action was inmateo by tne French organisation AC! (act logerner angamst unemployment) who organised successful marches on the issues in -rance in 1994. Meetings in Forence and Paris attended by representatives from unemployed and trade union organisations from most European countries have endorsed the call for marches across the European Union converging at the Amsterdam Inter Governmental Conterence with a 30,000 strong demonstration on June 14 1997. Marches are currently planned in italy, Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, Denmark and Holland.
The marches are in onbosition to the implementation of the Maastricht convergence criteria for the creation of the European single currency. The requirement that budget dencits are reduced to 3% and overall debts to 60% of Gross Domestic Product is leading to slashing of welfare budgets, given that governments are unwilling to raise taxes. This is turiner exacerbating already chronic unemployment - implementation could create an additional 10m unemnloved on top the 20m already out of work. Cuts in Britain required are £19bn or equivalent to the whole of the NHS hospitals' budget.
The Manchester meeting was chaired by Mike Hindley MEP for Lancashire South. He explained the devastating effect attempts to meet the convergence criteria are having across Furone and nointed to the pro. tests occurring including massive strikes and demonstrations Iwo proposals for action were before the meeting. Glen Voris of St Helens TUC Re- achievable. source Centre proposed that we should attempt to build 3 marches; the first starting from Scotland on May 10 1997, a second from the North West was raised.
and a third march from South Wales. Between them they would go through most major cities on this island. There would be local meeting, cold no caven rallies and feeder marches along the way and a major demonstration in London on June 7. dam. The marchers would then cross to Belgium and march with the other contingents to Amsterdam. The British march should have its own slogans; for full employment; defend the wel fare state: scran the SA He argued that while the ing project. plan was ambitious, it was German cor workers demonstrate against cuts in welfare. Their banner reads "cutting sick pay stirs up poverty".
A draft budget of The National Unemployed about £50,000 would be Centres' Combine represented quired. Numbers of marchers by Kevin Fynn and Martin Canand routes covered could be tor proposed on the other hand scaled down if not all the money a Rolling Roadshow with Regional TUCS He pointed to the success of marches rallies and concerts at the recent Welfare State Net- each stop, to take place over a work (W SN) Hull - Blackpool 10 day period before going on march as evidence of what to the Amsterdam demonstraOver half tion. the WSN marchers had already They argued that full blown pledged to march to Amster- marches were not only overambitious but were not actually Organisations such as Re- desirable. Their position, they claim the Future who mobilised stated, was in line with the view in support of the dockers dem- of the TUC and STUC: onstration and Groundswell the other proposals could end campaigning against the Job up being 'anti- trade union and Seekers Allowance could be in- anti Labour.' voted in building for this excit- They received little support for their view. Delegate after delegate spoke in favour of the political logic and practical viability of full blown marches'.
Scepticism was expressed that regional TUC's would do nothing, that even the modest organising proposals of the Combine would not be carried through. Given the fact that the TÚC itself is in favour of monetary union the likelihood of any action from these quarters is minimal After a long debate the Si Helens oronosals adopted unanimously on the suggestion of Kevin Flynn, with while the Combine reserving its position.
A committee was elected with a place reserved for the Combine should they decide to support the decision.
The meeting was confident to set ambitious tasks at both a political and organisational level.
Every locality will need to follow the lead of Birmingham where the local Community Conference, which has a proud record of figthing cuts locally, agreed on Nov 1 not only to back the march but to call a loacl meeting to start serious local organisation. were Begining to challenge the supposed truth that European monetary union is in all our interests in no small job. Raising €50,000 in less than a year and planning marches and meetings in every corner of the land is hard work too. But it can and must be done!