UNION LINE
Decisions at Solidaridad Obrera are made in General Assemblies from section unions or sector unions; worker union plenaries and congress.
The decision about our actions/activities in our union permanently provide that the same or upper level, where they were made, do not change. Therefore, it is not necessary for a new assembly, plenty o congress to ratify/confirm any proposal which agree with activities
STATUTES
HEADING I.
DEFINITION AND AIM
Article 1. Trade Union Confederation SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA is a worker association which defines itself as anarcosyndicalist, therefore, working class, autonomous, self-organised, federal, ecofeminist, anti-authoritarian, internationalist and libertarian.
Article 2. SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA attempts:
1. To develop the willingness of workers to associate and participate, regardless of their sex, race, nationality, language, political or religious ideas.
2. The emancipation of the workers, through their conquest of the means of production, distribution and consumption; and the achievement of a libertarian society.
3. The elimination of all forms of exploitation and oppression that threaten the freedom of the person.
4. The defense of nature, adapting the new social system to it: we are firmly committed to degrowth.
5. The practice of mutual support, self-management and solidarity among workers, as well as the defense of their immediate socio-economic interests.
6. In order to achieve the aforementioned objectives, Solidaritat Obrera will establish relations with as many related labor organizations at the state and international level as can contribute to its achievement, while preferring the use of direct action when deemed appropriate in each case, defined in their plenary sessions and conferences.
HEADING II.
SCOPE OF ACTION
Article 1. The Trade Union Confederation SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA has the various autonomous communities and nationalities that make up the territory of the Spanish State as its essential area of territorial action.
Article 2. SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA works alongside all manual and intellectual workers, active or unemployed; self-employed workers who do not have employees at their expense, and pensioners.
HEADING III.
OPERATING GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Article 1. The functioning of SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA, both in the adoption of agreements and in the election of its coordination, representation and management bodies, will be governed by principles of direct democracy.
Article 2. All the bodies of SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA are expected to provide as much information as may be requested via organic routes: Trade Union; Local, Regional or Provincial Federation, Confederal Committee of Solidaridad Obrera; or in the Organic Elections, in the corresponding point or in the general affairs point.
HEADING IV.
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONING
FIRST CHAPTER. STRUCTURE
Article 1. This Confederation is made up of the trade unions of all the towns within its territorial scope. The federated unions will form the different Local, County or Provincial Federations. These will form, in turn, the Federations of regional or national scope. With the federation of these, the Trade Union Confederation SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA is finally structured.
Article 2. Independent of what is established in the previous article, the trade unions that belong to the same professional activity will be able to federate among themselves, in order to constitute the so-called Branch Federations. Likewise, affiliates, both the ones who participate in trade unions and industry federations, will be able to constitute trade union sections with a workplace or company scope, as appropriate. The trade union sections or trade unions organized in trade federations will continue to be organically linked to the corresponding local federations and required to commit, on a preferential basis, to the agreements that emerge from the trade unions.
SECOND CHAPTER
FROM THE AFFILIATED. MEMBERS
Article 1. The affiliation will take place through the union sections, the trade unions, or through the corresponding Local or Trade Federations. Union and trade federations have the obligation to inform each other about the new affiliations.
There are two possible ways to join Solidaridad Obrera:
1st) When Solidaridad Obrera already exists as a Union Section or consolidated Trade Union where the new affiliate works. In this case, In this case it shall be sufficient for the affiliation request to be endorsed by a member of the Trade Union Section of Workers' Solidarity.
2nd) When the new affiliate works in a place where there is no Union Section or Union. In this case, we are firmly committed to affiliations that want to join trade unions, for other types of affiliations or simply "to be a member". There are dozens of union organizations that will be willing to affiliate them, even in our ideological environment. In Solidaridad Obrera, the affiliation of workers who start a trade union activity in the company, or in the production sector in question, will be accepted. In this case, and in order to avoid infiltrations, the work history or unemployment certificate will be requested as a mandatory document.
