The Labour leadership's about-face on a referendum on the single European currency, bringing them into line with Major is an indication of the depths of tension which exist in the ruling circles about this issue.
Only the Lib Dems of the main parties are now openly committed to going into the single currency on the first wave which will include Germany, the Benelux countries and France.
The implementation of the Maastricht convergence criteria and the resultant cuts in social spending has led to some of the biggest demonstrations and strikes in every major country since World War 2.
So far, the strategic advantage that the EU and EU governments have is that they are organised to chop welfare at the European level while mass reactions have been confined to the national.
Well, the planned European marches could be just the start of that European fightback.
Last weekend Ken Coates MEP called for support for the marches at a 100,000 strong rally at the end of a march in Southern Italy against unemployment and cutbacks in Naples, organised by the Partito Rifondazione Communista (PRC). The German Green Party is now also backing the marches.
This week sees a week of action on The letter of intent demanded by the IMF declared that:
"An essential element of the government's strategy will be a continuing and substantial reaucuon over the next few years in the share of resources required for the public sector."
The Labour government was now fixed on a collision course with the labour movement, as increasingly rigid wage controls began to cut living standards, while jobs and precious public services were squeezed by order of the IMF. Here were the seeds of the notorious "winter of the issues by the French organisations organising the march including sit-ins ano demonstranons Support is also building in Britain.
The TUC Joint Consultative Committee, which nationally coordinates County Associations of lUs nas now overweimingly backed the marches, as has the Socialist Campaign Group of MPs and the AUM or ine socialist campaign Group Supporters Network.
The next stages of the campaign are: to produce a high quality publicity to help build support and raise money towards the estimated £60,000 needed to build the march.
• to produce 4-5 issues of a march paper in the lead up to and during the marches to mobilise 50 march volunteers for the European launch rally on February 1st/2nd .
• to organise a national meeting Sheffield January 18 The London Committee will he meeting Monday 25 November at the Lucas Arms Grays Inn Rd, 7.30pm.
If you want to march or get involved contact Glen Voris at St Helens TUC Resource Centre, 21-31 Barrow St Helens WA10 1RX. Tel 01744 755 889 Euromarch information is also on Website http://www.gn.apc.org/labournet/or e-mail enquiries [email protected] Garrett Anderson Hospital for women: that tont was to ast tour vears. becoming a focus for the struggle to defend the NHS. The hospital was saved - and was part of a one-day strike last week in the current NHS pay dispute.
In the same month of 1976, teachers from various left currents and groupings in the NUT met to launch a new organisation, the Socialist Teachers Alliance: a much stronger STA still fights on today at every level in the NUT.
And once again we have the prospect of a Labour government