1988. január (1-16. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
1 ftectázzxs* síMí 2.4/D little Ruksell Street, LOM DÓM, W!C.i • Ttl. 04-*so n 26 • G. Krassi 6/1988 10th January, 1988 "Leave the Unions!" - Leaflets in Budapest Leaflets, calling on fór quitting the official unions, have been distributed in worker districts of Budapest in the last days; the authors are unknown. According to local reports several thousands of leaflets were dispersed in the streets. The duplicated, two-page leaflets read as follows: OUT OF THE UNIONS! The membership of the unions is shrinking, their income from membership fees is on the decline. SZOT (National Council of Trade Unions) has taken fright and decided simply to get the membership fee deducted from our pay. We sign once and we pay through our working lives, What kind of unions are these anyway? Allegedly the unión is supposed to protect our interests bút it is more concerned with the interests of the party than with ours. Allegedly the unión is a democratic organisation, except it will nőt have its membership interfere with its decisions. Allegedly unions are a mass movement and yet their structure is a cárban copy of the rigid structure of the Civil Service. The leaders of the unions mouth attractive slogans about protecting the industrial workers and full employment bút their main concern is to safeguard their own power. Union officials are nőt being taken seriously either by managers or employees and with good reason because these officials do nőt, cannot do anything fór those who elected them. What do we expect of a unión? It must orotect our interests and nőt cnly behind closed doors at meetings between SZOT and the government bút in every factary, in every Office. It must suoDart all spontaneous initiatives. all united effarts among workers of indentical interests to safeguard these interests. It must denand unemplavment - retraining - rssettlement fcenefits far all who cannct find werk suited to his cr her abilities or qualifications reasonaolv near his or her home. It must demand the codification of the rignt to strike and it must support strikes wherever justified. It must fight fór citizens' rights, fór the freedom of association and fór the freedom of the press. , ÁO _