Members of the Public Order Forces, the professional army, or any public or private armed or paramilitary body will not be permitted to join SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA. Those who propagate racist, xenophobic, Nazi and/or fascist ideas or members of sects (political or religious) may not join either.
In all cases, the monthly assemblies of the Union Section or Union will be informed of all the registrations and withdrawals registered in the previous period.
The SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA Trade Union Confederation will admit the creation of associations of self-employed workers, who must be federated to it. These associations may have their own statutes which, respecting their specificity, must contain the same objectives, organic regulations, methodology and action strategy as those of SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA, all in compliance with the provisions of the second article of title II.
Article 2. Every member is obliged to respect and not to act publicly against these bylaws, against any of the agreements emanating from their union, from any of the bodies to which they are linked or from all those taken in the Organization elections. In the same way, they will be expected to contribute in the manner set forth in the following article.
No member will be able to carry out activities of political parties and other authoritarian organizations outside SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA within the union.
In order to safeguard the independence of SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA, members who are also members of political parties and other authoritarian organizations may not hold any office within SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA, at any level of the organization.
Article 3. The minimum monthly fee is set at 10 euros, and the union sections or union may establish a higher fee, which shall be collected by the corresponding union. There will be a reduced fee for those cases that the union sections or union deem necessary, with a monthly fee that is set at 5 euros.
Article 4. It will take 6 months of seniority in the affiliation to have free legal assistance, except for very specific cases of extreme gravity or importance which will be duly evaluated. In any case, the latter refers to labor and/or repressive matters that have occurred after affiliation. During those first 6 months, private matters will be invoiced with the Confederation's legal service, following the rates set by the Official Lawyer Association.
Article 5. A member’s affiliation will be revoked for the following reasons:
a) Their own free decision to leave.
b) For not having paid the union dues corresponding to six monthly payments, having been required to do so. The payment of pending fees entails the cancellation of the expulsion.
c) Due to serious or repeated breaching of the Statutes and agreements of the bodies to which it is linked.
d) For choosing not to participate in a debate in assembly, approved and called by Solidaridad Obrera.
e) For endorsing a different trade union candidacy when Solidaridad Obrera stands for those elections.
f) For running for the Company Committee elections for the second time as an independent candidate on the lists of another union
The Union Assembly is the one that will make the expulsion decision, always in a reasoned manner and with the majority of those attending it.
Article 6. Every member of SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA shall have the following rights and obligations:
1. Rights
• Be informed about: organizational functioning, means and fighting methods, as well as the aims of the Trade Union Confederation.
• Receive free legal advice and assistance, and where appropriate, the support and solidarity of their union, as well as other tools of the organization, in matters related to their union, social and labor activity.
• Elect the members of the different representative bodies of the organization.
• Be elected to any representative body, except those affected by articles 2 and 4 of this chapter.
2. Obligations
• Pay the established union dues.
• Inform the union bodies about their union activity and the responsibilities entrusted to them.
• Respect the agreements of their union and the organization, without acting against them.
Article 7. Membership
• If you have previously belonged to the union, you will report your decision to join again to the general assembly of union members, which will be in charge of approving or not your affiliation.
• Applications for affiliation made by former union delegates or candidates from other unions will be decided in the assembly of affiliates.
Article 8. Co-responsibility:
The member who puts forward a proposal, action or campaign that is approved, must be co-responsible for it. The union will provide the necessary support, but whoever promotes it must participate.
Article 9. Training of members:To ensure that the growing number of members know in depth how the union works and are able to contribute to developing daily and basic actions, without complexes or fears. Basic union training workshops will continue to be organized, both on an ideological and basic level in the following areas: organization of the union or section, occupational health, lawsuits before the social courts, preparation of meetings with the company, preparation of communications and publications, etc.
CHAPTER THREE. REGARDING THE TRADE UNION SECTIONS
Article 1. To set up a Trade Union Section, either at the company level or at the workplace level, a minimum of three members are required. They will carry out their activity within the territorial scope established by the statutes of the union sections themselves, while periodically keeping informed the corresponding branch or sector federation, or the union, depending on whether it is a company or a workplace.
