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At the Tripartite Social Summit, Oliver Roethig spoke on behalf of European services workers and hairdressing employees in particular, following Commission’s “No” to the social partner agreement.

Oliver Roethig addresses the Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment

Brussels, 24 October 2013

Presidents, Prime Ministers, Partners, Colleagues,

I speak on behalf of UNI Europa, the European Services Worker Union, and today particularly for the hairdressing employees.

I want to stress five points:

FIRST, we regard the Commission’s “No” to the social partner agreement in the hairdressing sector as an attack on Social Europe and trade unions. The hairdressers are the first victims of a new anti-social policy agenda. With targeting their agreement in the REFIT Communication, the Commission is sending a deliberate signal: Social Europe is an obstacle to profit-making, whatever the cost to workers and society – so let’s dismantle it, starting with occupational health and safety. 

Be assured, UNI Europa and the entire trade union movement with our partners will not stand idle, but do everything in our power to stop this aberration of the European spirit – Starting with stopping and defending the hairdressing agreement.

SECOND, President Barroso continues to echo disparaging remarks about the hairdressing agreement made by the British tabloid press under the heading of “Hair Hitler”. As the Commission said itself at the time of these articles, they are misleading or plainly wrong. We don’t want political games with the lives of workers but respect for hairdressers, both for employers and employees. 

We have a little brochure here with the real story about health and safety risks for hairdressers: Ask your hairdresser next time on the skin diseases they suffer.

THIRD, the Commission continuously pushes for tangible results of the social dialogue. By making the workplace safer, the hairdressing agreement will reduce expenses for business and social security systems. Occupational skin diseases alone cost across all sectors over 5bn Euros every year in the EU – with hairdressers most affected. The agreement simply saves costs. The hairdressing social partners delivered. Their agreement is lived subsidiarity, making a difference for ordinary people and small businesses. REFIT goes in the opposite direction.

So, FOURTH, we expect nothing less on our request than an impartial, comprehensive and timely decision on the hairdressing agreement. If you do this on merit and not political expedience, you will make a decision before the Commission’s mandate ends. This is the Commission’s obligation and Member States too should insist! As Commissioner Andor saw yesterday, UNI Europa and hairdressing employers, Coiffure EU stand together on the hairdressing agreement.

FINALLY, let’s be frank: Has the EU changed its approach on Social Europe?
Are matters for regulation only those having a cross-border character -- narrowly defined?
Does it mean that common concerns of workers and employers across the member states don't count anymore? If yes, this is a bonsai version of social dialogue and indeed of the EU as a whole.

Social Europe is not a placebo.
Again, here is our request: Transpose the hairdressing agreement now. 

Thank you