Workers United Against The TTIP

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A trans-Atlantic labour union, Workers Uniting, has called on the EU and U.S. trade negotiators to strengthen worker’s rights in the proposed Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

The TTIP has been widely criticised by the world’s experts.

Dean Baker of the Center for Economic and Policy Research in the US observed that with conventional trade barriers between the US and the EU already low, the deal would focus on non-conventional barriers such as freeing up regulations regarding fracking, GMOs and finance and tightening laws on copyright.

He claim that this trade agreement is not about promoting prosperity for all, but powerful industry lobbies trying to dodge regulation. 

Workers Uniting  calls for the TTIP to include a tax on financial transactions to support social programs and also demands that the European Works Council directive, chemical safety standards, and other European social legislation be expanded to include American workers.

This stance was reiterated from Trade Union leaders from both sides of the Atlantic. 

“We view TTIP as a threat to the rights of workers in Europe. We can’t afford to import America’s low labour rights standards.” 

Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite the union. 

“American and European workers deserve a better deal. Our governments’ narrow focus on greater protections for companies must be transformed to include expanded rights and protections for workers.” 

Leo W. Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers (USW), which represents workers in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.