Charter helps immigrant workers to undermine Irish wage agreements

THE Lisbon Treaty will lead to a full-blown constitutional revolution in the Irish State, undermining the ability of the people democratically to determine their own political and economic future.

At the core of this constitutional revolution is the transfer of huge power to the European Court of Justice which may interpret the charter of fundamental rights (CFR).

The explanatory memorandum — as prepared by the presidium of the convention which drafted the charter on the interpretation of article 52 of the CFR — states: “It is well established in the case law of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) that restrictions may be imposed on the exercise of fundamental rights, in particular in the context of a common organisation of the market.”

Using article 52 of the charter, the EU court rulings in the Laval and Ruffert cases means that workers contracted by firms from eastern Europe can work in Ireland for the national minimum wage, thus breaking union wage agreements and undercutting Irish workers.

This ECJ ruling means Irish workers cannot strike over this Irish Ferries-style race to the bottom because the free movement of services has higher priority than collective bargaining. If Laval and Ruffert are fully implemented, the jobs and wage conditions of many Irish workers will be put at risk.

It is essential for the cause of Irish workers and social justice across Europe that we vote no to this ‘resprayed’ EU constitution.

The Lisbon Treaty is simply bad for Irish workers.

Brian McDermott

The Saltings

Annagassan

Dundalk

Co Louth