Skip to content
2006

SIPTU President in Strasbourg for ETUC protest over EU Services Directive

Date Released: 14 Feb 2006

SIPTU General President, Jack O’Connor went to Strasbourg to participate in the ETUC demonstration at the European Parliament on Tuesday, February 14, as it begins to vote on amendments to the controversial draft EU Services Directive. He will also be lobbying MEPs to highlight the concerns of SIPTU and other trade unionists at the potential impact of the Directive in its present form.

“If the Directive is voted through the European Parliament in its original form it will be little more than a blank cheque for exploiting workers and ripping off the consumer, whose rights are also inadequately protected," said Mr.O'Connor.

“We support the ETUC’s call for the removal of the ‘Country of Origin’ principle from the Directive and for its amendment to ensure that the rights which workers have won through collective agreements on pay and conditions in each member state are respected.” 

SIPTU  has played a leading role in highlighting the threat the Services Directive poses in Ireland, where most employment rights are based on collective bargaining rather than legislation. This situation leaves temporary and non-unionised workers particularly vulnerable to exploitation.

Over the past 18 months, 15,000 foreign workers have joined the Union because of the lack of statutory protection. Recently SIPTU has appointed three fulltime officials from the new EU accession states to help cope with the demand for services and trade union representation.





Previous and Next: 2007 | 2005