No to austerity – Priority for industrial jobs and growth
Overview of actions
ETUC European trade union assembly in front of the European Council – 25 January 2012
The ETUC organised a gathering of its member organisations in front of the European Council to demonstrate trade union solidarity in the face of the crisis. The EMF, in unison with the participating ETUC affiliates, reminded European decision-makers in the run up to the EU Summit on 30th January that:
"Enough is enough. There are alternatives. For jobs and social justice"
EUROPEAN TRADE UNION DAY OF ACTION
french version available here
In the face of a worsening economic and social situation and the ever-tougher austerity measures being imposed by Europe's leaders as the only solution, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has called for a European day of action on 29 February, the eve of the European Council. Trade unions will mobilise across Europe to have jobs and social justice placed at the heart of political priorities.
NEW TREATY: NO TO RIGID FISCAL DISCIPLINE WITHOUT SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
The international agreement put in place at the European Council on 9 December 2011 is currently the subject of intense discussion. The objective seems to be to impose even stricter austerity measures without offering any prospects for growth. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) condemns this approach. Fiscal discipline alone, in the absence of recovery and investment measures, is dragging countries into crisis. Employment and social justice are top priority today for millions of Europeans.
THE “LAST CHANCE SUMMIT” PRODUCES A SPLIT IN THE EU AND MORE AUSTERITY 9 December 2011
version française ci-dessous
The European summit produces a split in the European Union (EU), more labour market destabilisation and a “golden” rule: austerity. The forthcoming Intergovernmental agreement risks undermining the integrity of the EU. The UK government has a heavy responsibility in forcing through a change dividing Europe. The 27 member countries, all united, still managed to confirm their policies for negative labour market reform and more flexibility.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! EUROPEAN WORKERS FIGHT AGAINST AUSTERITY AND FOR A BETTER AND FAIRER FUTURE
French version here
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) supports actions organised at national level by its affiliates to fight against austerity and for a fairer and better future.
ETUC issue message to the European Summet on 23 October
NO MORE AUSTERITY AND ATTACKS ON SOCIAL RIGHTS!
The ETUC and its affiliates sent a clear and strong message to European leaders ahead of the European summet scheduled to take place on Sunday 23rd October in Brussels.
Read here the statement drafted by the ETUC Executive Committee in its meeting on 19 - 20 October: FR and EN
ETUC concerned over worsening Greek plight
ETUC "NO to Austerity" campaign update (full austerity section here)
In a communication to its affiliates, the ETUC expresses fears over the worsening situation in Greece. Bernadette Ségol, ETUC General Secretary, describes how the "Troika" (FMI, ECB and European Commission) are subjecting the Greek authorities to unrealistic demands that encroach on collective bargaining autonomy and labour rights.
Find a summary note by Zoe Lanara, GSEE International Relations Secretary, about the current situation in the country. The ETUC leader has called on affiliates to use this note with the press, with affiliates' respective national governments and in any other way affiliates deem effective.
Austerity Watch Map
The ETUC is keeping track of austerity measures across Europe and is highlighting them on a map. See here.
ETUC Euro Demonstration
Yes to Solidarity ! Yes to Jobs and Workers’ Rights! No to Austerity!
In Wroclaw on 16 September on the eve of their Euro demonstration, the ETUC Steering Committee adopted the statement "For a stronger Europe of sustainable growth and social cohesion".
No to austerity governance
Yes to a social European Union based on solidarity
ETUC demonstration in Luxemburg City on 21 June 2011
Governing Europe means giving higher priority to employment and social justice.
Governing Europe also means refusing precarious employment and competitive wage reductions.
We are calling for an urgent change of tack in favour of a social Europe and a new
model of economic governance: European governance which is fair and based on solidarity, and ensures some genuine economic recovery policies.
Euro demonstration in Budapest
'No to Austerity - For Social Europe, for Fair Pay and for Jobs'
Saturday, 9 April 2011
The ETUC, in co-operation with the Hungarian trade unions, is calling for participation in the Euro-demonstration taking place in Budapest, Hungary on 9 April 2011.
No to austerity: Marching for an alternative in London
Along with 500,000 ordinary people marching to oppose the UK government’s national austerity measures, EMF affiliates (Unite, GMB and Community) had large delegations calling for an alternative based on growth, jobs and justice. The EMF was represented in the march by Judith Kirton-Darling and Tony Murphy.
European Day of Action in Brussels
Trade union demonstrations and rallies take place in Brussels on 24 March, as part of the ETUC European Day of Action.
The aim of the Day of Action is to highlight trade union opposition to the European economic governance proposal, which will be examined during the European Summit on 24-25th March.
EMF Resolution: Ever greater austerity pushing us into social recession
European Week of Action: For an alternative to Austerity Governance
The ETUC is launching a European Week of Action in the week beginning Monday 21 March 2011.
