1996 saw the biggest wave of struggles across Europe for more than 20 years. Strikes, demonstrations and occupations took place against the convergence criteria of the Maastricht Treaty and the cuts and austerity programmes they have generated It is far from the first time that the effects of the convergence criteria have been challenged in this way. There were strikes and demonstrations against cuts in welfare and government austerity measures in Italy and Greece soon after the Treaty was signed. In the Autumn of 1994 there were mass strikes in Italy followed by demonstrations in France against cuts in education. December 1995 saw the huge confrontation in France which shook the government to its foundations. Millions of workers struck and millions demonstrated across the country against the Juppé plan and in defence of the welfare state. It was by far biggest challenge mounted by the French working class in since 1968.
The political climate in which it took place was of course very different and the moverent of the 1990s lacked the vision of 1968, though some of the mobilisations were even bigger.
1996 saw major strikes in a number of European countries as the governments continued their negotiations and monetary union crept closer. There were mass strikes in Italy Portugal, Belgium, Greece and Spain, while France maintained the highest level of class struggle in Europe. In Germany the biggest workers' demonstration since the second world war forced the Kohl government to withdraw In Engkand proposed cuts in welfare.
In October, 150,000 metal workers particinated in strikes in Germany. At the end of November 3 million Greek workers took part in a one day general strike involving both public and private sector workers.
80,000 French lorry drivers paralysed France with road blocks demanding more pay, early den retirement and tax concessions. It was the most powerful strike action by an individual section of workers in France for years, and at the heart of the private sector. It showed, if any further illustration was needed, the massive potential of the working class in Europe.
Fearing a more generalised social explosion, the French ruling class had to concede the drivers' main demands. They won a massive victory.
welfare state"
Labour's helping hand ROBIN COOK has pledged that the British government will do "everything in its power"
to make sure the single currency gets off the ground on schedule in 1999 - "whether we are part of it or not"
Britain has the EU presidency for the first half of next year, the crucial period for deciding which countries will join the single currency.
Gordon Brown - described by one union militant as "deeper into Emu than Rod Hull" is also working consistently towards British participation, beginning with the abdication of control of interest rates to the Bank of England.
*dewerkscal Molzund Kunsissor my Arbeit titplet Schlachten sie Rinder Deutschland Soziatstaal "In England they are killing cows, in Germany they are killing the
Their struggle inspired truck drivers in Finland to mount blockades on the border with Russia and blockades were set up by Danish and Portuguese bus workers. On December 11, two million workers struck in Spain against austerity programmes. There were demonstrations of 210,000 in Madrid and 100,000 in Inspired by the tactics of the French lorry drivers, 80,000 Greek small farmers declared "holy war" against Prime Minister Costas Smitis and his PASOK government's austerity policy.
They cut Greece in half by blocking the roads with their tractors, demanding increased subsidies and tax concessions. The government replied saying that there would have to be further cuts in government spending if Greece was to have any chance of meeting the Maastricht convergence criteria, and that this was their priority. Not since austerity measures were first introduced in the mid 1980's has the government of the EU's poorest member state faced such opposition. The revolt of the farmers was all the more painful in that it came from a sector that has traditionally supported PASOK. On Wednesday December 17 most of Italy came to a halt when millions struck in support of engineering workers demanding higher wages. At the same time there were more strikes in France involving transport workers, communication workers, energy supply and theatre workers. There were further strikes and demonstrations in Spain against cuts in public spending. Greece paralysed On December 18, Greek seafarers began a two day strike, and tens of thousands of demonstrators marched through Athens as part of a public sector strike involving teachers, local government workers and health workers. It was the second mass strike within weeks, and with much of the country still paralysed by the farmers' blockades, plunged Greece into further crisis. The following day, December 19, a campaign by unemployed workers in France demanding increased unemployment benefit led by the two main unemployed organisations and major sponsors of the Euro marches - Agir Ensemble ILLION 18 Contre le Chomage (AC) and the Association de Defense et d'Entraide des Chomeurs (ADEC) - won an 11% increase in unemployment benefit from the government.
