A-Infos (en) Slovakia, Priama Akcia: Report on the activities of the association Direct Action for the year 2023 (ca, de, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

We will certainly remember the year 2023 as one of the most active and 
challenging. We devoted ourselves to activities with an international 
dimension, such as events on the occasion of the centenary of the 
International Workers' Association or the International Week against 
non-payment of wages, but also solving problems at workplaces in 
Slovakia, workshops, recreational events, etc. Here is the summary.
CAMPAIGN
100 years of MAP
On the occasion of 100 years of the International Workers' Association, 
we organized public events in Bratislava (March 4) and Koshice (April 1) 
with the participation of delegations from the Organise! (in 
Bratislava), SolFed, WAS, PA and the MAP Secretariat.

During both, we clarified important historical events in the development 
of MAP. The delegations then talked about current experiences from 
anarcho-syndicalist practice in individual countries, but also, for 
example, about how they came to the ideas of anarcho-syndicalism and why 
they give them meaning from a practical point of view in their lives.

We added the Slovak context to the anniversary of the establishment of 
MAP through an exhibition about our activities in the years 2000-2022.

The event in Koshice was additionally enriched with great performances 
in the style of slam poetry and a concert. We had vegan refreshments at 
both events - in Bratislava we provided it, in Koshice the local group 
Food Not Bombs (FB), for which we are very grateful.

Problems at workplaces

In March, we closed a problem lasting more than a year in one restaurant 
in Bratislava. We helped a former employee who contacted us write a 
letter demanding payment of money, which included unpaid wages, health 
insurance debt and lost unemployment benefits. The employer complied 
with all of these requirements essentially within a few hours of sending 
the letter.

We also addressed other problems at workplaces in various cities in 
Slovakia and discussed with the workers the possibilities of solving 
their problems and potential disputes. These were companies of different 
sizes and focus (art school, IT company, car manufacturer, transport 
company, etc.).

International week against non-payment of wages

The "week" was declared by MAP in 2019 with the aim of highlighting the 
phenomenon of non-payment of wages and the possibility of struggle using 
anarcho-syndicalist methods. From October 10 to 16, MAP unions drew 
attention to this problem in various ways. For the first time in 
Slovakia, we also prepared street promotion in the form of special 
stickers and posters that were put up in Bratislava, Trnava and Koshice. 
This attempt proved to be effective, as several people with unpaid wages 
came forward thanks to the posters. You can find a summary of 
international activities during the Week here: 
https://www.priamaakcia.sk/Aktivity-pocas-Medzinarodneho-tyzdna-proti-nevyplacaniu-miezd.html

SOLIDARITY ACTIVITIES

Participating in a queerfeminist demonstration

In Slovakia, several political parties are trying to enforce laws with 
the aim of worsening the lives of women and queer people. There have 
already been several demonstrations against these efforts, which we 
supported also because they were organized in an egalitarian spirit and 
included criticism of capitalism and state institutions. One of those 
was the demonstration on March 8 in Bratislava.

Solidarity with CNT-AIT Spain

Together with other MAP organizations, we participated in days of 
solidarity with CNT-AIT. We published a text about the situation and the 
attempts of the Spanish unions belonging to the CIT international to 
destroy the CNT-AIT union.

DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS

PA convention

An organization-wide PA meeting was held in November. We evaluated 
previous activities in order to improve functioning and planned the next 
period of activity.

Open meetings meeting30.9._Skalica_IG_2

Another of our regular activities are open meetings in Bratislava, 
Trnava and Koshice. They are intended for people who want to actively 
solve problems at work, contribute to the discussion with their own 
topics, or participate in ongoing and planned PA activities. Thanks to 
new contacts, we also managed to organize one open meeting in Skalica 
and take the necessary steps for the first meetings in other locations 
in 2024.

