UK call for EU treaty vote spoils Brown honeymoon

LONDON, Aug 22 (Reuters) Gordon Brown's prime ministerial honeymoon seemed close to an end today when several trade unions -- traditional backers of his Labour Party -- urged him to hold a referendum on the new European Union treaty.

Brown, praised by the British public for his handling of crises from car bomb attacks to floods to foot and mouth disease since taking over on June 27, has ruled out a plebiscite on the charter, a stand the unions are now challenging.

The GMB, a general union, and the RMT railworkers' union tabled motions for the unions' Sept. 10 congress calling for a referendum. The RMT said unions should campaign for a ''No'' vote.

Brown, who is due to address the meeting, is not obliged to adopt the motions but they will embarrass him, particularly if similar calls are made at his first Labour Party conference as prime minister starting on Sept 23.

The unions are a vital source of political and financial support for Labour and their backing will be essential when Brown calls a general election.

The GMB and the RMT are particularly angry at the opt-out secured by former prime minister Tony Blair from the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, saying it turns British workers into second-class citizens in Europe.

The charter sets out human and social rights, including the right to strike.

''Congress is bitterly disappointed that the Charter of Fundamental Rights will not apply to British workers and their trade unions and calls on the government to show commitment to Europe's social dimension,'' reads the GMB motion.

Blair promised Britons a referendum on the EU constitution but Dutch and French voters rejected it in 2005. Brown says its successor, the reform treaty agreed by Blair and other EU leaders in June before he took over, has no ''constitutional'' elements and need not be put to a vote.

The unions say the treaty, which must be ratified by all 27 EU members, is exactly the same as the constitution.

Brown, finance minister for 10 years until Blair quit in June, has helped unite a party that was riven by in-fighting between his and Blair's supporters and give Labour a 10-point lead over the Conservatives.

His strong performance has fuelled speculation he will call an early election later this year or in 2008.

A third union said today it too wanted a referendum: ''We will be supporting both motions,'' said a UNISON spokesman.

Widespread union support for the motions could force the referendum debate on to the floor at Labour's annual conference.

Several British newspapers are also running campaigns urging Brown to hold a referendum.

Ireland will hold a referendum on the EU treaty but other countries look set to use the more predictable route of ratification by parliament.

REUTERS GT BST0017