European Trade Unions Mobilise on 14 November

INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION

European Trade Unions Mobilise on 14 November

Brussels, 13 November 2012 (ITUC OnLine): The ITUC has pledged its full support to the European trade union movement’s November 14 Day of Action and Solidarity. Strike actions in Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal are planned, along with demonstrations and solidarity activities in 23 countries across the continent. The ETUC-organised mobilisation has been called to strengthen opposition to the destructive austerity policies being pushed by the “Troika” (European Commission, European Central Bank and IMF), and build momentum 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.”

“Unions from around the world were shocked at the briefings from our European affiliates given at the ITUC General Council meeting this month in Jordan. The Council decided to give full backing to the 14 November actions, recognising that attacks on workers’ rights and the austerity business model in Europe threaten prosperity and social cohesion everywhere,” said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.

“Youth unemployment is one of the most damaging consequences of the Troika’s obsession with the discredited economics of austerity. More than half of young people in Greece and Spain are without work, more than a third in Italy and Portugal, and 27% in Cyprus. This is simply intolerable, and even worse, the architects of austerity have no idea and no plan of how to rebuild economic growth – they are simply focused on keeping financial markets happy without regard to the social and economic costs,” said Burrow.

To show your support for the European action day: http://act.equaltimes.org/en/node/144

See the ITUC Letter to Herman van Rompuy and Manuel Barroso: http://www.ituc-csi.org/letters-from-the-ituc-european.html

To find out more: http://www.etuc.org/

The ITUC represents 175 million workers in 308 affiliated national organisations from 153 countries and territories.

Follow us on the web: http://www.ituc-csi.org and http://www.youtube.com/ITUCCSI

ENDS

© Scoop Media