Internationalist campaign blocks drive for bosses' Europe LONE Alan Thornett FIFTY THOUSAND people joined the demonstration in Amsterdam on June 14 at the climax of the European marches against unemployment, job insecurity and social exclusion.
Slogans against Maastricht, the single currency and unemployment across Europe rang out in a dozen different languages. "The people united will never be defeated" "Maastricht - con trick" and "decent jobs and decent pay - single currency no way" were the favourites of the British delegation.
The demonstration brought together a wide coalition, ranging from the trade unions - the largest single component - to large numbers of young people and environmental camnaigners.
The demonstration was the first internationalist event of its kind. The Dutch organisers estimated between 15,000-20,000 people from Netherlands. More than half the demonstration therefore consisted of international delegations.
These included 5,000 from France, 4,000 from Italy, 350 from Greece, and delegation from every country of the EU and beyond. Around 500 people went from Britain. Alan Simpson, the president of the British campaign for the marches, joined the demonstration though Amsterdam.
Free trains
The Italian delegation, organised primarily by Refoundatione Communist, provided the most remarkable story of the day. 4,000 unemployed people had turned up at Milan station and demanded the government lay on free trains to take them to Amsterdam. They got their trains!
When they arrived in Amsterdam - hours late because of border delays - 200 were held by police due marsen to alleged graffiti damage to one of the carriages. The rest refused to leave the station and were then attacked by riot police.
The Italian delegation eventually marched into Dam Square at 6 pm on Saturday evening - four hours after the assembly time and just in time to catch the tail end of the huge circular march returning. They then had an unplanned overnight stay in Amsterdam waiting until 7 am on Sunday morning until the last of the two hundred held by Dutch police had been released.
Despite the huge and vibrant demonstration on the Saturday for the 500 core marchers, many of whom had been on the road for two months, the joining up of the marchers on the previous day was probably the most emotive and memorable part of the whole campaign.
The marchers had already amalgamated into two columns of about 250 each - one entering Amsterdam from the north, the other from the south. The column comprising the Irish, French, Belgian, Spanish and British legs arrived in Dam Square first after an inspiring march into Amsterdam.
Twenty minutes later they were charging down the road to meet the other column which had appeared in the distance. There was then a joint march through the city before being welcomed by the mayor at the Town Hall.
The strength of the marches was their enduring political relevance. The process of European integration and the project of the single currency and the response of key sections of the working class to the effects of these plans of the bosses and bankers with mass strikes and demonstrations has been headline news through much of the last year.
The marches addressed the central political issue in Europe todaymass unemployment - and the biggest single factor which is set to increase it still further - the current plans for a single currency.
It is remarkable that the political relevance of this focus was not only maintained but increased during the year from the launch of the campaign to its conclusion in Amsterdam. Indeed the issue will continue to be central for the foreseeable future.
Solidarity
The most important political gain of the campaign across Europe was to lift the increasing trend towards internationalism and international solidarity to a new level. This was symbolised most strongly on the demonstration by the delegation of Renault workers - who themselves have been taking international action to save jobs.
In Britain, the marches have helped to shift the debate on the single currency within the labour movement, particularly the unions. The TUC opposed the marches, sending out a letter to affiliates.
The TUC Combine of unemployed centres went further: conducting a nasty campaign of vilification against the marches right through to the end, on the political line of the TUC.
In the face of this, the marches themselves have helped to develop a serious challenge to the official line of the TUC on Europe and the Maastricht Treaty, with the support of trade union and unemployed activists.
The FBU was committed to the TUC line at the start of the marches. By the end, the leadership line had been challenged at FBU conference by a supporter of the marches, several regions supported the marches, and the national union sponsored a marcher.
While the marches were on the road, NATFHE conference voted to support the marches, making NATFHE one of five national unions supporting the initiative; the others were the Bakers Union, the RMT, the Professional Footballers Association and the FBU.
Nearly 100 Trades Councils backed the marches, and this was carried unanimously at Trades Council conference.
The Trades Councils' role in providing practical and logistical support for the marches on the road was crucial, as they organised receptions, food and accommodation for the marchers.
There were debates and pressure at every level within trade union and other organisations over support and sponsorship of the campaign.
The marches in Britain also achieved a degree of media attention which was out of proportion to the size of the marches at that time, reflecting the campaign's European dimension.
During the Euromarch campaign, links were made with workers involved in current disputes. The Liverpool dockers and their supporters backed the marches from the start and sent a strong delegation to Amsterdam.
The Magnet strikers organised for the North East leg in Darlington and supported the events. The marchers occupied several Magnet showrooms en route, staged an occupation of the Project Aerospace plant and visited the Hillingdon picket line on the way into London. The Hillingdon women spoke in Amsterdam and marched with their banner on the demonstration.
Achievement
Keeping the two legs of the march on the road through Britain without any major breakdowns was a major achievement in itself. Of the 34 towns and cities where the march stayed overnight, only two or three fell through.
Altogether, the march passed through 90 cities and towns, linking up with various struggles and campaigns taking place along the way. A key activity was the occupation of Job Centres, protesting against the Job Seeker's Allowance and low pay, together with solidarity actions in support of the various strikes.
The campaign itself and even more the experience of being on the road were definitely exhausting.
But any sense of tiredness is superceeded by the renewed energy generated by the impact of our ideas and the sense of solidarity we built.
It is that spirit which is taking us forward into discussions as to what the next steps are both here in Britain and internationally.
Socialist Qurlooli Tou por