"We will not accept demands for European standards of productivity without European standards of workers’ and trade union rights," he added.
GPMU deputy general secretary Tony Burke welcomed the introduction of the Temporary and Agency Workers Directive in his speech, but called for equal treatment for workers from the beginning of their employment.
TUC general secretary John Monks held a press conference at the congress to launch an attack on Northcliffe Newspapers, accusing the group of "union busting".
Monks referred to the GPMU’s battle for union recognition at three Northcliffe group sites; the Stoke Sentinel, the Daily Mail’s Printworks (Gloucester) plant, and the Swansea Evening Post.
Monks said that some companies had adopted the worst kind of union tactics, and said that: "not surprisingly many of these have been US-owned and imported the union busting tactics of the US".
Northcliffe refuted the claim and in a statement said: "The group fully accepts the rights of employees to be represented by trade unions, and adheres to all employment legislation in this area."
Story by Andy Scott
