(9 February 2009) Protests by workers at the Lindsey oil refinery in Lincolnshire in the UK have ended following an agreement between unions and employers. The protests had been taken up by workers at over 20 other sites across the UK, including chemical plants, other refineries as well as power stations, where many workers represented by EPSU affiliates work.
These protests have been fuelled by the anxiety of workers for their employment in the light of the financial and economic crisis. Part of a construction project at the Lindsey oil refinery had been sub-contracted to a company that said it would bring in its own permanent workforce from outside the UK. Local workers were angry that they had not been given an opportunity to apply for any of the construction jobs and unions were also concerned about whether the sub-contractors were paying wages in line with the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry.
Although the conflict at Lindsey has been resolved trade unions have raised similar concerns about construction contracts at power stations in Kent and Nottinghamshire.
These incidents have added further to trade unions’ anger and frustration over the course the European Union has taken with recent judgements of the European Court of Justice that have given priority to the free movement of capital, goods and services over the fundamental right to equal pay for work of equal value to (Laval, Viking, Rüffert and Luxembourg)
The European Commission and EU governments do not wish to amend the Posting of Workers Directive to provide greater protection against exploitation. A consequence of these judgements is that trade unions are no longer entitled to enforce working conditions for posted workers above a minimum level. If they do then they potentially face legal action by unscrupulous companies and their law firms exploiting each and any loophole to put higher profits before workers’ rights.
EPSU and the European trade union movement want the causes to be addressed and the European Commission to stop promoting the failed market model, which includes liberalisation of public services and deregulation of labour markets.
EPSU supports the calls of the ETUC to recast the Posting of Workers Directive (allowing for a higher protection of workers) and to introduce a European Social Progress Protocol into the Treaty.
- A briefing of UNITE (UK union) on the conflict (EN, FR, DE, ES, IT)
- Statement of ETUC General Secretary John Monks
- A call for urgent action to tackle the root causes by EPSU's sister federations EMF, EFBWW and EMCEF
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