Article 2. The Trade Union Board is the representative and management body of the Section, coordinating and organizing its internal operation and its external action and projection. They will deal with the same areas as the Permanent Secretariat of the federation or the union, as appropriate.
Article 3. Given that running for union elections is a purely tactical matter decided by the Union Section, or, as the case may present itself, the Trade Union itself, the following regulations are established in order to keep track of the amount of hours dedicated to the union.
The legal regulations on trade union elections and workers' representation define two different figures: the agent resulting from union elections and the one whom the union elects in development of the Organic Law on Freedom of Association. In one way or another, the representatives, either by election or by appointment, acquire a peculiar legal status that is characterized by the availability of free time during working hours (union hours), certain guarantees for the maintenance of a stable job and regarding the disciplinary system common to other workers, and access to spheres of influence and decision-making both in the company and in other institutions.
Representation tasks are not a privilege but an important responsibility. Although to date there has been no irregular action by union comrades, it is not ruled out that, given the foreseeable growth of the union, some undesirable situation could arise in the future, which would discredit the union in the eyes of the workers as a whole and lead us to be compared to other unions in which these events are quite common.
We defend an assembly and participatory trade union model, contrary to the creation of privileged castes that operate according to their own interests. Therefore, it is necessary to regulate the actions of union representatives and delegates through the following mandates:
First. Affiliates who are simultaneously members of political parties or authoritarian organizations will not be part of SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA's candidacies for union elections.
Second. Those who appear in a candidacy for union elections for the Company Committee, Staff Meetings or Staff Representatives for SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA must sign an irrevocable resignation letter without date, which will be in the possession of the Assembly of the corresponding Union Section or Union.
Third. Union hours belong to the Trade Union with which the worker has stood for union elections, or that which has appointed him.
Fourth. The representative or delegate must use union hours in those functions that the union decides in the statutorily established manner.
Fifth. If a representative or delegate were to raise objections to the performance of a certain task, they must immediately notify the union, which has the legitimacy to decide to remove them as a union representative.
Sixth. The union will ensure that there is no fraudulent use of union hours and, if necessary, the person in question will be publicly denounced.
Seventh. It will be the responsibility of the union organization secretary to request from each representative or delegate a monthly statement with a detailed list of the hours used and how they have been applied.
Eighth. It is expressly forbidden for union delegates and staff representatives to perform overtime, voluntary service commissions, or any other measure that threatens the maintenance of their position.
Ninth. In order to obtain any extraordinary condition or improvement for personal benefit, which is not generally applicable to all company workers, the union delegate or representative must previously notify the union, as well as the steps that will be necessary for it.
Tenth. To the extent to which the legislation or the agreements with the companies allow it, maximum rotation will be sought in the representation positions, so that the greatest number of comrades can have access to them.
Eleventh. The highest decision-making body in the union is the Affiliate Assembly, which in no case may be replaced by assemblies of delegates that will have a purely technical nature and will also develop the agreements that have been adopted in the Affiliate Assembly.
Twelfth. In order to attend the union elections within the lists of Solidaridad Obrera or to be designated as a representative of the union, the worker must expressly mention this article.
Thirteenth. Priority will be given to the work as a Union Section, prioritizing it in any case to that of the Works Council, with its delegates being representatives of the Union Section in the Works Council and not mere members of it.
Fourteenth. The more established Union Sections will dedicate more resources to the general organization of the union without neglecting their level of responsibility in their workplace. The implication of the members in the general topics of the union must be obtained (articles in the publications, information in the monthly letters, calls, etc.).
Fifteenth. In special cases such as the presentation in joint lists (with other unions) or as an independent (within the lists of another union) agreed in the assembly of union members, this position may not be repeated for the following union elections, with the need to have a Union Section and own lists for that occasion. The affected union will do a special follow-up.
CHAPTER FOUR.
UNION
UNION LINE
The decisions in Solidaridad Obrera are taken in the General Assemblies of the Union Sections or of the branch Unions; in the plenary sessions of trade unions and in congresses.
