date: 5 December 2007

embargo: immediate

'A bad day for rights at work'

Commenting on the outcome of today's meeting of Europe's Social Affairs Council, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'This is a bad day for rights at work across Europe, but especially in the UK.

'It is very disappointing that there has been no progress on the agency working Directive. There is real anger among unions today that the UK Government played the pivotal role in blocking progress today on this modest measure to improve workplace justice.

'Contrary to business scare-mongering, this Directive would not stop agencies providing temporary staff to employers who need them. What it would have done was both make it more difficult for employers to undercut wages and conditions and help slow the growth of a two-tier workforce.

'But unions will not give up the campaign to deliver justice for agency workers.

'Social Europe has always been based on a recognition that the undoubted prosperity generated by free trade and open markets should be balanced by social protection - a people's Europe as well as a business Europe. But our long hours culture and unfair treatment of agency workers will only end when government stops its capitulation to a one-sided business agenda.

'What is most depressing today is to listen to Ministers endorse the business argument that the UK economy can only succeed by having fewer rights for its employees than its competitors. This is a sad view of the capabilities of UK companies and their managers.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Elly Brenchley T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: ebrenchley@tuc.org.uk

Press release (400 words) issued 5 Dec 2007