Constant attacks on the social security and pensions systems by the
government are bringing into question the very principles of solidarity
and universality which form the basis of the welfare state in France.
Today, under the pretext of attacking unfair’privileges’, the government is
attacking rail-workers pensions, tomorrow, they’ll be after the rest of
us, public and private. For a start from 2009 you’ll need 41 years of
contributions for a pension and 42 years from 2013. If you want to look
for the real ’unfair privileges start with the bosses: since 1991 they
have been excused their share of social security contributions, that’s a
gift of over 200 billion euros. The goverrnment dare to talk of a
shortfall in the social security fund when they created it deliberately!
Now they want to use this suposed shortfall to justify a movement from a
healthcare system based on solidarity to one based on private insurance,
and of course profit!
PLANNED DESTRUCTION OF PUBLIC SERVICES
With the loss of 23000 posts planned for 2008 and 50000-60000 for each of
the following years and recruiting new staff under private rather than
civil service contracts we are seeing the death of public service.
These posts are disappearing from schools, hospitals and other services,
showing complete contempt for the people who rely upon them. To fight
unemployment and improve services we need a massive hiring policy. There
will inevitably be a profound effect on the quality of public services,
which always has the greatest effect on those most in need, reinforcing
existing inequalities.The role of public services in a society reflects
the choices that it has made and today we can see a capitalist society
that is becoming more and more unequal and authoritarian.
PUBLIC OR PRIVATE EM¨PLOYEE, WE HAVE ALL LOSE
The attacks on the Welfare state and public services go hand in hand with
attacks on employment conditions. To better casualise workers, to attack
our right to strike, to make us keep quiet when foreigners are attacked,
to better turn our anger from those responsible onto immigrant workers
who, unlike the bosses, actually pay social security contributions that
fund pensions and social security.
There are other solutions. Simply ordering employers to pay the
contributions that they haven’t had to pay since 1991 would make up the
’shortfall’. Widespread recruitment of young people where workers are
needed would also permit older workers to take well-earned retirement. The
taxation of speculation, the end to gifts (exemptions, stock options,
golden parachutes) could be invested in the publics services that are so
necessary for the whole population.
All these attacks are against workers, we have to say Stop! Stop this
government that enriches the rich and impoverishes the poor!
In 1995 rail-workers, postal workers, teachers and private sector workers
prevented the impementation of Juppé’s plan for the social security
system.
In 2006 schoolchildren and young people from working class backgrounds
forced the abandonment of the CPE (contrat première embauche, first
employment contract).
Workers’ power comes from organisation, struggle and strikes. If they
attack us from every side then we have to fight back on all sides. Let’s
make October 18th the first step in a general movement against a
government that works for the bosses.
Let’s show them that their are other ways to share wealth!
One day of strike action is not enough to make the government give in. We
must prepare for an all-out strike and the best place to start is by
speaking at the inter-professional general meetings.