Killarney, 06/07/2011
President,
General Secretary,
Dear friends, brothers and sisters trade unionists,
I thank you for giving me the opportunity to address Congress today as the newly elected General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation taking over from John Monks, the first woman in that position. I would like here to thank ICTU for supporting my candidature. So you will have to adjust from John’s Manchester sounding English to a definitely French-English tone.
Whatever my accent, what I am carrying to you is a very warm message of solidarity and friendship from all fellow men and women workers across Europe.
Times are harsh for Irish workers and Irish people; when times are rough, it is good to have friends around.
If you were to remember only one message from my intervention, I would like it to be that the ETUC stands with you, with Irish workers and Irish people, with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
If you were to remember only one message from my intervention, I would like it to be that the ETUC stands with you, with Irish workers and Irish people, with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
Together we have fought and we will fight the wrong-headed measures that won’t manage to get Ireland and Europe out of the mess. Together we fight and will fight for the right measures to open the future.
We all know what went wrong for Ireland and Irish workers:
Banks and bankers played a casino game. But one with no risk to themselves. They used cheap money at their disposal, created a housing and credit bubble; when the bubble burst they turned to the Government for a rescue plan, and the Government turned to the EU for support. The rescue plan was adopted, on condition that Irish workers would accept incredibly tough austerity measures; on condition that Irish workers and people would pay for the speculators.
This is, in a few word, the story.
Now you live with the consequences. You bear the burden of a plan bringing depression and deflation, not the growth necessary to revive the economy & employment.
You are bearing the burden which is heavily unfair on the population and incapable of offering a long term solution.
President – Friends
This must change. The austerity measures will not get us through.
Some politicians and EU civil servants now admit in corridors discussions with me that cuts are not working and will not be working – but unfortunately despite my encouragements they are not doing their coming out on this matter.
What we, the ETUC, are asking for Ireland – as we are and will be asking for Portugal and Greece, where the situation is even more complex and dangerous, is a sustainable solution and this solution lies with a long term solidarity package.
A solidarity package that would give a concrete meaning to the word solidarity. And this word: Solidarity is very clear to us, trade unions.
A solidarity package would mean, first the existence of Eurobonds which would pool part of the debt, and give countries in difficulty access to credit at a reasonable rate.
This would be a concrete solidarity more because this move would say ‘let us share the burden’.
The ETUC from the very beginning – with John Monks, in the driving seat – has been calling for such a pooling of the debt. The ETUC congress confirmed this demand.
Friends: this solidarity solution is a demand of ALL ETUC members. It is supported by trade unions and trade unionists, like the German DGB or TUC against the view of their governments currently opposing the idea for their own selfish reasons.
A solidarity package should as well include measures to tax speculation. We want a financial transaction tax, that would contribute to investment and job creation. We welcomed a first step in that direction initiated by the European Commission on Thursday last week.
A solidarity package should also include an increased use of EU structural funds for employment creating projects and projects bonds. In Ireland unemployment is over 14% and long term unemployed represent 40% of those unemployed. In Spain and Greece, over 40% of young people are out of a job. They need support to go back to work and contribute to the revival of the Irish economy.
All this is possible!
Of course it is possible.
It is a question of political will and leadership. We have not seen much of either around the top table in Brussels recently.
I am well aware that the burden you are carrying is next to unbearable and voices are heard that say Ireland should stop paying the bill, and let the creditors deal with their own loss. This reaction is fully understandable. However before walking down this path, it would be wise and necessary to crosscheck what would be the consequence of a default on men and women we are representing.
Default would lead to a collapse of the economic system, add to unemployment, poverty and despair. Remember it is not possible to default in Ireland as in Argentina or Iceland because Ireland is in a monetary union and depends on it.
President, Friends, we are in the midst of a risky and historic period. The temptation exists everywhere to jeopardise the European Union and return to national states.
But narrow nationalism is not the way. We all unions in the ETUC say no to the populists, racists and nationalists who unfortunately are on the rise in many countries.
We stand with those who want to offer a future to their children, we want to give them a future with a view. In a globalising world, the European Union has that potential, not national states. The Irish economy is export and service oriented, and greatly involved in trade exchanges with other EU countries. It is benefiting from European integration. Our solution is in a qualitative step: towards an economically and socially sustainable European Union.
The rules for an economic governance of Europe are right now being decided upon by the EU institutions.
For the ETUC an economic governance is indeed necessary. Sound public accounts have to be restored and there should be rules for the game in a single monetary zone. We are currently struggling to put this economic governance package on a fairer track.
A track that should not lead to downward competition on wages and dismantling of our social model, made of industrial relations and free collective bargaining, social dialogue, well functioning public services and social protection systems.
Faced with common economic and monetary rules, faced with attempts to play workers - particularly workers' wages - against each other, trade unions in Europe must coordinate and act together.
Faced with common economic and monetary rules, faced with attempts to play workers - particularly workers' wages - against each other, trade unions in Europe must coordinate and act together.
This is what the ETUC is for, now more than ever. We need European trade unionism working hand in hand with national trade unions, for the benefit of workers.
This is what I shall be working for, with you, in the next years.
Friends, brothers and sisters, the ICTU is a strong and lively organisation. With your determination, stamina, courage, sense of dialogue accompanied by a solid sense of humour, you will get through.
I thank you for being such a positive and encouraging member of the ETUC. Be assured that the ETUC will continue to give you a strong voice where and when necessary.
Have a good and forward looking congress.
Thank you.