Social Dimension Of The European Community

EDM number 143 in 1989-90, proposed by Jimmy Wray on 05/12/1989.

That this House reluctantly concludes that Her Majesty's Government opposes the European Community Social Charter because it does not care about the ordinary people of this country, whether consumers or workers; believes that the argument that social rights cost jobs is not only false but revealing, because first, countries supporting the Social Charter had, in general, a much better employment record during the 1980s than Britain and, second, because such argument implies that the only way to create jobs is by denying workers their rights to a civilised treatment by employers or the state; regrets such philistine attitudes; calls on members of the public to support Members and MEPs who believe that Europe has a future only if the Europeans see their dignity protected from the abuse of powerful financial and business interests, and if they find real respect from those in political authority; and demands that the Prime Minister and her Cabinet colleagues cease to misrepresent the efforts to create a more socially just Europe.

This motion has been signed by a total of 28 MPs.