TONY BLAIR is to be the main international guest speaker at the Swedish Social Democrat's party congress on March 16.
They have been leading the austerity drive since coming to office. Cutbacks increased when Sweden joined the EU in January 1995.
In Docember 1993 the previous goremment reduced sickness and unem. sloyment benefits by ten per cent At tnat time the Social Democrats and the LO (the main trade union federation) organised 30,000 protestors. Now they play a different role.
During the last election in 1994 three Trotskyist women in Nacka, home town of deputy Prime Miniser Mona Sahlins, dominated the media debate. The women organised a protest against proposed cuts in childcare.
Mona Sahlin hotly defended the cuts, but the proposal was withdrawn due to mass protests. Sahlin was later forced to resign from the government.
Sweden is feeling the results of Maastrict. The new HU-rules for feluges make it harder to be granted asyTom. Cuts in social wentre 3is0 al refugees and single mothers very hard.
Cuts in education have led to school hooks being sponsored by privale com panies. More children are being forced to pay for school meals Unemployment benefits now only pay for two 300 day periods—-forcing more of the unemployed to live on welfare. Part time workers no longer receive unemployment payments for the time they are not working.
This decision will mostly affect women. Pensions have also been cut.
so the Swedish wellare system 1s deteriorating. The cuts have been much harder than any proposed in the French Juppe plan. Yet resistance is nowhere near the lever in France The social Democrauc congress will be met by a demonstration supported by more than 60 local unions including miners form the north, and various women's organisations.
Peter Lindgren
Socialist Outlook 99 • March 16, 1996.