1 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:29,541 Where is the Police? 2 00:00:35,863 --> 00:00:40,969 Hands off the warehouse worker! 3 00:00:42,500 --> 00:00:44,343 I work at SDA in Rome. 4 00:00:44,443 --> 00:00:46,545 We are from Milan. From TNT. 5 00:00:46,643 --> 00:00:49,643 Castello Bocca d'Adda, Lodi Province. 6 00:00:49,885 --> 00:00:51,385 Cassina de' Pecchi. 7 00:00:51,740 --> 00:00:53,311 The cooperative has changed. 8 00:00:53,511 --> 00:00:58,326 They haven't paid me either for July, nor for August. 9 00:00:58,526 --> 00:01:00,505 They also didn't pay my holiday pay. 10 00:01:00,705 --> 00:01:02,700 We went to the Cobas. 11 00:01:02,900 --> 00:01:07,461 Now the COBAS are writing a letter to the cooperative. 12 00:01:07,661 --> 00:01:12,276 If they don't pay, we'll also go on strike. 13 00:01:12,401 --> 00:01:14,985 We've had it with this slavery. 14 00:01:15,185 --> 00:01:19,601 We all came here to help support the 24 sacked workers from IKEA. 15 00:01:23,558 --> 00:01:27,894 DIELLE (company) is shit! - Yeah, I know! 16 00:01:31,896 --> 00:01:36,051 DIELLE is shit! - Yeah, I know! 17 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:08,680 I've worked in Italy for ten years. With the cooperatives it's always a difficult story. 18 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:14,005 With the COBAS things are alright now. The COBAS has some power now. 19 00:02:14,205 --> 00:02:20,805 They enforce the law now. So we are fine, everything is good. 20 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:29,953 When did this struggle in the logistics sector start? 21 00:02:30,573 --> 00:02:34,573 About five, six years ago. I can't recall the exact date. 22 00:02:34,773 --> 00:02:37,685 But an exemplary struggle has started 23 00:02:37,885 --> 00:02:43,146 for the defence of the dignity of workers, of the exploited. 24 00:02:43,346 --> 00:02:48,130 'No Austerity' has been showing solidarity, right from the start. 25 00:02:48,500 --> 00:02:52,448 We are from the "Antagonistic Network of Piacenza". 26 00:02:52,648 --> 00:02:57,660 A network that is politically independent and that tries to connect people 27 00:02:57,860 --> 00:03:01,896 who believe that the time for mediation is over 28 00:03:01,900 --> 00:03:05,500 and that the time has come for an antagonistic, combative approach, 29 00:03:05,700 --> 00:03:07,588 - it's the only way that gets results. 30 00:03:07,788 --> 00:03:11,801 For more than two years we've been following developments at IKEA. 31 00:03:11,935 --> 00:03:15,116 Initially we also managed to get a first victory. 32 00:03:15,250 --> 00:03:19,450 We chased away one of the three cooperatives. 33 00:03:19,500 --> 00:03:23,449 Six months ago IKEA started their counter-attack against us. 34 00:03:23,549 --> 00:03:25,686 But we don't give up. 35 00:03:25,886 --> 00:03:33,000 Hands off the warehouse worker! 36 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:35,975 In order to win this battle 37 00:03:36,175 --> 00:03:38,141 we have to ditch the fear. 38 00:03:38,541 --> 00:03:41,561 They try to scare us with their riot-vans... 39 00:03:41,761 --> 00:03:44,958 their blackmailing and dismissals. 40 00:03:45,558 --> 00:03:50,016 We're not struggling for 1 Euro more per hour anymore. 41 00:03:50,758 --> 00:03:54,800 We're struggling because we've understood that this country is ruined 42 00:03:55,062 --> 00:03:59,800 if the working class does not hold its head up. 43 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:03,263 The slave conditions will be extended to everyone. 44 00:04:03,463 --> 00:04:09,181 On this square, in these days, in these months, 45 00:04:09,381 --> 00:04:14,191 in front of all these factories, the migrant workers 46 00:04:14,391 --> 00:04:18,473 and the few Italian workers who have joined them 47 00:04:18,673 --> 00:04:21,111 have shown that it's possible to win. 48 00:04:21,673 --> 00:04:26,040 And it isn't by chance that this movement spreads. 49 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:30,835 That dozens of people are joining the union every day. 50 00:04:31,035 --> 00:04:35,021 People have understood that if we don't struggle, there won't be a future. 51 00:04:35,121 --> 00:04:42,000 Strike today! Strike tomorrow! 52 00:05:05,845 --> 00:05:09,603 They tell you to stay on one spot and work with your head bowed. 53 00:05:09,803 --> 00:05:13,908 The whole day. 54 00:05:14,108 --> 00:05:18,841 We're not allowed to talk amongst ourselves. They saw it as wasting time. 55 00:05:20,003 --> 00:05:22,808 They said we wouldn't meet the performance targets they wanted. 56 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:27,000 We didn't just work, we worked at break-neck speed. 57 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:29,653 Overtime wasn't voluntary, it was compulsory. 58 00:05:29,853 --> 00:05:34,205 And whoever refused to work overtime was punished. 59 00:05:35,837 --> 00:05:38,837 We work like slaves. 60 00:05:39,037 --> 00:05:48,500 We don't even manage to earn the 800 - 900 Euro we need to survive. 61 00:05:49,237 --> 00:05:57,266 At my job they called people to work, lined them up at the top without clocking in or pay 62 00:05:57,466 --> 00:06:05,642 to stand there and watch. Two, three hours. Without pay. 63 00:06:06,643 --> 00:06:09,200 Whenever they needed someone they would call: "Hey you, come here now!" 64 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:20,031 Those guys in front of the gate, they wait there from half past four, five o'clock. 65 00:06:20,231 --> 00:06:24,231 They let people in at seven, at eight, at nine o'clock. 66 00:06:25,431 --> 00:06:28,556 There are people who wait five hours to get in and to get work. 67 00:06:28,900 --> 00:06:32,107 Or you wait for five hours and they send you home. 68 00:06:32,110 --> 00:06:34,307 They say: "Nope, we've got no work for you today". 69 00:06:34,507 --> 00:06:38,750 But this isn't the only problem. They treat people like cattle. 70 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:43,000 They shout at you. They install two security guys 71 00:06:43,098 --> 00:06:45,098 with these big muscles, to intimidate people. 72 00:06:45,150 --> 00:06:49,280 They shout, the whole night: "Get going! Work faster!" 73 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:51,896 If you have to call in sick 74 00:06:52,075 --> 00:06:56,075 and then return to work, straight after you've been ill, 75 00:06:56,275 --> 00:07:00,275 Then they cut your wages and give you the hardest work to do. 76 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:02,500 Because you called in sick. 77 00:07:02,970 --> 00:07:08,626 They buy one or two people, the ones who are the best at talking. 78 00:07:09,510 --> 00:07:14,420 Those two eat well, all the others eat shit. 79 00:07:14,650 --> 00:07:19,690 We have seen disastrous working conditions. 80 00:07:21,785 --> 00:07:29,445 Of hard physical exploitation. 81 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:33,272 A big proportion of workers have ruined their backs 82 00:07:33,472 --> 00:07:41,000 after a few years of heavy lifting 83 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:45,004 especially in ergonomically bad positions. 84 00:07:45,950 --> 00:07:48,500 This turns them into 'squeezed lemons' for the cooperatives, 85 00:07:48,700 --> 00:07:51,700 which they then have to get rid of 86 00:07:57,900 --> 00:08:02,382 We have seen many cases 87 00:08:02,725 --> 00:08:06,725 of people who have been physically ruined by this work. 88 00:08:06,925 --> 00:08:10,950 They don't get compensation, nothing. 89 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:13,236 This heavy lifting and drudgery 90 00:08:13,436 --> 00:08:16,508 has killed my back. 91 00:08:18,608 --> 00:08:23,340 I have two ruptured discs. 92 00:08:23,708 --> 00:08:27,000 At the end they kick you out, like an animal. 93 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:30,500 We are oppressed, underpaid, in largely insecure positions. 94 00:08:31,500 --> 00:08:34,000 The wage never comes. No one's bothered. 95 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:36,765 They do what they want. We work 12-hour shifts... 96 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:40,500 and they don't even pay us for four hours. 97 00:08:41,990 --> 00:08:44,990 We don't get christmas pay. We get 60 Euro per day, if we work. 98 00:08:45,850 --> 00:08:47,169 If you're sick, you don't get paid at all. 99 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:49,369 You want to take a day off, you won't get paid. 100 00:08:49,900 --> 00:08:51,250 Holiday doesn't exist. 101 00:08:52,450 --> 00:09:00,510 They pay 1,200 Euro. 60 Euro per day. We work more than twelve hours per day. 102 00:09:01,710 --> 00:09:03,710 I have a family, three children. I pay rent. 103 00:09:03,910 --> 00:09:06,123 I come here, they exploit me, they threaten me. 104 00:09:06,323 --> 00:09:09,310 If they want you to come, they whistle at you like a dog. I'm not a dog. 105 00:09:09,510 --> 00:09:10,554 They shout: "Hey, you!" 106 00:09:10,754 --> 00:09:17,457 What's that supposed to mean?! Am I a dog? They squeeze you like lemons. 107 00:09:17,657 --> 00:09:19,043 They don't let us talk. 108 00:09:19,243 --> 00:09:21,681 We can't move from the same spot. 109 00:09:21,881 --> 00:09:25,373 There are payslips like hers, that say she has to return 15 Euro to the state! 110 00:09:25,573 --> 00:09:29,120 Or they refuse to give people work, because they didn't want to work overtime. 111 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:33,562 Or because they didn't want to work weekends. They let you 112 00:09:33,563 --> 00:09:37,746 sit at home for one, two weeks without work and say openly: This is your punishment. 