‘We are fighting for a different view of Europe!’ These were the fighting words of the general secretary of a pan-European federation of unions speaking against Brexit.
Jan Willem Goudriaan of the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) gave a well received speech at Unison’s local government conference this morning urging delegates to vote Remain in the upcoming referendum.
Mr Goudriaan acknowledged the European Union (EU) has problems, but said British unions are better able to fight for the rights of their members when working together within a pan-European framework.
He characterised the Leave campaign as part of a wider tendency towards nationalism and regionalism that is increasingly evident in every country, and called on members to ‘say no to the nationalism, racism and xenophobia of the far right’.
He also warned a Brexit would allow Whitehall to undermine employment legislation even further.
‘We’re making advances together as unions in Europe,’ he said.
‘We are fighting for a different view of Europe…its about a vision of what we can achieve together…a more social Europe.’
‘Vive Unison and vive European trade unions,’ he added.
