On Friday, December 10 1999, everyone is invited to take part in an international day of action. This idea was adopted in Cologne, last June, by the European Parliament of the Unemployed and Precaire in the struggle held after the big demonstration against unemployment, job insecurity, social exclusion and racism.
This appeal is going out to all associations and trade unions, regardless of size, everywhere regionally as well as nationally. December 10 , was chosen because it coincides with the European Summit in Finland. The Helsinki Summit will approve economic measures that are, frankly, very unfavourable for the unemployed and workers.
The action day puts forward two major demands supported by the European movement :
1) against "workfare" measures, because they lead to bad working conditions for the unemployed. The European Union aims to coordinate, speed up and extend the workfare programme set out in the EU document "Broad Outlines of Economics Policies".
2) for an income that allows everyone to live in dignity without any discrimination of age, sex, origins or any other form of discrimination. In fact, equal rights for all.
Certainly, collectives can include demands that are more precise and reflect their own particular experiences.
The suggested targets for action day, December 10, are all types of organisations that handle money and benefits payable to the jobless.
A multitude of actions are possible. It is up to each collective to decide on what they do : occupations, meetings, demonstrations, ...
It is very important that in hundreds of towns throughout Europe activists take action at the same time for the same objectives. This is what is going to give the action day a special dimension and make it a significant moment in the struggles for our demands and hopes for the future.
We want you to start preparing now for this action day. To make it successful, we suggest that you hold open local meetings that bring together associations and trade union organisations willing to take part in the action day.
But to help make the day it successful, it is necessary to inform people of what is happening in other countries. We would like you to pass details to us as soon as possible, either via Email or fax and let us know how we can forward you information of what is happening elsewhere in Europe.
For the European Secretariat of the European Marches against unemployment, job insecurity and social exclusion.
Patrice Spadoni September 1999
Fax European March : +33144626345
E-mail : marches97@ras.eu.org
(translation : Yvonne Rocomaure)
