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Richard Lambert, director general of the employers’ body, gave warning in a speech to the Centre for European reform that the EU’s charter of fundamental rights could devastate the present labour landscape in the UK through its “right to strike” provision. "Giving the Charter any kind of legal status would run the risk of opening up our employment laws to damaging challenges," he said. "We would run the risk of allowing the European Court of Justice - a purposeful body, looking to stamp its own interpretation on the law - to overrule carefully crafted rules on how strikes operate in the UK. Gradually, the UK's labour market flexibility would come under serious threat." Mr Lambert added: "That’s just what inclusion of the charter could do - maybe not immediately, but over time. Gradually the UK's labour market flexibility would come under serious threat." The charter, agreed in 2000, may acquire legal force in all member states through a reference in a new treaty being drawn up to replace the Union’s previously proposed constitution. European leaders are meeting this week to begin negotiations on the treaty. Tony Blair has
said he wants to protect Britain’s labour laws but faces resistance from
other leaders, including Germany’s Angela Merkel.
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