On Friday 5 June, KKE MEP Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos participated in an event entitled “The European Union and Labour Rights” held in Copenhagen and organized by the Communist Party of Denmark (DKP) and the Copenhagen Builders’ Union (BJMF), a member of the WFTU.
Among other things, he stated: “Today, we are witnessing developments that affect the lives and rights of workers across Europe as a whole: changes in labour legislation and other developments taking shape at the expense of workers throughout Europe, as well as measures being prepared for the years ahead, within the framework of the so-called war economy. This is the strategy pursued by the EU, governments, and business groups, which demands new measures at the expense of the working class in order to safeguard the competitiveness and profitability of capital. Across Europe, we see labour relations being undermined: retirement ages are being raised, collective bargaining agreements weakened, fixed daily working hours dismantled, and teleworking and work through digital platforms expanded without rights. All this is presented as ‘modernization’ and ‘adaptation to new conditions’, when in reality it amounts to a return to the working conditions of previous centuries.
Today, under the pretext of strengthening ‘competitiveness’ in relation to the US and China, and exploiting the imperialist wars raging both in our region and internationally, the EU is pushing the so-called war economy even more aggressively. Denmark is a characteristic example. Increased military expenditure, deeper involvement in NATO and EU plans, and rhetoric about the ‘resilience’ of the economy and labour market are all accompanied by pressure for longer working lives, greater ‘flexibility’, and cuts in social spending.
Faced with this situation, the crucial question is: which path can genuinely safeguard the rights and needs of workers? The people of Europe, and of the EU member states, do not deserve such a bleak future. Reality itself demonstrates that the EU cannot be transformed in the interests of the people, nor can it become a ‘Europe of the workers’, despite the illusions systematically promoted by political forces engaged in the management of capitalism. Experience shows that there are no pro-people solutions within the framework of the EU’s system and strategy. Those who promise a ‘social Europe’ and ‘fair growth’ are fostering false expectations.
Hope lies in organizing the workers’ struggle, regrouping the labour movement, strengthening trade unions, advancing class struggles, and promoting collective demands.
The great achievements won by workers were never handed to them on a silver platter. The eight-hour working day, collective bargaining agreements, social security, maternity protection, and trade union rights were secured through hard-fought struggles and confrontations. The KKE will continue to be at the forefront of effort to regroup the labour and trade union movement, placing the struggle to meet contemporary needs even more firmly at the centre. It will continue to highlight the enormous possibilities created by human labour, the development of the means of production and advances in science.
Socialism is neither a utopia, nor a slogan for the distant future. It is the realistic answer to the contradictions and impasses of the current system in the 21st century.”
