Trade unions are taking the fight to stop the European Commission putting workers’ conditions, pay and say at work at risk through a ‘28th regime’ to the hometown of the Commissioner responsible for the initiative.
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) held a joint event on Friday with the Irish Congress of Trade Union (ICTU) in Cork, the home city of Irish Commissioner Michael McGrath who is due to present the proposal, also known as ‘EU Inc’, later this month.
At the event with local workers and political representatives, unions set out how the policy risks allowing CEOs to choose to operate under a special EU-wide rulebook, creating loopholes facilitating them to dodge European and national labour law and collective agreements.
That would mean companies operating in Ireland but not fully respecting the current national standards in relation to pay, conditions and health and safety. Workers across many sectors that have a strong presence in Cork could be particularly affected.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said the policy would make easier to close down a company and it has been reported that CEOs may even be able to replace wages with share options.
Esther Lynch, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation said:
“Europe’s competitiveness challenges will not be solved by creating legal uncertainty or loopholes that undermine fundamental rights, collective bargaining and worker representation.
“Replacing proper pay and employment protections with share options is not the answer. Workers must not be left to pick up the tab when a business gamble fails. We cannot expect that the promise of the future success of a company be used to justify wage exploitation in the present.
“The evidence is clear: innovation is strongest in countries with robust collective bargaining. Europe should build on its heritage of social dialogue and strong labour law – not bypass it. The quality of jobs in Cork and across Europe is at stake.”
Owen Reidy, General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions said:
“The protections for working people in Ireland are there for a reason: to ensure they are safe at work, and earn a decent wage for the work they do. We’re concerned that Commissioner McGrath’s proposals will take a bargain basement approach to workers’ rights, allowing companies to cherry-pick the weakest and cheapest approach.
“Since these proposals first emerged, we have had no reassurance and no clarity from the Commission. That will leave workers fearing the worst. We are urging Commissioner McGrath to rule out any diminution of Irish workers’ rights and entitlements as part of this plan.”
