The trade union majority demand respect for E
jhf - 27.05.2004 01:21
The Basque trade union majority rejected plans that merely offer "possibilities of continuity" and supported the opening of a sovereignty process based on the respect of the wishes of Euskal Herria. ELA, LAB, STEE and EHNE reiterated their commitment to continuing to work against the degradation and precarious nature of working conditions.
BILBO
The unified demonstration called by the trade union majority made up of ELA, LAB, STEE-EILAS and EHNE reached the Bilbo Town Hall half and hour after the head of demonstration had left the Sagrado Corazón square. At quite a quick pace it passed along the Gran Vía. The march brought together thousands of people, among whom were political representatives of Batasuna, Eusko alkartasuna, Aralar and ANV.
At the end of the march, Rafa Díez and José Elorrieta, secretary generals of LAB and ELA respectively coincided in the necessity of going further than Statutory Reform and "possibilities for continuity" and open up a sovereign process in which society is the protagonist based on the respect of the wishes of Euskal Herria. Likewise, both criticised the public administrations and the PNV, EA, PSE and PP for having defended sub-contracting, low salaries and the deterioration of working conditions.
Rafa Díez denounced "the use of precarious labour situations and sub-contracting as an instrument of exploitation and of increasing profits". In his view this has become a "dream for many businessmen, the price being the unlimited degeneration of working conditions and no institutional opposition".
He assured that many Basque businessmen "traffic immigrants like they were slaves" but accused the public administrations and political parties like the PNV, EA, PSE and the PP of being at "the head of the development of this precarious" situation and pushing forward privatisations and subcontracting. In the face of this situation "our only alternative is to struggle".
This is a battle that extends not only within the area of employment but also "for our social rights, for a free Euskal Herria that demonstrates solidarity, for a socialist Euskal Herria at the service of the social working majority".
He underlined the necessity of "globalising the values of struggle, solidarity and commitment for social and political democracy based on the respect of all peoples and their sovereignty and their political and economic development".
Therefore, he called on the beginning of a political process without looking towards Madrid nor Paris.
"We don't want another cycle of frustration and confrontation, of statutory reform or decentralisation imprisoned within constitutions that don't recognise us as a nation. It is time to plan democratic solutions based on respect for the decisions of Euskal Herria". For this he appealed that all sovereign possibilities be activated.
José Elorrieta declared along these lines that May 1st 2004 ought to be "a date for hope, because a civil and democratic sovereign process is being opened without any delay, without any further conditions, but with a commitment to work with strength and perseverance for a Basque ambit of decision".
 Website: http://www.gara.net/english
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