ISSN 0951-8657 Published by Socialist Outlook PO Box 1109 London N4 2UU. All rights reserved. Printed by Eastway Offset (TU all depts) * AS THOUSANDS of workers from across Europe prepare to join a massive protest at the austerity policies ushered in by the Maastricht Treaty, evidence is growing that Britain's New Labour government is losing the battle for support to join the single currency.
The demonstration, called as a follow-up to successful Euromarches on EU summit meetings, will be in Cologne on May 29. Coaches from all parts of Britain will be taking hundreds to participate in the fight against unemployment and cuts in welfare state provision.
British sponsors of the Cologne demonstration include the public sec(* tor union UNISON, which is one of the few major unions to have taken a firm line against entry into the single currency, although this is now under fire from the union's Blairite bureaucracy.
The British TUC has been amongst the most eager proponents of Britain joining EMU, but a recent survey shows how hollow is the basis on which this policy rests. An ICM survey of 1,000 trade unionists found just 15% supported the pro-EMU line spouted by TUC boss John Monks, with 61% opposed.
Nine out of ten trade unionists said they had never been asked their views on the Euro by their union, and almost 80% had seen no union information on the issue.
Of the major unions surveyed by the New Statesman recently only two; the AEEU and GPMU reported that they were in favour of early EMU entry, with most others having no position at all. It is high time union activists demanded a proper debate and a vote on this key issue rather than allowing the unions to be "bounced" into policies by the unelected John Monks. Meanwhile there are rumours that Tony Blair's top spin doctors are pessimistic about the chances of delivering the necessary Yes vote in a referendum to join the Euro. to join the march.
One factor in this is the continued recession, privatisation, and economic dislocation in the Euroland countries -including Germany, once the power-house of European capitalism - since the single currency lifted off in January.
The institutionalisation of the Thatcherite Maastricht criteria, effectively tying EU economies to a regime of permanent monetarism, is proving to be costly for workers and the unemployed everywhere.
The strength of the Cologne demonstration is that it not only underlines the need for an internationalist resistance to monetarism and austerity, but begins to organise it.
We urge any readers who have not yet arranged to do so For travel details ring Glen Voris on 01744 755889. Against unemployment Against poverty For secure jobs | For welfare services Against racism and all types of discrimination Organised by Euromarches, sponsors include UNISON and NW TUC.