Continuing the irregular series of ‘Know your yes or no to Lisbon Group‘ today I bring you the Charter Group.

Launching next week the group will be campaigning for a yes vote and is not a group of  settlers but various Trade Unionists who’ve assembled to put together information on why workers should vote yes.

Chaired by Des Geraghty (Former SIPTU President) the group is aiming to show

‘ how the Lisbon Treaty has the potential to improve workplace rights and employment protections in Ireland and across Europe, including rights to collective bargaining and collective action. This is because the Treaty would establish the European Charter of Fundamental Rights as primary EU law for the first time, giving a wide range of human and civil rights – including workplace rights – the same legal status as existing EU laws and treaties governing internal EU trade.

The Vice Chairs  include Senator Ivana Bacik, Peter McLoone (General Secretary, IMPACT), Steve Fitzpatrick (General Secretary, Communications Workers’ Union) and Clare Tracey (Director of Social Policy, Irish Nurses Organisation).   Blair Horan (General Secretary of the CPSU) is Secretary of the group.

A 24 page booklet ‘Lisbon and your Rights at Work: Why the Lisbon Treaty is
good for Workers and their Unions’ (yes I know you can’t wait!) will be launched next week and another group for a yes vote will be let loose into the myriad of photo ops, radio debates, and public meetings and looks like being Lisbon II.

(Update Sept.1 The Charter Group Website has gone live.)