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Large scale trade union mobilisation for jobs and solidarity and against austerity
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In response to an appeal by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), a large-scale mobilisation will be held across Europe on 14 November. The aim of this European day of action and solidarity is to call upon Europe’s leaders to demonstrate their determination to really get to grips with the deterioration in employment and to respond to the growing social anxiety felt by Europe’s citizens. Austerity is a total dead end, and must be abandoned. Social protection and wages can no longer be sacrificed. This is a social emergency, and it is time to listen to what the citizens and workers have to say, and to change course.
The day of action on 14 November will take various forms: for example, there will be strikes in Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy. For the first time in its history, an ETUC day of action will include simultaneous strikes in four countries. Strikes are not the only type of action involved. Demonstrations will be held in France and in some Eastern countries (Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Romania).
This 14 November is also a day of solidarity. Many countries will be holding actions to show their solidarity with the countries which are facing the brutality of the austerity measures and their consequences (Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Scandinavian countries and the Netherlands etc.)...
... Approximately 40 trade union organisations from 23 countries will be involved in the European day of action and solidarity.
“By sowing austerity, we are reaping recession, rising poverty and social anxiety”, argues Bernadette Ségol, ETUC General Secretary. “In some countries, people’s exasperation is reaching a peak. We need urgent solutions to get the economy back on track, not stifle it with austerity. Europe’s leaders are wrong not to listen to the anger of the people who are taking to the streets. The Troika can no longer behave so arrogantly and brutally towards the countries which are in difficulty. They must urgently address the issues of jobs and social fiscal justice and they must stop their attacks on wages, social protection and public services. The ETUC is calling for a social compact for Europe with a proper social dialogue, an economic policy that fosters quality jobs, and economic solidarity among the countries of Europe. We urgently need to change course”.
/More... http://www.etuc.org/a/10550
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14 November 2012 - 07H30 AFP - Protesters bristling over austerity cuts launch a Europe-wide string of rallies and strikes Wednesday, pouring into streets, refusing to work and grounding more than 700 flights. General strikes in Spain and Portugal will spearhead the day of action called by European unions and joined by activists as anger over governments' tight-fisted policies boils over...
... The impact of strike may be undermined by legislation requiring a minimum service in both Spain and Portugal, but airlines have nevertheless warned of a large number of cancellations. Iberia, Iberia Express, Air Nostrum, Vueling, Air Europa and easyJet cut more than 600 flights including some 250 international routes. Ryanair said no flights had been scrapped yet. Portugal's TAP said it was grounding more than 160 flights, most of them international...
... Short of taking full strike action, unions and activists in other European countries say they, too, plan to support the "Day of Action and Solidarity" against austerity and in favour of jobs. Union-led rallies are being called across France, Belgium and in Poland, where workers decry "social and wage-dumping" in their country.
High-speed Thalys rail services between Belgium and Germany have also been cancelled for the day...
/... http://www.france24.com/en/20121114-anti-austerity-anger-stirs-strikes-europe
El País Madrid 13 NOV 2012 - 19:54 CET - Spain was readying itself Tuesday for its second national strike against the government’s austerity drive in less than a year, as Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said he would stick by his policies...
... Rajoy said the country faced further reforms and “many battles” with a view to restoring the economy. “The Spanish economy will grow again in 2014,” he said. In a speech delivered in Valencia, Rajoy made no direct reference to the stoppage, but said: “There is no room for easy remedies, miraculous measures and useless short cuts.”...
... The unions acknowledged adhesion to the strike could be less than hoped for because of the tough financial situation of many families whose members are still in work, but expected a massive turnout to protests organized for later in the day.
The Interior Ministry said it had ordered police to move against incidents of “violent picketing.”...
/... http://elpais.com/elpais/2012/11/13/inenglish/1352832813_479508.html
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