Wednesday 15 April 2015
6:30pm
The Wesley Hotel
81-103 Euston Street
NW1 2EZ
RSVP: luke.hildyard@highpaycentre.org
Politicians from all parties are committed to changing the terms of Britain’s membership of the European Union. Influential eurosceptic lobbyists have demanded the ‘re-patriation of EU social and employment legislation’ and ‘protection for the City of London.’
If the eurosceptics are successful, this could mean the abolition of key rights for UK workers’ guaranteed by EU minimum standards – such as the right to paid holiday or paid maternity leave – and the end to popular EU curbs on the pay of UK bankers. Yet the implications of these proposals and the level of public support they enjoy have not been widely debated.
At the same time, economic inequality is rising in countries across Europe, partly as a result of common factors. Many commentators have argued that more co-operation is needed at international level to prevent tax avoidance, extreme wealth concentration and a race to the bottom on pay and working conditions.
Join the High Pay Centre and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung London to discuss our new report analysing the potential role for the European Union in addressing economic inequality, based on new public polling conducted by ICM on behalf of the High Pay Centre.
The report and discussion will cover questions including:
- Do the UK public understand what rights they enjoy at work as a result of EU measures?
- Is there support for the principle of common workers rights across the EU and action at EU level to tackle inequality?
- What might an alternative vision of a new ‘Social Europe’ look like?
Speakers include:
- Renaud Thillaye, Policy Network
- Owen Tudor, Trade Unions Congress
- Paola Buonadonna, British Influence
- Ulrich Storck, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, London
- Deborah Hargreaves, High Pay Centre
- Luke Hildyard, High Pay Centre
This event is free and open to the public, but RSVPs are required. Please email luke.hildyard@highpaycentre.org to reserve your place. The discussion will be followed by a wine and canapes reception.