Platform for the European Parliament Election, 7th June 2009

The Workers’ Initiative

Anti-capitalist resistance to the EU, for jobs, welfare and the environment

Enough is enough! Someone has to speak the truth. Capitalism which until recently seemed undefeatable and hailed by all the established political parties is ruining society.

At a time when the Earth’s united strength should be dealing with the threat of climate change and world poverty the system built on the profit-hunger of the wealthy few is collapsing. Mass unemployment, welfare cutbacks and a fear of the future are affecting more of us than ever before. On the global political scene there is an increased danger of conflicts between the superpowers or wars for energy and scarce resources.

At home thousands of workers are being laid off, healthcare and social welfare are being cut back, schools are being torn apart by savings and pensioners are becoming poorer.

The political establishment, which had until recently either praised or accepted the agenda of so-called “quarterly” capitalism, is left bewildered. In Sweden, the conservative ”Alliance” government is pumping billions of kronor of taxpayers money into recapitalising the banks and is letting the workers on the production line take the hit. The ”opposition” in the Swedish parliament lacks any alternative and promises to abide by budget discipline and caps on expenditure.

Today’s capitalist crisis is, however, no small blip that will soon be over. It is a deep crisis in the system that can only be compared to the depression of the 1930’s. It can not be solved by more of the same that caused the crash in the first place – to nurture finance capital at the cost of society and the worker.

Across Europe – from Greece to Iceland, from France to Latvia, there is a growing resistance to the attempts to dump the cost of the financial crisis on the ordinary worker and low-wage earners. But there is also an awareness amongst more and more that it is the financial system and capitalism that stand in the way of feasible people-driven solutions. In Sweden we have only seen this in limited struggle – the bin collectors’ strike in Stockholm, teachers’ demonstrations and healthcare protests. The trade union leadership has, up until now, not organised any kind of fight to save jobs. Passiveness increases the risk for racism and racist parties.

And therefore, in time for this year’s European Parliament election an opposition is gathering, from the bottom up, across Europe to spread the message that capitalism must be gotten rid of in order to save jobs, welfare and the environment.
As a part of this materialisation of a European anti-capitalist movement, with the French New Anti-capitalist Party (NPA) as an important source of inspiration, we have decided to launch a Swedish anti-capitalist platform for this year’s European elections. With this platform we want to spread the growing European resistance to highlight the need for a new, active workers’ party. We want to raise both the importance and the possibility of  breaking capitalism’s devastating grip on society and once again place the welfare of the people before that of the big business.

FIGHT FOR JOBS – STOP THE LAY-OFFS – KEEP PEOPLE ON THE PRODUCTION LINE! – GREEN INITIATIVES.

  • The redundancies and cutbacks must cease immediately. The state shall guarantee the jobs under a transition period to production that is both beneficial to society andsustainable. Instead of lay-offs share jobs by reduced working hours without a reduction in wages.
  • A trade union veto on redundancies and control of corporate profits and the corporate boardroom. An end to bonuses, fantasy salaries and dividends.
  • Nationalise Volvo and SAAB under the democratic control of the workers – for a conversion of the vehicle industry to greener alternatives.
  • A crisis plan for the quick and democratic  climate-proofing of the entire transport sector with CO2 free vehicles, a greatly enhanced rail network and high speed trains. Free and enhanced public transport

DEVELOP SOCIAL WELFARE – STOP THE CUTBACKS AND PRIVATISATION

  • Freedom from the straightjacket of current economic policies; massive state and municipal investment in public sector jobs within health, care, education, public transport, leisure and culture. 200 000 jobs are needed!
  • Retake control of privatised areas into public administration, invest in basic education, higher education and adult education. No to the elite schools championed by the right and religious private schools.
  • Stop the privatisation of hospitals, community clinics and the unfair ”health lottery”  – for a fair and public healthcare system, those most in need should get first priority!
  • Renovate the ”miljonprogram” residences of the 60s and 70s to conditions set by the tenants, energy and climate-proof housing, end the sale of public property, reintroduce of the housing grant, no to all market-price rents, build cheap apartments to let to young people.
  • Readjust traffic and urban planning policies to combat climate change. Take the energy sector into public ownership for renewable, clean energy sources and energy management instead of nuclear power.

REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH – NO TO POVERTY – BASIC LIFE NEEDS FOR EVERYONE

  • Reinstate the unemployment and sickleave allowances to 90 %, raise the ceilings and decrease the fees.  Get rid of unpaid sick days.
  • End the persecution of the sick and the unemployed, a right to sickleave, early retirement and partial pension for those who are worn out.
  • Fight for increased wages for women and the lowest wage earners – no-one working fulltime should earn less than 18 000 SEK per month. Increase the social welfare allowance.
  • Retract the pension decrease, trash the ”pension reforms” and reconstruct a system based on solidarity. A secure old age shall not be wagered on stock exchange speculation.
  • Nationalise the banking system, but not the debts – democratic planning of resources for the good of society and to meet climate change.
  • A solidarity based tax system to share the burden – tax according to means. Reintroduce the tax on wealth. The rich must pay for their own crisis!

PROTECT WORKERS’ RIGHTS – AGAINST RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION

  • Protect the right to organise as trade unions – fight the Vaxholm ruling, guard collective bargaining agreements, no compromises on the right to strike.
  • Fight against growing inequality, the repression of workers, the oppression of women, homophobia and racism.
  • An end to directors’ bonuses, golden parachutes and gentrification, reduce the paygap. The same wage, healthcare and pension conditions for politicians as for voters.
  • The same wage for people of both sexes. An end to violence against women. Increased support for women’s shelters.
  • Combat discrimination, for investment in LGBT issues and increased accessibility for the handicapped
  • Re-instate the right to asylum, end the persecution of undocumented immigrants – the right to healthcare, education and agreement bound wages – and the right not to live under constant fear of deportation.
  • Stop racism and racist parties in the European elections.
  • Deepen democracy – no to the FRA law and a surveillance society. Young people need freedom and hope for the future, not increased authority

NO TO THE EU – INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY FOR PEACE AND CLIMATE CONTROL

  • No to the Lisbon Treaty and capitalism’s EU/EMU. No Swedish participation in an EU army and NATO military alliances. Withdraw Swedish troops from Afghanistan.
  • Solidarity with Gaza – for a free Palestine. Try Israel’s war criminals.
  • Against imperialism, fundamentalism, islamophobia and anti-semitism – for human rights and international solidarity between the oppressed around the world.
  • We have but one Earth! The military industry’s billions should be spent on climate control and food production to combat world poverty.

ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE – FOR A NEW WORKERS’ PARTY

  • Re-awaken the labour movement’s democratic socialist ideal and resistance to capitalism in co-operation with the new European anti-capitalist movement.
  • For democratic and active trade unions in the control of the members. Membership ballots on collective agreements. Union representatives shall not have a higher salary than those they represent.
  • For a new, fighting workers’ party – women and men, young and old, Swedish and foreign – in a new global movement against mass unemployment, poverty and climate change. Another world is possible – but that requires mass action to put an end to capitalism and its exploitation.