bolkestein olympics threat
WORKERS, OCT 2005 ISSUE
Workers are under threat from an EU directive that undermines their wages and conditions of work. The Bolkestein Directive (named after its author) allows for an EU-based company that wins contracts for any services to apply regulation arising from the country of origin. A Polish, Lithuanian, Estonian or Czech company would apply its regulatory legislation instead of being obliged to follow British laws, such as those covering health and safety, employment protection, race, sex, disability, age discrimination, the minimum wage and the right to join a trade union.
This has led to the re-registering of companies in countries with the most anti-worker legislation. The Bolkestein Directive will allow "flags of convenience" to be hoist over all services Europe-wide.
Unison has raised the issue with Newham Council, the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the Mayor's Office, in the context of the preparations for the 2012 Olympic Games. The grandiose scenario of the regeneration of East London and the Thames Gateway as envisaged by the GLA and local councils, could now take on nightmarish aspects as the EU attempts to drive down wages, terms and conditions, employment rights and get round equalities legislation.