Autoreduction

Autoreduction (based on the French term autoréduction) is an anti-capitalist and collective practice of a group of people to impose a lower price of a product or service until it is free. A group of consumers take upon themselves to reduce the price of some good or service, and act collectively.^[1] This could include collectively engaging in shoplifting, avoiding paying transit fares or for tickets to enter movies, or calling in sick for work.^[2] The targeted service or product is generally considered by activists as being essential and should be available on an equal basis for all people. Critics of autoreduction do not distinguish between this type of practice and criminal theft or robberies.^[3]

This action takes various forms of non-payment for transportation or goods in supermarkets. It can result from refusal to include an increase in rent or utilities such as electricity, gas, or water. It may be done with the aim of redistributing goods to those in need.^[3]

Historical examples

In Italy, rent strikes are numerous and affected several large cities (Rome, Milan, and Turin) in the mid-1970s.^[4][5] This reappropriation of the proletarian practice was systematized by the autonomous movement also spoke of immediate communism. In France, this was the case in the rent strike in Sonacotra in 1975.^[6]

The Autonomia movement in 1977 involved activities of autoreduction, and had the result of spaces being created where principles like anti-capitalism are popular, among the related themes in punk and hardcore music.^[2]

After a lull in the practice of this type of action, there was a renewed interest in 2008: the social crisis caused by market speculation appears to be a favorable environment for the revival of the practice. In late 2008, several autoreductions were organized by politicized groups with precarious workers, unemployed, intermittent, and students in struggle, including Paris, Rennes, and Grenoble.^[7][8]

Requisitions in supermarkets

Autoreduction may also be done regarding food in supermarkets. The action involves shopping for foods and refusing to pay.^[3] After blocking checkout lanes in protest, dialogue is initiated with management. The militants rely on the time of blocking the credit union that may represent a loss to the company based on the amount of requisitioned products in shopping carts, as some customers decide to abandon their purchases because of the situation. If management agrees to allow the militants to leave with their carts, it is not legally a flight, but extortion.^[9] Requisitioned products are then collectively shared or distributed in neighborhoods, to show the militant and selfless character of the action.

Public transport

The practice of autoreduction in public transportation is to travel in large numbers via public transit without paying, and distributing leaflets among passengers traveling at the same time. The stated aim is to make this type of transport free in the city, as it may already be in other cities in the country. This approach has an ecological dimension, with a view that free public transport would encourage its use and reduce the number of cars in the city, thereby reducing pollution. This type of action has been taken over by militant environmental movements in the Camp for Climate Action, for example.

References

This article is based on the equivalent article from the French Wikipedia, consulted on 8 August 2016.