EUROPE anythingBut the 35-hour week.
Syndicats, UNEMPLOYMENT in the Market countries could rise to a saggering 15 million by 1985 according to the EEC Commission.
And lust week saw a meeting which actually bad the power lo that de something about that threat - right now.
We're talking about the third congress of the European TUC held In Munich from | 14-18 May. Never heard of it? That could be because it's never done Yet this body represents 40 million trade unionists, in the nine EEC countries, organised in 31 federations.
Just think of that potential.
If 40 million workers came out together for the 35-hour week to cot unemployment, who on eurth could stand in their way?
people who sanding in their way are the very leaders of the Furopean TUC - even though they're committed on paper lo the How do they propose to wir this demand? The Europeur TUC's Freech language paper, commented in its Issue of 12 May: "The time has come for the heads of government to make at least a declaration -of principle favour of a reduction in working hours.' Great! A declaration of principle, no less. That's a real thousands of workers who are being thrown on the scrap heap day because this "democratic" system can't even But such declarations are the stock-in-trade of the trade union bureaucrats. Take the Velter. president of the European Vetter is also president of the West German DGB union federation committed by its last conference to the 35-hour week. And he's a candidate on the SPD list for the European Parliument elections - whose platform agrin includes the But that hasn't stopped Yeller and the rother DGB leaders from burying any RALLY AGAINST THE EEC FRIDAY 1 JUNE Down with the bosses' Market!
For a United Socialist States of Europe!
Speakers; Ernest Mandel (FL candidale in Belgium)
revolutionary slate in France)
7.30pm, Porchester Hall, Porchester Road, Paddingtoo •MAKE IRELAND AN ISSUE Hear Bernadette McAliskey (Anti-Repression candidate, N. Ireland)
Tariq All (IMG candidate, West London) Pat Arrowsmith (United Troops Out Movement) Wednesday 30 May, 7.30pm, Ealing Town Hall strugale soch as that of the steelworkers last winter - for the 35-hour week.
Their latest triumph la a deal In the book and paper sector. After the uscal declaration of principle, this goes on to say there can't be segoliations on the 35-hour week for another foar or five years:
Il this reminds you of the wuy the TUC Jet the post office engineers demand 35-hoar week be sold out lest summer, you'd be dead right.
A leading light European TUC meeting was our very owe Lea Murray. He had a dramatic proposal for fighling unemployment - the establishment of a European TUC economic committee te press for changes in EEC economic policies.
A particular bee in his bonnet was the aneven distribution of and employment subsidies between one sector and another and one country and another. En other words what we need is equality of sacrifice (for the workers, that is). Forwand EEC Concordal?
But If the Europeas TUC leaders are happy to embrace the capitalist Common Market, muny of their members aren't One step to start organising a Europe-wide fighthuck for workers alternative to the BEC b being taken on 2-3 June when the Fourth International Is organising a conference of tricle union in Antwerp to discuss what this demands (such as the 35-hour week) and coordinated action tin steel or the motor industry, for example).
That certainly won't confine Itself to a declaration of principle!
Lutte Ouvrière representative (from joint Turiq All (IMG candidate, West London) Sociulist Challenge 24 May 1979 page 3