113 00:09:37,946 --> 00:09:42,040 One of the supervisors, an old guy, made passes at the young women who are my age... 114 00:09:42,389 --> 00:09:48,996 twenty, twenty-one year old women. 115 00:09:49,196 --> 00:09:55,103 And he told them, in particular to the Moroccan women: 116 00:09:55,303 --> 00:10:02,303 "I like Moroccan women. You are all so slutty." 117 00:10:02,503 --> 00:10:05,762 If you didn't manage to meet the targets he said: 118 00:10:05,962 --> 00:10:09,762 "Either you meet the target or I shove it up your arse!" 119 00:10:09,962 --> 00:10:16,125 He told a workmate: "You are the next one to suck my dick." 120 00:10:16,325 --> 00:10:18,180 He tried to invite women out for dinner... 121 00:10:18,181 --> 00:10:22,153 Some were okay with it, others weren't. 122 00:10:22,353 --> 00:10:24,353 If a worker didn't like it 123 00:10:24,553 --> 00:10:28,553 he didn't give her any work or forced her to work at a different place. 124 00:10:28,753 --> 00:10:33,241 At some point we got fed up with it. 125 00:10:39,441 --> 00:10:45,008 Since 2008 there have been struggles in the logistics sector in Italy... 126 00:10:45,208 --> 00:10:47,208 in the warehouses, where working conditions 127 00:10:47,408 --> 00:10:52,325 have become unbearable. 128 00:10:53,608 --> 00:10:57,800 Recently the struggles in logistics have spread all over the country. 129 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:04,700 Initially they took place in Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and in the Veneto. 130 00:11:04,900 --> 00:11:10,750 It wasn't by chance that they were all located in the Po valley. 131 00:11:10,950 --> 00:11:15,005 The region is of major importance for the logistics sector in Italy. 132 00:11:18,447 --> 00:11:26,447 It isn't a coincidence that the big logistics companies are located there. 133 00:11:27,647 --> 00:11:30,391 From there they can easily distribute goods to the whole of Italy. 134 00:11:30,591 --> 00:11:32,277 The ports of Genoa and Venice are not far. 135 00:11:32,477 --> 00:11:38,609 And therefore the routes to North-Europe, North-Africa and the Middle-East. 136 00:11:38,809 --> 00:11:40,601 It is a strategical location. 137 00:11:43,302 --> 00:11:47,800 The struggles, which take place all over Italy today 138 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:56,800 are essentially driven forward by the logistics workers. 139 00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:00,000 I think there are objective, and not just subjective reasons for it. 140 00:12:00,300 --> 00:12:04,447 The objective reasons are related to the relatively new economic sector, 141 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:14,765 which emerged with the concentration process in retail and distribution. 142 00:12:16,965 --> 00:12:21,600 With the emergence of the huge retail complexes in the suburbs. 143 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:30,639 A sector which employed mainly young and migrant workers. 144 00:12:31,839 --> 00:12:39,817 They had the clear goal to drive down wages and to undermine existing collective contracts. 145 00:12:41,017 --> 00:12:49,258 What's special about the logistics sector, but also tourism and the health sector 146 00:12:50,458 --> 00:12:58,323 or cleaning sector, is that they use so-called cooperatives. 147 00:12:58,523 --> 00:13:02,163 So-called, because they have nothing to do with the origins of the cooperative idea. 148 00:13:02,363 --> 00:13:06,388 The legal form of the cooperatives allows them to increase the exploitation of the workforce 149 00:13:06,588 --> 00:13:09,787 and to avoid the legal rights inscribed in traditional work contracts... 150 00:13:10,788 --> 00:13:13,954 for example sick-pay. 151 00:13:14,254 --> 00:13:18,525 It also allows the main contractor to pretend that they don't know that 152 00:13:18,725 --> 00:13:24,225 labour rights and contracts have been breached. 153 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:45,925 We are here to strike 154 00:13:46,125 --> 00:13:50,557 against a cooperative, which has been granted a contract by SDA. 155 00:13:50,757 --> 00:13:53,500 They won the contract 156 00:13:53,774 --> 00:13:56,274 because they put forward the cheapest offer. 157 00:13:56,300 --> 00:14:00,300 Obviously, they had links to the right people and paid a bribe. 158 00:14:00,826 --> 00:14:04,800 A new co-operative came. We joined the COBAS. 159 00:14:04,900 --> 00:14:07,736 We live in a democratic country, everyone can become a member of whatever organisation. 160 00:14:07,936 --> 00:14:09,800 They stopped giving us work. 161 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:14,000 Without an explanation. "Tomorrow you don't have to come anymore." 162 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:16,741 We are here to help these comrades. 163 00:14:16,941 --> 00:14:20,357 They have been fired, because they joined the union. 164 00:14:20,557 --> 00:14:22,557 The COBAS union. 165 00:14:22,757 --> 00:14:24,485 We are here to support them. 166 00:14:24,685 --> 00:14:28,600 Like we've been supported, we do the same for others. 167 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:30,182 That's the way to do it. 168 00:14:30,382 --> 00:14:34,000 We can't wait for the state or anyone else to solve this problem, 169 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:36,500 no one else will do it. 170 00:14:37,293 --> 00:14:39,432 I am from Carpiano, Milan. 171 00:14:39,433 --> 00:14:41,500 I came here to fight. 172 00:14:41,700 --> 00:14:44,469 To defend my friends. 173 00:14:44,669 --> 00:14:48,247 We told them: "If you don't let them go back to work today, then 174 00:14:48,447 --> 00:14:54,827 we will go on strike in Milan, Bologna, Rome this evening." 175 00:14:55,000 --> 00:15:01,494 Down with this slavery! 176 00:15:01,902 --> 00:15:05,224 We are all humans beings! 177 00:15:07,310 --> 00:15:09,098 Down with the mafia! 178 00:15:09,298 --> 00:15:15,437 The mafia's reign is over! 179 00:15:29,201 --> 00:15:33,071 The two of us used to work in a company called "Sole Montagna" that makes doner kebabs. 180 00:15:33,271 --> 00:15:35,797 The factory owner changes the cooperative every year. 181 00:15:36,199 --> 00:15:39,716 He tells the cooperative to go and then keeps the money. 182 00:15:39,916 --> 00:15:44,466 Then he doesn't pay workers their holiday pay. 183 00:15:44,666 --> 00:15:45,800 He keeps the money. 184 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:50,083 Then he says: "Speak to the cooperative, not to me." 185 00:15:50,283 --> 00:15:52,284 "You are employed by the cooperative, not by me." 186 00:15:52,484 --> 00:15:55,100 But when the cooperative has gone, where will I find it? 187 00:15:55,300 --> 00:15:57,318 I have worked in his factory. 188 00:15:57,518 --> 00:15:59,775 I worked there for five years. 189 00:15:59,975 --> 00:16:03,848 Then he sacked me without warning or explanation. "Stay at home." 190 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:08,808 They stopped my unemployment benefit a month ago. 191 00:16:09,008 --> 00:16:13,008 They paid 500 Euro. I have two children, I need to pay rent, electricity and gas. 192 00:16:13,208 --> 00:16:15,200 I don't know how I'll keep going. 193 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:19,105 We asked friends and they said: "The COBAS will help you." 194 00:16:19,305 --> 00:16:23,949 "They are the only union which defends workers." 195 00:16:24,149 --> 00:16:25,831 "Go to them." 196 00:16:26,031 --> 00:16:28,396 "Then things will get going." 197 00:16:28,596 --> 00:16:31,596 "They don't leave you stuck like the CGIL." 198 00:16:31,796 --> 00:16:34,869 I was a member of the CGIL for ten years. 199 00:16:35,069 --> 00:16:39,000 They only care about membership fees and they take bribe money. 200 00:16:44,326 --> 00:16:47,448 They always tell you; "There is no money." "We are in a crisis." 201 00:16:47,648 --> 00:16:51,362 During which you're all working loads of hours. 202 00:16:51,562 --> 00:16:54,478 If you work, you have to be paid. 203 00:16:54,678 --> 00:16:58,678 If there is no work, they have to pay you unemployment benefit. 204 00:16:58,878 --> 00:16:59,921 That's the law. 205 00:17:00,121 --> 00:17:03,900 There is money, it is just in the wrong pockets. 206 00:17:05,724 --> 00:17:07,884 Thanks, COBAS! 207 00:17:43,483 --> 00:17:51,483 The history of the COBAS goes back to the struggles in the 1970s. 208 00:17:51,683 --> 00:17:55,683 We got experience of struggles in the big factories in Milan, 209 00:17:55,883 --> 00:17:58,080 some of the biggest in Italy. 210 00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:06,098 We have experiences of mass-worker struggles. 211 00:18:07,524 --> 00:18:14,635 Our COBAS union was formed in the 1990s at the Alfa Romeo plant. 212 00:18:14,987 --> 00:18:20,162 Then it was called SLAI Cobas. 213 00:18:22,575 --> 00:18:27,450 The SLAI Cobas mainly grew within the metal sector. 214 00:18:28,557 --> 00:18:37,835 But it didn't have a clear perspective of class struggle. 215 00:18:38,035 --> 00:18:45,323 No perspective of a broader way to organise, not just a sectorial way to organise. 216 00:18:46,601 --> 00:18:52,524 The union did not grow outside Alfa Romeo. 217 00:18:56,569 --> 00:18:59,569 Now we're starting to spread this idea amongst workers. 218 00:19:00,283 --> 00:19:04,612 The concept of class struggle, of class solidarity 219 00:19:04,812 --> 00:19:10,570 and of the most widespread organisation of dispute as possible. 