To remain and then reform

Working people are better protected if the UK stays in the European Union, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn asserted today (June 2).

Arguing that “too much of the debate so far has been dominated by myth-making and prophecies of doom”, Corbyn reminded voters of the advantages that membership in the EU has brought to workers in the UK in what he called Labour’s “positive case for remaining in Europe and for reforming Europe.”

Through the EU social chapter and other directives, millions of workers in the UK have benefitted from 28 days of paid leave and a limit to how many hours they can be forced to work; many part-time workers have been granted the same rights as full-time colleagues; and hundreds of thousands of expecting mothers each year enjoy statutory maternity leave.

“It’s important to understand the benefit of these gains,” Corbyn said. “It means workers throughout Europe have decent rights at work. Meaning it’s harder to undercut terms and conditions across Europe.”

He warned that Brexit campaigners have clearly stated their desire to leave the EU is motivated by a desire to water down these very same hard-won rights.

“A vote to Leave means a Conservative government would then be in charge of negotiating Britain’s exit,” Corbyn argued.

‘Disaster for majority’

“Everything they have done as a government so far means we could not rely on them to protect the workplace rights that millions rely on. A Tory Brexit negotiation would be a disaster for the majority of people in Britain.”

But the EU is far from perfect, he noted, as he emphasised that reforming the European Union would be at the top of the agenda for a future Labour government – it would see to it that any current rights and protections are strengthened and extended in “a vision of a Europe of co-operation and solidarity.”

Many Leave supporters have argued that TTIP – the EU-US trade agreement that threatens consumer and worker protection while granting global corporations unprecedented powers to privatise public services – was reason enough to back Brexit.

Corbyn highlighted that he shared the concerns of those frightened by the consequences of what may be the biggest trade deal ever negotiated.

But the successful passage of TTIP is far from being a foregone conclusion – while the Tory government is bent on pushing the trade deal through, France has just said it would veto the deal, which requires the agreement of all 28 EU member states.

And Corbyn said a Labour government, too, would unilaterally veto TTIP, as he threw down the gauntlet to prime minister David Cameron to follow France’s lead.

“If it’s not good enough for France; it’s not good enough for Britain either,” he said.

Global Justice Now, an organisation at the forefront of fighting TTIP, later responded to Corbyn’s comments, arguing that it was precisely through cross-European resistance that TTIP may be on the brink of collapse.

“It’s true that TTIP has provoked many people to veer towards voting for Brexit, but progressive MEPs and civil society from across Europe have been instrumental in getting to the point now where the defeat of the deal is a real possibility,” said Global Justice Now director Nick Dearden.

“Left to their own devices, the free-market fundamentalists of the UK would waste no time in cooking up something even more odious than the EU-USA deal.”

Turning to concerns over immigration, Corbyn acknowledged that some industries were being affected by the undercutting of wages.

But, he said, “it is not migrants that undercut wages, but unscrupulous employers”.

“Migrant workers are often the victims of the worst exploitation, and it is our duty to close loopholes and strengthen enforcement of employment protection here in Britain and across Europe.”

This migrant exploitation that undercuts local wages, Corbyn argued, is being fuelled by a Tory government that refuses to back reforms that would close these loopholes.

Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner hailed Corbyn’s speech.

‘Progressively reform’

“Amid a toxic EU referendum debate between the Tory Remain and Leave camps that’s often spiralled into absurdity and caricature, Labour’s clear, no-nonsense vision for our place in the EU – to remain and progressively reform the EU – is what is needed,” said Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner.

“There is a clear threat to working people from this Conservative government – they have just successfully passed the Trade Union Act because they want to impede our ability to take on unscrupulous bosses – and they are determined to continue with an austerity economic policy, destroying our public services and benefit system and creating low paid, insecure jobs,” he added.

“Fighting for our rights in isolation from other trade unions and movements across Europe will mean fighting with one hand tied behind our backs,” Turner argued.

“Voting to Remain would give unions both in the UK and across Europe the power to further build on these rights such as paid holidays, maternity leave and rest breaks and work together to close loopholes that exploitative employers ruthlessly abuse.

“History has shown time and again that gains for working people are best fought for and won cooperatively – the more allies we have on our side the better.”

• Don’t forget that there’s less than a week to register to vote in the EU referendum – the deadline is Tuesday, June 7. You can register online in minutes here.

@hajera_unite