CGTP-IN enviou hoje uma mensagem de saudação e solidariedade (que se transcreve) à Confederação Italiana dos Sindicatos Livres – CISL, que realiza em Roma, nos dias 11 a 13 de Junho de 2013, o seu 17º Congresso Confederal, subordinado ao lema “A Itália da Responsabilidade – Um Sindicato Novo para um Novo País”.

Message of Solidarity from CGTP-IN - Portugal

Dear Colleagues,

We fraternally salute all participants in CISL’s 17th National Congress, and send you all the fraternal greetings of the workers represented by the CGTP-IN in Portugal. 

These recent years have been characterised by the deepening of the crisis of capitalism, accompanied by an unprecedented attack by big business and its governments against workers and peoples. Europe is being particularly hit by this violent neoliberal offensive.

Workers and people are the targets of the anti-labour and austerity policies adopted by the capitalist institutions and governments. Unemployment and casual labour are on the rise. In the EU, economic recession, impoverishment and social exclusion are growing day by day. With the implementation of austerity measures resulting from the “memoranda of the Troika”(IMF, European Commission and ECB), and adjustment measures in countries like Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Cyprus, Spain and Italy, we are suffering continuous cuts in wages and pensions and brutal increases in taxes, together with a violent wave of privatisations and cuts in public services. 

Workers rights are seriously undermined by successive governments with the adoption of Labour Codes, to satisfy the interests of speculative finance and big employers. Social inequalities are on the rise. Portugal is one of the EU countries where the situation has got worse.


Colleagues,
In Portugal, with the signing of the agreement with the “troika”, the situation has seriously deteriorated. Since the third quarter of 2010, the GDP decreased around 4%. Since the 2nd quarter of 2008, more than 6 hundred thousand jobs were lost. The real number of unemployed is nowadays nearly 19% (3rd highest rate after Grece and Spain). 67% of the unemployed do not receive any unemployment benefit. Around 25% of the population lives under the poverty line.
The changes introduced in the labour legislation are included in the several austerity packages, with flexibilization and deregulation of labour laws. The systematic attack against collective bargaining - making the legal right of bargaining inoperative or even non-existent - clearly shows to what extent workers’ fundamental rights are jeopardized.

Colleagues,
At European level, with the enforcement of several austerity programmes, and with several governments paying lip service and surrendering to big capital and financial speculators, the European Social Model, upward harmonisation and cohesion are becoming a vain word. Collective bargaining and the so-called “European social dialogue” are being downgraded even further.

We rapidly need a change of course in Europe and in the member states. In Portugal, that will only be possible with a change of government since the present one is not budging an inch from its ultraliberal financial orthodoxy and subservience to the “Troika” recipe of recession. This government must resign for it cannot continue to send our people into the abyss!
And the” Troika” programme must stop, for it cannot continue to lead our people into prolonged economic and social calamity.
Dear Colleagues,
All across Europe, workers and trade unions must step up the fight for a clear change of course in the EU model and policies.  Yes, we need to build a different Europe, a Europe of workers and peoples, with social dimension, solidarity and cooperation, with respect for member states’ sovereignties, specific needs and interests.
In Portugal, the CGTP-IN has been in the front line of the struggle. On June 27th we and the UGT-P are converging in the calling of a General Strike.
Brothers and Sisters,
Powerful struggles of the labour and popular movement, spreading across our continent are clear signs that indignation, protest, resistance and struggle against this model of Europe are growing and will sooner or later secure an alternative path of economic and social justice. In unity of purpose and solidarity, we are certain this is the way forward!

More than ever before, we now require a class-oriented and massive strategy to respond to the anti-labour, anti-social and anti-popular policies, so that we may raise social and political awareness and build processes of unity of purpose and struggle, which allow for a change of course in each of our countries and in the European Union.

Italy now has a new government and we wish CISL and the Italian trade union movement great success in your endeavours to improve your economic and social situation. We are certain that your Congress discussions will provide the necessary instruments for your actions and struggles, already in your unitary National Demonstration of June 22nd.

Please convey to all congress participants our best wishes and active solidarity.

Augusto Praça
International Secretary
Executive Board
CGTP-IN
PORTUGAL