Labour Research February 2017

Health & Safety Matters

Brexit ‘hijack’


A letter to MPs from the head of structural engineering company REIDsteel has prompted a warning from the TUC that “bad bosses are trying to hijack Brexit”. 


The letter is from Dorset-based REIDsteel managing director Simon Boyd whose company employs 130 direct staff. It claims that recent European Court of Justice rulings on the Working Time Directive “are now the biggest threat to UK businesses”. 


His letter also takes aim at the Construction Design and Management Regulations; the “six pack” of regulations that came into effect as a result of the European framework and daughter directives in 1992; and “CE” product safety marking indicating that a product meets EU safety requirements. 


Dave Hulse, national officer for the GMB general union, said the letter “is confirmation that workers’ rights are under threat from Brexit”. He added: “Workers didn’t vote for Brexit to have their rights taken away from them.” 


http://2mbg6fgb1kl380gtk22pbxgw.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/What-has-Membership-of-the-EU-done-for-Us.pdf

www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/steel-boss-brexit-plan