UK and EU unions join forces to call for “common sense” reset to trading relationship

The TUC and ETUC have today (Friday) joined forces to call for a “common sense” reset to the UK-EU trading relationship.  

In the first intervention on the UK-EU reset since the 2020 Trade and Cooperation agreement, the unions say the 2016 Brexit referendum must be honoured while delivering a “much-needed” closer trading relationship.  

The unions say that the Conservatives’ Brexit arrangement was “botched” – and set workers and business back in both the UK and EU.  

The UK and European unions are calling for: 

The union bodies are also calling for a seat at the table for trade unions at the EU-UK summit in May to ensure the reset talks deliver for workers.    

The UK and EU union bodies are warning that with an increasingly volatile and unpredictable global economy and the imposition of hefty tariffs on some countries, it’s “more important than ever” that the UK secures its trading relationship with its closest neighbours. 

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said:  

“It’s time for a common-sense trade deal that works for workers and business in the UK and EU. 

“The Conservatives’ botched Brexit agreement has set workers and business back at home and abroad. After years of muddling through, we need a new approach that honours the referendum result while giving us a much-needed closer trading relationship with EU. 

“That means reducing trading barriers and border checks to boost and protect jobs in communities. This will need closer alignment on chemical and food standards as well as mutual recognition of professional qualifications. 

“And it means upholding mutual high standards on workers’ rights and supporting job opportunities for British workers in the EU and European workers in the UK.  

“With an increasingly volatile and unpredictable global economy, it’s more important than ever that we secure our trading relationship with our closest neighbours. 

On the upcoming UK-EU summit, Paul added 

“It’s vital that unions have a seat at the table at the upcoming UK-EU summit. That’s how you ensure the reset will deliver for workers.”  

Mike Clancy, Chair of the Domestic Advisory Group and General Secretary of Prospect said: 

“Any government that is serious about growth needs to be serious about getting a better deal with the EU. 

“In the renegotiation the UK government must be bold and focus on the art of the possible, rather than drawing up so-called red lines. 

“At the heart of their approach must be removing barriers to trade, and improving workers’ rights and social protections.” 

Esther Lynch, ETUC General Secretary: 

"At a time of growing global instability, working people on both sides of the Channel stand to benefit from common sense cooperation between the UK and the EU. 

"The reduction of trade barriers between neighbours would be a timely boost for companies and help to protect and create quality jobs.  

"We all stand to lose in a race to the bottom. Improving workers’ rights and creating a genuine level playing field must be core elements of the reset, if it is to be a lasting success.  

"The introduction of the Employment Rights Bill in the UK represents an important step since it has ended the threat to social standards in the EU posed by unfair competition created by the anti-strike laws of the last UK Government."