Dear all
You may be interested in the following TUC Press Release and announcement of a new briefing?
Thanks
Jennifer Rockliff
Information Service
Trades Union Congress
Congress House
Great Russell Street
London
WC1B 3LS
Tel 020 7467 1221
Fax 020 7467 1273
email [log in to unmask]
www.tuc.org.uk
> 3 October 2003
> 00.01hrs Saturday 4 October 2003
>
> Rights at work should be at heart of EU Constitution
>
> Thousands of workers from across Europe - including a delegation from the TUC - will march through Rome later today (Saturday) to urge Europe's governments to keep workplace rights uppermost in their minds when they discuss the new EU Constitution over the weekend.
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> The ETUC has called the demonstration to coincide with the start of the Intergovernmental Conference of EU leaders in the city, which will have the Convention on the Future of Europe as its main topic of discussion.
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> Key to the Convention is the proposed EU Constitution, which plans to set out the principles of the European ideal, as well as bring together all the existing treaties in advance of EU enlargement next year.
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> To coincide with the ETUC demonstration, the TUC has produced a briefing, 'Our rights, our Europe' highlighting the issues that unions believe should take centre stage in the new Europe. This says that the new Constitution must keep social issues at its core, and focus on the creation of good quality jobs, held by people who have a good standard of living, who are able to look forward to a secure pension to see them into their old age.
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> TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: "Unions are concerned that some European governments seem to be moving away from the ideals of a social Europe towards one more concerned with the interests of big business. What goes into the new Constitution is of paramount importance as it will form the basis of future laws which will have a big impact on the lives of workers and their families across Europe.
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> "The message from the streets of Rome this weekend will be a call for governments to stop blocking workers' rights, to allow the Temporary Agency Workers' Directive to progress during the Italian Presidency and to close the loophole which makes it too easy for British employers to 'persuade' their staff to opt out of safe working time limits."
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> The TUC Rome delegation is headed by two representatives from the TUC's General Council - TUC President Roger Lyons and UNISON's Head of Equalities, Gloria Mills. The march leaves the Piazza della Republica at 2pm, and ends two hours later with speeches in Piazza del Popolo, including one from ETUC General Secretary John Monks.
>
> Notes to Editors:
> - All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
> - Register for the TUC's press extranet: a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access
> pre-embargo releases and reports from the TUC. Visit www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet for a copy of 'Our rights, our Europe.'
> Contacts: Media enquiries: Liz Chinchen on 020 7467 1248 or 07699 744115 (pager) or email [log in to unmask]
>
>
> Liz Chinchen
> Senior Media Officer
> email: [log in to unmask]
> tel: 0207 467 1388
> pager: 07699 744115
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