On November 14th there will be general strikes in Spain, Portugal, Greece, Italy, Cyprus and Malta. These strikes are a response to the unprecedented attacks on working people that are taking place across the continent.
The ETUC [European Trade Union Confederation] is calling for solidarity action, including ‘strikes, demonstrations, rallies and other actions in support. Solidarity actions are being taken in Germany, France, Belgium and Scandinavia
Here in Britain there will be a series of protests and rallies – see below. If you are organising one in your area please email coalitionofresistance@mail.com so we can add it to the list.
In London the Coalition of Resistance with others is organising a solidarity demonstration assembling outside the European Commission, which will be followed by a rally where we will be showing footage of the strikes and protests on the day at the Emmanuel Centre, Marsham St. UNITE, PCS, Greek Solidarity Campaign and PIIGS are involved – and the TUC have tweeted support.
Assemble: 5pm-5:30pm
European Commission,
32 Smith Square, City of Westminster, SW1P 3EU.
Nearest tube stations: St. James’s Park or Westminster.
The picket has the support of a number of unions including UNITE, the Greece Solidarity Campaign, Syriza London and young people from Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France and Italy – the PIIGS countries – resident in London who have made this video advertising the 14 November:
Support for N14 builds – action across the country
UNITE
Unite members at Amnesty International, the British Museum and on Arriva buses – which involves 9 London bus garages have voted to take action on November 14
PCS Rank and File group appeals for action
On Thursday 18 October, HMRC staff in Coventry took part in a 15 minute walkout to protest the arrival of cabinet minister Francis Maude. Trade union activists are now calling on civil servants across the country to follow their example, with a day of action on 14 November against plans to roll back terms and conditions.
We urge workers in all government offices, through mass meetings, rank-and-file workplace committees or union branch committees, to support the following action on Wednesday 14 November:
• 15 minute lightning walkouts
• Protest rallies outside your workplace
• A communications blockade of the office of Francis Maude:
http://www.facebook.com/events/492608367436446/
Birmingham From 1pm until 2pm outside Birmingham Council House
Bristol 17.00 -19.00 Neptune’s Statue, Bristol City Centre (opposite Hippodrome
Cambridge Called by Trades Council, outside Town Hall
Edinburgh 18.00 outside St Giles Cathedral,
Glasgow called by Coalition of Resistance, George Square 18.00
Kingston – called by Trades Council, 17.30 Venue to follow
Lancaster; Lancaster and Morecambe Trades Union Council are holding a solidarity meeting/event in the Cinema Room at the Gregson Community Centre, Lancaster from 7.30 pm. The evening includes a video link to two people from Lancaster and Morecambe Against the Cuts who are working/studying in northern Spain. Trade unionists and anti-cuts people are invited to come and hear first-hand what has been happening and is happening in Spain on that day.
Liverpool 17.30 Bold Street, Liverpool called by Liverpool Trades Council
London
7am, Oxford Street Mass Picket of Crossrail at Oxford Street
2 months ago, BFK (Bam, Ferrovial and Kier) sacked all 28 UNITE union members working for the electrical firm E.I.S., including the steward and health and safety rep, for highlighting serious health and safety concerns. For info on the dispute: http://youtu.be/ZQie9SW8400
1pm, Shut the home office,
On going campaign to reverse the UKBA decision for international students at London Met; http://www.facebook.com/events/197594807043561
5pm, Europe Against Austerity protest and Rally
Coalition of Resistance is organising a protest at the European Commission supported by supported by UNITE, Greece Solidarity Campaign, P.I.I.G.S assembly in London.
Assemble 5pm – 5:30pm
European Commission
32 Smith Square, City of Westminster, SW1P 3EU
Tubes: St. James’s Park / Westminister
6:30pm March to rally at the Emmanuel Centre, 9-23 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 3DW at where we will have live feeds from other European countries plus a number of speakers
Manchester City Centre Solidarity Rally & Anti-Austerity Protest Organised by Greater Manchester Association of Trades Union Councils 12.00-15.00
Open Mic – Rally to be followed by city centre anti-austerity action.
For further info: stefan.cholewka@btinternet.com 07901 913698
2pm Defend Education & Solidarity with the European Strikes (Manchester) – called by Education Activists Network at University Place
Newcastle called by Coalition of Resistance 16.30 at Greys Monument
Oxford Oxford trades council is staging a lunchtime protest in the Cornmarket 12 noon to 1pm gawainlittle@yahoo.co.uk
Sheffield 4pm 14th November Sheffield Town hall
Sheffield trades council are calling on all members and students to join fellow trade unionists from across Europe in a day of action against Austerity.
It’s time for a march across Europe uniting the so called 99% against the 1%. The aims are obvious. To raise the profile of the resistance against cuts (I don’t like the word austerity. There is no such thing. It’s another Orwellian expression invented by the Government to make us think that we are ‘all in it together’ and that we need to accept the pain for the good of the nation.) and to bring together the people of Europe in their hundreds of thousands.
A small correction:
Cyprus is listed above as one of the countries which is supposedly participating in the European-wide wave of strikes; nothing could be further from the truth!
The vast majority of labour unions in Cyprus are totally controlled by the fake-communist (stalinist) party named AKEL. It just so happens to be the ruling party, and has been embedded in the core of the local ruling class since the mid nineteen sixties. AKEL is the party of Imperialism, disguised as the party of the working people.
It does not allow strikes, and the only few that ever take place are tightly controlled events carefully designed so as not to spread out to the rest of the working class.
In the last few years the ruling party has mismanaged the economy so badly that it triggered a local economic crisis in a country where there was no reason for one to occur. Essentially, a Government debt-crisis created by mismanagement and corruption degenerated into what appears like (but is not) a “classic” capitalist crisis of overproduction and underconsumption with the attendant symptoms of stagnation, no cash flow and vastly increased unemployment.
And now – to further its disgrace – the party has invited the Troika {European Commission (EC), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the European Central Bank (ECB)} to come to Cyprus for a “bailout” from the crisis. The Troika has leveled proposals for severe austerity measures and concessions that involve the country’s sovereignty. What was the ruling party’s response to this? AKEL has issued an internal ban on strikes and protests against the Troika and has engaged in a strategy of delay until more of the economy can collapse and the people will be forced to accept any terms imposed by the Troika.
A “true revolutionary party of the working class”.
So: a general strike in Cyprus today? Eh… not so much.
Petros, petros@cyprus-org.net