Solidarity with La Suiza 6

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Solidarity with
La Suiza 6

Call for International Solidarity

In conjunction with one of the largest trade union protest rallies to be held in the Spanish State in recent years, Saturday 28th September has been confirmed as the next solidarity mobilisations in Xixón. Thousands of workers will demonstrate to demand that all charges are dropped against six trade union activists from the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT) who are now facing imprisonment for union activity.

The Supreme Court Sentences 'La Suiza 6'

The 6 CNT union members have recently been sentenced to three and a half years in prison for participating in industrial pickets against the owner of a pastry shop in Xixón, Asturias.

These recent sentences were dramatically declared by the Supreme Court and will undoubtedly have wider implications upon the labour moment and industrial action for workers throughout the Spanish State.

The 6 activists took part in strike action at the ‘La Suiza’ bakery in Xixón however they had been accused of trumped-up charges of intimidation and acts of harassment towards the boss of the bakery that caused its closure, despite the fact that the shop had already been for sale for over a year.

In a statement issued by the Supreme Court, it outlined that the conviction of the 6 trade union activists at ‘La Suiza’ was based on a public call through social networks for ‘gatherings’ in front of their workplace with banners, the distribution of union leaflets and creating a video highlighting the case against their boss on workplace issues and sexual harassment.

A representative of the CNT in Xixón said that the Supreme Court ruling was “This is a very serious problem that affects the entire union movement in this country, but also the entire society. This sentence opens the way to condemning thousands of people throughout the country for the mere fact of mobilising in the face of a conflict.”

A member of the La Suiza 6 said “They condemn us for being women who care for women, for embodying mutual support, for refusing to stay silent. They condemn us because we do not conform, because neither our bodies nor our dignity are for sale. They condemn us because even in the face of fear, we do not back down.”

That’s why the call has gone out to all unions, all grassroots, feminist and political organisations to action. Solidarity actions should continue and demand that all charges against the union activists be immediately dropped.

Solidarity Actions with La Suiza Six

On Saturday, 28th September, there will be a huge demonstration of trade unions in Xixón, Asturias, Spanish State to demand that all charges are dropped against the 6 La Suiza activists from the CNT. All are facing false changes for their union activity amounting to 3.5 years each.

As part of that demonstration, there is a call for international solidarity actions against the Spanish State for targeting trade union members of the La Suiza 6 and the labour movement overall. We are demanding that all charges be immediately dropped and call for an end to the targeting of trade union activists. Comrades, you are not alone, syndicalism is not a crime!