220 00:19:12,049 --> 00:19:16,050 I became a delegate after the struggle in 2012 221 00:19:16,174 --> 00:19:18,174 because of what I witnessed then. 222 00:19:18,374 --> 00:19:22,831 When I saw how people struggled for their dignity and suffered 223 00:19:23,031 --> 00:19:25,031 in front of the gates. 224 00:19:25,372 --> 00:19:30,539 I became more confident and decided to become a delegate and to support people. 225 00:19:30,739 --> 00:19:35,000 Many of them don't speak Italian, can't write. 226 00:19:35,129 --> 00:19:39,739 I wanted the message of the union to be heard by the workers. 227 00:19:39,939 --> 00:19:43,929 So that they would know their rights, what they're entitled to, 228 00:19:49,129 --> 00:19:54,200 how they should act when they're at work. 229 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:58,400 So I became a delegate and then they sacked me. 230 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:02,500 I got to know about SI Cobas, because I saw other warehouses 231 00:20:02,700 --> 00:20:04,205 in Milan and also in TNT. 232 00:20:04,405 --> 00:20:08,329 They have sorted things out in many warehouses and also improved the wages. 233 00:20:09,529 --> 00:20:12,329 I went twice to the CGIL in Bologna 234 00:20:12,529 --> 00:20:16,500 and they said to me: "You're better off switching jobs". 235 00:20:16,700 --> 00:20:20,700 The problem is too big, we can't do anything there." 236 00:20:20,900 --> 00:20:25,982 Until we found a union which said: "We can sort this out." 237 00:20:26,094 --> 00:20:29,620 And we managed to sort things out. 238 00:20:30,020 --> 00:20:31,981 We signed up with SI Cobas, 239 00:20:32,181 --> 00:20:38,491 because it is the union that helps us understand whatever we still don't know about. 240 00:20:39,091 --> 00:20:43,513 We are mainly foreigners and we don't know the Italian laws so well. 241 00:20:43,713 --> 00:20:48,713 Yeah, they help us to go in the direction we've embarked on. 242 00:20:49,913 --> 00:20:54,817 We put into practice the concept of unionised self-organisation. 243 00:20:55,017 --> 00:20:59,655 Every one of us is doing this union work in an absolutely spontaneous way, 244 00:20:59,855 --> 00:21:04,903 out of solidarity and without being paid for it. 245 00:21:05,417 --> 00:21:10,253 We've been here two weeks now without a break. 246 00:21:10,453 --> 00:21:14,053 For two weeks, Saturdays and Sundays too, there is no let-up. 247 00:21:14,653 --> 00:21:18,653 We're here every morning at nine and in the evenings until eleven. 248 00:21:18,853 --> 00:21:21,853 We're here on Sundays to send round press releases, 249 00:21:22,053 --> 00:21:27,053 because if you're constantly on the go, that's too much. 250 00:21:27,253 --> 00:21:29,807 So on Sundays you send around the press reports. 251 00:21:31,207 --> 00:21:36,371 It is not just about strikes and the like. 252 00:21:36,438 --> 00:21:40,438 You also have to take care of the workers, 253 00:21:40,638 --> 00:21:42,371 we also have to deal with the disciplinary complaints, 254 00:21:42,571 --> 00:21:45,571 of which we get sent millions. 255 00:21:45,771 --> 00:21:47,771 And you have to respond to those. 256 00:21:47,971 --> 00:21:51,971 That is an enormous amount of work. 257 00:22:13,171 --> 00:22:19,467 Cobas! Cobas! 258 00:22:24,067 --> 00:22:26,190 Hey Mohammed! How's it going? 259 00:22:28,090 --> 00:22:31,390 I work here at CAMST and am a SI Cobas delegate. 260 00:22:31,590 --> 00:22:37,990 We've got a majority here of 80, 90% who've all signed up to SI Cobas. 261 00:22:38,190 --> 00:22:39,790 And a comrade died? 262 00:22:39,990 --> 00:22:42,068 Inside here. Yes. 263 00:22:45,268 --> 00:22:52,468 He was killed by the dynamic, which rules the world of the logistics worker. 264 00:22:52,668 --> 00:22:56,668 It was a very accelerated pace of work. 265 00:22:56,868 --> 00:23:03,868 There was loads of grief here before the SI Cobas popped up. 266 00:23:04,068 --> 00:23:12,588 The people worked more, and more, and more. 267 00:23:12,788 --> 00:23:15,563 as is required of them in the warehouses. 268 00:23:17,268 --> 00:23:26,268 And this boy was suffering from stress, 269 00:23:26,468 --> 00:23:29,466 due to the attacks which they launched against him. 270 00:23:29,666 --> 00:23:34,666 We'll never forget him, this young man. 271 00:23:34,866 --> 00:23:37,866 He was our first SI Cobas member. 272 00:23:39,666 --> 00:23:42,784 And when they had realised that he had signed up, 273 00:23:42,984 --> 00:23:44,984 they started to harass him, 274 00:23:45,184 --> 00:23:50,184 to try to remove the influence of the union from this workplace. 275 00:23:51,384 --> 00:23:53,184 And what was his name? 276 00:23:53,284 --> 00:23:55,584 Gabriele. 277 00:23:55,884 --> 00:23:57,133 He is dead. 278 00:23:58,605 --> 00:24:00,894 We won't see him again. 279 00:24:01,094 --> 00:24:03,094 But the struggle continues! 280 00:24:04,994 --> 00:24:07,388 Blockade! 281 00:24:08,588 --> 00:24:14,837 Strike today! Strike tomorrow! 282 00:24:17,037 --> 00:24:19,037 So! What are your intentions now? 283 00:24:19,276 --> 00:24:21,276 We're not letting anybody work. 284 00:24:21,433 --> 00:24:22,533 No, now! Today! 285 00:24:23,333 --> 00:24:24,733 Nothing's coming through. We're blocking everything. 286 00:24:24,933 --> 00:24:26,933 But he has left the place! - Ok, so he walked out? 287 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:29,766 They're messing us around. 288 00:24:29,966 --> 00:24:33,966 They've written down and printed our demands 289 00:24:34,166 --> 00:24:40,166 and in the meantime the relevant company representatives have disappeared. 290 00:24:41,366 --> 00:24:45,373 We don't want a war between poor people. Let it be! 291 00:24:45,873 --> 00:24:49,816 You all have to be in solidarity with them too. 292 00:24:54,073 --> 00:25:00,601 Strike today! Strike tomorrow! 293 00:25:03,801 --> 00:25:06,801 Come on, let's make a chain guys! Make a chain! 294 00:25:21,001 --> 00:25:25,053 You're messing the whole state around! And the workers, of course, even more so. 295 00:25:32,953 --> 00:25:38,953 No, come in. He has been inside already. 296 00:25:39,153 --> 00:25:42,187 Even if he was in there, it doesn't matter. Now he has to stay outside. 297 00:25:44,587 --> 00:25:46,577 Are you on strike or are you at work? 298 00:25:46,777 --> 00:25:48,487 We can't come out. 299 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:54,059 But you signed up to be members together with other workers, didn't you? 300 00:25:54,159 --> 00:25:58,142 That means that you have made an agreement with each other, 301 00:25:58,342 --> 00:26:02,258 that when one of you is attacked, that is an attack on everyone. 302 00:26:02,458 --> 00:26:04,776 Why have you now left them in the lurch? 303 00:26:04,976 --> 00:26:08,451 We didn't leave anyone in the lurch. 304 00:26:08,651 --> 00:26:11,862 So why are you working while they're on strike? 305 00:26:14,561 --> 00:26:17,715 Are you on strike? You don't want to work? 306 00:26:17,915 --> 00:26:21,561 - No! How could we be working? We can't work... 307 00:26:21,761 --> 00:26:24,861 And if they let you pass, would you go to work then? 308 00:26:25,161 --> 00:26:26,694 - But why? 309 00:26:28,700 --> 00:26:31,042 We are here so that no one can pass. That means that there is no work. 310 00:26:31,242 --> 00:26:34,984 No one gets passed and no one gets out. 311 00:26:35,184 --> 00:26:36,184 That's it. 312 00:26:36,384 --> 00:26:41,384 Great. I already said to you: SDA is no problem, 313 00:26:41,584 --> 00:26:45,083 because at SDA we've got 80% membership in the whole of Italy. 314 00:26:45,283 --> 00:26:49,784 we just want to get things over and done with a bit quicker. 315 00:26:49,984 --> 00:26:54,000 If things continue, if the cops arrive, we don't want a confrontation, 316 00:26:54,100 --> 00:26:57,787 because we already know that we can win in other ways. 317 00:26:57,987 --> 00:26:59,946 If the cops turn up we'll go home, 318 00:27:00,146 --> 00:27:04,327 then tomorrow we ring up all the SDA-depots in Italy, and everyone will go on strike. 319 00:27:04,527 --> 00:27:06,800 You only have to show that you all... 320 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:11,079 - But we have shown that already, that's why we are outside already. 321 00:27:11,279 --> 00:27:15,848 Yeah, I'm happy to see you like that, 322 00:27:16,048 --> 00:27:23,025 together with the sacked workers. That's a good sign. Great! 323 00:27:25,084 --> 00:27:28,101 The workplace - won't be touched! 324 00:27:28,684 --> 00:27:30,684 We will defend them - in struggle! 325 00:27:49,084 --> 00:27:55,084 These struggles started as a result of contacts made 326 00:27:55,284 --> 00:28:02,284 by some of the leading comrades in SI Cobas with workers employed in the logistics sector. 327 00:28:02,484 --> 00:28:08,484 During these first encounters the enormous contradictions within the sector became apparent, 328 00:28:14,884 --> 00:28:18,884 the strong abuse of workers, and the disregard for workers' rights and contracts. 329 00:28:19,084 --> 00:28:23,000 and so it quickly became clear that there is not only a need, 330 00:28:23,865 --> 00:28:25,865 but also the space for struggle. 331 00:28:26,065 --> 00:28:32,151 A struggle which initially fought for the recognition of the national contract, 332 00:28:32,351 --> 00:28:35,351 which the union federations had already signed, 333 00:28:35,551 --> 00:28:40,551 but which management did not implement, even in companies where the unions were recognised. 334 00:28:41,100 --> 00:28:43,751 The first strike we organised lasted for eight months. 335 00:28:43,951 --> 00:28:49,951 It wasn't a permanent strike, we walked out every 15 days. 336 00:28:50,151 --> 00:28:54,874 They thought that things would peter out after a while, that's what usually happens. 