, and heavy weapons came to the village…

WE NEED IMMEDIATE SOLIDARITY NOW!

Kulon Progo Self-organised Struggle Against Neoliberal Megaproject
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Wikileaks leaflet

2010-12-30T03:10:00.000-08:00

Leaflet on SA budget cuts

2010-10-06T07:16:00.000-07:00

New ABCC leaflet

2010-09-22T05:56:00.000-07:00

Free film screening - Living Utopia - August 29

2010-08-03T04:49:00.000-07:00

Fundraiser Gig June 4th

2010-05-29T01:40:00.000-07:00

Greece Solidarity Poster

2010-05-24T01:58:00.000-07:00

Leaflet against the ABCC

2010-04-30T08:08:00.000-07:00

Leaflet for Students

2010-04-25T17:00:00.000-07:00

Anzac Day 2010

2010-04-25T16:49:00.000-07:00

Call out for direct action against the draconian ABCC

2010-03-17T01:08:00.000-07:00

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The Australian building and construction commission was established in the package of Howard's IR Laws, in an effort to combat worker militancy in the construction sector. Worker militancy in this sector is high, it’s dangerous work (complemented by incredible employer negligence): approximately one construction worker dies on the job per week in Australia.

The powers of the ABCC allow it to request interrogations of anyone involved in 'illegal' activity on a work site - generally 'illegal' stoppages.

If you refuse to go to the interrogation, you're charged and face 6 months jail or a $22k fine.

If you don't provide them with documents they request, you're charged.

If you don't rat out fellow workers, you're charged.

At the moment, Adelaide construction worker Ark Tribe is being prosecuted by the ABCC, because he refused to be interrogated. He signed a petition drawn up on a paper towel at his worksite at Flinders University regarding the appalling safety conditions on site. For this he and his workmates were called in for interrogation. He goes to trial in July.

The response of trade unions reflects the weakness within the union bureaucracy: succumbing to apparently ‘peaceful means’ of demonstration against what is clearly a violent offensive begun by the previous government, and continued under the current one. They suggest online support, when workers are being interrogated and threatened; they suggest writing to an MP when workers blood is being spilt.

What will this do? Nothing! Workers will continue to be victimized, and the government’s indifference will continue!

We need to organize for practical solidarity. This attack can’t be fought with the just words, but actions.

Further, this isn’t just an attack on construction workers: the ABCC came as part of anti-worker legislation brought in by the Howard government, which has been left relatively untouched by the Rudd government, save a name change.

Together, workers, students and the unemployed can challenge this legislation; together, we can win, if we don’t fight, we lose.

This is a call for action around May Day against the ABCC, to demand the charges against Ark Tribe be dropped, and to demand the abolition of the ABCC. May day is on a Saturday, so any actions against offices of the ABCC, or Fair work, or the ALP, should be on the Friday before, or Monday after.

"Ark will spend the next few months with the possibility of up to six months imprisonment hanging over his head."

Long live the struggle!

This call to action is supported by:

Organise!

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Film screening - Lucio - March 6

2010-02-10T01:31:00.000-08:00

Anatomy of an Industrial Struggle: Chrysler Factory at Tonsley Park in Adelaide 1976-1978

2009-11-09T01:18:00.000-08:00

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'An account of two years of struggle at an Australian Chrysler plant by one of the workers, including a detailed look at the role of the union.' Read the article here.

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Rally for Ark Tribe - October 30

2009-09-29T02:54:00.000-07:00

Organise! will be there - look for the red and black flag.
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Links

2009-08-28T20:15:00.001-07:00

Jura Books
Australia's biggest anarchist bookshop.

Libcom
The world's biggest libertarian communist website. Giant library and forums.

Slack Bastard
Australian anarchist blog, updated frequently.

Aotearoa Workers Solidarity Movement
New Zealand anarchist group.

Melbourne Anarchist Club

UK Anarchist Federation

Melbourne Anarchist Communist Group

Black Rose Books
Another Australian anarchist bookshop.

Beyond Resistance
New Zealand anarchist group.

IBCAT
Ipswich-Brisbane Community Action Trajectory.

Rebel Worker
The newspaper of the Anarcho-Syndicalist Network.

Melbourne Black
Anarchist journal.

hidup biasa
Indonesian anarchist blog.

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Aims and Principles

2009-08-15T18:48:00.000-07:00

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Organise! is an organisation of revolutionary class struggle anarchists who share political positions, articulated in theory, strategy and tactics. Our purpose is to keep alive a revolutionary critique of capitalism, to assist in working class struggles, to attack all authoritarian practices such as racism and sexism, and to help build working class solidarity and militancy - willingness to fight for our class interests.

As libertarian communists we aim for a classless and non-hierarchical society. We envision an international confederation of radically democratic, self-managed communities and workplaces. To achieve this society, our class must abolish the wage system and socialize all industries, means of production and distribution. The abolition of markets and exchange value will allow for the satisfaction of human needs, adhering to the communist principle, "From each according to ability, to each according to need." For the first time in history humanity’s full creative potential could be realised.

We oppose all forms of capitalism, whether it be “free-market” capitalism or so-called "socialist" state capitalism. Capitalism creates a society divided mainly into two antagonistic social classes: a small, elite ruling class and a large, exploited working class. The ruling class owns and controls the means of production and distribution, and are thereby able to monopolize the wealth. Their ownership of these two primary functions in society further enables them to focus production toward their own class interests (commodity production, increased profits, relentless expansion, etc) without regards for society as a whole. Those of us who are not part of the capitalist ruling class are forced to sell and rent our labor, whether physical or intellectual, for a wage in order to survive. We have very little power over our own lives or society.

