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The European trade union movement has long been denouncing austerity measures. Unemployment continues to rise and Europe has entered a path of economic stagnation and even recession. Austerity measures do not work. They aggravate the already difficult social situation. European trade unions request that austerity measures are abandoned or altered to promote an economic policy that fosters quality jobs creation and exhibits economic solidarity between countries. It’s time to act for social justice and stop the attacks against the European Social Model, wages, and trade union rights.



UNI Europa called upon its affiliates to support ETUC’s European Day of Action and Solidarity on 14 November 2012. November 14^th was a historic landmark for European unionism. The European Day mobilised huge numbers of workers and pensioners. European trade unions thank the workers for their commitment against austerity and for making the European Day a success. For the first time, general strikes were organised simultaneously in Spain (2^nd General Strike), Portugal (2^nd), Italy, and Greece (5^th General Strike). Demonstrations were organised in 15 European and 3 non-European countries. UNI Europa Affiliates mobilised throughout Europe on this European Day against austerity. UNI Europa called for a change of course towards a European Social Compact, away from austerity. UNI Europa affiliates in many European countries joined widespread protests and pledged their support to the Europe Day. UNI Europa Regional Secretary Oliver Roethig said that the Europe Day was a marker in the sand against the unacceptable tide of austerity. The UNI World Executive Board joined with him in calling for an end to austerity and a real growth and jobs strategy.



UNI Affiliates of the Portuguese banking sector – FEBASE, SBC, SBN, SBSI, STAS – called a General Strike on 14 November. This is a historic decision, as it is the first decided strike by the Unions since 1988. Strikes and work stoppages were held for the first time simultaneously in four countries – Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Italy. In Greece, the civil servants trade union (ADEDY) and the Federation of Trade Unions (GSEE) called for a three-hour work stoppage, at noon, and participated in a protest rally in central Athens. The general secretaries of the Spanish trade unions CCOO, UGT and USO reported on a massive adherence to the general strike. Data on strike participation from Spain are very positive: in the private sector, the strike was followed by over 90% in the sectors of industry and transport and in the public sector, 62% of the workers of the public administrations, 56% in healthcare and 75% of the teachers, adhered to the strike.



Ignacio Fernández Toxo, general secretary of CCOO recalled that unemployment affects already nearly 6 million in Spain. This figure shows the ineffectiveness and inappropriateness of austerity policies. The general strike was described as a clear sign and request from the workers’ side and the citizens for the government to change its course. Commenting on the historic nature of the general strike, the general secretaries of UGT, CCOO and USO emphasised the transnational character of the action: “This strike is a historic landmark: it is the first Iberian strike, and it has been a total strike”, asserted Toxo, who also congratulated his fellow colleagues in Portugal, Italy, Greece as well as other European countries who participated in this European day.



In Italy, the CGIL called for a general four-hour strike that was extended to eight-hour strike in some sectors. The general strike was followed by thousands of workers and pensioners with demonstrations in over 100 cities. CISL and UIL joined the mobilisation call without striking but through the organisation of focused discussions on ways to exit the economic crisis and develop the proposals presented in ETUC’s Social Contract. In Belgium, UNI Europa Affiliate CGSLB and trade union Confederations FGTB and CSC called for work stoppages. In Germany, VER.di, UNI Europa Affiliate, held public actions together with sister unions in Austria and Switzerland. The public actions led to focused discussions on public debt and the proposed alternative solutions by the trade unions in many companies. The members of the German Federation of Workers' Services VER.di, discussed the implemented austerity and retrenchment policies and its effects in many European countries, especially in southern Europe. They supported the Europe-wide protests and strikes on 14 November 2012.



The global economic and financial crisis is setting its toll for more than five years now. Southern Europe is the most affected. Workers are primarily bearing the brunt of the crisis whilst those responsible in the financial centres and owners of large fortunes remain untouched. Unilateral and harsh economic austerity worsens the crisis and puts workers under intolerable pressure. Unemployment and youth unemployment in particular, are rising. Social benefits are being reduced, the rights of workers are circumvented, and pensions are being cut. More than ever before, social safety nets and social protection systems need to be strengthened and not sliced.



VER.di condemns the attacks on collective bargaining and workers' rights. The European trade unions made a clear call for more democracy, social justice and security. Demands for powerful works councils and trade unions, protection of contractual autonomy and respect for the basic rights of workers were voiced across Europe. VER.di joined strikers and pledged its support for the fight to achieve a democratic and social Europe. Trade unions from across Europe held an unprecedented day of coordinated action and solidarity to demand a Social Europe and denounce austerity measures that are creating economic stagnation and increasing social disparities. Trade union federations in Greece, Spain, Portugal, Malta, Cyprus Belgium, Italy, France, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Switzerland organised general strikes and public rallies. GMB, UNI Europa Affiliate in the United Kingdom, joined ETUC at a rally outside the European Commission in Brussels in solidarity with striking colleagues. UNITE representing 1.5 million workers, with other UK unions, has been engaged in a bitter struggle against the UK government’s vicious austerity programme for over two years. In the face of massive layoffs, cuts to pensions and huge cut backs to essential public services, UNITE stood in full solidarity with strikers in Portugal, Spain, Greece, Belgium, and Italy.



The European trade union movement joined the unprecedented European-wide day of action. The day of action was judged as a fitting response to the obsessive austerity programmes being implemented by European governments under the direction of the European Commission, the IMF, and the ECB. All indicators show that austerity is not working. Economic growth is falling through the floor, unemployment is going through the roof and poverty and misery are spreading on a massive scale. The European trade union movement will build on the Day of Action and strengthen its solidarity and fight for a change in the disastrous policies being pursued by the European Commission and Member States.