337 00:28:55,074 --> 00:28:59,074 But thanks to the connections we had to the social centres, 338 00:28:59,274 --> 00:29:05,864 to the social movements, to the ex-terrorists, the ex- this and the ex- that, 339 00:29:06,064 --> 00:29:17,800 we managed to get 150 external supporters in front of the gates. 340 00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:22,749 This encouraged the workers, it showed that there is a possibility to struggle. 341 00:29:22,949 --> 00:29:28,949 That there is not only an internal response, but also a strong external one. 342 00:29:29,149 --> 00:29:33,923 It was a connection between the movement of the workers inside, 343 00:29:34,110 --> 00:29:36,110 with their desire to fight, 344 00:29:36,123 --> 00:29:40,123 and the movement outside, which wasn't ideologically cohesive, 345 00:29:40,323 --> 00:29:44,323 but which found unifying elements during the struggle itself! 346 00:29:44,523 --> 00:29:50,575 And finally this new movement arose, which acted like a catalyst of the existing forces. 347 00:29:50,775 --> 00:29:54,926 And the workers began to see that there was a way out. 348 00:29:55,327 --> 00:30:00,827 And finally we won, mainly due to this long drawn-out experience, 349 00:30:01,027 --> 00:30:09,357 which meant that all 180 workers in the warehouse had won and earned 400 Euro more per month. 350 00:30:09,557 --> 00:30:13,373 They won in a situation, where for the rest of the workers in Italy, a pay increase 351 00:30:13,573 --> 00:30:18,573 of 7 Euro per month in the usual collective bargain contract is a great success. 352 00:30:18,773 --> 00:30:22,773 We have overcome this attitude, that there was supposedly no way out 353 00:30:22,973 --> 00:30:25,973 because they're all migrants, poor people, who have no power whatsoever etc. 354 00:30:26,173 --> 00:30:32,173 In reality these migrants in struggle were already a reference point for other sectors. 355 00:30:32,373 --> 00:30:36,373 And right from the start, based on previous experiences... 356 00:30:36,573 --> 00:30:42,573 we addressed the problem that workers shouldn't focus on just one struggle or company, 357 00:30:42,773 --> 00:30:47,773 but start to extend the organisational steps to all kind of different workplaces... 358 00:30:47,973 --> 00:30:52,773 and we started to let those workers who were allowed to do so, 359 00:30:52,973 --> 00:30:56,973 as official delegates, go to all kinds of other places. 360 00:30:57,173 --> 00:31:00,173 We made sure that these workers got their allocated time for union duties. 361 00:31:00,373 --> 00:31:02,373 Workers who, usually, aren't allowed to leave their factories. 362 00:31:02,573 --> 00:31:06,573 Based on the fact that as delegates we have eight hours for union duties 363 00:31:06,773 --> 00:31:11,773 and because we were able to make use of this in some places and the SI Cobas grew, 364 00:31:11,973 --> 00:31:17,973 we sent some of the migrant militants, 365 00:31:18,173 --> 00:31:21,173 to different places to support struggles there. 366 00:31:21,373 --> 00:31:22,373 That was the dynamic. 367 00:31:22,573 --> 00:31:28,124 When this movement expanded, we won in two or three locations, 368 00:31:28,324 --> 00:31:31,324 which were of particular importance for the logistics sector. 369 00:31:31,524 --> 00:31:34,524 TNT in Piacenza was a special dynamic, when we entered into the dispute there. 370 00:31:34,752 --> 00:31:37,752 In a work situation that was previously very repressive. 371 00:31:37,952 --> 00:31:39,952 Where the workers arrived at 6pm 372 00:31:40,152 --> 00:31:42,800 and waited until 10.30pm to be called in. 373 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:45,956 They could start work at 6pm or 10.30pm. 374 00:31:46,298 --> 00:31:50,207 When they got inside, they worked 3 or 4 hours 375 00:31:50,407 --> 00:31:52,407 then had a 4 hour break! 376 00:31:52,607 --> 00:31:58,480 They had to take that break inside the warehouse - they couldn't go home to rest. 377 00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:02,465 They started work again and worked until midday. 378 00:32:02,665 --> 00:32:06,647 After that, they still didn't have any time to eat or rest 379 00:32:06,847 --> 00:32:08,800 because they had to go back to work at 6pm. 369 00:32:11,724 --> 00:32:15,724 Mafia! Mafia! Bogus payslips! 380 00:32:16,124 --> 00:32:18,924 Bogus! Bogus! 381 00:32:19,124 --> 00:32:21,124 Mafia! Mafia! 382 00:32:31,324 --> 00:32:37,457 Strike! Strike! Strike! 383 00:33:03,657 --> 00:33:07,636 Look into your faces! Today you have proven that you can be united. 384 00:33:07,757 --> 00:33:11,657 Look into each others eyes and look at them, 385 00:33:11,857 --> 00:33:13,531 and let them now what kind of scumbags they are, 386 00:33:13,731 --> 00:33:17,731 that they have given you such shit contracts, 387 00:33:17,931 --> 00:33:18,700 and have treated you like dogs. 388 00:33:18,719 --> 00:33:20,719 You have to look at them: 389 00:33:21,400 --> 00:33:26,019 They are afraid and that is the only reason they come and talk to us. 390 00:33:36,523 --> 00:33:42,970 By bringing various other people, of other Cobas unions, 391 00:33:43,197 --> 00:33:46,197 and the social centres of Milan and other towns, 392 00:33:46,397 --> 00:33:50,397 this struggle has become one of the most important political struggles. 393 00:33:50,597 --> 00:33:54,597 It wasn't just a dispute at TNT anymore. 394 00:33:54,797 --> 00:33:58,734 Say that we won't sign anything, and we won't agree upon anything 395 00:33:58,934 --> 00:34:02,934 before there has been an assembly of workers. 396 00:34:03,134 --> 00:34:07,134 If the workers say that the result is good, then we finish the dispute. 397 00:34:07,334 --> 00:34:09,334 If we have to go on, we'll go on. 398 00:34:34,534 --> 00:34:39,516 Peace! Peace! 399 00:34:46,916 --> 00:34:54,916 We want our rights! 400 00:34:55,116 --> 00:34:59,116 We're from AF Logistica in Astalengo 401 00:34:59,316 --> 00:35:04,316 and we are happy to support our brothers at TNT Piacenza. 402 00:35:04,516 --> 00:35:08,516 And this is our message to the management of AF Logistica: 403 00:35:08,716 --> 00:35:12,000 If things don't change quickly, then you're next in line. 404 00:35:12,100 --> 00:35:14,100 We're coming for you! 405 00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:22,046 We want our rights! 406 00:35:33,403 --> 00:35:39,000 The Boss - down! 407 00:35:39,200 --> 00:35:46,248 Mubarak - down! 408 00:35:49,046 --> 00:35:54,394 It was clear that they felt part of a movement 409 00:35:54,594 --> 00:35:59,192 that was on the attack and this gave them strength. 410 00:35:59,392 --> 00:36:05,459 They felt united with those who took to the streets in Tahrir. 411 00:36:05,659 --> 00:36:10,068 This was a good thing to see 412 00:36:10,268 --> 00:36:12,268 because it gave them power. 413 00:36:12,545 --> 00:36:15,437 The idea was that by struggling you can win. 414 00:36:15,637 --> 00:36:19,395 It worked very well because they had a structure, 415 00:36:19,595 --> 00:36:23,992 which I could have never created even in 20 years. 416 00:36:24,192 --> 00:36:27,666 There was one person who took care of the food for everyone. 417 00:36:27,866 --> 00:36:31,461 An organisational structure that probably came from their own community structure. 418 00:36:31,661 --> 00:36:34,460 A structure, that became a central core of the struggle, 419 00:36:34,660 --> 00:36:39,130 which then became the most important tool of the struggle. 420 00:36:41,330 --> 00:36:47,971 For those who didn't experience it... if I talk about it now, I still feel touched. 421 00:36:48,171 --> 00:36:53,836 On a personal level there have been very touching actions. 422 00:36:54,036 --> 00:36:58,541 And we won, thanks to our determination and to these actions. 423 00:37:02,741 --> 00:37:06,722 The female warehouse worker is not afraid! 424 00:37:07,711 --> 00:37:10,711 The female warehouse worker is not afraid! 425 00:37:12,000 --> 00:37:14,500 I'd been talking with the girls since 2012 426 00:37:14,700 --> 00:37:19,776 because I came to know about this union called SI Cobas. 427 00:37:19,976 --> 00:37:24,910 But there has been a lot of fear 428 00:37:25,110 --> 00:37:29,182 because they put you in a condition of servility, 429 00:37:29,382 --> 00:37:33,266 you are enslaved 430 00:37:33,466 --> 00:37:37,703 to the point that you can't even say 'a'. 431 00:37:37,903 --> 00:37:42,556 You don't say anything, you work item after item after item... 432 00:37:42,756 --> 00:37:44,736 The items you sort are your problem, night and day 433 00:37:44,936 --> 00:37:47,770 even when you go home you think about these items you have to sort and pick. 434 00:37:47,970 --> 00:37:54,658 So I'd been speaking with the girls since 2012 and I don't know how it happened. 435 00:37:54,858 --> 00:37:56,488 It was good luck. 436 00:37:56,688 --> 00:38:02,125 Slowly the girls got a bit of courage. 437 00:38:02,325 --> 00:38:03,459 I spoke with them, 438 00:38:03,659 --> 00:38:07,933 telling them that I had a friend involved in the struggles at TNT. 439 00:38:08,133 --> 00:38:09,906 He said to me he worked at TNT, 440 00:38:09,950 --> 00:38:12,750 they went on strike in 2012. 441 00:38:12,950 --> 00:38:16,042 They got some results, 442 00:38:16,242 --> 00:38:16,968 which are very positive, 443 00:38:17,168 --> 00:38:19,160 like they managed to win meal tickets. 444 00:38:19,727 --> 00:38:22,891 Finally we rebelled, we united 445 00:38:23,091 --> 00:38:23,816 we ditched the fear. 446 00:38:24,016 --> 00:38:28,624 They were frightening us all of the time 447 00:38:28,824 --> 00:38:30,569 with their threats 448 00:38:30,769 --> 00:38:33,790 and finally some of us plucked up some courage 449 00:38:33,990 --> 00:38:34,996 and we went on strike. 