Chartist 280 supplement Wed EU1300.qxp_01 cover 27/04/2016 15:29 Page 1 - IN For democratic socialism *Chartist Referendum Special 2016* 50p Stronger in for jobs and rights Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn MP puts the case to vote to remain in the EU he people of this country face an historic choice on to be critical and still be convinced we need to remain a 23rd June, whether to remain part of the member. European Union, or to leave. The Labour Party is In contrast to four decades ago, the EU of today brings overwhelmingly for staying in because we believe together most of the countries of Europe and has developed the European Union has brought: investment, jobs important employment, environmental and consumer pro- and protection for workers, consumers and the environment, tections. Tand offers the best chance of meeting the challenges we face Britain needs to stay in the EU as the best framework for in the 21st century. trade, manufacturing and cooperation in 21st century In the coming century, we face huge challenges, as a peo- Europe. Tens of billion pounds-worth of investment and mil- ple, as a continent and as a global community. How to deal lions of jobs are linked to our relationship with the EU, the with climate change. How to address the overweening power biggest market in the world. of global corporations and ensure they pay fair taxes. How to EU membership has guaranteed working people vital tackle cyber-crime and terrorism. employment rights, including four How to ensure we trade fairly and weeks’ paid holiday, maternity protect jobs and pay in an era of and paternity leave, protections globalization. How to address the for agency workers and health causes of the huge refugee move- and safety in the workplace. Being ments across the world, and how in the EU has raised Britain’s we adapt to a world where people environmental standards, from everywhere move more frequently beaches to air quality, and pro- to live, work and retire. tected consumers from rip-off Collective international action charges. through the European Union will We also need to make the case clearly be vital to meeting these for reform in Europe – the reform challenges. Britain will be David Cameron’s Government has stronger if we co-operate with our no interest in, but plenty of others neighbours in facing them togeth- across Europe do. That means er. democratic reform to make the As Portugal’s new Socialist EU more accountable to its peo- Prime Minister, Antonio Costa, has said: ‘in the face of all ple. Economic reform to end self-defeating austerity and put these crises around us. We must not divide Europe – we jobs and sustainable growth at the centre of European poli- must strengthen it.’ cy, labour market reform to strengthen and extend workers’ When the last referendum was held in 1975, Europe was rights in a real social Europe and new rights for govern- divided by the Cold War; what later became the EU was a ments and elected authorities to support public enterprise much smaller, purely market-driven arrangement. Over the and halt the pressure to privatise services. years I have been critical of many decisions taken by the EU, So the case I’m making is for ‘Remain - and Reform’ in I remain critical of its shortcomings; from its lack of demo- Europe. cratic accountability to the institutional pressure to deregu- Some argue that we need to leave the EU because the late or privatise public services. single market’s rules are driving deregulation and privati- So Europe needs to change. That change can only come sation. They certainly need reform. It was not the EU that from working with our allies in the EU. It’s perfectly possible Continued on page 2 >> Jeremy Corbyn MP EU-IN Frances O’Grady Workers Rights Don Flynn Free Movement Julie Ward MEP Social Justice Anita Pollack Environment Owen Tudor Legal Quagmire Mary Southcott Human Rights Ann Pettifor Hindsight ISSN - 0968 786 ISSUE www.chartist.org.uk Chartist 280 supplement Wed 1300.qxp_01 cover 27/04/2016 15:29 Page 2 EDITORIAL Remain and reform together n historic decision will be made on 23 June. stay and take the fight for an alternative, democratic Labour has come out clearly for remain road to the heart of Europe. This must be the and reform of the European Union. British road as well. Jeremy Corbyn has nailed In this world where global capital can Labour’s colours to the mast move across borders to divide and rule, of internationalism, cooperation and working in stronger regional blocks wAorker’s rights in Europe. to curb and regulate their tax dodg - While the Tory Party tears itself ing and exploitation is the only apart, Labour is mounting an Have approach with a hope of success. independent united campaign to A Brexit could also set the clock secure an in vote. The spectre of no doubts of social progress back years. narrow nationalism, xenophobia Have no doubts that the Tory and fascism is once again stalk - that the Tory opponents of the EU and UKIP ing Europe. Within the EU, opponents of the EU stand for untrammelled capital - ‘warts and all’ and working ism and a much harsher, mean - with socialists and greens and UKIP stand for er, dirtier, inhumane and divid - across the 27 member countries untrammelled ed Britain. Cooperation with our is the best way to combat this European brothers and sisters on menace to our rights and free - capitalism issues from climate change, cyber doms. crime, terrorism, human rights We know there are problems with and economic justice is the interna - the EU, largely the result of the domi - tionalist way. nation of neoliberal free market priva - Vote remain to continue the fight for tisers and a harsh austerity agenda being a democratic Europe. Vote remain for a pursued most viciously in Greece. But the socially just Europe that will tackle corporate Syriza government and left critics are determined to greed and put people before profits. Stronger in for jobs and rights <- continued from page 1 privatised our railways. It was globalised world. Many of us will would be a bonfire of rights that the Conservative Government of study, work or even retire abroad Labour governments secured John Major and many of our rail at some point in our lives. Free within the EU. routes are now run by other movement has created opportuni - There is a strong socialist case European nations’ publicly owned ties for British people. There are for staying in the European rail companies. They haven’t nearly three-quarters of a million Union. Just as there is also a made the mistake of asset strip - British people living in Spain and powerful socialist case for reform ping their own countries. over two million living in the EU and progressive change in The Transatlantic Trade and as a whole. Learning abroad and Europe. Investment Partnership is also a working abroad, increases the By working together across our huge cause for concern, but we opportunities and skills of British continent, we can develop our defeated a similar proposal before people and migration brings bene - economies protect social and in Europe, together when it was fits as well as challenges at home. human rights, tackle climate called the Multilateral Agreement It is EU regulations that, change and clamp down on tax on Investment, back in 1998. underpin many rights at work, dodgers. Labour MEPs are rightly like holiday entitlement, materni - You cannot build a better world opposing the Investor-State ty leave, rights to take breaks and unless you engage with the world, Dispute Mechanism opposing any limits to how many hours we can build allies and deliver change. attempt to enforce privatisation work, and that have helped to Jeremy Corbyn The EU, warts and all, has on our public services, to reduce improve protection for agency MP is leader of proved itself to be a crucial inter - consumer rights, workplace pro - workers. the Labour Party national framework to do that. tections or environmental stan - Just imagine what the Tories That is why I will be am back - dards. would do to workers’ rights here ing Britain to remain in Europe The free market enthusiasts in in Britain if we voted to leave the and I hope you will too. the Leave campaign would put all EU in June. They’d dump rights those protections at risk. Labour on: equal pay, working time, This is an edited version of is building alliances to safeguard annual leave, for agency workers, the Leader’s speech on 14th them. and on maternity pay as fast as April 2016 We live in an increasingly they could get away with it. It 2 CHARTIST Referendum Special 2016 Chartist 280 supplement Wed 1300.qxp_01 cover 27/04/2016 15:29 Page 3 WORKERS’ RIGHTS In for social solidarity Frances O’Grady says the way to equality, jobs and workers’ rights lies through the EU o wonder so many greater economic equality and Other rights at risk include people feel turned off closer cross border cooperation, equal treatment for part-timers, by the EU referen- not less. European membership temps and agency workers to pro- dum campaign. The still retains a distinct social tect the growing precariat; the Leave campaign, dimension which unions fought Working Time Directive, which fronted by Boris Johnson, is fund- for, including protections for has given six million workers Ned by hedge funds and dominated workers, citizens and the environ- more generous holidays – and two by business interests.