Offical opening
14 October
2008
The union’s office in Brussels was formally opened in October by
John Monks of the ETUC who spoke alongside Unite joint general
secretary Derek Simpson, Gary Titley, leader of the Labour Group of
MEPs, and chair of the Unite executive Tony Woodhouse.
“This excellent facility puts Unite at the heart of Europe which
is where we need to be as well as the heart of Westminster,” Derek
Simpson told a packed audience of guests from the European
Parliament and the wider labour and trade union movement.
“We need our voice to be heard in these corridors of power to
speak up for the social agenda which has delivered so much for our
members and defend our people against attacks from the Tories who
would seek to unravel much of what has been achieved.”
Derek Simpson and chair of the Unite executive Tony
Woodhouse led a delegation of Unite officials who met with Labour
MEPs in Brussels.
In a lively meeting they discussed the forthcoming Euro
elections as well as pressing issues for Unite members on
employment rights, working time and temporary and agency workers as
well as how best to deal with the controversial European Court
ruling which affects the unions’ ability to take collective
action.
“Our MEPs have done a first rate job in
Brussels and Strasbourg,” said Derek Simpson. “We need to make sure
we do all we can to get them re-elected and more besides. That way
we can really get to grips with how to deal with the European Court
ruling which has the potential to undermine our raison d’être.”
NB: This article was also published in the
latest edition of our Workplace Reporter magazine
