Unite Viewpoint

A group of Unite FOCs/MOCs/Shop Stewards from the Grapical, Paper & Media Sector has visited Brussels this week for a two day study tour. The purpose of the study tour was to get a better understanding of how the European Union works, its institutions and to get a greater understanding of European employment legilsation and how it effects workers and unions in the UK. The group consisted of 20 reps from large and medium sized print, packagaing and newspaper companies along with staff from the Unite Brussels office and for one day myself. The two days were very busy with meetings commencing with Eveleyne Pichot from the Employment and Social Affairs Affairs DG who spoke at length about the current situation in relation to legislation including the reviews of the EWC and I&C legislation and a good friend, General Secretary of the European TUC John Monks who gave a presentation of the the recent European Court of Justice rulings which will have a big impact on employment law in the UK - the cases are known as Lavel, Viking and Ruffert - all of which will become of interest to trade reps and activists as well as employers and HR specialists -I won't go into detail here but will no doubt post stuff on them at some point this week. John also explained the work the ETUC is doing on these judgements and on the Agency Workers Directive, the EWC revision and the I&C revisions. Other speakers who gave an insight into the current workings of the EU and Commission included MEP's from the UK and Ireland and representatives of the the European trade union confederations from Union Network International Graphical (Nicola Konstantinou) and EMCEF, (Reinhard Reibsch). The second day consisted in meetings with other EU officials and MEPs and a visit to see the Parliament in action. It is intended that the group will produce reports for their own local regions/branches and also a national report. To see Unite's comments on the Ruffert case visit: http://www.amicustheunion.org/default.aspx?page=8247