Forwarded message: Date: Sat, 25 May 1996 16:52:28 +0100 From: Chris Bailey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: European call for action on unemployment Sender: Forum on Labor in the Global Economy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-to: Forum on Labor in the Global Economy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> **European call for a broad action against unemployment** Today there are 90 million officially-registered unemployed in the European Union and 50 million people living below the poverty line. Each of us could become a victim of this situation. Social cleavages are deepening, unemployment and poverty put each individual in a precarious situation, worsen working conditions of those still in a job and push wages and social benefits down. This situation is intolerable In Turin, the European Union started a discussion on its future, which will be completed at the inter-governmental conference in Amsterdam next year. Our greatest fear is that either the discussions will be limited to the institutional questions or that, behind the rhetoric about employment as a priority, measures will be taken which make jobs still more insecure. In general, everything leads us to think that the social questions which are the major concern of the people in our countries will not be dealt with. We think, that, to the contrary, a radical and resolute policy of a fight against unemployment is necessary. This policy must, as an urgent measure, make it possible for all the unemployed and those living in poverty to live decently which means the right to housing, the right to an adequate income. . . We cannot accept a society in which unemployment continues. We reaffirm the need for full employment and thus the creation of new jobs, in particular in sectors like health, education and environmental protection. which answer social needs. The reduction of mass unemployment means. in a period in which there are big gains in productivity, a massive reduction in working time. without loss of wages. For these political proposals to be heard there has to be a mobilisation of all, women and men, those with jobs and without, farmers, students and the retired, living in Europe. We propose that a broad-based action against unemployment be organised at a European level at the time of the Inter-governmental Conference. There are several possibilities: - a European Conference; - Joint initiatives in all the major European cities; - marches by unemployed and workers across Europe for two months coming together in Amsterdam in June 1997; - or any other initiatives. We propose that we discuss these proposals in each country and that we meet again during the next Inter-governmental Conference in mid-June 1996 in Florence, Italy, to decide together on an action against unemployment. Marizio Poletto CGIL / Unemployed Information Centre. Piedmont and national leadership / Italy Giorgio Sasso CGIL / Unemployed Information Centre, Turin / Italy Jose Maria Olaizola Albeniz, General Secretary of the CGT / Spain Uwe Wolf <<Express>>/ socialistisches Buro / Germany Christophe Aguiton, Frederique Pasquier, Thierry Temime, Agir Ensemble Contre le Chomage / France. Phone (+33) 1 4462 1286. Fax (+33) 1 4462 1234