Shared reading

He has been engaged in this activity for several years, thanks to which 
we could collectively talk about several interesting publications. In 
the autumn, another round began with an exceptional text by the Group of 
Internationalist Communists entitled "Fundamental Principles of 
Communist Production and Distribution", which deals with the 
organization of a society without capitalism and the state, presents a 
devastating critique of state capitalism and represents the 
possibilities of how to ensure economic life in a free self-governing 
society. We are also interested in this topic in the broader context 
associated with the vision of a non-capitalist society facing the 
consequences of climate change.

MAP online meeting: Queer situation and struggles at workplaces in 
different countries

In July, there was an online discussion about the connection between 
queer struggles and struggles in the workplace. Friends from MAP from 
Poland (ZSP), Slovakia (PA), the United Kingdom (SF), Serbia (ASI) and 
the USA (WSA) participated in it. The main goal was to share experiences 
from previous battles and activities.

Informal activities

In the summer, we went on a hike to the Schneeberg mountain in the 
Austrian Alps.

Barbecues, which we organized in summer and autumn in Bratislava and 
Koshice, were also related to relaxation and socialization.

2024_BA_opekacka

Climate Crisis Working Group

At the MAP congress in Alcoa in 2022, the MAP unions agreed to continue 
the work of the working group on the climate crisis. Even in 2023, we 
met with workers from other countries and discussed the current 
situation and organizing around this issue from anarcho-syndicalist 
positions.

PUBLICATIONS

A novelty among our publications was a leaflet in which we presented the 
functioning of the anarcho-syndicalist union.

We have also prepared the second edition of the publication Bojujeme za 
seba: Anarcho-syndicalism and class struggle. We personally participated 
in the printing works at the Druckraum printing house in Vienna, which 
is run by friends from the WAS union.

druckraum_tlac

We have also updated the temporary agency brochure, which contains 
experiences with problems in temporary agencies, but also an attempt to 
generalize, the legal framework of the issue and some advice on how to 
succeed when problems arise.

PROMOTION

We participated in anarchist book fairs in Prague (May) and Brno 
(October). In Prague, as part of the MAP centennial events, we also had 
a presentation on the history of MAP, and we also came to Brno with an 
exhibition on the history of our union and the presentation 
"Anarcho-syndicalism - experiences with campaigns, disputes and the 
functioning of the Priama Akcia union".

In addition, we visited several music and anti-fascist events with our 
publications, where we established new contacts.

WORKSHOPS

Workshop on collective self-defense

During the first half of the year, we organized three workshops in 
Bratislava. The first was focused on a collective approach to security 
and self-defense. The goal was to learn to correctly assess safety in 
various situations, how to behave when alone in a dangerous situation or 
how to help someone from the position of a bystander.

Workshop and rodo in the Slovak language

The second workshop was devoted to language and the use of gender in 
texts and in everyday speech, as the Slovak language historically has 
strong patriarchal elements that exclude women and non-binary people. In 
connection with the centenary of MAP, we have decided that the practical 
part of the workshop will be modifications of the existing Slovak 
translation of the MAP statutes.

Workshop on dominance techniques

The third workshop focused on dominance techniques that we encounter in 
and outside the workplace. We have learned how to recognize these 
techniques, defend against them, and prevent them from being used 
against us and our associates. Techniques such as ridicule, obfuscation, 
withholding information, blaming or the double bind lead to the 
construction and maintenance of power structures. And since the struggle 
against such structures is an important theme of anarchism and 
anarcho-syndicalism, we consider it important to constantly learn how to 
respond to these techniques, whether in workplaces, schools or activist 
collectives.

All three workshops were conducted by persons who have experience with 
the mentioned topics. Thanks again!

PLANS FOR 2024

We would briefly summarize the plans as follows: more activities aimed 
at solving problems in the workplace (including student brigades), open 
meetings in regions where they have not been held before, workshops, 
activities aimed at relaxation, socialization and promotional 
activities, and much more. If you want to get involved or make contact, 
come to one of the events where we will be, or fill out the online form: 
https://www.priamaakcia.sk/zapoj-sa.

Union Direct Action

https://www.priamaakcia.sk/Sprava-o-cinnosti-zvazu-Priama-akcia-za-rok-2023.html
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