450 00:38:35,196 --> 00:38:40,205 Shame on you! 451 00:38:40,405 --> 00:38:44,155 Shame on you! 452 00:38:44,355 --> 00:38:47,284 Thief! 453 00:38:47,484 --> 00:38:50,252 You've been exploiting us for years! 454 00:38:50,452 --> 00:38:51,998 You didn't respect any rights! 455 00:38:54,313 --> 00:38:55,785 We joined the union 456 00:38:55,985 --> 00:38:59,176 and we started the first struggle on May 5th. 457 00:38:59,376 --> 00:39:01,776 For me, that has been a wonderful thing. 458 00:39:02,000 --> 00:39:04,148 There was only a handful of people. 459 00:39:04,348 --> 00:39:07,417 They came by car with SI Cobas flags 460 00:39:07,617 --> 00:39:12,107 and they started the strike shouting. 461 00:39:12,307 --> 00:39:15,335 The female warehouse worker is not afraid! 462 00:39:23,028 --> 00:39:27,553 The boss moved the first workers who joined the union 463 00:39:28,098 --> 00:39:30,507 to warehouses further away 464 00:39:30,707 --> 00:39:35,819 so that he could fire them if they didn't show up to work. 465 00:39:36,019 --> 00:39:39,327 So these guys came together 466 00:39:39,527 --> 00:39:41,182 and they went on strike. 467 00:39:41,382 --> 00:39:43,733 They went back to work the day after, 468 00:39:43,933 --> 00:39:45,727 straight to work. 469 00:39:45,927 --> 00:39:50,265 I had never gone on strike 470 00:39:50,465 --> 00:39:52,085 and then just come back to work. 471 00:39:52,285 --> 00:39:55,339 So the day after I thought to myself: it means that 472 00:39:55,539 --> 00:39:58,258 they are telling the truth. 473 00:39:58,458 --> 00:40:01,038 The union are scaring them! 474 00:40:01,238 --> 00:40:03,699 This means that this is the right union! 475 00:40:03,899 --> 00:40:14,441 So slowly a lot of people like me joined SI Cobas. 476 00:40:14,641 --> 00:40:17,476 The (female) warehouse worker is not afraid! 477 00:40:17,676 --> 00:40:20,832 The (female) warehouse worker is not afraid! 478 00:40:21,032 --> 00:40:23,947 The (female) warehouse worker is not afraid! 479 00:40:30,134 --> 00:40:32,310 We all walked out from the warehouse. 480 00:40:32,510 --> 00:40:35,220 It was great. 481 00:40:35,420 --> 00:40:40,830 I remember I was working and I saw all these people, 482 00:40:40,947 --> 00:40:46,500 my comrades walking out and I thought it was for a SI Cobas meeting. 483 00:40:46,793 --> 00:40:48,470 I looked at them and they said to me: let's go! 484 00:40:48,670 --> 00:40:52,950 Ok then! I quit everything I was doing 485 00:40:53,150 --> 00:40:55,192 and walked out with them. 486 00:40:55,392 --> 00:40:57,459 It was the first strike of my life 487 00:40:57,659 --> 00:41:00,164 like for most of my female colleagues, I think, maybe for all of them. 488 00:41:00,364 --> 00:41:02,692 It was very exciting. 489 00:41:02,892 --> 00:41:09,848 The first day it was just us, 490 00:41:10,048 --> 00:41:15,468 then some girls from Hobo - the squat - came, 491 00:41:15,822 --> 00:41:20,482 and Karim and other SI Cobas trade unionists came. 492 00:41:20,682 --> 00:41:23,181 So the day after we organised. 493 00:41:23,381 --> 00:41:27,381 More people came because they didn't want 494 00:41:27,710 --> 00:41:30,001 to enter into a negotiation, they didn't want to listen to us. 495 00:41:30,201 --> 00:41:34,132 By 'they' I mean Yoox (company), MisterJob (co-operative), the bosses. 496 00:41:34,332 --> 00:41:37,660 On Friday the situation escalated 497 00:41:37,860 --> 00:41:43,186 and they called the police, 498 00:41:43,386 --> 00:41:45,984 but there were lots of us. 499 00:41:46,184 --> 00:41:50,200 The girls blocked a truck, we put ourselves under a truck, 500 00:41:50,741 --> 00:41:54,754 we denounced many things happening in there, 501 00:41:54,954 --> 00:41:59,416 mainly sexual harassment. 502 00:41:59,616 --> 00:42:05,498 The (female) warehouse worker is not afraid! 503 00:42:05,698 --> 00:42:10,660 Let him go! Let him go! 504 00:42:15,453 --> 00:42:17,453 Arseholes! 505 00:42:17,653 --> 00:42:18,348 You're all shit! 506 00:42:18,548 --> 00:42:20,689 Bastards! 507 00:42:25,889 --> 00:42:27,206 Let him go! 508 00:42:29,779 --> 00:42:31,288 Let him go! 509 00:42:34,776 --> 00:42:39,101 The other big struggle that took place in and around Bologna 510 00:42:39,301 --> 00:42:41,911 was at Granarolo, 511 00:42:42,111 --> 00:42:47,665 which is a big brand, dealing with the production of milk and dairy products. 512 00:42:47,865 --> 00:42:55,011 The struggle began between the end of April and the beginning of May 2012 513 00:42:55,211 --> 00:43:00,487 and lasted for a long time. 514 00:43:00,687 --> 00:43:07,100 It ended one and a half year later. 515 00:43:11,300 --> 00:43:15,599 Come on guys! Crouch down! 516 00:43:15,799 --> 00:43:20,598 Come on, sit down! 517 00:43:24,327 --> 00:43:31,375 We discovered that every month the payslips were 518 00:43:31,575 --> 00:43:36,027 500 to 800 euros lower than normal. 519 00:43:36,227 --> 00:43:37,993 They explained 520 00:43:38,193 --> 00:43:42,613 that it was due to the crisis, saying: that's how the world works. 521 00:43:42,813 --> 00:43:48,497 So they withheld 35% of the pay. 522 00:43:48,697 --> 00:43:52,290 We didn't accept it because it was our money! 523 00:43:52,490 --> 00:43:54,199 If I go to work everyday it means 524 00:43:54,267 --> 00:43:58,267 that the company isn't undergoing the effects of the crisis. 525 00:43:58,399 --> 00:44:00,173 The crisis is somewhere else, yes, 526 00:44:00,373 --> 00:44:05,638 but I am working 365 days a year - so there is no crisis. 527 00:44:05,759 --> 00:44:07,656 So it's not ok. 528 00:44:08,000 --> 00:44:13,500 They said: we can't do anything because the agreement has already been signed, 529 00:44:13,700 --> 00:44:15,700 so we can't do anything. 530 00:44:15,785 --> 00:44:18,542 If you want to work, then go to work. 531 00:44:18,742 --> 00:44:22,725 If you don't want to work there are 1000 people outside 532 00:44:22,850 --> 00:44:24,850 who want to take your job. 533 00:44:25,424 --> 00:44:28,987 Afterwards we went to CGIL 534 00:44:29,187 --> 00:44:31,276 they are trade unions like CISL and UIL, 535 00:44:31,476 --> 00:44:35,250 they are trade unions, they should help the workers. 536 00:44:35,450 --> 00:44:37,448 We also showed them our payslips. 537 00:44:37,648 --> 00:44:41,829 We said: see what's going on with the payslips. 538 00:44:42,029 --> 00:44:47,726 We asked: can you please tell us if they can do this to us or not? 539 00:44:47,926 --> 00:44:50,160 They said the same thing: 540 00:44:51,360 --> 00:44:53,890 that an agreement has been signed, 541 00:44:54,090 --> 00:44:59,068 saying that there is a 35% cut in pay until 2015. 542 00:44:59,268 --> 00:45:04,361 So they said: sorry! They didn't want to do anything. 543 00:45:04,561 --> 00:45:11,803 Then, we heard that a trade union arrived in Bologna. 544 00:45:12,003 --> 00:45:14,242 A trade union called SI Cobas. 545 00:45:14,442 --> 00:45:16,014 We went to them. 546 00:45:16,214 --> 00:45:19,481 We showed all our documents and our payslips, 547 00:45:20,200 --> 00:45:23,511 to ask if this thing was right or not. 548 00:45:23,711 --> 00:45:24,859 And they said something else. 549 00:45:25,059 --> 00:45:27,849 He said: this isn't fine. 550 00:45:28,049 --> 00:45:32,913 So this is how the struggle started. 551 00:45:33,113 --> 00:45:36,198 This is not okay because this is wage theft. 552 00:45:36,900 --> 00:45:39,283 Granarolo! Thieves! 553 00:45:39,484 --> 00:45:43,554 Granarolo! Thieves! 554 00:45:46,426 --> 00:45:48,541 CGIL! Thieves! 555 00:45:50,041 --> 00:45:54,075 Granarolo! Thieves! 556 00:45:54,275 --> 00:45:56,275 Granarolo! Thieves! 557 00:45:56,475 --> 00:46:00,529 Come on! 558 00:46:00,729 --> 00:46:06,559 Let me go! 559 00:46:06,759 --> 00:46:10,253 Shame! 560 00:46:10,453 --> 00:46:12,453 The police came, 561 00:46:12,653 --> 00:46:13,926 the carabinieri came... 562 00:46:14,000 --> 00:46:19,095 Oh my god! When I saw the vans of police and carabinieri 563 00:46:19,295 --> 00:46:21,467 I felt like I was a terrorist 564 00:46:21,667 --> 00:46:25,500 But I am a worker! I'm seeking my dignity! 565 00:46:26,027 --> 00:46:28,307 Before the dismissal 566 00:46:28,507 --> 00:46:33,867 the boss of our cooperative called me. 567 00:46:34,067 --> 00:46:35,505 The name of the cooperative is SGB, 568 00:46:35,705 --> 00:46:36,841 Service Group Bologna. 569 00:46:37,041 --> 00:46:41,336 The boss' name is Paolo Schiavina, a great exploiter. 570 00:46:43,950 --> 00:46:48,900 First he thought: they are foreigners they don't understand, they are ignorant. 571 00:46:49,026 --> 00:46:54,280 Afterwards, when he understood that we'd woken up 572 00:46:54,500 --> 00:46:56,530 to reclaim our rights, 573 00:46:56,730 --> 00:46:58,943 he got scared. 574 00:46:59,143 --> 00:47:01,251 He called all the workers. 575 00:47:01,451 --> 00:47:05,600 We went to see him and he said: guys, now, I understand 576 00:47:05,890 --> 00:47:08,711 that you miss the money. 577 00:47:08,911 --> 00:47:12,502 But let me ask you one thing. 578 00:47:12,702 --> 00:47:16,700 So we said: Yes, what do you want to tell us? 579 00:47:16,900 --> 00:47:24,540 He said: Can you go back to work as usual? 580 00:47:24,740 --> 00:47:28,700 And you'll get the amount of money on the payslip 581 00:47:28,900 --> 00:47:32,915 according to the number of hours you work 582 00:47:33,115 --> 00:47:36,570 plus 250 Euros under the table. 583 00:47:37,840 --> 00:47:45,061 But you have to accept the 35% cut, due to the crisis, until 2015. 584 00:47:45,261 --> 00:47:47,290 We didn't accept it because: 585 00:47:47,490 --> 00:47:52,690 we're trying to live with dignity, 586 00:47:52,890 --> 00:47:56,518 and if I accept money under the table, I'm a thief as well. 587 00:47:56,718 --> 00:47:59,410 I'm doing something wrong. 