10 July 2008

Irish Anti-Union Laws

In Ireland, where laws echo trends found in the UK, an economic downturn and negative “growth” is also coupled with rising job losses. The “no” vote in the Irish Referendum on the Lisbon Treaty still needs to be seen in the context of the ECJ cases, which the United Campaign wants to see reversed. A further case – Commissioner v Luxembourg – has added to the power of business and restrictions on unions, as was the approach adopted in Viking, Laval and Rüffert.

02 June 2008

The Irish referendum

It must be a legitimate stance for Irish workers and those who are concerned about rights, equality and democracy to vote against the Lisbon Treaty, to draw attention to the implications of the ECJ cases for “Social Europe”, even if they wish to support the Lisbon Treaty itself. This would appear to be consistent with the responses to the GMB motion at TUC last year calling for a referendum in the UK.

The joint general secretaries of Unite supported the motion. Derek Simpson, joint general secretary of Unite, said: "UK workers need a progressive Europe, a Europe that offers them protections and social justice, not a selective Europe that just advances the interests of big business."

Tony Woodley said Unite is not anti-Europe and would die sooner than associate with UKIP or the Tories: "But we don't want to be part of a Europe that discards the social model that can bring so many benefits to working men and women across Europe.

"If the government wants to have a social opt-out, we should demand a democratic opt-in. If anyone thinks the British people want a free market Europe with no protection for workers, then I say put it to the vote and find out."

And in relation to the referendum in Ireland to ratify the Lisbon Treaty the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union on 5 May urged its 45,000 members to vote against the treaty. The General secretary of the TEEU Eamon Devoy took the stance on the back of recent judgments by the ECJ which he said had shown that the pendulum had “swung against workers' rights and in favour of big business.”

The EU Observer said: “The Irish government's official campaign in favour of the EU's Lisbon Treaty has been dealt a blow following the decision by a major union to speak out against the document.”

But then the Irish Congress of Trade Unions on May 21 voted in favour of supporting the Lisbon Treaty, in the referendum to be held on June 12. The vote to support acceptance of the treaty was by a majority of 14 to 5. There were 8 abstentions. Speaking after the vote, General Secretary David Begg expressed satisfaction that Congress had adopted a clear position on "an issue of major public importance."

He said that Congress would now be recommending a yes vote in the June 12 referendum. But he also pointed out this did not preclude individual, affiliated unions from advising their members on a different course of action.

Some have called this a squandered opportunity. Of course others in the movement say the only solution is to pull out of the EU.

United Campaign to Repeal the Anti Trade Union Laws, 39 Chalton Street, London, NW1 1JD | info@unitedcampaign.org.uk