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TUC - European trade unions and TUC commit to protect workers in Brexit negotiations
The TUC has hosted a meeting of the ETUC at Congress House in London, which was the first chance to discuss the challenges faced by workers in Britain and across the EU following the UK’s vote to leave the European Union.
In a joint statement, the trade union leaders affirmed their ongoing commitment to “commonly applied rules that protect workers, consumers and the environment”.
The statement also identified a need for the EU “to deliver on sustainable growth, quality jobs and hope for the future” if it is to tackle the “anger and disillusionment of voters” which the leaders note “is not confined to the UK”.
ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini said: “The European trade union movement is determined to promote and protect the interests of working people through the negotiations on a new relationship between the EU and the UK.”
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Many British people work in Europe, as well as lots of EU migrants working in the UK. It’s vital we work together to protect their rights to remain in their current countries of work and residence.
“We warned throughout the referendum campaign that Brexit would put workers’ rights at risk. Our allies in European unions want to help us protect those rights, both because of their solidarity with British workers and because they do not want a nation on the EU’s doorstep undercutting them with weaker rights.
“Leaving the EU does not mean weakening our alliances with European unions – in fact they will be more important than ever. We will continue to strive for stronger social and workers’ rights in Europe, and a future trading relationship between Britain and the EU that ensures our workers keep the same guaranteed workplace rights as EU workers.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @The_TUC and follow the TUC press team @tucnews
Contacts:
Media enquiries:
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
Michael Pidgeon T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: mpidgeon@tuc.org.uk
Elly Gibson (Mon to Thurs) T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: egibson@tuc.org.uk
