Great Britain: unions decry British worker discrimination

Union statements. Unions argue that this issue goes beyond standard application of the EU’s free movement of labor accords, which guarantees workers from the European Union member states access to EU labor markets, and claims that this case represents an instance of explicit discrimination against the British worker. According to the TUC, Total had made an “apparent attempt to undercut the wages, conditions and union representation of existing staff”. In a further statement, the TUC commented, “There is much concern among unions at recent decisions of the European Court of Justice - particularly the Viking-Laval cases (see our dispatches No. 071012 and 071034)- that appear to allow companies to undermine existing pay, working conditions and pensions by moving workforces around Europe in this way. European governments must close this legal loophole that drives a huge hole through social Europe.” UNITE, now acting as mediator in the conflict, has called on employers to “end this immoral, potentially illegal and politically dangerous practice of excluding UK workers from some construction projects.” The union has also called for government intervention in the crisis, and to guarantee UK workers ‘equal opportunities’ in the construction and refinery sectors, although it is not at all clear how far Gordon Brown’s office will be willing to mediate. The crisis arose just as Prime Minister Gordon Brown was speaking out against ‘Protectionism’ as an undesirable consequence of the global economic slowdown. A government spokesman has confirmed that the Prime Minister will meet with construction leaders at some time to discuss the issue, but the unions are pressing for stronger action at this time. The conflict continues.