Jargon buster – Know your EFTA from your EEA – and other EUcronyms – Key phrases that will recur throughout the Brexit negotiations: Acquis Communautaire: The entire body of European law: all the treaties, regulations and directives passed by EU institutions, plus all the rulings of the European court of justice. Every member state has incorporated the acquis into its legal system. Article…read more →
ERIS: Saying ‘Yes’ to a Social Europe The House of Commons Library produced the following Briefing Paper – Brexit: employment law (Number CBP 7732), on 12 October 2016. The paper highlight’s the scale of the task but also the lack of certainty that would follow. Please see the ERIS comment at the end of this paper. UK and EU employment law A substantial component of UK…read more →
At October’s meeting, Uli Langhorst from the German Green Party, presented information on the significant changes to the German energy market. The German government is committed to move away from nuclear energy to a new mix of renewable energy and infrastructure. Uli looked at the implications for workers, consumers and the environment. Uli’s presentation can be view below: eris_meeting_nuclear_vs_renewable_ulrich_langhorst
We’ve been told that the people have spoken and that this is the democratic majority. However, the reality is very different and many questions about Brexit remain unanswered: Does the referendum mandate the UK Government to take the UK out of Europe? The referendum was explicitly and expressly advisory. The Government acts as if Brexit is an automatic consequence of…read more →
Saying ‘Yes’ to a Social Europe The ERIS Board met on 29th June 2016 to consider the future strategy of ERIS given the result of the Referendum on 23rd June for the UK to leave the European Union. The Board agreed the following statement: ERIS was established in 1989, by trade unions in the south and south west in response…read more →
Saying ‘Yes’ to a Social Europe ERIS Final Position Statement on the UK Referendum: The referendum debate has been poor. The public demanded a balanced debate on which to base one of the most import choices this country has faced in recent times and instead have been on the receiving end of political twists, turns and shenanigans. Therefore, it is…read more →
Saying ‘Yes’ to a Social Europe The following UK employment rights will be at risk if the UK leaves the European Union: Paid Holidays and Working Time: The Working Time Directive introduced a maximum 48-hour working week (although UK workers can opt out of this time limit), guaranteed rest periods and a statutory right to 20 days’ annual leave (28…read more →
Saying ‘Yes’ to a Social Europe The TUC has published advice it has received from Michael Ford QC, on the impact of Brexit on workers’ rights in the UK. It suggests many of the laws and regulations now giving workers protection and rights face the strong possibility of being repealed if Britain votes to leave the European Union in June’s…read more →
Saying ‘Yes’ to a Social Europe The question of Europe is not new. Therefore it is important to take the long view and the quotes below from two Conservative Prime Ministers show the importance of our long term relationship with Europe. In 1897, Lord Salisbury, British Prime Minister, at the time of Queen Victoria’s Jubilee and height of British imperial…read more →
Saying ‘Yes’ to a Social Europe The EU is in need of reform. However, our reform agenda is not the same reform agenda as Cameron’s that puts business and corporate interests above the interests of working families. Unions are opposed to austerity and for raising living standards and a growing economy – a Social Europe. We demand a return to…read more →