European Union leaders in the eurozone met on 11 March 2011 in Brussels to consider further various proposals for economic governance and competitiveness to cover the eurozone and to a degree the whole of the EU – to operate from 2013. They will meet again on March 24/25.
The proposals under discussion include:
- a competitiveness pact with norms for salary moderation, based on benchmarking unit labour costs (Van Rompuy/Barroso)
- strict limits on public sector pay and an “improvement” in wage indexation schemes (Van Rompuy/Barroso)
- a rise in the age of retirement linked to life expectancy (Van Rompuy/Barroso)
- an end to wage indexation (Merkel/Sarkozy)
- a general move to retirement at 67 (Merkel/Sarkozy)
In the ETUC view, these proposals are designed to reduce pay and pension entitlements in many countries. They constitute a basis for interference with the autonomy of the social partners as defined in the Lisbon Treaty. They are designed to enshrine the austerity and anti-growth policies currently being applied severely in Greece, Ireland and Romania by the EU/IMF.
EMF Resolution: Ever greater austerity pushing us into social recession
In the context of sustained attacks on national debt in the bond markets, the extremely fragile economic recovery and high unemployment, especially youth unemployment, the European Commission and member states are pressing for the reinforcement of economic governance in the EU (and particularly in the euro area) with new enforcement mechanisms for non-compliant member states.
Better economic coordination to support the monetary union is essential. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that reducing public deficits and ‘belt-tightening’ has become the cornerstone of European economic decision-making. There is no real strategy based on growth on the table.
Europe urgently needs a strong full employment policy.
MEPs defend investment and jobs
On 15 March 2011 the EMF invited Members of the European Parliament to make filmed statements on economic governance.
The recording was made in the VoxBox in the European Parliament in Brussels. Statements were made by Sylvie Goulard (ALDE: FR), Thomas Händel (GUE-NGL: DE), Stephen Hughes (S&D: UK), Philippe Lambert (Greens: BE) and Olle Ludvigsson (S&D: SE).
The MEPs gave their views on the Commission and Council proposals on economic governance and alternative proposals promoting investment, solidarity and jobs. The format was a roundtable chaired by Peter Scherrer, EMF General Secretary.
The video is available here now.
IG Metall kündigt betrieblichen Aktionstag für „sichere und faire Arbeit“ an
Die IG Metall hat für den 24. Februar einen bundesweiten, betrieblichen Aktionstag gegen Leiharbeit und prekäre Beschäftigung angekündigt.
„Arbeit ist der wertvollste Rohstoff, den Deutschland besitzt. Arbeit darf nicht zur Ramschware verkommen“, sagte Berthold Huber, Erster Vorsitzender der IG Metall, am Donnerstag in Frankfurt.
Wer Leiharbeit und prekäre Beschäftigung fördere oder zulasse, untergrabe daneben massenhaft persönliche Lebensperspektiven. Die IG Metall werde deshalb in den Betrieben ein deutliches Zeichen gegen diesen Trend setzen. „Arbeit muss sicher und fair sein.“
Ever greater austerity pushing us into social recession
“Finance Ministers have a responsibility to promote a sustainable growth and jobs agenda, not an ideological attack on workers and welfare states at the request of financial market hawks”, stated EMF General Secretary Peter Scherrer on the eve of a key Finance Ministerial in Brussels.
Europe at a crossroads: Spanish-German trade union statement on austerity
Statement issued by the major trade union centres of Spain and Germany — CC.OO., UGT and DGB — on the occasion of the Spanish-German Summit that took place on 3 February in Madrid.
The statement criticizes the austerity and structural reform policies promoted by EU institutions since they will only impede the recovery and increase inequality.
No to austerity! Priority for jobs and growth. The campaign continues.
No to austerity!
Metalworkers call for FTT for investment and jobs to keep our industries afloat!
“European metalworkers have responded en masse to the ETUC call to demonstrate tomorrow against the austerity measures pursued by European governments. Our members are marching with the ETUC here in Brussels and taking part in other trade union actions across Europe to demonstrate the metalworkers’ concerns and fight for jobs in European manufacturing industries,” stated EMF’s General Secretary Peter Scherrer.
Northern Cyprus: Massive rejection of Ankara's reform package
On 28 January, more than 30 000 workers participated in a massive meeting and a general strike organised by the trade union movement in Northern Cyprus, supported by other groupings.
The aim of the meeting was to say no the “reform package” pressed for by the Government in Ankara, which would hurt fundamental workers’ rights.
General strike in Basque Country a success
The general strike on 27 January in the Basque Country organised by ELA against the pensions reform was a great success in terms of support and mobilization.
The strike was massively seconded and thousands of people rallied in the streets of the Basque Country to show their rejection with the reform.