588 00:47:59,610 --> 00:48:02,342 Shame on you! Shame on you! 589 00:48:02,542 --> 00:48:05,106 Shame on you! Shame on you! 590 00:48:05,306 --> 00:48:08,578 They are mafia! 591 00:48:08,778 --> 00:48:09,861 They are the thieves! 592 00:48:11,261 --> 00:48:13,710 We went on strike for two days. 593 00:48:13,910 --> 00:48:18,048 On the third day we went back to our workplaces. 594 00:48:18,248 --> 00:48:21,751 Granarolo's workers went to Granarolo 595 00:48:21,951 --> 00:48:26,264 while we from COGIFRIN went to our workplaces. 596 00:48:26,464 --> 00:48:28,742 When we got in 597 00:48:28,942 --> 00:48:33,090 the boss was waiting for us at the gate 598 00:48:33,290 --> 00:48:35,636 asking: 'Where are you guys going?' 599 00:48:35,836 --> 00:48:38,751 We said: 'We're going to our workspaces.' 600 00:48:38,951 --> 00:48:39,425 He said: 'Why?' 601 00:48:39,625 --> 00:48:41,711 We said: 'Because we work here.' 602 00:48:41,911 --> 00:48:43,755 He said: 'No, you can't get in.' 603 00:48:43,955 --> 00:48:45,662 We asked: 'Why?' 604 00:48:45,862 --> 00:48:47,991 He said: 'Because you went on strike.' 605 00:48:48,190 --> 00:48:52,423 Excuse me?! You can go on strike if you work. 606 00:48:52,623 --> 00:48:54,746 Why shouldn't I be able to go on strike? 607 00:48:54,948 --> 00:48:58,900 For example, at the airport a pilot who flies an aeroplane - 608 00:48:59,100 --> 00:49:03,100 I've already paid a lot of money for my ticket - 609 00:49:03,300 --> 00:49:07,471 but if he wants to go on strike he does it. - How come I can't? 610 00:49:07,565 --> 00:49:11,600 I'm a worker, I'm working in the shit, inside this company, 611 00:49:11,800 --> 00:49:15,800 and I'm really angry. I want to go on strike, and I did it. 612 00:49:16,000 --> 00:49:20,000 - 'No, you can't go on strike.' So? What to do? - 'You have to leave.' 613 00:49:21,984 --> 00:49:24,496 Let him go! 614 00:49:24,696 --> 00:49:30,139 Calm down! 615 00:49:30,339 --> 00:49:33,857 Block it! 616 00:49:43,600 --> 00:49:45,734 Why the f*** are you pushing?! 617 00:49:50,927 --> 00:49:54,153 Let him go! Let him go! 618 00:49:54,353 --> 00:49:56,982 Let him go! Let him go! 619 00:50:03,059 --> 00:50:05,809 What do you want to do? 620 00:50:06,009 --> 00:50:10,892 Why are you forcing us to react? 621 00:50:11,092 --> 00:50:14,889 Bastard! 622 00:50:15,089 --> 00:50:17,857 Make him get out! 623 00:50:18,057 --> 00:50:19,749 Labour is a right! 624 00:50:19,949 --> 00:50:23,580 Let him go! 625 00:50:23,780 --> 00:50:26,541 Be nice! 626 00:50:26,741 --> 00:50:29,054 Let him go! 627 00:50:29,254 --> 00:50:30,846 You be nice! 628 00:50:34,977 --> 00:50:37,532 Look with your own eyes! 629 00:50:37,732 --> 00:50:37,944 Go! Go! Go! 630 00:50:39,932 --> 00:50:43,709 You can't always take orders without thinking with your own head 631 00:50:43,997 --> 00:50:48,201 and asking why a person comes to put himself under a truck! 632 00:50:52,900 --> 00:50:56,241 9 months! 9 months! 9 months! 633 00:51:00,350 --> 00:51:01,717 Let me go! 634 00:51:01,917 --> 00:51:04,562 Let me go! 635 00:52:00,900 --> 00:52:05,068 For us the social centre is the practice of occupation 636 00:52:05,268 --> 00:52:09,300 and to try and put together the various conflicts happening in our area 637 00:52:09,500 --> 00:52:11,583 where we're living, 638 00:52:11,783 --> 00:52:15,700 and, above all, where conflicts take place against capitalism and against exploitation. 639 00:52:16,037 --> 00:52:17,978 We came to know about these struggles 640 00:52:18,178 --> 00:52:22,000 because they developed a few kilometers away from here, in Piacenza, 641 00:52:22,200 --> 00:52:24,052 which is a city very close to Bologna. 642 00:52:24,252 --> 00:52:28,300 Some of our comrades lived in Piacenza and they'd already started to participate 643 00:52:28,400 --> 00:52:32,020 and to follow the struggles in the logistics sector. 644 00:52:32,220 --> 00:52:36,219 For us it was quite natural to try to connect with these struggles. 645 00:52:37,572 --> 00:52:39,018 The support we encountered... 646 00:52:39,218 --> 00:52:41,218 Really... 647 00:52:41,418 --> 00:52:44,926 There are a lot of people who have won their dignity 648 00:52:45,126 --> 00:52:49,200 and are trying to get some dignity for the others, too. 649 00:52:49,400 --> 00:52:52,520 Since it was a movement that was getting bigger by itself, 650 00:52:52,720 --> 00:52:57,200 the social movements which we'd met in different places from time to time 651 00:52:57,391 --> 00:52:59,771 like Milan, Piacenza etc. 652 00:52:59,971 --> 00:53:04,293 came to us, followed us and became supportive elements to this struggle. 653 00:53:04,700 --> 00:53:10,453 Even in the places where our trade unionists could not be present 654 00:53:10,653 --> 00:53:14,498 some militants took the place of the trade unionists 655 00:53:14,698 --> 00:53:16,807 to organise strikes. 656 00:53:17,007 --> 00:53:22,482 In Granarolo for instance, this guy and this guy specifically followed the struggle 657 00:53:22,682 --> 00:53:24,043 but when they were not there, 658 00:53:24,243 --> 00:53:28,300 two or three militants from 'Crash' were there every day 659 00:53:28,500 --> 00:53:32,532 at the pickets, from 5 in the morning, in order to follow this struggle. 660 00:53:32,732 --> 00:53:33,708 We went to see, to know, 661 00:53:33,908 --> 00:53:36,543 to meet the subjects who were fighting 662 00:53:36,743 --> 00:53:38,642 to experience that struggle, 663 00:53:38,842 --> 00:53:42,850 to understand the dynamics of the strike, to understand the dynamics of the picket. 664 00:53:42,920 --> 00:53:46,944 The trade union took charge of the negotiating parts of the action, 665 00:53:47,144 --> 00:53:49,247 as they were somehow 'managing' the labour dispute 666 00:53:49,447 --> 00:53:53,500 therefore, talking with the employer, with the institutional counterparts. 667 00:53:53,700 --> 00:53:57,800 The workers, from their point of view, put all the knowledge that they had acquired 668 00:53:58,000 --> 00:54:02,000 by working in the warehouses into the struggle. 669 00:54:02,200 --> 00:54:06,200 They employed all their knowledge about the production process - 670 00:54:06,400 --> 00:54:11,400 in this case the distribution process - like: what was the best time to do blockades? 671 00:54:11,500 --> 00:54:14,500 Namely: when are most of the goods sent out? 672 00:54:14,700 --> 00:54:17,700 What are the other warehouses to contact 673 00:54:17,736 --> 00:54:21,700 in the attempt to create a supply-chain block? 674 00:54:21,900 --> 00:54:25,136 In case the company management tried to move production, 675 00:54:25,300 --> 00:54:29,300 from Bologna to Modena, for instance, the knowledge of the workers 676 00:54:29,790 --> 00:54:33,724 - who knew that a determined product had to pass through Modena - 677 00:54:33,924 --> 00:54:37,900 allowed us to organise blockades there too. 678 00:54:38,000 --> 00:54:40,000 The workers shared their specific skills, 679 00:54:40,200 --> 00:54:45,949 the militants shared the knowledge they'd built up over the years, during past struggles 680 00:54:46,149 --> 00:54:50,369 and the production of discourse. It was also very important 681 00:54:50,569 --> 00:54:54,500 to try to put in order the ideas, that sometimes 682 00:54:54,700 --> 00:54:58,769 come out randomly, especially in times of conflict. 683 00:54:58,969 --> 00:55:00,969 They tried to organise stuff. 684 00:55:01,169 --> 00:55:07,580 For instance, when the struggle in Granarolo took place, 685 00:55:07,780 --> 00:55:11,946 'Anonymous' (hackers) shut down Granarolo's website. 686 00:55:12,146 --> 00:55:16,100 This was another piece of specific knowledge 687 00:55:16,300 --> 00:55:18,856 which came together with the others. 688 00:55:19,056 --> 00:55:23,100 - Those who work with independent media were allowed to break the news 689 00:55:23,300 --> 00:55:27,300 and this forced the mainstream media to do it as well. 690 00:55:28,109 --> 00:55:33,055 Some of us were in contact with the national press, 691 00:55:33,255 --> 00:55:37,463 I mean the left-wing press that was closer to us. 692 00:55:37,600 --> 00:55:42,043 There as well we had the chance to publish articles and notices. 693 00:55:42,243 --> 00:55:45,390 All these pieces were put together. 694 00:55:45,590 --> 00:55:53,264 Regarding the actions and the clashes with the police, 695 00:55:53,464 --> 00:55:57,500 those who had more experience in this shared their knowledge. 696 00:55:57,600 --> 00:55:59,600 Over the course of time, 697 00:55:59,800 --> 00:56:03,800 there has been such a sharing of skills and experience 698 00:56:04,000 --> 00:56:08,000 that in the end it was difficult to work out who these knowledges belonged to! 699 00:56:08,200 --> 00:56:10,204 This is very important for me. 700 00:56:10,404 --> 00:56:13,548 When we took part in logistics struggles, 701 00:56:13,748 --> 00:56:15,748 we did it because we said 702 00:56:15,948 --> 00:56:21,684 this is what is waiting for us. This is like what we're experiencing everyday - 703 00:56:21,884 --> 00:56:26,511 although in a very different and less daily way. 704 00:56:26,711 --> 00:56:30,429 However, the perspective we have as a generation, 705 00:56:30,629 --> 00:56:33,429 in a certain sense, is that of precarity, 706 00:56:33,629 --> 00:56:37,907 of exploitation, and to be side by side with the warehouse workers in the struggle, 707 00:56:38,107 --> 00:56:39,824 with the logistics workers, 708 00:56:40,024 --> 00:56:44,120 has been a step forward 709 00:56:44,320 --> 00:56:48,112 because we were united. 