GMB to advocate “Brexit” if Cameron succeeds in removing UK from Social Chapter

Speaking at their National Congress today, GMB General Secretary Paul Kenny said that if David Cameron was successful in having the UK opt-out of social and employment rights legislation, his union would advocate a British exit from Europe in a future EU referendum. Kenny told delegates that:

“Well, let us be clear, many trade unionists were wary, or even hostile, to becoming part of the EU but we went with it.  Our union, the GMB, embraced the European process.  But let’s be clear, and let the trades union movement be clear, with no social agenda, no social advancement, if Cameron thinks that this union will campaign for a Yes vote without a Social Chapter, then he is wrong.  No social rights mean a No vote from me and I guess it is going to mean a No vote from you.

Let Cameron and the CBI, and the employers associations understand that if they want to benefit from free trade but they do not want to accept any of their responsibilities, if they want exploitation, and if they think that we are going to line up with them on an agenda that just gives a Yes vote to stay in the EU on that sort of sweatshop Britain, then I am telling you they have a fight on their hands.

We are not going to stand by and just allow Cameron, and any government, to sign away the obligations of a social agenda as part of the whole EU agreement.  We are not going to stand for it.”

The union leader also took the opportunity to urge Labour to build more council houses, and bring both railways and water under public control in his keynote speech in Plymouth this afternoon.