David Martin, MEP

Euro TU Matters June 2011

European Trade Union Day of Action 21st June
Europe needs progressive economic governance, not ‘austerity’ governance. This was the clear message sent to European decision-makers from the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) Congress in Athens. The message was unequivocal: European economic governance means strengthening – not attacking – the European social model.  Bernadette Segol, the new ETUC General Secretary - who gave fraternal greetings at this year’s STUC in Ayr, stated that as one of her first tasks: ‘The European Trade Union movement intends to exert pressure and to organise an action day at the European and national levels on June 21st demanding that:

•   Advances achieved must be preserved: the independence of the social partners must be secured, particularly as regards wages and their negotiating framework;
Public spending for sustainable investments must be independent from a budget straightjacket;
•   European economic governance must include harmonisation of the tax base with a minimum tax rate for companies;
•   Eurobonds must be issued to finance investments in European development and infrastructure networks;
•   The Council and the Parliament must play an important role in the European democratic process, and this role must be preserved.’

For the ETUC, European governance means working for a more social and inclusive Europe for all citizens, particularly the young. The responsible economic governance recommended by ETUC must be geared to access to stable and quality jobs, the generalised promotion of training for all, decent wages, and strong social protection. Purchasing power - the level of pensions and access to quality social services must be defended and secured.

Tax Justice- ‘Publish What You Pay’
I have written to the European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services, Michel Barnier, in support of the Publish What You Pay campaign which is demanding EU transparency regulations for companies engaged in oil, gas and mining activities, in order to tackle corruption and stimulate sustainable development in resource rich developing countries.  I reminded the Commissioner that the extractive industries generate billions of Euros a year, with the potential to drive economic and social development in up to 60 resource-rich developing countries.  I am convinced that coming EU regulations could help lift the veil of secrecy surrounding the deals and revenue-flows within the extractives sector.  EU legislation should be at least as strong as the Dodd-Frank Act passed in the USA in July: project by project reporting; reporting by companies for all activities related to the commercial development of extractive industries; and ensuring that data is published online in an easily searchable and comparable format.  

Promoting labour and social standards plus
corporate social responsibility
At this month’s session of the European Parliament the Socialist and Democratic Group put forward a Report calling for the strengthening of core labour standards, which are embedded in the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions, including freedom of association and collective bargaining, elimination of forced and compulsory labour, elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and the elimination of child labour. The Report demands a change in global governance and in the EU in order to better protect workers’ rights and working conditions.  This external dimension of social policy is a key priority of our Group.  The failure, both inside and outside the EU to comply with basic international social standards constitutes a form of social and environmental dumping detrimental to European enterprise and workers’ rights.  

DAVID MARTIN MEP (Scotland)
Midlothian Innovation Centre, Pentlandfield, Roslin,
Midlothian EH25 9RE, Tel 0131 440 9040.

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