The decisions on the trade union line to follow are permanent as long as they are not changed in the same area in which they were made, or from a higher position. Therefore, it will not be necessary to go through the assembly, plenary or congress to ratify any proposal that falls within the union line approved in the different Assemblies, Plenary Sessions and Congresses of the organization, as long as they have not been modified.
Article 1. The unions that are constituted in the SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA Trade Union Confederation will be structured in the branches of production or service that are listed below: Public Administration, Food, Graphic Arts, Banking, Farming, Commerce, Construction, Ceramics and Wood, Energy, Teaching , Shows, Hospitality, Gardening, Sea, Metal, Mining, Cleaning, Telemarketing (Call Center), Offices and Dispatches, Leather and Derivatives, Chemicals and Related, Health and Hygiene, Insurance, Textile, Transport, Communications and all those sectors that can generate the evolution of the world of work. Those workers not affiliated to any of these trade unions will join the Various Trades Union.
Article 2. For the adhesion of a new union to SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA, it will be necessary to request it in writing to the corresponding Local Federation or, failing that, to the body of immediate level, attaching a copy of the corresponding act of adhesion, indicating the number of affiliates and Statutes or Internal Regulations of operation of the same, which may not contradict in any case the Statutes or the general regulations of the Trade Union Confederation SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA.
Article 3. Unions have full autonomy within their scope of operation provided that said autonomy does not contradict these Statutes and the general agreements of the SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA Trade Union Confederation, being themselves responsible for the obligations they contract in their management.
Article 4. The highest decision-making body of the Union is the General Assembly of its Affiliates, which will be convened on a regular basis, at least monthly. In any case, it will be held to attend plenary sessions of the Local Federation, Trade Union Conferences, Plenary Sessions and Congresses with full rights; as well as for the election of positions of its Permanent Secretariat or of representation.
The ordinary Assembly of the Union will be convened at least 10 days in advance, sending the affiliates the agenda with the clarifications and information that may be necessary. On an extraordinary basis, the Assembly will be convened at the request of a third of the members. In this case, the call will be made at least 5 days in advance.
In both cases, and at the beginning of the General Assembly of affiliates, the corresponding Table will be appointed, which will have at least three members: moderator, words and minutes, drawing up the corresponding minutes of the agreements, which will be corrected and approved at the beginning of the following Assembly.
FIFTH CHAPTER.
LOCAL FEDERATIONS
Article 1. The Local Federations that are constituted will be provided with a Permanent Secretariat in which all the Unions that form it will be represented with a maximum of two delegate members per union. Efforts will be made to ensure that this Secretariat has at least 4 members, responsible for the Areas of Trade Union Action, Social Action, Finance and Legal Affairs, and Press and Propaganda. It will meet at least fortnightly.
Article 2. Every two months, the Ordinary Assembly of Affiliates of the Local Federation (L.F) will be convened and held, in which they will discuss and reach agreements on the issues that each union presents to the Permanent Secretariat of the L.F. The agreements adopted to have this character must be ratified by the Assemblies of the unions. Once the agenda has been drawn up, it will be made public at least fifteen days in advance at the L.F and to the unions. The unions will be in charge of summoning all the affiliates. An Extraordinary Assembly of Affiliates will be convened at the request of any union belonging to the L.F.
HEADING V.
TITLE V
OF THE GOVERNING BODIES
FIRST CHAPTER.
THE CONGRESS OF SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA
Article 1. The Congress of the Solidaridad Obrera Trade Union Confederation is its highest decision-making body. It will be held on an ordinary basis every four years, and extraordinarily when decided by the body that is determined or when requested by 1/3 of the unions federated to the Solidaridad Obrera Trade Union Confederation. In the event that the congress is requested by the aforementioned 1/3 of unions, the call must be made by the Permanent Secretariat of the Confederation.
FOURTH CHAPTER.
THE PERMANENT SECRETARIAT OF THE FEDERAL COMMITTEE.
Article 1
The Permanent Secretariat of the Solidaridad Obrera Trade Union Confederation is the Organization's highest management body. It coordinates and develops the work of the Confederal Committee, so that the agreements and decisions of the Organization are carried out effectively.
