Rejecting austerity and pushing to a change in economic governance. Mirroring the Congress’ leitmotiv and the action plan approved by the 1,000 representatives present, the Athens Manifesto, adopted at the end of the ETUC’s 12th Congress which took place this week in the Greek capital, emphasizes the Euro Plus Pact and economic governance, as expected. These two tools, currently being debated by the government enjoins unions, more than ever, to “mobilize for social Europe” – the meeting’s slogan. The affiliated organizations made a unanimous observation: a wave of flexibilization/deregulation which seems overpowering is descending upon Europe, social systems are assaulted at their core since wages, collective bargaining and social protection are under attack, and the national confederations also realized, at least more than they used to, that they cannot oppose effective resistance and counter power alone in their own country, even the most powerful. Therefore, there is a request for more social Europe, and for more Europe, admittedly different. This pro-European position, declaimed by most national affiliated organizations, is taking place while citizens – Greek as Finnish – are increasingly anti-European rather than “alter-European” and national withdrawal is increasingly tempting.
Publication
20 May 2011 à 05h52
Publication:
20 May 2011 à 05h52
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r more Europe, admittedly different. This pro-European position, declaimed by most national affiliated organizations, is taking place while citizens – Greek as Finnish – are increasingly anti-European rather than “alter-European” and national withdrawal is increasingly tempting.
Against national governments and the EU’s economic and political course, the ETUC “will campaign at all levels” to defend the autonomy of the social partners and the idea that “wages are not the enemy of the economy but its motor.” The ETUC also promises to “fight for a European New Deal for workers, against austerity governance, cuts in pay, social security and public services; and for European economic governance that serves the interests of the European people and not the markets including qualitative growth, full employment, strengthening the European social model.