This came after a month of direct action by unemployed workers. They had occupied unemployment benefit offices and offices of employers' organisations, and fought repeated battles with the police who tried to evict them. During 1997 we have seen the first genuine Europe-wide protests - mobilising workers from Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal and Slovenia in joint protest at Renault's proposed plant closures, with solidarity from Belgian workers SINGLE from Volvo, Volkswagen, Ford and General Motors.
The mass action of German miners, who invaded Bonn and blockaded the city centre, forced a major climbdown by the Kohl CURRENCY government, which retreated from a Thatcher-style rundown of German coal mining at the cost of extra government subsidies. In Italy, the trade unions are standing firm against government plans to slash welfare services. These struggles have not yet been replicated
During 1997 we have seen the first genuine Europe-wide protests - mobilising workers from Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal and Slovenia in joint protest at Renault's proposed plant closures GAR Poly Cortoon from'People's Europe' campaign pamphiet
in Britain, although the size of deteat inflicted on the Tory government on May 1 is a clear refiecton of the mass revulsion at its policy of axing welfare spending. The British working class and trade unions have suffered more defeats over the last 18 years than anywhere else in Europe. During the French strikes at the end of 1995 the British media pointed out that such action would be impossible in Britain because of the anti-union laws. This s of course a simplification - action can be taken outside the law - but there is no doubt that the law together with the 'new realist' policies of the trade union leaders have worked together to leave Britain isolated from this European-wide tide of struggle.
To maximise the impact of these campaigns and their chances of success requires more co-ordination and united action by the workers' movement Europe-wide.
Most struggles will take place at least in the first instance on a national level, putting forward demands aimed at national governments. But it is important to recognise the common factors, link up those in struggle and spread the fight across the continent.
The attacks against the working class however are being organised at a European level. driven forward by Maastricht, and a Europe-wide response is needed. The only initiative concretely addressing this need at the present time is the European March for Jobs.
Unpopular mandate ALL OVER Europe, capitalist Efforts by the Italian government to governments are forging ahead hack back its budget deficit in line towards the single currency in the with Maastricht requirements have teeth of massive and growing not satisfied the European opposition. Commission, which predicted in April In Sweden, which like Britain and that only Italy and Greece would fail Greece is currently outside the to meet the 3% target. Exchange Rate Mechanism, a poll at The Italian government has the end of 1996 showed 60% would imposed a specific one-off "Eurotax" vote against membership of the EUl if among the measures to cut hack its they were asked again, and a deficit, currently running at 6.8%, just miserable 18% supported the single 0.3% lower than last year. There were currency. formal protests in Rome at the EC Denmark rejouted the Maastricht findings, but the report has been Treaty in 1992, and only secured followed by a reprimand from a acceptance the following year after meeting of finance ministers who did opting out of the single currency. not accept that the budget-balancing Spain's right-wing government of measures offered long-term stability. Jose Maria Aznar has embarked upon .: Unions spending cuts and privatisation to cut While the government is eagerto its government deficit to the 3% of GDP allowed by Maastricht. And with enter the single currency in order to 22% of the workforce unemployed, is reduce the cost of paying off looking for ways of cutting accumulated debts, it has not redundancy costs to smooth the path convinced Italian unions, who are to further rationalisation of industry. standing firm against cuts in welfare But while Spanish bosses demand and pensions. even more changes to cut their costs, Perhaps the biggest headache of all polis show that after a year in office, is in Germany, where even the rigid Aznar's government has failed to control of the Bundesbank has not extend its popular support, and would stopped the budget deficit in the recession-hit economy exceeding probably lose an election.
- Maastricht's 3% limit, and De national debt exceedi-; the 60% Maastricht maximum, To make matters worze for H Kohl, polls show that 77% of German amant the single currency pestaonse Building workers are the tatest to threaten natlonal action, this tme on pay and conditions.
In France, where the alection is nearing its conclusion as we go to press, thare has bean a growth of opposition to the single currency, eith the Socialists proposing to renegotiate tha Maastriont Treaty, an even the Gaullist right now split on the Issus: Leading Gaullist Charles Pasqua has called for a roferondem, saying that unemploymet me 12.0% was too high a prico to pay for a Europe constructed by financiers and technocrats"
According to the latest reckoning at the EU linance ministers meeting on May 13, only tive govermonts haye so far reached the approved tat finland, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Ireland and Denmark, The romainl nine - Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Portugal, Spain and Sweden - remain on a "blacklist",