Brexit - how trade unions hope to make the best of a bad situation

The EESC Workers' Group was honoured to welcome Tim Roache, General Secretary of the GMB, the UK's third largest trade union, at its Group meeting on 19 October. Mr Roache and the Workers' Group members discussed the issues around the UK referendum vote to leave the EU and the trade union strategy for securing the best outcome for working people during the exit negotiations.

Mr Roache started by outlining some of the complex reasons which resulted in the 'Leave' vote. He emphasised how workers' rights and working conditions in the UK have been systematically eroded over decades, firstly in the private sector with longer worker hours, less pay and the introduction of zero-hour contracts, and subsequently in the public sector which, due to austerity policies, has suffered from pay freezes and a worsening of terms and conditions, with casual contracts replacing regular ones. This sustained process had left many people looking for someone to blame. The UK-EU referendum provided an opportunity to express their anger at the establishment, much of which were pro-Remain, and unfortunately, migrant workers were also used as a scapegoat. Although the UK is already starting to experience some negative economic effects, with the British Pound at its lowest point since 1848, many of the 52% who voted for Leave still think they made the right decision. In this context, he felt that a second referendum is not a realistic option. 

Mr Roache then set out the current position of the UK Government, saying that while the referendum result provided a mandate for the UK to leave the EU, there was no clear mandate on the specific terms of how this should happen.  The trade unions, therefore, have to develop a strong 'Brexit Strategy' to find the best outcome from this unfortunate situation.  As part of this strategy, he said that the GMB would hold the UK Government firmly to account regarding the terms of the UK's exit and continue to highlight the false promises made by the Leave campaign. He stressed the need to work with progressive political forces that support the trade union priorities: ensuring that working people do not pay the price for Brexit and that the negotiations with the EU do not result in a race to the bottom.  The GMB would focus on four key issues: safeguarding jobs, increasing and properly earmarking public expenditure, protecting the British economy (he pointed out the potentially disastrous consequences of exiting the single market, estimated as a loss of over 66 billion Pounds a year for the next 15 years), and ensuring fair movement of labour. He stressed that fair movement of labour means ensuring decent working conditions for all workers in Britain by preventing unscrupulous employers from exploiting workers by promoting a cheap and precarious labour force, be it by using workers from outside the UK or from local depressed areas. The trade unions, with the support of the Labour Party, must focus on theses issue and create a solid proposal for the 'Brexit' terms.

In conclusion, he said that the final objective must be that the terms of the UK – EU negotiations on how the UK leaves the Union, will be submitted for a Parliamentary vote, to determine whether this is in fact what the British people really want.

In the ensuing debate, EESC members discussed the fact that many of the issues that had led to the 'Leave' vote in the UK were also problems in their own countries. Members also stressed the need to defend the free movement of workers and to end to social dumping, ensuring that collective agreements are respected and that the loopholes in the Posting of Workers Directive are closed.

The EESC Workers' Group President, Gabriele Bischoff warmly thanked Mr Roache for coming to discuss this complicated issue with the Group. She reassured him that the GMB and the British trade union movement, as well as British working people would continue to have the firm support and solidarity of the Workers' Group.