Commenting on the publication today (Thursday) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, which brings EU laws — including workers’ rights — into UK law , TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:
“This is a Downing Street power grab.
“The PM promised to protect all workers’ rights after Brexit. But there is nothing in this Bill to stop politicians shredding or watering down our rights in the future.
“Nobody voted for Brexit to make life harder for working people. That’s why any deal with the EU must ensure that workers’ rights in Britain don’t fall behind the rest of Europe.”
On proposals for the UK to be no longer subject to European Court of Justice rulings from the day the UK leaves the EU, O’Grady said:
“An early commitment to walk away from the ECJ will tie our hands in Brexit negotiations.
“The government should leave all options on the table, instead of creating yet more inflexible red lines.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- “We will ensure that workers’ rights are fully protected and maintained. Indeed, under my leadership, the Government will not only protect the rights of workers but build on them.” Theresa May, 29 March 2017 (bit.ly/2tLoW4A)
- On workers’ rights, the TUC is concerned that:
- In recent decades, the European Union has proved an important source of rights for working people in the UK, including:
- All TUC press releases can be found at tuc.org.uk/media
- TUC Press Office on Twitter: @tucnews
Contacts:
Press Office T: 020 7467 1248 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Michael Pidgeon T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: mpidgeon@tuc.org.uk
Alex Rossiter T: 020 7467 1285 M: 07887 572130 E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk
Tim Nichols T: 020 7467 1388 M: 07808 761844 E: tnichols@tuc.org.uk
Elly Gibson (Mon to Thurs) T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: egibson@tuc.org.uk
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