JHL (19.05.2014 - Heikki Jokinen) Efforts to influence the European Parliament on behalf of public services have paid off, says JHL President Jarkko Eloranta. He offers railway transport as a prime example.
The European Commission presented to the Parliament legislative proposals known as the Fourth Railway Package. MEPs, however, amended the EU Commission’s proposal in many important respects.
One part of the proposed package sought to limit railway workers right to strike with an obligation to guarantee a minimum level of service level in the event of a labour dispute.
"The Parliament used its power and amended the proposal", Eloranta says. "During legal labour disputes there will be an unrestricted right to strike on the railways. At least the sitting Parliament does not seek to limit the right to strike on the railways."
"Here we saw once again that it really does matter that people vote in the European Parliament elections. Hopefully, in the new Parliament there will be more MEPs who understand and appreciate public services, working life and measures concerning employment."
The Parliament has also set out rules to protect workers, so that operators will have to comply with the local social standards in place.
"They would also have to comply with the relevant collective agreements and ensure decent employment and working conditions," the Parliament's press release said.
The Package will now be passed on to the Council of Ministers, but the message from the Parliament is clear. Unlimited strike action is part and parcel of freedom of speech and it must be defended.
Jarkko Eloranta spoke at the 85th anniversary celebration of the railway workers' Oulu local chapter.