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28
May 2009
Between the 14-16th May
workers from Prague, Berlin, Brussels, Madrid, Luxembourg
and Bucharest marched to demand better protection against
the economic crisis. The marches were part of a campaign coordinated
by the ETUC which called for national governments across Europe
to counteract the growing number of unemployed by introducing
a 'New Social Deal' for Europe.
Reiner Hoffman, ETUC Deputy
General Secretary acknowledged the general sense of frustration
that not enough was being done on the EU level to protect
workers from the effects of the financial crisis.
John Monks the ETUC General
Secretary said:
"The
size of these Euro-demonstrations reveals the widespread concerns
for the future…Workers want life support systems for
industry and jobs too, and ambitious action to help the fight
against growing unemployment. That's the message from the
streets across Europe this week."
The New Social Deal called
for by the ETUC will place a greater emphasis on job security
rather than flexibility and ensure a greater priority is given
to social justice and solidarity.
Meanwhile 7,000 workers
marched in Birmingham to call on the UK government to protect
the manufacturing industry. Tony Woodley, Joint leader of
Unite the Union said "Our message today is it's no good
bailing out the banks if you are not looking after the workers,
their jobs and their homes."
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More info:
Read
our article on 'ETUC Demonstration Dates Announced' 11 March
2009
Read
our article 'Demonstrations to be Held Across Europe in Support
of Workers' Rights' 27 February 2009
Read
ETUC Press release 'Trade unions European Action Days: 350,000
people in the streets to demand ambitious action for employment'
Read
BBC article 'Workers call for action on jobs'
Read
Deutsche Welle article 'As job crisis looms, unions push for
new social deal'
Read the ETUC
Declaration - 'Fight the Crisis: Put the People First'
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