As we all know, the current situation across the world due to coronavirus (COVID19) is not great.



Since the virus started to affect Europe, the European economy has begun to suffer. Most of the European states and the EU have agreed to help businesses, healthcare systems, and people.



Money can be given to companies to stay afloat and to pay their staff. But there aren't any specific conditions about how this money can be used.

For example, in the airline industry, profits over the last decade went to please their investors and pay their CEOs millions of euros, and now they want help.

We think public money should be used for the public good.



We understand that people need to receive an income, but giving millions/billions of euros to companies doesn't necessarily guarantee that people will keep their jobs, be paid, nor assure that the companies will be OK in the near future... They might ask for even more public money later on, and they could even give money to their shareholders.

This practice is what we can call a bailout.

A bailout is public money (our money) that is given to private companies (even the ones making millions/billions) to help them stay afloat. They can use this money to pay shareholders/investors. Why on earth should taxpayers supplement investor income?

There should only be two responses to a bailout request.

If it's a vital industry (i.e. travel, energy, food) nationalize them and keep the workers on the job. Future profits will be invested into the company for the public good. If it's not a vital industry, guarantee income for the workers and let the investors (shareholders) take the loss. No cash for investors.

Sign this petition, and share it to ask the European Commission and EU member states to either nationalize vital industries or guarantee income for workers but make sure shareholders cannot receive/touch this money.

Bailouts should be for workers, not shareholders.



#OurMoneyOurRules

