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Dear colleagues, postal workers and their Trade Unions in the fight against austerity and inhuman measures.



Never in European history have we faced such cruel and inhumane austerity measures bringing poverty and hunger to the workers in Europe. But also never in the history of Europe were so many different workers from different countries standing in Solidarity to fight together against these draconian measures. The austerity attacks focus particularly on workers in public services, pensioners, young people and employed persons in general. While managers give themselves bonuses or sell the last valuable property of the countries to private companies, the workers are told they are too lazy, too expensive or too inflexible.



Today we see the next step in the fight of the workers telling European politicians, economists and entrepreneurs they won’t accept austerity measures on their backs any longer. A European identity has been crafted in the hearts of the workers by standing together and defending social and human rights in Europe. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is calling today for a European Day of Action and Solidarity. The European trade union movement is mobilising in favour of employment and solidarity and against austerity.



In such difficult times it is necessary to protect the human networks which reach across all citizens and to insist on secure jobs with long term contracts and good salaries. Public services in general and postal services in particular can perform exactly these tasks. The past has shown that the way out of crisis can only be by creating a strong public sector, investing in education and growth and building up a welfare state so that people don’t fear being innovative and taking a risk. Exactly the opposite is happening at the moment in Europe. With big concerns we see the raise of unemployment and that hopelessness and insecurity of people leads to fear and hate in the countries combined with a concerning nationalism. This is a dangerous combination and can only be stopped by creating hope, employment and social security.



A vibrant postal sector, as part of the essential public services in Europe, is the backbone of prosperity and growth. Postal workers deliver mail and parcels, every day all over Europe and enable communication and commerce. Small and medium sized enterprises depend on stable delivery services to produce their goods and ship them to potential customers. More than this, the postal network, a network built of humans for humans, plays an important social role. Every citizen in Europe has an address and can get reached by mail every day. To cut this service means also to cut communication and economy in times of crisis.



Therefore UNI Europa Post & Logistics:



· Express their strong opposition to the austerity measures that are dragging Europe into economic stagnation, indeed recession, as well as the continuing dismantling of the European social model. These measures, far from re-establishing confidence, only serve to worsen imbalance and foster injustice.



· Consider that the recession can only be stopped if budgetary constraints are loosened and imbalances eliminated, with a view to achieving sustainable economic growth, and social cohesion, and respecting the values enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights.



· Insist that active solidarity, social progress and democratic accountability must be an integral part of the European project. We consider as essential that a social progress protocol be included as an integral and operative part of any new treaty.



· Analyse that only a strong social welfare state and investments in public services like post, education, public transport and healthcare can bring a turn around in times of crisis, give people hope and a future perspective and avoids nationalistic and extremist views.



· Fight against any saving measures in the postal sector as the backbone of economic growth, communication and social network. The postal sector should provide good stable and long-term employment and as such be part of growing, secure future.



· Stay in solidarity with all postal workers and their Trade Unions on strike or demonstrating today to fight for a better future for the workers in Europe, against austerity and for growth, social and human rights in Europe.



Declaration adopted by the ETUC Executive Committee at their meeting on 17 October 2012: http://www.etuc.org/a/10439