(26 September 2012) Tens of thousands of workers and citizens take to the streets to say no to austerity in several European countries. The financial and economic crisis is taking its toll on Social Europe. Some countries face a social catastrophe which the Argentine President Fernandez compares to the situation in Argentina in 2000. She condemned the repression against the indignados in Madrid 25 September in her speech to the UN General Assembly.
In Portugal and Spain over two million people marched on September 15th. In Lisbon it was the biggest demonstration since the fall of the fascist dictatorship in the 70s. For the first time since austerity has been imposed on people across Europe, a Government has said that it will backtrack and listen to popular outrage. Greece saw yet another one-day General strike on the 26th and EPSU German affiliate Ver.di is supporting a massive public action on 29 September calling for a redistribution of wealth in Germany. In major cities like Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne people will call for taxing the wealthy and fighting tax fraud and evasion. Italy and France are witnessing big movements against austerity also with a general strike in the public sector on 28th in Italy.
The good news is that the European Commission has decided to withdraw its plans proposal for the Monti II regulation. The parliaments of 12 countries adopted reasoned opinions arguing the regulation violates the subsidiarity principle of the Treaty. We welcome that it has been withdrawn and ETUC has called for the social progress clause to be put in place to ensure social rights have priority over economic freedoms of companies. These are not citizens.
A final point, is the mobilisation that we are organising in solidarity with our KESK colleagues in prison. Next October 4th a hearing will take place in Ankara with the 15 female workers in jail since February (more info). On September 19th EPSU met with KESK trade unionists in Brussels, together with ETUCE, ETUC and ITUC to mobilise against the repression of unions in Turkey. EPSU will be part of the delegation that attends the hearing in Ankara.
Autumn is approaching and it will be a hot one!
Yours
Carola
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