Report from the nationwide network meeting on 1 November 2014 in Frankfurt

Report by Tanja CarstensenAfter around 500 people who are politically active in various fields of social reproduction met in Berlin in March 2014 for the Care Revolution action conference, the first network meeting took place on 1 November. Almost 50 participants attended, including from queer-feminist groups, left-wing student groups, the Interventionist Left, Attac, women's lesbian groups, initiatives for an unconditional basic income, trade unions and churches, as well as employees in care, assistance and social work, parents, carers, artists and interested individuals. The main focus of the meeting was the question of how the network can work politically. Discussions took place in world cafés and plenary sessions: Where do we see ourselves in the Care Revolution, what is my contribution? How can we become more visible and influential, how can regional networks function? How can the interests of those affected, workers and activists be better combined? What can forms of action and intervention look like? Gabriele Winker began by presenting various steps on the path to the Care Revolution. The clear goal is a society based on solidarity. This requires fundamental political transformation strategies. Networking the existing groups that are already fighting in the area of care is an important first step - alongside the fight for individual security and the expansion of social infrastructures (these steps can be read in more detail in the book to be published next year by Transcript). In some cities, there are already initial attempts to establish such networks at a local level. In Freiburg, a group has been meeting since July and is currently looking at ways of organising high-profile activities, events or documentation of the plight of care workers in the city, using the example of the municipal healthcare system. At the same time, the group is planning an event in Freiburg on 8 March to highlight the importance of care work in neoliberalism and discuss further political action. In Berlin/Brandenburg, the AK Reproduktion Berlin organises regular meetings with the aim of promoting regional networking and exploring common topics and goals. There was also participation in the protests against the 1000 Crosses March. Interested parties also came together in Hamburg for an initial meeting in August to discuss the possibilities, wishes and needs of networking. Among other things, the concerns of breaking down the invisibility of care activities, addressing taboo topics (e.g. dementia) and finding ways to support each other in struggles, demonstrations or actions were formulated. In addition, actions have already taken place this year on 1 May in various cities under the motto "Day of Invisible Work". At the networking meeting in Frankfurt, it became clear that there is also interest in local networks in other cities. In addition, various ideas for joint actions and further perspectives were discussed. In Frankfurt, for example, a working group on "Struggles for social infrastructure in Europe" is planned as part of the Blockupy festival. Next year, actions are to take place in many cities on 8 March and 1 May. In Berlin, there will be a large demonstration on 8 March to mark Women*s Struggle Day, at which care issues will also play a role. Initial ideas have been collected for actions on "Invisible Labour Day" on 1 May 2015. Participants from various cities have announced actions on this day so that the concerns of the Care Revolution will be visible in different places. In addition, collective bargaining negotiations are due to take place next year in the social and educational services sector, for example, which will be accompanied and supported by the Care Revolution network. In connection with the collective bargaining, ver.di is planning a campaign to raise the status of job profiles in cooperation with GEW. Together with the Care Revolution network, the Left Party parliamentary group, ver.di activists and individual social organisations, the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation is planning a strategy conference on care and nursing work to follow on from the action conference. The upcoming decisions in the Bundestag on the topic of care could also be mobilised. In addition to links to the demands for an unconditional basic income, networking with the struggles for housing and the city is also conceivable. Ideas such as "agitprop in front of large care facilities" have also emerged. There could also be more reference to current struggles, e.g. in Hamburg, two days before the Frankfurt meeting, 4000 nursery school teachers and parents went on strike for more staff in daycare centres. So there are many ideas and approaches for action and protest. At the same time, however, it also became clear that there must be room for substantive debate. The term "care" - especially in contrast to "reproductive labour" - continues to be the starting point for critical discussions and the question of what we mean when we talk about "care" remains open. Equally important are the references to not losing sight of gender relations, unpaid care work and feminist perspectives. There was also agreement that it is important to take time to listen to each other, also in order to do justice to the diversity of problems, interests and needs. And last but not least, it remains essential to keep a constant eye on the exclusions that we ourselves create. One suggestion was therefore to integrate groups and individuals who are unable to attend, e.g. because they are so heavily involved in care or support, into the network via a patronage system. It was also noted that individuals can become part of the network even without a group or association behind them. All of these issues remain challenges. Nevertheless, the breadth of content and diversity of starting points for action can be the strength of a Care Revolution network. A second report is available here (PDF): Report from the nationwide network meeting on 1 November 2014 in Frankfurt a.M.