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In a speech at the UNI Europa Conference in Toulouse, Roethig said the crisis is accelerating the shift of the decision-making process from the national to the European level in politics and in business. Therefore, it’s imperative that unions recognise and react to the power shift and shatter the glass wall which divides them. Roethig warned the union leaders gathered in Toulouse that this is essential because separation allows the ruling elite to divide and rule.



Roethig said that the full force of UNI Europa’s 330 affiliates and seven million workers needs to be brought to bear to create a fair and social Europe. He called all members to mobilise themselves to fight for the Europe that the workers deserve.



Unions had a responsibility to the ordinary working people who are the victims of the crisis which is not of their own making.



“Wages have stagnated while governments have allowed speculators to fleece citizens – workers, savers and tax payers,” Roethig told the delegates. “What we have seen over the last decades is a scorched earth policy of deregulation and austerity.”



The crisis has evolved because of greed and the simple aim of maximising profits and the bonus bonanza for CEOs.



“Who wants to live in such a market system where the rich and unscrupulous exploit everyone else?” Roethig added.



Roethig said that UNI Europa has a massive and ambitious task ahead of it over the next four years – to create a fair and just society.



Read Oliver Roethig’s full speech by clicking on the tab Related Files at the top of the page.