Last week UNISON National Labour Link Committee voted overwhelmingly for staying "IN" (warts and all).
Check out the website "Another Europe is Possible".
In my personal capacity this message below has gone out to UNISON colleagues.
"As you will now be aware UNISON is currently in the process
of consulting branches and members on the position the union should take on the
EU referendum. The consultation runs from now until the 5th April. We strongly believe that
although the European Union is far from perfect, working people are
better off in the EU. As a Trade Unionist you will know that all too often UK
employment law is not on the side of our member. However many of the workers
rights we do have come from European law, for example-
·
TUPE - (Transfers of undertakings) rights when an organisation
(eg a public service) is being outsourced or transferred.
·
Collective redundancies and right to consultation
·
Minimum paid annual leave
·
Fair treatment rights for agency and temporary workers.
·
Pregnancy and maternity leave rights
·
Parental leave.
·
Working time which includes a maximum of a 48 hour week unless
you agree otherwise, and minimum rest breaks each day
·
Equal treatment, equal pay and part time workers’ rights
·
Health and safety regulations.
I hope you will join with us in campaigning for a YES vote
in the coming referendum, and calling for a pro-worker social Europe.
For your information we have prepared a standard motion
(below) for your branch to pass!
Contained here are the links UNISONS consultation.
Please let us know if you are interested in being involved
in the Campaign.
Kind Regards
John Gray
TRADE UNIONISTS FOR IN
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TU4_IN
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TU4_IN
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011568729279
Email: TradeUnionistsForIn@gmail.com
Email: TradeUnionistsForIn@gmail.com
MODEL MOTION
On Thursday 23 June 2016 there will be referendum in the
UK on whether to remain or leave the European Union.
UNISON is currently holding a consultation on whether or
not to take a policy decision and campaign on the referendum. This consultation
will finish on 5 April.
The UK has been a member of the European Union in its
various forms since 1973. In 1975 there was a previous UK referendum on membership
and voters decided 2:1 to remain.
We are proud to call ourselves internationalists, and
recognise that globalisation requires cross border- co-operation in order to
regulate markets in favour of workers.
That a major driver for the formation of the EU was to
prevent war between France, Germany and the UK.
While there is serious structural and political issues
about the EU it has resulted in many employment policies and rights which are
favourable to UNISON members and their families such as:-
·
TUPE - (Transfers of undertakings) rights when an organisation
(eg a public service) is being outsourced or transferred.
·
Collective redundancies and right to consultation
·
Minimum paid annual leave 28 days a year
·
Fair treatment rights for agency and temporary workers.
·
Pregnancy and maternity leave rights
·
Parental leave.
·
Working time which includes a maximum of a 48 hour week unless
you agree otherwise, and minimum rest breaks each day
·
Equal treatment, equal pay and part time workers’ rights
·
Health and safety regulations.
These rights would be under threat if the UK was to leave
the EU. The current Tory Government is opposed to these rights and we were to
leave is likely to dismantle them.
If the UK left it is also likely that any bilateral
international free trade agreements negotiated by this Conservative government
will be far more anti-public services and anti-workers’ rights than any
negotiated by the EU.
The EU has been an important “brake” on past and present
Tory Governments in their attacks on public services and workers’ rights.
That if we leave the EU it may lead to the breakup of the
United Kingdom since it is likely that Scotland and Wales will want to remain
inside the EU.
That the Labour Party and the Labour Leader, Jeremy
Corbyn is in favour of remaining in the EU and then reforming it in the
interests of all citizens and workers.
This Branch resolves:-
The issue of whether or not to remain in the EU is very
important to UNISON.
Economic prosperity, preserving existing and furthering
employment rights, equalities, retaining pubic services and influencing
bilateral treaties are key issues.
UNISON should provide branches with materials and
information.
It is in the interests of the UNISON members and the UK
to remain inside the EU and work within for change and reform.
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