Wroclaw, 22/10/2010
Janusz, friends, it is a pleasure to return to the Congress of Solidarnosc.
Much has happened since my last visit to you in Szczecin. The world economy has had a heart attack, not fatal, not like the heart attack which killed Communism. But one which has inflicted great pain and suffering on most countries, and has exposed weaknesses in the construction of the European Union.
Poland has managed better than most but the situation here is fragile. I note the appalling murder of a party worker in Mr Kacynski’s office, which I regard as an attack on Polish democracy. Let us hope this is not a new and ominous development, and is a one-off act of a crazed individual.
I have very much appreciated the support of Solidarnosc for the ETUC’s campaign against austerity and for jobs and growth, and for the good showing of Polish trade unionists at our European Day of Action in Brussels on September 29.
I have very much appreciated the support of Solidarnosc for the ETUC’s campaign against austerity and for jobs and growth, and for the good showing of Polish trade unionists at our European Day of Action in Brussels on September 29.
We are battling to save Europe from making the same mistakes as it made, with the Americans, in the early 1930s. We are trying to stop the stampede to austerity with every European nation seeking to wipe out the red ink on its accounts. We thought the lesson had been learned, the lesson not to cut in a recession. But fear of the markets, and orthodox economics, are currently prevailing with potentially disastrous results.
If everyone is cutting, where will growth come from? Where will we get the new jobs? Our campaign is just starting: it will be long and hard, yet it is crucial for all our futures.
The EU started the crisis well. It encouraged stimuli packages; it kept the banks going, and jobs did not reduce as much as expected. But since the Greek crisis, it has trembled before the world bond markets and now seems set on punishing countries which are not with the terms of the Stability and Growth Pact. Greece was first but there will be others. Only Sweden and Estonia are currently within the Pact.
Poland has been told to do things by foreign powers many times in its history and when it has refused, has suffered terribly. The EU is not a foreign power but nor can it treat any country like a colony. It must show respect if it is to command respect in turn.
We want those plans softened and more sensitivity shown. We do not support rule breakers but we support intelligent sensitive help, not punishment.
We want those plans softened and more sensitivity shown. We do not support rule breakers but we support intelligent sensitive help, not punishment.
For its part, the Polish Government should show more sensitivity to Social Europe. Poland has still not adopted the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights into Polish law. It must do this, and do it immediately. We want that now.
We also want regulation so that never again can the banks speculate massively and foolishly and then hold us all to ransom. That is what they have done. Workers pay the price.
We want a tax on financial transactions to discourage speculation and boost revenues.
We want governments with strong economies to keep up the stimuli packages and inject demand into the European economy.
That’s our fight. That’s your fight too. It is everyone’s fight.
But recently judgments of the European Court of Justice have ruled that these freedoms can overrule collective agreements – and that is wrong. We want a new level of respect for collective agreements in the European construction.
There is one other issue I want to mention. The European single market is the core of the European project with its four freedoms of movement of people, services, goods and capital. Poland has benefitted from these freedoms. So have other countries like my own where, generally, Polish workers have been well appreciated, and there is a welcome level of co-operation between trade unions of our two countries. But recently judgments of the European Court of Justice have ruled that these freedoms can overrule collective agreements – and that is wrong. We want a new level of respect for collective agreements in the European construction.
These are key issues for the ETUC, for me, for Jozef and other colleagues. We need your help, and Poland’s help, as we fight for the good life for all, for an economy that works for every one, not just one for the rich and wealthy.
Good luck to Solidarnosc for the future. Good luck to the people of Poland.