European working class in crosshairs of boss recovery drive

Battle lines drawn across Europe

EU leaders and bosses demand cuts in Greece

Europe’s politicians and bosses are targeting Greece. They are trying to bulldoze through devastating cuts.

They see Greece as a test case for plans they want to roll out across Europe. But Greek workers are fighting back.

“We had our wages frozen last year and we can’t make any more sacrifices,” says Tiana Andreu, a finance ministry worker who joined the mass strikes in Greece last week. “All the savings made because of the cuts will go towards paying the bankers. If they succeed they will come back for more.

“They will then impose similar cuts across Europe. But if they fail here then it will be difficult for them to launch attacks in other countries.

“Greek workers will take part in a general strike against the cuts next week. Europe’s leaders are worried by our resistance.”

Britain’s rulers also want to impose massive public spending cuts. Birmingham council, for example, has announced that it wants to sack thousands of workers.

Doug Johnson, a worker at a Birmingham old people’s home threatened with closure says, “Care workers and vulnerable elderly people are being made to pay for a crisis that bankers and share-dealers in the City of London have created.

“We all feel betrayed. Many of the old people are confused and tearful. They don’t understand why they should be forced to move.”

It’s time for workers everywhere to unite to make the bosses and bankers pay for their crisis.

The following should be read alongside this article:
» Greece: ‘War on the capitalist’
» Forward to a general strike in Greece
» European bosses up the pressure
» Bosses set their sights on public sector workers