EU renegotiation must not be a race to the bottom on workers’ rights, says TUC

date: 10 November 2015
embargo: For immediate release

Responding to a speech by the Prime Minister today (Tuesday) outlining his plans for EU reform, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“The Prime Minister has gone quiet on rhetorical threats to the paid holidays and family-friendly rights that Europe brings, but we need to see the small print.

“David Cameron must spell out his position on workers’ rights. People are more likely to vote to stay in a Europe that balances benefits for business with strong rights and protections for workers.

“If Cameron’s renegotiation turns out to be a way to roll back rights for agency workers or to remove protection from excessive working hours he risks boosting the leave campaign, which would be bad news for investment and jobs.

“The real way to win public support for the benefits our EU membership brings is to campaign for better employment rights – not worse treatment at work.”

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