Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/1999-10-28-Speech-4-119"
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"en.19991028.2.4-119"2
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".
The phenomenon of mass redundancies from large multinationals which seems to be having an ‘avalanche’ effect is a sharp slap in the face for the high-sounding proclamations on tackling unemployment and job creation in the EU.
Goodyear, Renault and now Michelin, having adapted themselves to the growth models created by the single market and integrated into the Maastricht and Amsterdam Treaties and EMU, have turned the climate of unaccountability to their advantage by gradually annihilating every form of social responsibility and protection of workers. This has created more unemployment and increased levels of social exclusion.
Extensive restructuring and company mergers have favoured increased profit-yielding activities at the cost of productive investments which, in turn, has led to mass redundancies. Pretexts are hardly even needed now in the climate of rampant competition and unaccountability of big business
as is apparent from the announcements by the Michelin management of a 17% increase in profits and 7,500 redundancies, adding to the 15,000 redundancies in recent years. This callousness and cynicism are not only endorsed by the EU and its various bodies; they are also being funded in the context of direct or indirect financial aid intended to safeguard competitiveness on a global scale.
The human factor has been largely overridden by the most barbaric form of capitalism. Employees are expected, with a gun threatening unemployment held to their heads, to underwrite increased profits and to accept humiliating agreements on terms, conditions and salaries, as in the Michelin case, only to find that their jobs are eventually axed anyway.
EMU is a one-way street for monopolies whose only aim is to increase profits and consolidate their power. Employees have nothing to gain by following this route which only leads to unemployment, a lower quality of life, marginalisation and eventual destitution. Since employee protection is being violated and disregarded altogether and since employees’ rights are being flagrantly trampled underfoot, the only way open to employees is to protest, fight, challenge the choices made by the monopolies and EMU and fight for full employment, improved living conditions, real social development and prosperity.
Today’s resolution, in effect, renders the European Parliament jointly responsible for implementing more unpopular policies to the detriment of workers. It is an unacceptable resolution and, on behalf of all working people, we shall be voting against it."@en1
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