Across Europe millions of people are taking to the streets to demand an end to austerity. There is an urgent need to link up these struggles.
On the 21st October there will be a Europe Against Austerity conference organised by the Coalition of Resistance and hosted by Unite at their London headquarters.
This will be an important opportunity for trade unionists and anti-cuts activists to discuss plans for future common action. The conference is nearly full so please us know immediately if your organisation would like to send a delegate. The provisional agenda for the day is below.
We will be livestreaming this event from our website for those that cannot make it.
Reel News will be showing a series of films from the recent demonstrations in Spain and Greece and the Greece Solidarity Campaign will be showing the film of their delegation visit to Athens. Award winning campaign photographer Guy Smallman will present an exhibition of his work. Breakfast is being provided by the Communication Workers Union.
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On 20 October 2012 the Trades Union Congress has called a national demonstration in Central London against austerity under the slogan ‘For a future that works’. The march will be led by the young unemployed.
We must work to make sure this is the biggest possible day of action against all cuts which brings together everyone in society who is being affected.
We expect people fighting austerity in France, Greece, Spain and other countries will join us. There will be an international bloc on the TUC demonstration with COR, the GSC and others linking up with CND and Stop the War Coalition.
There will be a post-demo social with food and music at the new radical venue, Firebox, on Saturday evening.
Sunday 21 October 2012
The Discus Room, Unite the Union HQ, 128 Theobald’s Road, London WC1X 8TN
AGENDA
11am – 12 noon: Breakfast and welcome by UNITE and CWU
Film screenings from Reel News and photographic exhibition by Guy Smallman
12 – 1pm: Eurocrisis – Into the abyss?
Elisabeth Gauthier, Transform/Parti Communiste Francais
James Meadway, New Economics Foundation, UK
Stathis Kouvelakis, SYRIZA, Greece
Myriam Bourgy, CADTM, Belgium
Chair: Andrew Burgin CoR/Brune Seban, Sinistra Critica, Italy
1.15pm – 2.30pm:
a) The shape of the resistance
OLME, secondary teachers trade union, Greece
Danielle Obono, Front de Gauche, France
Kevin Courtney, National Union of Teachers, UK
Jeremy Corbyn MP, UK
Florian Wilde, Die Linke, Germany
Chair: Chris Nineham CoR/Athanasia Kiousi, Greece Solidarity Campaign, UK
b)No to neoliberal education
Alex Kenny, National Union of Teachers, UK
Haralambos Kokkinos, DOE primary teachers trade union, Greece
Student representatives
Chair: Jane Shallice
3 – 4.15pm: Actions, co-operation and the timeline to Athens 2013
Marisa Matias MEP, Bloco, Portugal and European Left Party
Fred Leplat, CoR
Dot Gibson, National Pensioners’ Convention (personal capacity)
Natalie Bennett, Green Party, UK
Vladimir Nieddu, SUD Sante, France
Chair: Kate Hudson CoR/Anders Svesson, Sweden
