TUC EDUCATION IS ANXIOUS TO increase the level of knowledge of EU
affairs among both tutors and union reps. who attend its courses. As
the future industrial relations framework of the UK is likely to be
greatly influenced both by legislation from, and the general approach
taken by, Brussels, the arguments between the ‘European Social Model’
and the ‘American’ one are of more than academic interest to British
trade unionists. To this end a 3-day workshop was held for tutors to
thrash out a new course outline on ‘Trade Unions and Europe’ as well as
to identify ways that existing courses could incorporate the subject.
Tutors agreed that there were plenty of opportunities to bring up
European matters in both stage 1 and stage 2 of the reps.’ course.
Background knowledge on the origins and history of the EU, its
institutions, the Single European Market and European Monetary Union
were required as well as definitions of terms such as ‘neo-liberalism’.
A draft plan for a new 2-day course on the EU and the Unions was
produced as well as a one-day tutor briefing to ‘train the trainers’.
Those attending the workshop also heard guest speakers such as Jeff
Bridgford of the European Trade Union Confederation college (now part
of ETUI-REHS) which runs about 40 courses a year for trade unionists
throughout Europe and Owen Tudor, Head of the TUC European Union and
International Relations Department who stressed the neo-liberal turn
that EU policy had taken in some areas. A high standard of work by
tutors resulted in workable plans which, it is hoped, will soon result
in both new courses and a higher level of awareness of EU issues among
trade union educationalists and representatives.