710 00:56:48,312 --> 00:56:52,300 The idea was: I'm standing by you now since I know 711 00:56:52,500 --> 00:56:54,500 that you will do the same when I'll need you. 712 00:56:54,700 --> 00:56:58,700 The workers always shouted something very touching: 713 00:56:58,900 --> 00:57:00,900 We are united! We are united! 714 00:57:01,100 --> 00:57:05,100 That is basically what makes you win the battles, 715 00:57:05,300 --> 00:57:09,300 namely to bring together students, the precarious, workers 716 00:57:09,500 --> 00:57:13,017 who are in the same condition of precarity. So we could identify a single enemy 717 00:57:13,217 --> 00:57:15,200 who is the exploiter, the boss. 718 00:57:16,200 --> 00:57:25,052 I want to thank all the people who have been together with us at the gates of COGIFRIN, 719 00:57:25,252 --> 00:57:28,209 and above all at the gates of Granarolo, 720 00:57:28,409 --> 00:57:35,406 and all the workers who came with us, 721 00:57:35,606 --> 00:57:42,441 all the students and the social centres like Hobo, 722 00:57:42,641 --> 00:57:43,871 and above all, 'Crash'. 723 00:57:44,071 --> 00:57:46,469 They were very good and strong. 724 00:57:46,669 --> 00:57:52,379 Something I had never seen. Very good. 725 00:57:52,579 --> 00:57:57,418 They taught me many things 726 00:57:57,618 --> 00:57:59,381 concerning struggles and rights. 727 00:57:59,581 --> 00:58:00,711 Thank you! 728 00:58:00,911 --> 00:58:04,986 Look! This is a worker of COGIFRIN. 729 00:58:05,186 --> 00:58:06,662 He worked with me. 730 00:58:06,862 --> 00:58:09,300 This was in front of Granarolo factory. 731 00:58:09,500 --> 00:58:12,783 I would say I was under the truck. 732 00:58:12,983 --> 00:58:15,968 See! There was someone who was talking with me. 733 00:58:16,168 --> 00:58:18,560 He was saying: please come out! 734 00:58:18,760 --> 00:58:23,595 See! This picture was on the front page of every newspaper. 735 00:58:23,795 --> 00:58:27,978 What's going on? Was he throwing a chair against a cop? 736 00:58:28,178 --> 00:58:37,709 The main managers of Granarolo were here at the back. 737 00:58:37,909 --> 00:58:43,663 In that moment we were sad and shouting out for our rights 738 00:58:43,863 --> 00:58:46,700 and the cop had his hands in his pockets and smiled 739 00:58:47,725 --> 00:58:50,557 as if he was happy. 740 00:58:50,757 --> 00:58:55,696 When this worker saw the cop smiling as if he was joking 741 00:58:55,896 --> 00:59:01,955 you can see what this worker did in front of the police 742 00:59:02,155 --> 00:59:03,829 and everyone. He was not afraid 743 00:59:04,029 --> 00:59:07,232 We said: fight hard! No fear! 744 00:59:07,432 --> 00:59:10,781 Here it's always me acting like a mechanic 745 00:59:10,981 --> 00:59:14,368 See! I've learnt this job in Italy! 746 00:59:14,568 --> 00:59:17,011 It's me! 747 00:59:17,211 --> 00:59:20,681 This is the guy who got arrested 748 00:59:20,881 --> 00:59:24,589 The police... it sucks 749 00:59:25,915 --> 00:59:28,108 I was always on the front line 750 00:59:28,308 --> 00:59:33,905 because if I'm not feeling like doing it, and the others neither... 751 00:59:34,105 --> 00:59:39,360 We need to feel like doing it together. 752 00:59:39,560 --> 00:59:42,772 I was really always on the front line. 753 00:59:42,972 --> 00:59:45,738 It's not because I'm bad 754 00:59:45,938 --> 00:59:50,143 I was just reclaiming my rights! 755 00:59:50,343 --> 00:59:55,606 I'm proud of it because I never did it before. 756 00:59:55,806 --> 00:59:57,149 I didn't know it. 757 00:59:57,349 --> 00:59:59,349 Those batons gave me courage. 758 01:00:00,527 --> 01:00:02,422 Look! That's me! 759 01:00:02,622 --> 01:00:08,922 That one beat me three times, 760 01:00:09,122 --> 01:00:10,760 one after the other, 761 01:00:10,960 --> 01:00:12,221 always hitting the same spot on my shoulder, 762 01:00:12,421 --> 01:00:15,536 right here. 763 01:00:15,736 --> 01:00:17,235 I'm proud. 764 01:00:17,435 --> 01:00:22,090 This is a worker of Ikea. 765 01:00:22,290 --> 01:00:26,488 Who? The one who was at the demo yesterday. 766 01:00:26,688 --> 01:00:28,015 Mohammed. 767 01:00:28,215 --> 01:00:33,522 This is from Ikea. Ikea. Students from Hobo. 768 01:00:33,722 --> 01:00:34,791 Boys from Crash. 769 01:00:34,991 --> 01:00:36,303 Workers. 770 01:00:36,503 --> 01:00:43,208 Kids from Milan. An African from DIELLE - I'm sorry for them too 771 01:00:43,408 --> 01:00:45,164 because yesterday they were alone. 772 01:00:47,253 --> 01:00:47,528 773 01:00:51,935 --> 01:00:55,259 Every day the carabinieri come to beat us up here. 774 01:00:56,232 --> 01:00:59,306 They are treating us like slaves. 775 01:00:59,506 --> 01:01:03,055 You must film that woman too. She's the most unkind. 776 01:01:03,255 --> 01:01:07,098 She's the factory owner. 777 01:01:07,298 --> 01:01:10,288 She's the wife of the owner. 778 01:01:12,688 --> 01:01:14,882 We are not well-paid. 779 01:01:15,082 --> 01:01:17,154 The job is not safe. 780 01:01:17,354 --> 01:01:19,639 That's why we're outside. 781 01:01:19,839 --> 01:01:29,486 Now the boss doesn't want to listen nor change the rules. 782 01:01:29,686 --> 01:01:32,043 He doesn't want to hear our protest. 783 01:01:32,243 --> 01:01:34,721 He wants to kick everyone out. 784 01:01:34,921 --> 01:01:39,322 That's why we are resisting here 785 01:01:39,522 --> 01:01:42,523 until things change. 786 01:01:42,723 --> 01:01:48,686 Every time we protest 787 01:01:48,886 --> 01:01:50,852 the carabinieri arrive, 788 01:01:51,052 --> 01:01:52,000 cops arrive. 789 01:01:52,200 --> 01:01:54,075 They beat us up 790 01:01:54,275 --> 01:01:56,275 to allow the scabs to go in. 791 01:01:56,475 --> 01:01:59,150 We resist! 792 01:01:59,350 --> 01:02:00,951 Still here. 793 01:02:01,151 --> 01:02:04,932 We have been resisting for four months. 794 01:02:05,132 --> 01:02:09,859 We hope to get our rights, 795 01:02:10,059 --> 01:02:11,351 and win. 796 01:02:11,551 --> 01:02:13,716 We believe we are going to win. 797 01:02:13,916 --> 01:02:16,344 We want dignity. 798 01:02:16,544 --> 01:02:19,753 Slavery must end. 799 01:02:39,895 --> 01:02:41,662 Now, they're just lacking the uniform. 800 01:02:41,862 --> 01:02:47,319 In a bit they will give them the uniform and the batons too. 801 01:02:53,781 --> 01:02:55,981 Please guys don't lay a hand on them. 802 01:03:08,751 --> 01:03:10,520 Shall we sit down? Yes, let's all sit down 803 01:03:36,059 --> 01:03:38,059 Wait! 804 01:03:47,970 --> 01:03:51,196 Shame on you! Shame on you! 805 01:03:51,396 --> 01:03:52,402 Don't touch him! 806 01:04:03,445 --> 01:04:05,347 Let him go! 807 01:04:22,588 --> 01:04:24,862 Guys! 808 01:04:25,062 --> 01:04:26,865 They took one person away! 809 01:04:27,065 --> 01:04:29,143 Fucking cops! 810 01:04:29,343 --> 01:04:33,726 They took us and they... 811 01:04:36,245 --> 01:04:38,735 They always treat us like this... 812 01:05:05,949 --> 01:05:09,949 With the growth of the struggle, the state/bourgeoisie started to understand 813 01:05:10,149 --> 01:05:15,180 that this movement has a certain meaning. 814 01:05:15,380 --> 01:05:19,300 And so from then on, 150 to 200 policemen were in front of the gates every time. 815 01:05:19,500 --> 01:05:23,500 And through that, the workers started to understand what the police actually are. 816 01:05:23,700 --> 01:05:27,313 Initially they talked to the police, saying: "Hey, it's undemocratic what you're doing, 817 01:05:27,513 --> 01:05:29,542 you have to defend democracy!" 818 01:05:29,742 --> 01:05:33,700 "We are the goodies, - the others are the criminals, mafia co-operatives!" 819 01:05:33,900 --> 01:05:38,900 Then they understood that the mafia system and capitalism belong together. 820 01:05:39,000 --> 01:05:43,000 So from then on, the worker didn't go up to the police and ask: "Why are you beating me?" 821 01:05:43,100 --> 01:05:45,100 He understood that the police exists to beat him up. 822 01:05:45,300 --> 01:05:47,981 None of us is afraid of the police. 823 01:05:48,181 --> 01:05:51,833 What can happen? Nothing. 824 01:05:52,033 --> 01:05:54,710 There is only life and death. 825 01:05:54,910 --> 01:06:00,324 If I'm dying of hunger, I'd rather die fighting for my rights. 826 01:06:00,973 --> 01:06:04,395 We have only life or death. 827 01:06:04,595 --> 01:06:11,243 I'm dying of hunger because I don't have any more wages. 828 01:06:11,443 --> 01:06:17,470 I cant eat, I can't pay the rent, can't buy any clothes, can't buy anything, 829 01:06:17,670 --> 01:06:19,670 which means I'm dying. 830 01:06:19,870 --> 01:06:26,501 So if I'm already dying of hunger, I'd rather go in from of the gates 831 01:06:26,701 --> 01:06:31,490 and let them hit me, on the head, the shoulders, the legs. 832 01:06:31,690 --> 01:06:33,690 and even if they kill me, it makes no difference. 833 01:06:33,890 --> 01:06:37,863 At least then I'll have died for my dignity. 834 01:06:50,000 --> 01:06:54,472 Cobas today, Cobas tomorrow! 835 01:06:54,672 --> 01:06:57,243 That is the bottom line. They can't carry on any more like this. 836 01:06:57,443 --> 01:07:01,504 Now we're having a gathering amongst ourselves, we're talking to each other. 837 01:07:01,704 --> 01:07:06,301 And in 15 days, you have to be ready to demand even more. 838 01:07:06,501 --> 01:07:08,401 Down again! 839 01:07:19,338 --> 01:07:32,825 We'll be back! 840 01:07:34,911 --> 01:07:36,969 Assembly! 841 01:07:37,769 --> 01:07:40,729 Cobas today, Cobas tomorrow! 842 01:07:46,110 --> 01:07:48,110 Call them! 843 01:07:50,415 --> 01:07:55,930 So guys, as you all have seen, the warehouse doesn't operate without you. 844 01:07:57,760 --> 01:08:01,778 You are all the masters of the warehouse, nobody else. 845 01:08:02,691 --> 01:08:07,274 We know how you work. 846 01:08:07,474 --> 01:08:14,200 You all work 16, 13 hours as warehouse workers, as drivers, 847 01:08:14,400 --> 01:08:17,243 with half a regular wage. 848 01:08:17,443 --> 01:08:21,711 Without the statutory christmas bonus, without sick pay in case you fall ill, 849 01:08:21,911 --> 01:08:24,412 full of worry, without dignity. 