International

A majority in the Dutch national Parliament’s main legislative chamber have voted to reject a motion supporting the introduction of a tax on financial transactions. SP leader Emile Roemer’s proposed earlier in the year that the Netherlands join those European countries pushing for such a tax. ‘This tax – also known as the Tobin Tax – would make the financial system more secure, because rapid cross-border transactions would be made less profitable,’ explains SP Member of Parliament Arnold Merkies. ‘Eleven European countries have already expressed their support, but the right-wing majority in Parliament prefers to bury its head in the sand.’

For the second time in a month European truck drivers are taking action against further liberalisation of road freight and the evasion of social rights by means of the registration of ‘box number companies’, amongst other methods. A demonstration by the drivers and their supporters began at the European Parliament before moving on to the European Commission building a short distance away. Hundreds of concerned truckers were there to demonstrate their discontent over social dumping. Addressing the crowd, SP Euro-MP Dennis de Jong expressed his support for the action and told the drivers that he had, along with other MEPs, sent an urgent letter to the Commission. ‘Trade unions and Euro-MPs stand here shoulder-to-shoulder with the truck drivers to demand equal pay for equal work. In road freight transport quite scandalous things are taking place, from underpayment to unfair competition via law-dodging box number firms. The Commission must in our view immediately sit down with the truck drivers and unions and talk.’