Protecting workers’ rights within the EU

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/16/protecting-workers-rights-within-the-eu

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The TUC would be shooting itself in the foot if it campaigns for a British exit from the European Union (Pressure on Labour over EU as union vote sounds alarm, 16 September). Changes to workers’ rights can be reversed and enhanced by future UK governments operating as a member of the EU much more easily than dealing with the likely economic fallout and consequences of such self-defeating isolationism. Though without electoral reform, the UK will remain in thrall to a dwindling Conservative minority with an inbuilt rightwing electoral ratchet. Without this, any victory by a more progressive government would prove to be entirely pyrrhic.

It’s time for Labour to choose, does it want to lust after absolute power or build a more sustainable, liberal and egalitarian society?David NowellNew Barnet, Hertfordshire

• Within days of his election, Jeremy Corbyn is in danger of falling into a classic Cameron trap. The European referendum will offer the electorate a wholly inadequate, even improper, choice, between staying in on the Tories’ terms or quitting. Why aren’t we being offered the option of sticking with the current treaty, which includes benefits such as the social chapter? Until Labour’s new leadership exposes Cameron’s European referendum as democratically challenged, it will be left floundering when faced with the question, “How will you be campaigning on Europe?”.Tim Shelton-JonesBrighton, East Sussex

• Angela Eagle is absolutely correct that the trade union bill is a “draconian and a partisan attack” on unions (Report, 15 September). It is also counter-intuitive. In a workplace of 100 employees where 49 vote, with 27 voting for strike action and 22 against, then strike action would be unlawful since the 50% threshold has not been met. But in another workplace of 100 employees where 51 vote, with 26 voting for strike action and 25 against, then the strike action is lawful since the 50% threshold has been met. So a workplace where 26% of employees vote for strike action to withdraw their labour is lawful but where 27% vote for strike action it is unlawful.Bert CloughVisiting professor, Centre for Employment Relations Innovation and Change, University of Leeds

• I voted against Sweden’s accession to the EU. I believed that the well-off western Europe, with its tradition of less transparency and colonial history, would make Sweden a poorer country. But time has passed and today several central European countries are also members of the union. The EU institutions are often instrumental for a more up-to-date and progressive view than those of the governments of the member countries.

This is true, for example, of climate policy. I find it very hard to believe that Europe could be considered progressive without a common policy aspiration with greater accountability from both the European parliament and the European commission. The stumbling blocks across governments and industry would apply their brakes more freely if it wasn’t for the EU.

Thought should be given to whether the world would be a better place without the EU; and whether the possibilities to respond to the considerable and difficult challenges of our time would increase in that case. I don’t think so. We can, of course, hide in a corner and hope that the trouble will pass. But it won’t. The wars in the Middle East won’t come to an end because the UK drops out. Nor will the English achieve peace on their own. It’s easier to stem the tide of refugees if you live on an island far from the madding crowd. But people will not stop fleeing because the UK closes the door.

The world needs more cooperation. And the world needs the UK. Those of us who believe in transparency, accountability, cooperation and trade between countries, know that the UK is a reliable partner. Coalitions for better policies can often be built together with the British. We need you. The EU needs you.

One might say that we need other forms of cooperation. The EU is not good enough. But the only thing going for the EU is the fact that it exists. Everything else that we would like, but doesn’t exist, may take some time, perhaps too long.

In Sweden, we talked at length about the EU in negative terms. However, I and many with me have stopped doing that. Today we’d rather talk about how we can make the EU better. There’s a lot of room for improvement. Rising to the occasion won’t be any easier without the UK. The EU needs the UK.Peter ErikssonMEP for the Green party, Sweden