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THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION HAS hit on a new tactic to inform people of their rights under EU law. Proud of the recently passed legislation, which bans all kinds of discrimination at work and racial discrimination more generally, but fearful that the message is not getting through to the public, Brussels has come up with the European Truck Tour. The large blue and yellow vehicle will function as a 'mobile information platform' on a three month tour of European cities. Surveys indicate that many people still believe that a person's ethnic origin, religion, disability, or age can be an obstacle in finding a job. All these forms of discrimination at work are now illegal but the truck will also carry the positive message that diversity is good, embracing the variety of European society. Employers, unions and employees from different EU countries will be encouraged to attend as well as celebrities and politicians from the EU member that the truck is passing through.
The activities will also be tailored to the truck's location with local bands, choirs and dance performances. Information on anti-discrimination issues will be provided on film and at information terminals and tested by a 'Europe quiz'. The truck is fully accessible with a ramp and lift and a Braille board will give blind people the interactivity of the internet. There is also a help desk and a room for one-to-one interviews. Odile Quintin, Employment and Social Affairs Director General at the Commission sums up: 'The truck tour offers a practical opportunity to make people aware of their rights and obligations regarding discrimination at the workplaceÉ.The tour enables us, with the support of a varied programme, to portray diversity as a positive alternative to discrimination'.
The truck will be in London on 13 October.
DANISH WORKERS RECENTLY SET a new precedent in labour relations: a footballers' strike. Following a long-running dispute the Danish Football Players' Association (SPF) began their first ever strike on 17 August after negotiations had broken down with the Danish League Association (DF). At the heart of the argument was the compromise reached between the football world governing body FIFA and the EU Commission in 2001. This diluted the effect of the famous Bosman case, heard at the European Court of Justice in 1995, which guaranteed free movement of labour for footballers at the end of their contract. It allowed compensation to be paid to clubs transferring players younger than 23 whose contract had expired. When the Danish Football Association (DBU) implemented the ruling as a clause in players' contracts the SPF claimed that it inhibited their prospects of employment with foreign clubs who knew that they would have to pay the compensation. Following a threatened lock-out the DF joined the Danish equivalent of the TUC (LO) which gave it the resources to mount the strike. However after a week when the national league was crippled the strike was suspended so that further negotiations could take place.
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