850 01:08:24,612 --> 01:08:29,392 So you work. But today, you have to understand that you people, united, 851 01:08:29,592 --> 01:08:33,902 aren't only able to fight for this small piece of paper 852 01:08:34,113 --> 01:08:38,100 stating the recognition of the national wage contract. 853 01:08:38,300 --> 01:08:44,296 A contract which should have been recognised a long time ago. 854 01:08:44,496 --> 01:08:48,496 Because that's what the employers themselves have drafted. 855 01:08:48,696 --> 01:08:53,680 From the outset they committed to comply with this minimum. 856 01:08:53,880 --> 01:08:57,800 But they haven't complied, because with them it is always empty words. 857 01:08:58,000 --> 01:09:02,001 The law doesn't work here. The powerful eat up the weak. 858 01:09:02,201 --> 01:09:06,201 In the future, united, we can breath at this workplace and have enough to live on. 859 01:09:06,401 --> 01:09:11,116 But you have to talk with each other, have meetings. 860 01:09:11,316 --> 01:09:16,234 If they try and sack one of you, then stop the whole warehouse operation. 861 01:09:16,434 --> 01:09:20,196 Up until now, there have only been words: "In 15 days." 862 01:09:20,396 --> 01:09:22,400 But if nothing happens here in 15 days? 863 01:09:22,600 --> 01:09:24,810 Will you all return then back to slavery? 864 01:09:25,010 --> 01:09:26,497 No! 865 01:09:26,697 --> 01:09:28,697 Who wants to go back to slave conditions? 866 01:09:28,897 --> 01:09:32,800 We're all with you. Workers from DIELLE were here. 867 01:09:34,000 --> 01:09:36,000 Thanks Cobas! 868 01:09:36,200 --> 01:09:38,645 All for one and one for all! 869 01:09:38,670 --> 01:09:42,894 From today onwards, you belong to a family that is called SI Cobas, 870 01:09:43,094 --> 01:09:45,094 who protects you and your rights. 871 01:09:45,294 --> 01:09:49,642 In Bergamo too, we're starting to build SI Cobas. 872 01:09:49,842 --> 01:09:53,800 Today is an important day! We're starting here and will develop. 873 01:09:54,027 --> 01:09:58,277 If we don't win this battle then it's because we don't want to. 874 01:09:58,477 --> 01:10:02,380 Some people's fear: that doesn't matter! 875 01:10:02,580 --> 01:10:07,000 Don't start to argue because one of you joins in and the other doesn't. 876 01:10:07,200 --> 01:10:08,575 No! 877 01:10:08,775 --> 01:10:10,889 Sooner or later, everyone will come. 878 01:10:56,700 --> 01:10:59,846 Are you happy? Yeah, I'm ultra-happy, 879 01:11:00,046 --> 01:11:04,000 because we've won a big recognition of our struggle. 880 01:11:04,629 --> 01:11:08,615 because we've reached a goal that we'd set ourselves, namely 881 01:11:08,815 --> 01:11:13,999 the reinstatement of four sacked workers 882 01:11:14,199 --> 01:11:21,027 whose only offence was that they became members of SI Cobas, 883 01:11:21,227 --> 01:11:34,242 which became a thorn in the side of the employers. 884 01:11:34,442 --> 01:11:42,000 We opened a bottle, it was like a liquid that wanted to explode. 885 01:11:42,200 --> 01:11:46,127 When we uncorked it, it exploded, 886 01:11:46,327 --> 01:11:50,232 and we gave them a direction to show that it's possible 887 01:11:50,432 --> 01:11:53,500 to lead struggles and to win. 888 01:11:54,074 --> 01:11:57,758 We have achieved something, a bit of respect. 889 01:11:57,958 --> 01:12:03,821 Also we notice that underneath this respect, that there's a hate bubbling against us. 890 01:12:04,021 --> 01:12:09,613 But at the very least they've changed their tone when they speak to us. 891 01:12:10,013 --> 01:12:14,743 They've suspended almost all male superiors 892 01:12:14,943 --> 01:12:20,900 because we've pressed charges against them for bullying, 893 01:12:21,100 --> 01:12:23,618 threats and sexual harassment. 894 01:12:23,873 --> 01:12:29,281 Many things have really changed a lot. I never see anyone crying anymore. 895 01:12:29,500 --> 01:12:31,500 Earlier we had to finish loads of pieces, 896 01:12:31,600 --> 01:12:35,600 now they don't say anything about the piece-rate anymore. 897 01:12:36,119 --> 01:12:41,000 We, who were members of this union and went on strike, 898 01:12:41,200 --> 01:12:47,597 now we just work like normal people are supposed to work. 899 01:12:47,797 --> 01:12:52,722 We don't run anymore to reach the targets, like we used to do. 900 01:12:53,554 --> 01:12:59,172 But the others continue doing so, because the bosses still threaten them 901 01:12:59,372 --> 01:13:03,810 by saying that we will leave the warehouse sooner or later, 902 01:13:04,010 --> 01:13:06,923 so they are not supposed to look at what we are doing. 903 01:13:08,074 --> 01:13:12,000 Even if there are only few of us where we work 904 01:13:12,200 --> 01:13:16,260 the wages have nevertheless increased for everyone 905 01:13:16,460 --> 01:13:20,232 and the productivity targets are less arbitrary. 906 01:13:22,006 --> 01:13:24,935 I used to earn 900 Euro. 907 01:13:25,135 --> 01:13:27,028 Now I earn 1.800 Euro. 908 01:13:27,228 --> 01:13:30,405 The same work, the same amount of hours. Thanks to Cobas. 909 01:13:30,628 --> 01:13:35,345 I always say: thanks to Cobas, our families make ends meet. 910 01:13:35,545 --> 01:13:38,930 Before, the rich parents' kid brought two croissants to school. 911 01:13:39,130 --> 01:13:41,271 Now my kid also brings two croissants to school. 912 01:13:44,301 --> 01:13:47,924 Now us 80 guys are happy. 913 01:13:48,377 --> 01:13:53,321 It is different from before. We have changed the situation. 914 01:13:53,521 --> 01:13:56,423 We work calmly. 915 01:13:56,623 --> 01:14:01,447 I have more dignity, more self-confidence, 916 01:14:03,023 --> 01:14:07,000 and I am content with myself, because I would never have thought, 917 01:14:07,200 --> 01:14:10,395 that I would do something like this. 918 01:14:12,009 --> 01:14:16,096 At first I thought, 'I'm a foreigner and I have to work like a slave.' 919 01:14:16,296 --> 01:14:21,205 They made us think like that! 920 01:14:21,405 --> 01:14:22,800 That you have to be a slave. 921 01:14:23,000 --> 01:14:29,033 Wake up in the mornings, go to work, come home at night, go to bed. 922 01:14:29,233 --> 01:14:31,233 That is not a life. 923 01:14:31,433 --> 01:14:35,328 When I was sacked, my life changed. 924 01:14:35,528 --> 01:14:38,003 I am another person. 925 01:14:38,203 --> 01:14:40,203 For my dignity. 926 01:14:41,741 --> 01:14:45,196 At first, above all, it was a work struggle. 927 01:14:49,202 --> 01:14:53,077 But now I'm doing it also because I'm a woman. 928 01:14:53,277 --> 01:14:57,277 So as to say that women are also able to struggle, 929 01:14:57,477 --> 01:14:59,477 to get their rights, 930 01:14:59,677 --> 01:15:03,343 that their dignity won't be allowed to be trampled on by male sexism 931 01:15:03,543 --> 01:15:05,681 and also not by racism etc. 932 01:15:05,881 --> 01:15:09,000 I am a Moroccan woman, it's fun for me to struggle 933 01:15:09,200 --> 01:15:13,209 and from now on, my life will be dedicated to struggle. 934 01:15:14,870 --> 01:15:23,528 For me personally, my participation, my activism with the SI Cobas has, 935 01:15:23,728 --> 01:15:27,762 on the one hand lead to me finding out about the concrete problems 936 01:15:27,962 --> 01:15:35,652 these migrant workers in this sector are facing. 937 01:15:37,370 --> 01:15:47,883 On the other hand, I can get experience of struggles that I'd never had before. 938 01:15:48,083 --> 01:15:51,091 It's also allowed me to reflect 939 01:15:51,291 --> 01:15:55,900 on the relationship that it can give between immediate struggle 940 01:15:56,100 --> 01:15:58,100 and the perspective to change society: 941 01:16:03,448 --> 01:16:15,822 On the one hand these struggles are important, they are necessary, something vital 942 01:16:16,022 --> 01:16:23,793 that is brought into a social situation that otherwise would stagnate. 943 01:16:23,993 --> 01:16:29,999 The participation in these struggles also makes it possible for young people 944 01:16:30,199 --> 01:16:38,003 who want to get involved, to support a real class struggle, 945 01:16:38,203 --> 01:16:47,269 instead of setting up goals, which are often pretty artificial and inter-classist. 946 01:16:48,836 --> 01:16:54,780 It is also an opportunity for many young people to educate themselves. 947 01:16:55,635 --> 01:17:03,319 On the other hand, these struggles also have clear limits 948 01:17:03,519 --> 01:17:08,419 the same as all economic struggles. 949 01:17:10,041 --> 01:17:15,000 And only if within these struggles a more general, 950 01:17:15,151 --> 01:17:23,151 also a political consciousness in these workers is established, 951 01:17:23,351 --> 01:17:26,758 then these struggles can be the start of a process of change 952 01:17:28,351 --> 01:17:32,351 with potential for a revolutionary change of society. 953 01:17:32,992 --> 01:17:36,184 Why did we win? Because we were united. 954 01:17:36,384 --> 01:17:38,311 Not just the 51 of us. 955 01:17:38,511 --> 01:17:41,803 Not just Bologna but the whole of Italy. 956 01:17:42,003 --> 01:17:49,062 According to my opinion, the struggle at Granarolo was the famous struggle. 957 01:17:49,262 --> 01:17:50,643 Also on an international level. 958 01:17:51,998 --> 01:17:58,742 There was a boycott - also in Germany,France, Belgium, 959 01:17:58,942 --> 01:18:05,987 all over Italy: Naples, Rome, Milan, Piacenza etc. etc. 960 01:18:07,385 --> 01:18:09,385 Because of all that, we won. 961 01:18:09,585 --> 01:18:13,610 Because they thought there was only 51 of us, but in reality it was the whole country. 962 01:18:13,810 --> 01:18:15,800 That's why we won.