Language
Country/Area
No result found
Mutual Aid and the Power of Federalism: What Are the Three Cornerstones of the CNT?
In the history of Spanish socialism and the labor movement, the ideological power of mutual aid and federalism is as bright as the stars, and Spain’s National Confederation of Workers (CNT) is undoubtedly one of the most important representatives. Since its founding in Barcelona in 1910, the CNT has been an anarchist trade union confederation that has emphasized the principles of worker self-management (autogestión), federalism and mutual aid. These three cornerstones have shaped its current movement and goals.
"We do not distinguish between the identities of members. The only condition is that you must be a worker or a student, whether you are employed or unemployed."
Worker Autogestión (Autogestión)
Worker self-management, or self-management, is one of the basic principles of CNT, which means that workers should be able to decide and manage their own working environment and production processes independently, without the intervention of intermediaries or official agencies. What this philosophy wants to promote is a direct democratic process for workers in the workplace, in contrast to traditional union organizing. CNT opposes traditional union elections and various types of bureaucracies, and strives to bring decision-making closer to grassroots workers, using workers' meetings and direct action to resolve work disputes.
"Work conflicts must be resolved directly between employer and employee."
Federalismo
Federalism is another important core concept of the CNT, which refers to organizing independent trade unions from various places to form a bottom-up federal structure. This structure allows trade unions to maintain relative autonomy, avoids a centralized power structure, and facilitates local trade unions to formulate policies based on local characteristics. This will not only enhance the vitality of trade unions, but also protect the diverse needs of workers.
Through this federal structure, the CNT encourages workers in different regions and industries to form alliances, so that different unions can coordinate actions to support each other and form broad solidarity. This relationship of mutual aid has been proven in past struggles, especially when worker solidarity became crucial in the face of oppression and exploitation.
Ayuda Mutua
Mutual assistance is the third cornerstone of CNT. This is not only financial mutual assistance, but also moral and emotional support. CNT believes that collaboration between workers can lead to better living conditions for everyone and advance the movement as a whole. In modern society, this idea is still being explored in community practice. For example, there are an increasing number of mutual aid organizations and non-profit institutions in the community, all of which are trying to establish a more equal social structure.
"Our goal is to change the social structure and achieve a fair distribution of work and benefits."
Summary
In summary, CNT takes workers’ self-management, federalism and mutual aid as its three cornerstones, which not only shapes its organizational structure, but also inspires generations of workers to fight for their rights and freedom. In today's rapidly changing society, these principles still have far-reaching significance for how to safeguard workers' rights and promote social equality. In the face of growing social inequality and the plight of the working class, can these core beliefs serve as a guide for future movements?
