workers one week to accept a packet of cuts, or face the sack. Despite protests, the trade union (OSPA) has accepted a compromise" which reduces salaries, increases the working week to 48 hours, and allows the generalisation of part-time work at the nationalised airline.
The government and media are trying to present public sector workers as "privileged," and the main barrier to Greece's economic development.
More than one third of economic activity in Greece takes place in the underground economy, and the official unemployment rate is 10%.
Despite its declarations of support for public sector workers, the Greek Communist Party is refusing to work alongside former party members who split to form the left-reformist party Synaspismos. [TA/JD] being integrated into collective bargaining agreements. Since these directives are not negotiable, union leaders have little room for manoeuvre.
Denmark's political, economic and media elite find it hard to accept that the agreement was rejected. The agonised questioning in the media ("what went wrong?", , "How could they do that?") brings back memories from June 1992 when Denmark voted "No!" to the Maastricht Treaty (and won the European football championship, but that's a different story).
The parallel with 1992 is particularly relevant since Denmark will hold a referendum on the EU's Amsterdam Treaty on 28 May. This is a difficult situation for Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, the recently reelected Social Democratic Prime Minister, since many social democratic voters are against further EU integration. Many voters are increasingly frustrated that the entire establishment, including the leaders of the trade unions, are so pro-EU.
A new agreement between trade union leaders and employers is unlikely in the short term. So the government may have to intervene some time in May. Probably not too close to May 1st, the symbolic labour holiday, but not too close to the EU referendum on 28 May either.
One problem for the government is that employers will insist that any new settlement cost no more than the existing proposal.
Progressive currents in the trade union movement are working to maximise active participation in the protests, so as to maximise the possibility of real gains for private sector worke * members of the Socialistisk Arbejderparti, 35373217, <[email protected]
A Counter Summit is being organised by the Reclaim Europe coalition, in response to the Summit of European Union leaders, which opens in Cardiff on June 15th. Like the June 1997 Amsterdam counter summit, it will host a range of debates, criticisms and discussions of the EU aimed at national and international campaigners. This will include: • Friday evening: Meeting with international speakers and updates on campaigning. • Saturday: Forum on the EU and the consequences of its present agenda. Speakers panel on four broad themes: Employment, social welfare, the environment and implications for the rest of the world, followed by workshops and discussions. • Sunday: Discussions and workshops on the theme of "alternatives to the present EU and campaigning strategies"
Cardiff Counter
Summit
On Saturday 13th at 1.30pm the counter-summit will be suspended for the demonstration "No to a big business Europe - Yes to Jobs, Public services and Democracy." This mass demonstration is organised by the Cardiff Euro Summit Demonstration Committee. It will focus on Welfare cuts, employment, equality, environment and social exclusion/racism. It will start and finish with a rally with a panel of national and international speakers.
A Fourth International meeting will also be held. For details contact Alan on +44 181 800 7460, fax 880 1846, e-mail <[email protected]>
Other events on Sunday 14th include an Animal Rights demonstration organised by "Uncaded" stration organised by "Uncaged" and a "People's vigil for peace and justice," Organised by the People's Vigil Steering Group, on the theme "Jubilee 2000, and the cancellation of 3rd world debt. Speakers include Glenys Kinnock MEP. This is not an explicitly religious event, but it is supported by the churches of the Cardiff Churches Form and other religious bodies of Cardiff Interfaith Forum and was initiated and is been underwritten by Church in Wales.
Free sleeping bag accommodation in Cardiff is being organised for those travelling from abroad. University accommodation is also available, at £15 ($22.50) a night. Contact: Reclaim Europe!, 1 B Waterlow Rd, London N19 5NJ Tel: +44-171-272 9333 Fax: 561 0800, E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] http://www.geocities.com/Rainforest/5581/ Web site: proclaim its goal of a United Ireland while attempting to persuade its supporters to accept a deal that strengthens partition. It has promised to pursue a "peace" strategy that must shoulder a heavy responsibility for the new partitionist settlement.
What is needed now, above all, is a clear analysis that explains the reactionary nature and consequences of the deal, and voices a clear alternative to it. Such an alternative must break not only from the failures of the "peace process," and the nationalist family, but also from the failures of physical force republicanism. Republican critics of the deal are clearly seen as offering no political alternative and no viable strategy for achieving the ending of imperialist rule. The promise of a return to armed struggle will only lead many potential opponents of imperialism to despair and demoralisation.
What is needed is a start to the construction of a new movement based on the demand for an end to British rule and an uncompromising assertion of the right of the Irish people to self-determination. The new movement must be based on seeking the unity of the Irish working class, north and south, and on working class struggle against injustice and exploitation. We need to begin the creation of a new mass campaign that can go beyond earlier movement for civil rights and political status.