Amiens Charter

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The Amiens Charter ( French Charte d'Amiens ) was adopted by the Confédération Générale du Travail in 1906 and is still considered a fundamental theoretical reference of the trade union movement, especially revolutionary syndicalism and militant trade unions. She attributes two goals to the trade union movement: defending everyday demands and fighting for change in society as a whole; and this with complete independence from political parties and the state.

Victor Griffuelhes , General Secretary of the CGT, co- wrote the text of the charter with Émile Pouget . In France the trade union federation Solidaires (supported, but not exclusively, by various SUD (base) unions) still invokes the Amiens charter, as does the (anarcho-syndicalist) CNT and - but more in a theoretical way and Way - the (formerly communist) CGT, the FO and the FSU (teachers' association) do.

Text of the charter

"The Confederal Congress at Amiens confirms Article 2 of the statutes of the CGT:" The CGT unites - regardless of all political schools - all workers who are aware of the fight to be waged for the disappearance of wage labor and entrepreneurship. " Declaration of recognition of the class struggle with which the revolting workers in the economic field oppose all forms of exploitation and oppression (material as well as moral) carried out by the capitalist class against the working class. In the following the Congress specifies its theoretical premise: In struggle for the daily bread the trade union movement is coordinating the efforts of the workers - it pursues the increase in workers' welfare through immediate improvements such as the reduction of daily working hours, wage increases, etc. But these efforts are only one facet of the trade union movement: different on the other hand, it prepares for complete liberation, which is inconceivable without expropriation of the capitalists ( expropriation capitaliste ); In doing so, it wants to base its action on the means of the general strike and recognizes in the trade union ( syndicat ) - today a resistance group - the future structure of production and distribution and the basis of a social reorganization. Congress declares that this double objective (in everyday life and in the future) arises from the situation of wage workers, which oppresses the working class and makes it a duty of all workers (regardless of their opinions or political / philosophical tendencies), an essential one Association - to belong to the union. As for individuals, Congress asserts full freedom for the organized to take part outside of the professional association in any struggle that corresponds to his philosophical or political ideas; at the same time, Congress insists that these opinions from outside are not brought into the union. As far as organizations are concerned, with a view to maximizing union strength, Congress declares that economic action must be directed directly against the employers - the Confederate organizations, as trade union groups, do not have to concern themselves with parties and sects outside and outside may pursue change in society in all freedom. "

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