GMB@Work for a Social Europe
Many of the workplace rights and protections we currently enjoy
in the UK come from Europe.
More recently there has been a diminishing focus and commitment
on social Europe from the European Commission and several EU Member
States including, regrettably, our own Government.
GMB is campaigning to redress this imbalance in the economic and
social dimensions of Europe and to develop further rights and
protections for our members and their families.
We believe that this can only be achieved through solidarity
with our European trade union colleagues and active trade union
involvement in European level.
GMB@work in Europe to
ensure:
- Temporary Agency Workers – are given equal
treatment rights with comparable permanent staff and protected from
exploitation
- Working time – so that workers do not have to
work excessive hours + have adequate holidays + rest
periods
- Charter for Fundamental Rights – that the full
scope of the Charter, which sets out EU citizens’ civil, political
and social rights, is applicable to all EU workers
- Collective bargaining & industrial action
– that these fundamental trade union rights are not undermined by
the EU’s free movement and internal market rules
- Decent work & quality jobs – to ensure
that globalisation is not used as a vehicle to erode labour
standards within and outside the EU
- Fair wages – to ensure that workers are paid a
proper wage their work, and enjoy a fair share of the fruits of
growth, as company profits rise
- Equal rights – to ensure disabled people have
access to quality jobs, that women have equal pay and that workers
are protected from discrimination due to their age, disability,
gender, race, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or caring
responsibilities
- Flexicurity – means that a proper balance is
kept between flexible labour markets and employment protection +
security for workers
- Health & Safety at work – to ensure that
workers’ are properly protected in all respects, for example by
treating third party violence as a health & safety issue
- Information & consultation rights – so
that workers’ are informed about and have a say in the decisions
that affect their jobs and working conditions, for example through
effective European Work’s Councils.
- International solidarity – that the EU plays
is part in ensuring that labour standards and trade union rights
are respected around the world
- Private Equity – that there is proper
regulation to prevent asset stripping and the erosion of workers’
terms and conditions and jobs
- Pensions - that workers’ receive a
decent income in retirement
- Public & health services – of a high
quality, remain accessible to all irrespective of income or
means
- Reconciliation of work and family life – to
allow all workers to successfully combine their family and private
life with their work commitments