Union Members Wary of Single Currency

An opinion poll carried out by MORI for the Transport and General Workers' Union shows that most trade unionists are opposed to British participation in the Single Currency.

Twenty one per cent of trade-unions are strongly opposed to British entry, whilst 34 per cent are generally opposed and could only be persuaded in favour of participation if they thought it was good for the British economy.

Bill Morris, General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union said: "these results vindicate the T&G's support for the Government's policy of 'prepare and decide'."

"This poll clearly shows that there is no appetite for early entry to the single currency, and that any move by the TUC to bounce the Government into pursuing early entry at all costs would be counter-productive and unrepresentative."

"Union leaders should take care not to be out of step with their membership on this issue. What matters to trade unionists is the economic consequences of participation. Nothing could do more harm to the chances of persuading union members to back the Euro than to put the British economy on a 'crash-diet'."

"The fallout in terms of jobs and cuts in public spending could wreck any hope of persuading British workers to ever vote for the Euro."

Q. As you may know, the member states of the European Union have launched the Single European Currency, the Euro. Which of the following best describes your own view of British participation in the Single Currency?

Views Of British Participation Trends

Technical details

MORI interviewed a representative quota sample of 2,046 adults aged 16+ at 155 sampling points across Great Britain. face-to-face, in home interviews took place 26th August - 1st September 1999. Base: All respondents. Figures have been weighted to the known profile of British adults. All figures are in percentages. Where percentages do not sum to 100, this may be due to multiple responses, the exclusion of don't knows or computer rounding.