National governments are yielding their sovereignty to the European Commission. Austerity and budget cuts have a high social cost. And this is the cause of recession”. Giulia Barbucci, member of the European secretariat of the Italian trade union Cgil, critics the Fiscal Compact and thinks at announces: “In Madrid workers will demonstrate on the 15th of September against Rajoy and in Italy on the 29th against Spending review”.
Will it be a difficult autumn for workers?
“It will be ‘hot’ as summer was. Unemployment rates are growing especially among youngs, women and over fifty. Italian Spending review has been approved in August, fuel price rises to more than 2 Euro a litre. European and national trade unions are underlining the inability of the European Union and of national governments to face the crisis”.
Are you already planning strikes?
“On the 15th of September in Madrid there will be a demonstration organised by Spanish trade unions to say ‘no’ to Rajoy’s governments measures. Measures imposed to the country and strongly opposed by Spanish workers. In Italy there will be a public sector strike on the 29th of September”.
The most criticised European measure is the Fiscal Compact. Which are your main objections?
“Fiscal compact imposes unsustainable cuts to some European countries and shifts sovereignty from national governments to the European Commission, to technocrats. We must return to politics. Austerity measures mean more budget cuts and structural reforms with a high social cost. But they are not reaching their goals neither they are giving hope to markets. The domestic demand goes down significantly causing recession and unemployment”.
What should they do?
“First of all we need Eurobonds guaranteed by the European Central Bank, they must change its statute to give them the power of lending money to member states directly. We need a financial transaction tax the proceeds of which we must use to boost growth and create jobs. We must fight tax haven and tax evasion. We need less taxes on workers and a European industrial strategy able to face this challenge”.
Italian trade unions seems unable to influence government decisions…
“The situation in Italy is exactly the same than in other European countries. Workers organisations are in crisis because liberal and conservative governments don’t like to do deal with trade unions”.