Article 2
The Permanent Secretariat of the Federal Committee of the Solidaridad Obrera Trade Union Confederation is made up of the General Secretariat, the International Relations Secretariat, the Organization Secretariat; the Trade Union Action Secretariat, the Administration and Finance Secretariat; the Secretary of Communication; the Social Action Secretariat; the Secretariat for Training and Culture; and the Legal Secretariat.
SECOND CHAPTER.
OF THE PLENARY OF TRADE UNIONS
Article 1. The Plenum of Trade Unions is the highest decision-making body between congresses of the Solidaridad Obrera Trade Union Confederation. It will be held in an ordinary way with a maximum periodicity of one year, and extraordinarily when the Confederal Committee decides it or when 1/3 of the unions decide it. The agreements of the Plenary Sessions of Unions may not contradict or substantially alter those of the Congress.
THIRD CHAPTER.
OF THE CONFEDERAL COMMITTEE
Article 1. The Confederal Committee of the Solidaridad Obrera Trade Union Confederation is the body that coordinates and develops the execution of the agreements reached by the organization in its Trade Union Congresses and Plenary Sessions. It is made of the Permanent Secretariat and the Secretaries of the different Federations and Branch Federations, the latter with a voice but without a vote.
Each Regional Federation will have one vote.
Article 2. The Confederal Committee of the Solidaridad Obrera Trade Union Confederation will meet regularly every two months and extraordinarily when deemed pertinent by the Permanent Secretariat or 1/3 of the Confederations.
FOURTH CHAPTER.
THE PERMANENT SECRETARIAT OF THE FEDERAL COMMITTEE.
Article 1
The Permanent Secretariat of the Solidaridad Obrera Trade Union Confederation is the Organization's highest management body. It coordinates and develops the work of the Confederal Committee, so that the agreements and decisions of the Organization are carried out effectively.
Article 2
The Permanent Secretariat of the Federal Committee of the Solidaridad Obrera Trade Union Confederation is made up of the General Secretariat, the International Relations Secretariat, the Organization Secretariat; the Trade Union Action Secretariat, the Administration and Finance Secretariat; the Secretary of Communication; the Social Action Secretariat; the Secretariat for Training and Culture; and the Legal Secretariat.
Article 3. The Permanent Secretariat will be elected by the Confederate Congress, and exceptionally by a Plenary of Trade Unions, chosen from among the candidates put forward by the trade unions, which will be known fifteen days before the election.
Article 4. The term of office of the members of the Permanent Secretariat, including the General Secretariat, shall be four years, and they shall remain in office during the renewal process.
FIFTH CHAPTER.
REGARDING THE GENERAL SECRETARY.
Article 1. The General Secretary of the SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA Trade Union Confederation will hold the public and legal representation of the SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA Trade Union Confederation, having the legal powers that correspond as a legal and public representative thereof. These powers will be exercised in matters of interest to the SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA Trade Union Confederation, and it is accountable to it for its management.
SIXTH CHAPTER. ADDRESS
Article 1. For all purposes, the address of the SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA Trade Union Confederation will be in Madrid (28012) at Calle Espoz y Mina nº 15, with the possibility of establishing delegations when deemed necessary by the Confederal Committee of the SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA Trade Union Confederation.
SEVENTH CHAPTER .
MODIFICATION, DISSOLUTION AND MERGER
Article 1.
The SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA Trade Union Confederation cannot be dissolved if so agreed by at least 25% of the members, in a Confederal Congress convened for this purpose, in which any incidents arising from it will be resolved. The SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA Congress convened for this purpose is the only competent body to agree on the merger, modification and/or absorption of other trade union organizations.
TITLE VI.
ASSETS OF WORKERS' SOLIDARITY
Article 1.
The Assets of the SOLIDARIDAD OBRERA Trade Union Confederation are made up of:
1. The fees of its affiliates.
2. The assets, movable and immovable that by any title have been or could be acquired by the Organization and for the income that may be derived from the aforementioned assets.
3. Any other legally obtained resource.
|
