EPSU Austrian affiliates refused entry to European Parliament 'for wearing red', receive apology from EP President

(17 December, 2008, Strasbourg) Heavyhanded French Police refused to allow entry to the European Parliament for members of EPSU Austrian affiliate GdG. The reason? They were wearing red jackets (pictured).

The Austrian trade unionists were in Strasbourg demonstrating for a fair working time directive. Delegation leader Thomas Kattnig explained that the French police insisted that while French President Nicolas Sarkozy was addressing Parliament, they were to remain outside, as their jackets: 'would be seen as a provocation'. Even the assistance of Austrian socialist MEPs Harald Ettl and Hannes Swoboda could not persuade the police.

However the incident did not go unnoticed and before the vote on working time on Wednesday, the European President Hans Pottering condemned the incident, stating that the French Police had been over-zealous.

Mr. Kattnig added that: "the most important thing is that the working time vote has been a great success. It is better we were out in the cold for a few minutes, rather than Europe's workers being out in the cold indefinetely. The result will keep us warm'.

  • Austrian red jackets FOR WEB copy
  • GdG TeilnehmerInnen FOR WEB