Under the slogan "No austerity. Priorities for jobs and growth", the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) will organize on 29 September 2010, a European Day of Action to coincide with a meeting of Europe’s Finance Ministers. Governments across Europe are presently implementing austerity packages by major cuts in public expenditure. These austerity measures may have serious long-term effects on growth and employment, as well as on the future of Social Europe.

The European Federation of Building and Wood Workers Federation (EFBWW) and the BWI call on their affiliates to actively mobilize workers throughout Europe to participate in this European Day of Action. A major demonstration is to be held in Brussels, and affiliates of the EFBWW and BWI are invited to join the demonstration and to make it a truly European-wide action. The EFBWW will have its own section in the demonstration together with other European trade union federations.

The BWI also calls on affiliates to use this opportunity to put maximum pressure on governments at national level and more emphasis on growth, employment and social development. Actions can include demonstrations, work stoppages, meetings with governments etc. Please let us know if you plan any actions at national level.

The EFBWW has, together with the Building Workers’ International and the Nordic Federation of Building and Woodworkers (NFBWW), adopted a Platform of Action for a Social and Green Europe, in which 24 concrete measures connected to the construction and wood sectors are proposed to fight the crisis, create employment, strengthen social protection and secure equal treatment, and at the same time contributing to the fulfillment of the climate change commitments for Europe.

The Platform of Action is enclosed.

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