10 June 2015

The TUC is urging Cameron to come clean about his plans for re-negotiating rights for working people set out originally under the European Social Chapter.

In PMQ’s on Wednesday (10 June) Cameron said; “What I have set out in terms of the renegotiation is a whole series of things that need to change: making sure we deal with the problem of ever-closer union; making sure we deal with the issue of competitiveness, which, yes, does impinge on some of the issues under what was called the social chapter that have never been acceptable to the United Kingdom; and making sure that we have a better balance and proper fairness between those countries that are in the euro and those that are outside it—the Chancellor will be setting out more detail on that this evening. All these areas in our negotiation, and more, are very important.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “The Prime Minister urgently needs to come clean with the British public about his plans for EU re-negotiation. His criticism today of the Social Chapter should send a chill down the spine of people at work.

“UK membership of the European Union has delivered legal rights to paid holidays, rest breaks, health and safety, maternity rights and fair treatment for part-time and agency workers. If Mr Cameron’s strategy for placating his Eurosceptic MPs and donors is to argue for weaker employment rights then voters deserve to know.

“Making people’s working lives worse – and adding to Britain’s already dire reputation as a nation of sweatshops – will lose support for a ‘yes’ vote and make Brexit more likely.

“Europe is at its best when it meets the interests of both business and workers. Abandoning this blueprint would be a disaster for the UK and the EU.”