Why trade unionists should vote LABOUR European Parliament Elections Friday 23rd May Only Labour, and its European sister parties in the Party of European Socialists, have the commitment and broadbased support needed to make sure jobs, social solidarity, strong public services, and effective human and trade union rights are protected in a Europe that too often puts corporations and banks ahead of people and communities. That’s why working people and their families need a strong Labour voice in the European Parliament. Here at home, Labour in government has ensured effective coalition action on employment, social solidarity and union rights – including collective bargaining. In Europe, Labour MEPs have worked hard to ensure that Ireland benefits from progressive EU programmes for decent work, individual workers’ and collective trade union rights, and a social Europe based on solidarity expressed in practical programmes like the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived.
JOBS Here at home With Labour in government, unemployment is falling significantly for the first time since the disastrous Fianna Fáil-Green economic collapse. Labour in government has stabilised the economy, rebuilt our international reputation, and pioneered effective training and workplace programmes with a proven record of getting people into work, while recognising the need to uphold decent standards. Among other things, Labour in government has successfully pushed for a new house building programme that will create 12,000 construction jobs.
Over in Brussels Labour MEPs have worked tirelessly to drag employment centre-stage in EU economic policy. Labour in government made jobs and growth the overarching theme and priority of the 2013 Irish EU Presidency. Labour won agreement for a European Youth Guarantee programme, which will see all those under 25 offered decent work, training or education within four months of becoming unemployed. Labour MEPs worked to get €6 billion earmarked for the European
Youth Guarantee including €130 million already allocated to Ireland, with a pilot underway in Ballymun, Dublin. The Party of European Socialists is the only European Parliamentary group committed to full implementation of the European Youth Guarantee, a substantially increased budget, and its extension to all unemployed people under 30. Its manifesto also calls for an ambitious European industrial investment programme for jobs, with funds for reindustrialisation, innovation, research, training, green technologies and renewable energy.
PAY AND RIGHTS AT WORK Here at home Labour is the government party that listens to, engages with, and respects trade unions and working people. Labour has kept collective bargaining on the coalition agenda with legislation expected soon. Labour in government restored the minimum wage, which was savagely cut by the previous Fianna Fáil-Green Party coalition, and pushed through the restoration of other minimum wage setting mechanisms in hotels, hospitality and other sectors. Labour in government negotiated with unions to abolish two-tier public service pay scales – introduced by the Fianna Fáil-Green coalition – and so reversed the additional 10% pay cut for young people entering the public service. Labour in government is legislating to protect whistleblowers and has adopted trade union proposals to strengthen these protections.
Over in Brussels Workers need a strong voice in the European Parliament to ensure that we can continue to resist the erosion of human and workers’ rights. Only Labour and the Party of European Socialists explicitly say that economic freedoms should not outweigh social rights. They have committed to end the race to the bottom of pay and working conditions and want strong rules on equal pay, health and safety protections, and anti-discrimination legislation. Only Labour is actively committed to reinforce trade union rights and social dialogue. Only Labour will effectively work to ensure that
EU trade agreements protect human and social rights, decent work, environmental standards and fair trade.
PUBLIC SERVICES Here at home Labour in government has valued and protected public services during a crisis created by the last Fianna Fáil-Green government. Labour in government has ensured that far more of the adjustment came from tax changes – rather than public service cuts – than was sought by both the troika and Fine Gael. Uniquely among the troika ‘programme’ counties, Labour in government negotiated with public service unions, which ensured no compulsory redundancies and a workers’ say in the scale and shape of adjustment measures. This has already delivered the abolition of two-tier public service pay and a slight reduction in the public service pension levy. Labour ministers won coalition agreement that the Haddington Road agreement must be the “last ask” of public servants.
Over in Brussels Labour and Party of European Socialists MEPs alone have worked with trade unions across the continent to resist EU changes that would allow more privatisation of public services. They support public services including health, education, lifelong learning and affordable social housing, and call for binding targets on employment, education and social cohesion.
STATE ASSETS Here at home
DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL REFORM Here at home Labour in government has put a €250 ceiling on corporate donations to political parties, initiated legislation to protect workplace whistleblowers and expanded freedom of information provisions. It is in the process of legislating for a compulsory register of political lobbyists.
Over in Brussels With the Party of European Socialists, Labour MEPs led the campaign for first direct say in designating the European Commission president. A strong Labour voice in the European Parliament will increase the chance of Party of European Socialists’ leader Martin Schultz being elected as the next EU President – a real alternative to the austerityobsessed presidency of recent years.
BANK BAILOUT Here at home Labour was the only major party that voted against the Irish bank bailout in 2008. Other parties, including Sinn Féin, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Greens, backed the bank bailout at the one time it could have been stopped. Since then, Labour in government has won a deal on the Anglo promissory note, pumping €1 billion back into the Irish coffers every year. Labour has also forced Europe to cut its extortionate interest rates and kept a bank debt writedown on the EU agenda, despite attempts to slam the door on the prospect.
The troika and the Fianna Fáil-commissioned McCarthy report said sell the lot. But few state assets have been sold, despite the troika presence during more than two years of Labour coalition participation. Some state assets earmarked for sale or in danger – like Coillte forests, the gas distribution network, the electricity network, Irish Water, and the government’s stake in Aer Lingus – remain in public ownership because Labour’s in government. And where sales have happened, Labour in government ensured half the cash raised went to job creation rather than paying bank debt.
Over in Brussels
Over in Brussels
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Labour and the Party of European Socialists consistently oppose liberalisation and privatisation of state assets and are committed to a guarantee of equal access to highquality publicly-controlled services in health, local authorities, water and sewerage, transport, energy and mail.
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Labour in is the only party that can effectively work for further agreement on the reduction of Ireland’s bank debt. The Party for European Socialists manifesto commits it to end the policy of ‘pain for people-billions for banks’ and says speculators must never again be allowed to gamble with people’s lives.
WHAT CAN YOU DO? l Contact Labour Trade Unionists at tradeunion@votelabour.ie for information on Labour election activities in your area.
Vote LABOUR in the European and Local Elections on Friday 23rd May Labour Trade Unionists is an official section of the Labour Party made up of trade union members who are also Labour Party members. Contact tradeunion@votelabour.ie to get involved.