ARE INTERNATIONAL DEMONSTRATIONS SUFFICIENT,
                   WHICH CHASE AFTER THE EU- AND G7-SUMMITS?

PROPOSAL AFTER COLOGNE 99 

1995/96 it was indeed forward an almost historical step of EuroMarch to 
organize the unemployed-movements on an European level. Most strongly 
the trans-European demos were 1997 when we came together in Amsterdam 
to 50.000; with much less activists in Cardiff and then in Vienna 
December 1998. In May/June 1999 the next demonstration- and counter-
summit cycle took place in Cologne chasing after the EU- and G7-summits. 
I went also to Cologne because I did not want to let alone the ruling 
economy and war clique in Cologne.

Nevertheless I get always more the impression that the Euro March 
demonstrations become worn. In the Viennese December cold the EU ladies 
and gentlemen in the warm court castle made themselfes funny over us 
frozen demonstrators of max. 5.000. And so necessarily and excellently 
in Cologne 99 the two-week protest variety of demonstrations with 
30.000 and then with 50.000 and the counter-summits were, they will 
have hardly handicapped the ruling class also here ...

As is well known, Amsterdam  was also the time of the international 
Liverpool longshoreman- and Belgian Renault-strike! But while the 
French truck drivers closed again the EU (Lean-Productions)-routes 
1997/98 and let Jospin and the EU commission tremble - the Euro-
protests of the unemployed persons and Leftists became more and more 
feeble rituals. This isn't a position against new European 
demonstrations, counter-meetings and marches of the unemployed persons 
and Leftists. On the contrary! Much more I want to force a discussion 
how we can strenghten the resistance on the streets. However, I suggest 
two points as "addition":

1) CONCENTRATION OF THE FORCES

The initiators of EuroMarch, the 18th June-Action, of the Ecology-, 
“Third World”- and Peace groups or of the German Radically Left-wing
Alliance should think TOGETHER how to increase the pressure on the
ruling shifts. Common preparation meetings for the international weeks
of action in December!

2) FIRST STEPS TO CARRY EUROPEAN RESISTANCE TO THE FACTORIES

Just in EuroMarch and June 18 a number of progressive labor union
forces collaborate, who could contribute to carry the resistance 
against unemployment, labour-flexibilsation and impoverishment into the 
factories, transport, schools etc. (COBAS, Left CGIL/Italy; SUD, Left 
CFDT, CGT/France; CC.OO, CGT/Spain; Left Shop Stewards and Unionists 
within IG Metall, IG Medien/Germany; UG/ÖGB/Austria). Of course to move 
resistance in the factories presupposes on the one hand a sense of the 
atmospheres and relations of forces in the working class. On the other 
hand we have to win over still more European Trade Union forces.

SYMBOLIC BUT POWERFUL WORKERS-ACTIONS

I think of minimal but effective actions (nevertheless they mean 
colossal preparation work): 
 * Turning off the light collectively
 * Short-term (symbolic) break of work e.g. at 1 pm (a five minute
   darkness or work-interruption in whole Europe as a symbolic but
   powerful protest against mass-unemployment, for the 6 hour day etc.
   etc.)

In the context of the preparation meetings for the weeks of action in 
December all of left and progressive labour-activists and unionists 
should come together to discuss a common platform of European workers-
actions!

In solidarity
Karl Fischbacher
International representative of the Independent Trade Unionists/inside 
the ÖGB, (UG/ÖGB,Austria)

Cologne99 | PGA