TUC policy on the Euromarches Is full of contradictions.
Having denounced the Euromarch and circulated affiliates urging them not to support it, the TUC are supporting the Amsterdam demonstration and sending a coach load of young people to Join it.
Presumably the Amsterdam demonstration on June 14th is far enough away from London and the general election to make It acceptable.
The distinction, however, Is blzarre, since the Amsterdam demonstration is the culmination of Europe including the marches from Britain. Wor mands of the Amsterdam demonstration any different to those of the marches in Britain.
The TUC has called a day of action for May 28 against unemMARCH $Z ployment across Europe - In line with the call of the ETUC.
The day of action is a good Initiative, and should be fully supported, but there are problems. The TUC are protesting about unemployment - but support the Maastricht Treaty, the single currency and the convergence criteria, which directly create unemploymont.
They promise a pamphlet to their position. We awalt with interest.
At the same time it has become clear that the day of action Itself, as called by the ETUC, Is a direct response to the EuroThe letter from the ETUC [reproduced right) urges affiliates to make the action effective in order to avoid being out flanked by the Euromarches. "We are witnessing the rebirth of European internationalism" was Tony Benn's central point at the Euro-marches press conference in the House of Commons on March 18th.
Benn gave strong support to the European marches, and the two to understand that unemployment is not the result of a policy - it IS the policy.
In that context he said that a united action across Europe against unemployment message of hope and comes at exactly the right time".
Also speaking at the press conference, which was chaired by Alan Simpson, was Bob Crowe, the deputy General Secretary of the RMT (who said he was speaking on behalf of Jimmy Knapp who could not be there). He said that the RMT fully backed the marches and attacked Tory unemployment figures saying that if they manipulated them any more we would all wake up one morning to find that unemploy. ment had disappeared and everyone had a job™. Dear colleagues, A number of member or. ganisations have informed us of the plans in their respective Marches"
arise unemp nent, which should culminate in a demonstration in Amsterdam on the 13 or 14 June, on the very eve or to curoped Summit.
We have been able to es. on a me bacon on which this initiative is based is at considerable variance with our own positions as trade unIonists and the promoters Include a whole range of organisations whose activities have though certain trade union organisations are included (see document enclosed).
Under the circumstances, I feel Herble speaks in Brussels He said the RMT was against the Maastricht Treaty, its convergence criteria, and the EU.
Geoff Martin, the convener of London Region UNISON, said he was there to put the view of his union which was opposed to Masstricht and the convergence criteria on the grounds that, under the cricria, it was impossiore to carty das key parts of union's policy such as an adequate minimum wage and that we should keep a distance from this initiative.
However this event makes me still more certain that it is vital to ensure that our European day of action on May 28 is a complete sucimprovements in welfare.
He pointed to the dangers of an incoming Labour government taking us into the single currency, but said he was encouraged to see that Tony Blair had said that this seemed less likely.
Glenn Voris, the secretary of the Euro-marches in Britain, pointed to the rising opposition to the single currency across Eurone Citing the German miner: and the French and Belgian RenHe said the marches were growing right across Europe precisely because they reflected the anger of the working class at the attacks being carried out in the name of the single currency.
Herbie, representing the Liv. erpool dockers, expressed the support of the dockers for the marches and Denise from Bolton Unemployed Workers' Centre, who will be on the march, said she was marching because every day in the unemployed centre she and the cuts in welfare provision - and somcuins nas to oc done. that others will certainly hasten to Fraternal greetings Emilio Gabaglio, ETUC Secretary General the evening.