LETTER: Safeguards for our workers

As the EU referendum draws ever closer, I will be campaigning relentlessly to ensure voters know exactly how positive the European Union's influence has been for workers' rights in the UK.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Jun 2016, 15:00 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 22:54 BST

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

Your views.Your views.
Your views.

Unfortunately, we’re not going to hear these arguments from David Cameron. In fact, with the Trade Union Bill on the table, it is safe to assume he sees these workers’ safeguards as a continental inconvenience, in spite of his wish for the UK to remain in the EU.

We’ve heard how the free movement of people across the continent helps ensure we’re able to holiday with ease in Spain, France, Germany, and all over mainland Europe, completely visa-free. What we’ve not heard enough about, perhaps, is how the fundamental right to a paid holiday from work is protected by the EU.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It is EU legislation, agreed with our European partners, that also gives us maternity and paternity rights at work. Additionally, it is the laws we created, with trade unions and alongside our European neighbours, that give us our robust health and safety rules. Rules which go a long way in reducing injuries and deaths.

As the fight for gender equality continues, it’s also important to note that it is the EU that has enshrined the right to equal pay for equal work for men and women. Similarly, it’s European legislation that protects us from workplace discrimination on the grounds of age, sexual orientation or religion.

As a worker in the South East, I would feel safer knowing that there is EU legislation safeguarding my basic rights, regardless of the party in power in Westminster.

That’s one of the reasons why I’m campaigning for Britain to Remain in the EU.

KEITH TAYLOR

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Green Party MEP for the South East, European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium

__

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.crawleyobserver.co.uk

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/crawleyobserver

3) Follow us on Twitter @Crawley_Obby

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Crawley Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Related topics:David CameronSpainEuropeGermanyFranceSouth EastFacebookTwitter