Trade Unions say no to Austerity With Actions Across Europe 30 November

Paris, November 29 (ots/PRNewswire) -

On Wednesday 30 November, public sector workers will protest
austerity measures in more than 25 European countries, following a
call for action by the European Federation of Public Service Unions.
Actions will include strikes, demonstrations and public marches.

In Britain, unions are planning the largest strike since 1926 -
to oppose changes to public sector workers' pensions. In Portugal,
trade unions will demonstrate as the parliament votes on new
austerity measures. In France and Bulgaria, there will be national
demonstrations. Belgian trade unions will protest outside Greek and
UK embassies in solidarity with Greek and British unions on 30
November, followed by a national demonstration on 2 December. Greek
trade unions will hold a general strike on 1 December. The list
covers most of Europe's countries (http://www.epsu.org/a/8178).

The European Commission adopted its Second Annual Growth Survey
on 23 November, which continues its mantra about public
administrations reforms on purely economic terms without looking at
how to develop quality public services that are so badly needed in
these times of economic crisis (read EPSU's response
http://www.epsu.org/a/8160). Public sector unions expect a focus on
investment and growth to address high unemployment and rising
poverty.

For this reason, from Scotland to Greece and from Portugal to
Poland, workers will be saying "Enough is enough!" on 30 November.

"Europe needs to make a credible stand on sustainable
development, fair taxation, investment in public services, more
equality and less poverty," says EPSU General Secretary Carola
Fischbach-Pyttel.

EPSU has sent a letter to the Commission's President
(http://www.epsu.org/a/8159 [http://www.epsu.org/a/8159v ]) demanding
a financial transactions tax be instituted in Europe, as a first step
towards achieving a global FTT. EPSU argues for tax justice based on
progressive taxation systems.

Europe's public service unions also stand up for the right to
collective bargaining and the autonomy of unions and employers. The
EC and European Central Bank must stop their interference in
industrial relations and collective bargaining.

"This European day of action is the beginning of a process to
give European people a real sense of unity; the current policies in
Europe will destroy all we have fought for in the last decades. We
say no to coordinated austerity madness and yes to a social and
democratic Europe," concludes Fischbach-Pyttel.

Media, contact Pablo Sanchez psanchez@epsu.org +32-474-62-66-33.

ots Originaltext: PSI - EPSU
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
.