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- Jun 19, 2011I've set up a Facebook event calling for an EU-wide general strike against bailouts and austerity measures. I have suggested Thursday 30 June as the date for such a strike since a partial general strike of teachers, lecturers and civil servants in the UK over government attacks on pensions will take place then, and there could be a Greek default and second banking crisis very soon - but alternative suggestions are welcome, and it could simply be a forum for discussing the response of workers internationally to austerity measures being carried out by our ruling classes. You can find the event at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=106907012737460; the description (minus info of how to invite all your friends) is included below:Capitalist politicians are trying desperately to arrange a second Greek bailout. Meanwhile, many thousands of ordinary Greek working and middle class people are getting organised - on the streets and in trade unions and political parties.
Greek workers have already taken a 20% pay cut as a result of the austerity measures that capitalists insisted on as a condition for the first bailout. The austerity measures have made the Greek economy worse and a second bailout of around €100 billion is planned, with further austerity measures planned (with probably little if any pain for the bankers). Even countries outside the eurozone will be expected to contribute. For example, there has been talk of the UK taxpayer paying €15 billion.
Why should ordinary people, in Greece, the UK or elsewhere in the EU, bear the brunt of the cuts resulting from actions of bankers and politicians? We don't have to! As the banner on the event photo says, "Peoples of Europe rise up"!
It now seems that whatever politicians and international financiers do, the concept of the euro as a currency for much of Europe is doomed. Greece will have to default, sooner or later, and/or leave the eurozone. The folly of the same currency for countries like Germany with a relatively well-paid high-skilled workforce and generally lower-paid low-skilled workforce in Greece is being exposed. Those, on the left and right, who warned of the folly of Britain joining the euro are being proved correct.
I, Steve Wallis, have set up this event to call for an international, EU wide, general strike against bailouts of the bankers and austerity measures imposed on the peoples of Europe as conditions for such bailouts. The date of such a general strike should be discussed by trade unions, in branches and leaderships; ideally it should be called by the European Trade Union Confederation but one could be organised from below if they fail to act.
The best date for such a general strike depends largely on events, including what European politicians and international financiers (including in the IMF) do. A massive economic crisis is looming if Greece defaults and/or leaves the euro. The last economic crisis was resolved by countries bailing out the banks; they got the money largely from other banks and when such countries themselves fail, another banking crisis will result. The EU-wide working class should be prepared and take action, with demonstrations, strikes, etc.
I have suggested 30 June as a date for the general strike, since a partial public sector general strike is already planned for that date over attacks on pensions by the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government. Workers will be expected to pay more, work for longer and receive less in retirement. Teachers, lecturers and civil servants, in the NUT, ATL, UCU and PCS unions have already voted to strike on that date and there may be unofficial action by workers in other unions, organised from below.
Get organised! The only solution to capitalist economic crisis is to overthrow the capitalists! We need a real, very democratic, socialist Europe and world as a solution to the misery caused by the politicians and bankers! Peoples of Europe, rise up!--
Steve Wallis: revolutionarysocialiststeve@...http://www.PRsocialism.org - Foundation for Proportional Representation-based Socialismhttp://facebook.com/socialiststephen - the main site I currrently use for social networkinghttp://twitter.com/socialiststeve - my tweets are mainly on politics or football (you don't need to join Twitter to view them)http://www.revolutionaryplatform.net/newforum - my web-based forumhttp://soundcloud.com/stephen-wallis - best site I know for musichttp://reverbnation.com/socialiststeve - my new musical poetry sitehttp://youtube.com/user/galaxiasteve - for videoshttp://myspace.com/galaxiasteve - for music and videoshttp://bebo.com/SteveW519 and http://socialiststeve.multiply.com - other social networking siteshttp://www.revolutiondestroyed.net - my ongoing on-line autobiography "Revolution Destroyed? Have I ensured that a world socialist revolution will never happen?"