File spoon-archives/marxism-international.archive/marxism-international_1997/97-02-21.035, message 10


Date: Mon, 17 Feb 1997 19:03:11 +0000
From: Richard Bos <Richard.Bos-AT-hagcott.meganet.co.uk>
Subject: Re: M-I: Re: The EU and monetary union


Rob Schaap wrote:
> 
> 
> [If memory serves, the Brits were arguing with Europe last year about
> wage/work practices differentials.  Britain wishing to protect its 'labour
> flexibility' 'advantage' from the less profit-inducing western European
> practices and wages norms.  I've not kept up with that thread, and now
> don't know whether Europe has levelled down to Britain's demands, or
> Britain is levelling up.  What did happen?
>

Richard:
Britain opted out of implementing the Social Chapter for the time being,
and Brussels is tolerating that because it knows that whoever wins the
general election will probobly reverse that decision. If you read what
the Social Chapter actually says, then you would wonder what all the
fuss is about anyway. It is really very a modest document. I think that
I have it on file somewhere. If I find it I'll post it to the list. 
 
Rob:
> Also, are Britain's latest (deceitfully misleading - in light of how
> enforced part-time work registers) improvements in unemployment figures a
> sustained trend or a meaningless fluctuaton?  Is the rate of unemployment a
> qualification criterion for the European Union proper?
>
Richard:
Yes, the figures are fiddled, and...No the rate of unemployment is not a
criteria for EU proper.

Rob: 
> And I do suspect a EMU would make European workers perceive class identity
> across borders a little more readily.  That is, as long as it is widely
> known the same employment regime applies to all.  

Richard:
The same employment regime would not apply to all. That is why the
employers have been breaking up national bargaining structures for some
years now in favour of local and plant bargaining. I doubt very much
that Portugese or Greek workers would get the same pay and conditions as
Germans, although there may be attempts to do it the other way round!

If there is any harmonisation of labour laws you can bet that they will
not be improved. It would be a big mistake to think that if we go some
way along the road that the enemies of the working class want somehow
that will force the workers to become class concious. I am sure we could
all site many examples of this not working.

Rob:
My memories of living in
> Britain are necessarily those of a bemused teenager - but I was certainly
> left with the impression that French workers were below *any* category of
> Brit on the affection index.  And, with the possible exception of the
> Dutch, I suspect this is reciprocated in full - and I'm not too sure about
> what the Dutch might think of the Germans or the French either ...  As I
> say, just a fleeting impression of long ago ...]
>
Richard:
Me being a Dutchman I wouldn't like to say. We get on well with everyone
apart from the Germans. German Communists are OK though! 

<snip>

The rest of your comments about the nationalism of island nations, and
former colonies are well put. In the end in is down to us to give some
real perspective to people, so that they can think beyond all the
national divergences and see class unity.

Gotta run,
Comradely,

Richard.                     
      New Worker Online http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/2853



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