Nice EU conference protest


Opposing the bosses’ charter

THOUSANDS OF protesters are expected to converge on Nice on the French Riviera from 6-8 December. This will be a European-wide protest at the European Union (EU) inter-governmental conference to draw up the Treaty of Nice.

The conference will also push forward a so-called ‘social rights charter’ as well as wrestling with issues such as reforming the EU’s structures in preparation for the proposed inclusion of states from Central and Eastern Europe.

The charter, unsurprisingly, really means the further erosion of social provision in Europe, worsening working conditions and employment rights. Big business will continue to enjoy every freedom of exploiting workers in Europe.

Britain’s representative at the charter negotiations, Lord Goldsmith, has been ensuring that any workers’ rights are subservient to national law. So New Labour will be able to retain some of the most draconian anti-trade union laws in Europe.

All European governments are pursuing the same type of neo-liberal capitalist policies. Social provision is constantly under attack, whether that be the New Deal measures in Britain – forcing people off unemployment benefit and into Mickey Mouse jobs – or the similar Plan Aide au Retour d’Emploi in France.

As with the international demonstrations against the capitalists’ world financial institutions in Seattle, Washington DC, London, Melbourne and Prague, the political representatives of big business are not able to meet without attracting mass opposition. Workers and trade unionists, socialists, environmental campaigners and anti-capitalists will be involved in a wide range of initiatives.

The first demonstration called by the European Trade Union Confederation will start at 2pm, Wednesday 6 December, followed by evening meetings. The main demonstrations will take place on Thursday, continuing on Friday.

The Socialist Party will be participating in the Committee for a Workers’ International contingent and activity. For more information, contact Manny Thain on 020 8988 8772.