Spain, Italy, Greece… Associations and unions from seven European countries are calling for demonstrations against the high cost of living at the end of November

Unions and housing rights associations from seven European countries called on Tuesday November 3 in Paris for “coordinated demonstrations throughout Europe” against the high cost of living on November 20, 21 and 22. After disparate demonstrations in several European countries, representatives of Spanish, French, Italian, British, Portuguese, Greek and Belgian organizations, meeting in Paris, said they hoped to bring together “millions” of people in the streets.

In a “crucial moment” of purchasing power crisis in Europe, “we have decided to coordinate to move forward together,” declared Carme Arcarazo, spokesperson for the Confederation of Spanish Tenants Unions, at the origin of this meeting, during a press briefing. Their main demands concern a “guarantee of the right to housing” and “control of housing, food and energy prices”.

Social and political demands

They also include more general social and political demands such as increased wages and pensions. It is a question of “guaranteeing public services, in particular education, health and public housing”, the “right to work” without “excluding migrants”, of promoting “taxation of the rich” and of demanding “the end of rearmament policies” and development of “fossil energies”, listed Carme Arcarazo.

In Spain, the main unions have called a general strike on November 11 to advance their demands on housing and wages before the snap legislative elections on November 29. “By millions, we will take the streets and show that the people must lead and not the billionaires,” launched Benjamin Ball, member of the “yellow vest” coordination, also present at the meeting. The CGT and Solidaires unions are also participating in the appeal, as is the Droit au logement (DAL) association. European organizations denounce a “frantic rise in the cost of living” and a lack of measures taken by governments.

In Italy, the movement started with port workers, recalled Chiara Capretti of the USB union, before spreading and leading to a general strike on October 30, where hundreds of thousands of students and workers demonstrated. “The government is not giving anyone an answer,” she lamented. November 20 is also the date of a “youth strike” coordinated by a Portuguese association of students against fossil fuels and supported by twenty countries.