WORKERS' RIGHTS:THE LISBON Treaty is the most progressive document on workers' rights to have been put to the public since the inception of the European Union, the general secretary of the Civil Public and Services Union (CPSU) said yesterday.
Blair Horan said the adaptation of social values enshrined in the treaty, as well as the Charter of Fundamental Rights, would enhance Irish workers' rights.
He told a seminar organised by the CPSU that if the treaty was rejected, Irish workers would run the risk of losing the charter from a renegotiated text.
Mr Horan said the treaty sets out to combat social exclusion, allow for collective bargaining and to achieve full employment and sustainable development across Europe.
"The treaty requirement to put social democratic values at the heart of the union can only enhance the considerable progress we have made on workers' rights since we joined the union," he said.
Former Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins said it was false to think the Charter of Fundamental Rights will rule out the exploitation of workers.
"What I object to is the overblown claims that have been made by some leaders of the trade unions and the Labour Party to what enshrining the Charter of Fundamental Rights means. The idea that this will somehow lead to a situation where, for example, the exploitation of migrant workers is automatically ruled out - that is false," he said.
Minister for European Affairs Dick Roche said all the major players believe in the Lisbon Treaty, and that the support it has received represents a wide range of groups from all walks of life.
Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald said Irish people can be opposed to the Lisbon Treaty and still remain good Europeans.
Ms McDonald said it is important for small EU members to retain their influence and that she found it difficult to believe that the loss of an Irish EU commissioner for five out of 15 years could be a good thing for the State.
Alliance for Europe chairman Ruairi Quinn said shrinking the commission would be a good move as there are not 27 jobs on it for 27 representatives of member states.
