EU services directive - Compromise vindicates protesters

TENS of thousands of workers have been vindicated by the compromise decision of the European Parliament to water down its controversial services directive that signalled a “race to the bottom” in the workplace.

Designed to create a vast open market for services across Europe, the legislation threatened to allow eastern European workers to work in Ireland and elsewhere for the going wage rates in the country of origin.

Fearful that the spectre of an Irish Ferries-style cheap labour regime would become the norm, trade unions here bitterly opposed the plan, which was championed by Ireland’s EU Commissioner Charlie McCreevy.