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We the undersigned, wish to see a strong Social Europe that operates for the benefit of all its citizens. For that there must be effective fundamental collective rights, including the right to strike (at least as far as currently set out in the laws of EU member states) and these should not be diminished in favour of 'market freedoms'.

In the cases of Laval, Viking, Ruffert and Luxembourg, the ECJ have undermined collective rights to such an extent that the ability of trade unions to defend and promote workers rights within Europe is gravely harmed. We call upon this situation to be reversed.

Towards this end:

  • We support the levelling up of workers pay and conditions across the EU: and oppose the levelling down of pay and conditions which results from the privacy of market access rights over collective rights.
  • We wish to promote a 'Social Europe', but accept that the internal market means that member states should not have national provisions that make it more difficult for an entity from a foreign EU state to compete on the same terms as local entities within that member state. However this may not, and should not, require the erosion of social protections and collective agreements if they apply equally to national and foreign entities.
  • We support the ETUC's Social Progress Protocol and in particular the principle that, 'in case of conflict, fundamental rights shall take precedence". We call for this to be adopted as part of the European Treaty.
  • We support the Motion for A European Parliament Resolution On Challenges To Collective Agreements In The EU ("the Andersson Motion") {draft as at 8.5.2008}