www.tuc.org.uk future of social europe & workers’ voice hannah reed senior employment rights...
TRANSCRIPT
www.tuc.org.uk
Evolution of EU Social Policy
• Support for the single market depends on an effective social dimension
• Social policy primarily the responsibility of national governments
• National industrial relations systems respected
• EU provided floor of employment rights aimed at preventing ‘social dumping’
• Role for social partners• Source of important employment rights for
UK workers
www.tuc.org.uk
EU source of employment rights
• Promoting equality– Equal value; LGBT rights; age discrimination
• Protecting atypical workers– Rights for part-time; fixed term & agency
workers; health and safety
• Rights during restructuring – TUPE rights; insolvency protections; collective
redundancies
• Worker representation– Information and consultation rights
• Health and safety standards
www.tuc.org.uk
Turning tide
• Limited social policy programme– Better regulation & small firm exemptions
• ECJ Judgements– Limiting right to strike and collective
bargaining and use of national law and procurement
• Austerity measures– Minimum wage rates; public sector pay &
collective bargaining
www.tuc.org.uk
Way forward
• ETUC Campaign & Social Compact
• Making the case:– Deregulation of employment
standards not right response to the crisis
– Need for quality and sustainable jobs
www.tuc.org.uk
Principles shaping the future of social Europe• Respecting human rights
• Rights for all
• Promoting equal treatment
• Providing worker voice and participation
www.tuc.org.uk
Respecting human rights
• Need for reforms: – Restoring fundamental social rights, including
the right to strike– Restoring the ability of unions to negotiate to
improve conditions for posted workers– Respecting national industrial relations
systems
= Social Progress Clause
• Commission proposals for a “Monti II” Regulation & Posted Workers Enforcement Directive
www.tuc.org.uk
Monti II shown the ‘Yellow Card’
• ETUC/TUC concerns: – not protect the right to strike; – not tackle problems created by ECJ; – not consistent with ILO standards
• One third of Member States objected to ‘Monti II’:– Interfered in domestic industrial relations
systems– EU should not regulate right to strike– Failed to address issues raised by ECJ cases
www.tuc.org.uk
Improved rights for posted workers
• Posted Workers Enforcement Directive– Better monitoring of movement of PWs – Better access to information about pay
and conditions paid to posted workers– Regulation of supply chains
• PWs should be entitled to all national employment rights
• Trade unions should be able to organise and bargain on behalf of PWs
www.tuc.org.uk
Public Procurement Directive: ETUC key goals
• Public authorities should be able to take social considerations into account when awarding contracts
• Contractors should be required to comply with collective agreements and employment law which apply where work is done / services supplied
• Contractors should be excluded if they have violated collective agreements or employment rights
• Joint and several liability between contractors
www.tuc.org.uk
Worker Voice
• EU ‘Fitness Checks’– Collective redundancies – TUPE– National Information and Consultation
• UK proposals:– Reducing redundancy consultation periods
where 100+ employees at risk from 90 days to 45 or 30 days
– Guidance on what is an ‘establishment’ – Reforming TUPE?
www.tuc.org.uk
Worker voice
• Strengthened EU information and consultation rights
• Strengthened rights during restructuring
• Worker participation: – worker representatives on
remuneration committees