UKIP: Anti-EU; Anti-Trade Union; Anti-Worker

ERIS European Election Briefing 2: UKIP: Anti-EU; Anti-Trade Union; Anti-worker

‘Its first leader was a Don at a fashionable London university; its current leader went to public school and made his money in the City. His immediate predecessor was an Etonian who hadn’t read his own party’s manifesto. Its elected officials have called women sluts, been jailed for benefit fraud, and blamed the floods on gay marriage. Its only consistent political success is in elections to a body its supporters want no part of under a system its leader despises.’  David Edgar – The Guardian

Introduction:

Kathleen Walker-Shaw, the GMB’s European Officer based at their European office in Brussels made a welcome return to a packed ERIS meeting on Saturday 26 April. Kathleen has worked at the heart of the GMB’s European office representing trade union interests for over twenty years and raised significant concern about the rise of right-wing Eurosceptic and nationalist groups. Moreover, with the European elections only a few days away UKIP’s populist appeal as the anti-establishment party needs urgent scrutiny. UKIP’s record in the European Parliament is extremely poor, questionable and contradicts their core message to represent the needs and concerns of working people. UKIP use Euroscepticisim as a smokescreen for ‘Thatcherite’ economic liberalism that would strip away hard won working rights and protections for workers and the workplace. It is essential for trade unionists to share the information about the impact of UKIP policies on workers and the workplace.  What type of policies would UKIP seek to introduce?

• Removal of legal entitlement to four weeks paid annual leave, protection from excessive hours, breaks and rest periods
• No more legal rights for workers including sick pay, maternity rights, equal pay, discrimination, rights for part-time, fixed term and agency workers
• No health & safety legislation – de-regulation and removal of essential protections of workers in the workplace including no asbestos removal laws
• Limits on employment claims including unfair dismissal
• Removal of workers’ protections and rights around TUPE, Collective Redundancies, Consultation and Bargaining
• UKIP is anti-trade union and will take away rights and recognition

ERIS Comment:      UKIP’s meteoric rise has caused a major panic amongst the mainstream political parties. Despite, a range of extremist views, political gaffs and dubious policy statements UKIP, seem impervious to scandal and journalistic scrutiny. Its leader, Nigel Farage, cuts a cult like figure and may create a watershed in European politics by topping the national poll and winning the majority stake of British MEPs in the European Parliament. Many people state they will vote for UKIP in protest. UKIP seem to be a depository for the public’s disillusionment and anger with the political parties and elites. However, once past polling day it is essential to ask what will the MEPs actually do to represent us? The trade union organisations like the GMB and Unite have been working in Europe because it is often the main source of employment rights and social protections that secure workers interests here in the UK. Without European rules and regulations, UK workers wouldn’t be covered by strict H&S guidelines that protect lives at work, employment rights that ensure equal pay, tackle discrimination or ensure maternity rights for pregnant workers. It is European law that provides the legal entitlement to a paid holiday and protection from excessive hours at work without rest and breaks. UKIP MEPs will vote against these and other employment rights and social protections. To find out more about the European Elections visit: European Parliament – www.europarl.europa.eu GMB Europe – www.gmb.org.uk European TUC – www.etuc.org