As many will be aware with the campaigns on both sides ramping up, the referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union is rapidly approaching, and will be held on the 23rd of June 2016.
I am in favour of remaining in the European Union, as I believe it brings substantial benefits to Scotland. The EU is the main destination for most of Scotland’s exports- annual exports from Scotland to EU countries outside the UK are worth nearly £13 billion, and help support 336,000 jobs. In addition, EU companies add nearly £16 billion to Scotland’s economy. Between 2014-2020, Scotland will be in receipt of €985 million in direct funding from the EU.
However, I realise many of the arguments, statistics and figures quoted in the media from both sides of the issue tend to focus on the aggregate, UK-wide effect of the EU, making the local impact more difficult to discern. As such, I felt it prudent to discuss why I believe membership of the EU is a benefit to Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill. These reasons can widely be divided into three categories: household benefits, local investment, and workers’ rights.
Household Benefits
The EU, as a trade block, means that international trade within the EU is tariff-free. This, in effect, means that Scotland’s imports are less expensive. Less expensive imports mean more affordable fruit and vegetables on supermarket shelves, more affordable household goods and lower cost of living. Annual savings from these lower prices are estimated to amount to £350 per person.
In addition, EU subsidies to industries such as farming help to keep household costs down. Scottish farms receive €580 million a year in direct subsidies from the EU, which help to keep our groceries less expensive.
Despite claims made by Euro-sceptics, the UK’s membership of the EU has helped to drive up salaries, rather than push them down. The Treasury has calculated that EU membership has increased average UK salaries by £1,800 per year.
Overall, EU membership amounts to a net gain of £3,000 per year, per household from the effect of lower prices, increased trade, more jobs and investment.
Given that the median household salary in Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill is approximately £20,000 per year, the benefit of EU membership represents fifteen percent of household income in the area.
Local Investment
While we do pay into the EU, Scotland receives significant funding from the EU via its many investment and development projects.
Between 2000 and 2006, North Lanarkshire council received £19.5 million in direct funding from the EU. Between 2007 and 2013, this figure was £8 million. The Council has used these funds for a number of purposes, including employment projects, regeneration projects and investment in infrastructure.
In addition to these direct funds to the council, the EU has a number of Scotland-wide projects which benefit the area. Between 2007 and 2013, European Structural funds improved skills for 135,000 people across Scotland. This helps to make our economy stronger, and gets young people into work.
In 2012, New College Lanarkshire (then Coatbridge College) received a grant from the EU of £1.5 million for a vital refurbishment project.
Workers’ Rights
In April I spoke at the International Memorial Workers’ Day at Sumerlee Heritage Museum. The event was a stark reminder of how far we have come protecting workers, given the mining and steel industry heritage of the local area. Many of the laws in place to protect workers come from the EU, rather than the UK Government. These rights include paid maternity and paternity leave, guaranteed holiday leave, the right to not be discriminated against based upon age, race, or gender, and the right to work no more than 48 hours per week.
In 2015, we witnessed changes to health and safety for those who are self-employed. What about those who are self- employed, but not through choice? I know many young people in particular, who although they are self-employed are working regularly for the same company, unfortunately without any of the benefits which should come with employment such as sick pay or holiday pay.
This is a health and safety risk – working when you are sick because you have to put food on the table. Or never getting a break from repetitive work because you can’t afford to take any time off.
This is why we need strong trade unions as well as strong laws. Not just to prevent the major catastrophes but to also keep a decent work/life balance in our lives, and to ensure that as well as fair pay for a day’s work that fair conditions are available keeping us all healthy and safe.
Being a member of the European Union has had a huge impact on Health and Safety at work in the UK. It has given us the solid, legal framework covering the maximum number of risks with the minimum number of regulations. So how would UK health and safety record fare if the UK votes to leave the European Union? In my opinion, there is safety in numbers.
Just as it makes sense to be part of a trade union, it also makes sense to part of a larger, louder collective, across the European continent.
You deserve to be looked after and we must keep insisting that our health and safety at work is a priority for our employers. It makes sound business sense to keep a workforce healthy.
Given the substantial contributions the European Union makes to Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill, from keeping household costs low to protecting workers and investing in our youth, I sincerely believe that leaving the EU would negatively impact not just Scotland as a whole, but our local community as well. This is why I will be joining the campaign for Scotland to remain in the EU.
If you would like to learn more about the issues pertaining to EU membership, and how they impact on Scotland, you can find out here: http://www.scotlandineurope.eu/