30.03.1995

For workers’ European unions

DESPITE this week’s delay, the European social affairs council looks likely to pass a directive in June equalising migrant workers’ pay and conditions with those of the host country.

Britain’s employment secretary, Michael Portillo, opposes the directive, calling it a ‘protectionist’ barrier, but is himself concerned that European bosses’ rights to exploit cheap labour are ‘protected’. He is also opposing proposals for a social clause in international trade agreements to recognise trade unions and ban child labour.

It is ironic that the states most in favour of the equalisation measures - Germany and France in particular - are those which employ the highest number of legal EU ‘guest’ workers. They want to prevent the undercutting of wage rates, thus discouraging the importation of unemployment from EU states such as Britain, where wage rates are lower.

However it is clear that workers cannot rely on EU legislation. Despite changes in law, bosses throughout Europe remain expert at exploiting cheap labour - and all the better if it is made illegal, since then they are guaranteed that workers cannot organise or claim any rights.

German bosses employ 500,000 ‘illegal’ workers in the construction industry. The pay and conditions of these ‘illegal’ workers are dismal in comparison to those won by the strength of trade union organisation in Germany.

These rights are in danger of being eroded by bosses exploiting cheap labour, even when the ‘guest’ workers are legal. Local workers - mainly German and Turkish - work an eight hour day, while migrant workers - mainly from Britain and Portugal - work about 14 hours. Local workers stop work with pay when the weather is too bad. Migrant workers work through or lose pay. When all lost benefits are taken into account migrant workers get about 48% less pay than the Berlin union rates.

Cheap labour not only affects those enduring its appalling conditions, but it also drives down the wages of all workers. Our job is to ensure we get the best. This demands working class organisation across Europe. We need one European Union for one European industry - on the German model - to enable workers throughout Europe to fight together instead of being forced to compete by the bosses.

We must demand the free movement of workers not only throughout Europe, but also into and out of Europe - no worker should be illegal. It is clear that immigration controls and a so-called fortress Europe have nothing to do with the myth of overcrowding, but are designed to criminalise migrant workers.

We know, whatever laws the bosses pass, they will use them to drive down our wages and conditions as best they can, unless we are organised to resist such attacks.

Linda Addison