Trade Unions and the EU Constitution

dublin | eu | event notice Wednesday July 06, 2005 03:05 by Des Derwin - Trade Union Activists Forum

Public Meeting

Public Meeting on why the trade union movement should be opposed to the EU Constitution.

Trade Union Activists Forum

Public Meeting

TRADE UNIONS AND THE EU CONSTITUTION

Saturday, 16th July 2005

2.30 p.m.

ATGWU Hall, Middle Abbey Street, Dublin, 1.

Speakers:

Raymond Debord (French trade unionist active in the 'Non' campaign)

Brendan Young (Campaign Against the EU Constitution).

All welcome, particularly trade unionists.
Time for discussion.

French voters dealt a crushing defeat to the EU Constitution in their referendum on the 29th May. On a turnout of 70%, a decisive 55% voted 'no'. The debate crept into all spheres of French life, from prime-time television to school curriculums to heated discussions in cafes and bars.

Every voter received a copy of the charter and polls suggest that 80 percent had read it or discussed it with friends. Half of the top 10 non-fiction bestsellers in France focus on the issue.

Advocates of the charter said it would make the European Union more democratic by giving the European parliament more power and setting up a president and foreign minister for the bloc. As a result, they said, Europe would become a more credible player in world affairs, notably vis-à-vis the United States.

Who voted no to the EU Constitution in France: • 81% of manual workers, 79% of unemployed, 60% of white collar workers • 59% of 18-34 year olds, 65% of 35-49 year olds • 59% of Socialists, 64% Greens and 61% non-aligned voters

The referendum campaign reflected the class divisions in French society. At the beginning of 2005, the opinion polls showed 65% support for the treaty. But during February support for the 'yes' camp began to slide after a series of mobilisations and strikes against the government's plans to abolish the 35-hour week. The CGT, the second biggest trade union confederation, voted in its leading body, and against the wishes of its own leaders, to appeal for a 'no' vote to the constitution.

On 5 February more than 500,000 public and private sector workers took part in demonstrations to defend the 35-hour week, many of them carrying placards and banners against the European constitution. On 10 March more than one million people took to the streets of France demanding better wages and battling against a longer working week.

The No campaign involved over a 1,000 local committees across France which played an important role in getting their message heard. In the down-at-heel Belleville district of Northeastern Paris, Doucha Belgrave, a 57-year-old writer, said she had voted no because for her the charter represented "a Europe of the lowest common denominator. I believe in Europe, but not in a free-market Europe where everyone competes with everyone else and the result is lower wages and less security for all."

This blow to the pro-big business politicians of France and Europe was organised by ordinary workers without much help from established leaders in their trade unions or political parties. But rather than going away the elite are planning to resurrect the infamous Bolkstein directive and its unprecedented challenge to trade unionism.

Come along to the meeting and hear first hand accounts of how French workers organised the No Vote and what the European political elite plan for all our futures.

For More Information Contact: Jimmy Kelly 087 255 3252 or [email protected]