Catherwood LibraryILR School

Ireland's Unite trade union, the second largest in the country, asked workers Monday to reject the EU's Lisbon Reform Treaty, in a vote scheduled to take place next month. The union fears that the treaty would expose workers to job loss, pay cuts, and exploitation, saying that Ireland is unique in the European Union because its government views workers' rights only as obstacles to economic recovery. Ireland rejected the treaty last year, but several concessions to Irish policy this year may change the situation, especially in conjunction with a deep recession, which many feel requires support from the EU. A large number of Irish businesses have been campaigning in favor of the Lisbon treaty. Recent opinion polls have a majority voting 'yes' despite union urgings, but a swing is not unprecedented, as the 'no' vote last year came about fairly last-minute.