We are also opposed to all forms of Statism. The purpose of any State, whether "representative democracies" or totalitarian dictatorships, is to administrate society in a way that ensures that the privileges of the ruling class are upheld. In order to accomplish this, the State must centralize and monopolize power through a complex network of political, legislative, judiciary, military and financial institutions. This system results in all power being removed from ordinary people, and leads to a society based on hierarchy. By placing itself outside and yet in control of society, the State negates the social and political potential of society and transforms all logical social functions into bureaucratic State functions. We believe in making concrete demands of the State (and business), but we do not engage in parliamentary politics or give suggestions for different ways the State should manage capitalism.

Of all oppression in the world, the most entrenched is that of patriarchy, the domination of men over women. This domination expresses itself everywhere--in both private and public realms. Although it is perpetuated by capitalism and the State, patriarchy existed prior to them and without confrontation will exist beyond their abolition. Anarchist feminism is a theory and practice by which we critique and attack the triple reign of patriarchy, capitalism, and the State, through the realization that this sexual, economic and political subjugation has at its heart the common principle of hierarchical authority. Only by uniting both the revolutionary class perspective of libertarian communism and the feminist critique of patriarchy can anarchism and feminism reach their common goal of human liberation.

Exploitation and oppression are also expressed through social inequalities and hierarchies based on race and ethnic origin. Like patriarchy, this form of social oppression is used to divide and weaken the working class (and intensify the exploitation of a particular group within the class) and must be opposed at every level.

Capitalist patriarchy uses a specific set of gender roles in order to reproduce itself. These expectations breed homophobia and lead to an environment that limits an individual’s personal sexual development. We strive for an environment free from oppressive socialization that traps us into a specific sexual identity and lifestyle.

Capitalism also threatens the planet with ecological destruction. This only serves to benefit the wealthy elite, while the rest of us must endure the negative consequences. A rational society would be inherently linked to the natural world, where our needs and desires must be realized through ecological sustainability.

Capitalism further endangers humanity through imperialism and its manifestation: war. Imperialism expresses itself in two different manners: one uses brute force through direct state military intervention, while the other uses economic coercion through transnational financial institutions.

We do not support the ideology of national liberation movements, which claims that there are common interests held between the working class and the native ruling class in the face of foreign domination. Although we support working class struggles against political and economic imperialism, racism, genocide and colonization, we do not call for the creation of a new ruling class. We believe that the defeat of imperialism will only come about through the destruction of capitalism. We must encourage and develop international working class solidarity.

We are internationalists and believe that workers have no country. We seek international relationships, solidarity, and discussions with anarchist, libertarian communist and class struggle groups worldwide.

Workers’ self-organisation is essential to social revolution. It originates from the actions and interests of workers, not laws and regulations. The basis of workers organisation is direct democracy: in opposition to hierarchy, workers must directly and equally participate in any decision that affects them; direct action: not an appeal to power, but the seizure of power by workers through strikes, slowdowns, sabotage and expropriation; and solidarity: the mutual aid of workers in struggle, to the highest degree possible. In the creation and transformation of these workers organizations we encourage and support maximum tactical flexibility.

Workers’ self-organisation is also essential for winning victories in the here and now. In any struggle - in the workplace, community, or school - we aim to encourage and assist forms of organisation and action that is independent from capital, the State, and parliamentary parties.

The existing trade unions by their nature cannot be transformed into revolutionary organisations. Most trade unions today are not expressions of workers self-organisation but of representation of workers. Their role as representatives of of labour power within capitalism compels them to offer disciplined workforces to the employers. Furthermore, they are based upon a division of workers by trade, and are limited by a host of laws as to what they are allowed to do. In most situations we recommend for members of Organise! to be union members as they are a limited expression of class struggle, contain other militant workers, and are often necessary to win or defend basic work rights. However when workplace struggle occurs we also encourage - where possible - the creation of alternative structures: regular assemblies of all the workers minus scabs and management, with any committees elected to be based on recallable delegates mandated to carry out the decisions of the assemblies. As another tactic we recommend workplace resistance groups; an informal group of workmates who meet privately to discuss work issues and plan actions. We support the construction of syndicalist and anarcho-syndicalist unions.

Membership

Members must agree with the Aims and Principles to join.

Aims of Membership

To contribute to the collective theoretical development of the group and each individual, by contributing to discussions such as at forums, film nights and by assisting in publications such as newsletters or leaflets.

To be involved in practical political action such as organising and attending rallies, occupations, pickets etc.

Rights

Every member has an equal opportunity for presenting their ideas at meetings and an equal vote (where a consensus can’t be reached) in deciding on the actions and political positions of the group, the printed and online material, and electing members to positions such as treasurer.

Duties

Members must:

Assist in distributing the groups’ (or some supported groups’) printed material.

Contribute financially to the group, suggested monthly dues $10 unwaged, $20 waged.

Attempt to attend the groups’ events and the campaigns and struggles Organise! is involved in.

Members must attend the groups’ meetings if they wish to have an influence over it’s direction.

Positions

Recognising "leadership" as a set of skills that can be learnt, the group encourages their learning by all members so that skills can be dispersed amongst the group rather than concentrated in an individual. All members in organisational positions are subject to recall at any meeting of the group (where a majority of members are present). These positions are: secretary; treasurer; website; ‘bookshop’.

A Very Brief Introduction to Libertarian Communism

2009-08-15T17:41:00.000-07:00

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