The government and social partners – business representatives and trade unions – in Lithuania have signed an agreement in favour of higher wages, cutting taxes on labour and encouraging collective agreements. These pledges will be implemented in line with the principles of “good will, honesty, confidence and constructive dialogue”, says the accord, with a further agreement to be concluded on higher wages.

The International and European Trade Union Confederations called on the International Monetary Fund to stop insisting that Greece undertake even more pension cuts and labour market deregulation before the Fund will agree to a new loan programme, or to signing off on disbursements by European institutions.  

Speech given by Katja Lehto-Komulainen, ETUC Deputy General Secretary PES: THE FUTURE OF EUROPE - Shaping our Future Together Rome, 24 March 2017 [Check against delivery]   Remettre de l’ordre idéologique et philosophique L’Europe a connu des temps difficiles. De nombreux travailleurs s’inquiètent pour leur avenir, leur emploi, leurs revenus et la situation de leur famille.

Commenting on the European Commission’s ’winter package’ on EU economic policy, ETUC Deputy General Secretary Katja Lehto-Komulainen said “There is a missing ingredient in EU economic policy – growth that benefits everyone. For recovery to reach all workers we need a pay rise for workers across Europe, and more public investment. The European Commission now needs to make specific recommendations on increasing wages, collective bargaining and public spending.”

The ETUC is calling on Eurogroup Finance Ministers meeting on 5 December not to impose further damaging “reforms” to Greece’s labour market and Greek workers’ rights following an urgent appeal by Greek trade union GSEE. Discussions are ongoing between the Greek Government and Greece’s creditors, with the IMF pushing for further deregulation of the already highly deregulated labour market.  Key issues include creditors demanding

According to the European Working Conditions Survey launched today more than one third of workers report some or great difficulty in making ends meet. This is the reality behind the rosier picture painted by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions which highlights an “increasingly skilled workforce, largely satisfied with work”. However, the study also reveals that

Luca Visentini – speech for ILO International Labour Conference 3 June 2016 Check against delivery We, the European trade union movement, welcome the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the ILO’s ‘End to Poverty’ Initiative. We welcome the ILO initiative on the Future of Work and the ILO action on Supply Chains. End poverty & hunger, combat inequality, build just and inclusive societies, gender equality, the protection of our planet’s natural resources.

The launch of the European Commission’s ‘Undeclared Work Platform’ on Friday 27 May is a long overdue initiative to tackle the exploitation of workers and unfair competition for law-abiding employers says the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).  It is estimated that up to 20% of Europe’s GDP is in the ‘shadow economy’, and  11% of Europeans say they purchased goods or services involving undeclared work last year (in 2013).

Commenting on EU employment figures - which show an increase of just 0.3%  in the Eurozone and 0.1% EU 28 in the last quarter of 2015 compared to the previous quarter, and 1.2% in the Eurozone and 1% in the EU28 compared to the same quarter the previous year – Veronica Nilsson, Deputy General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) said “A 1% increase in EU employment over a year, and employment growth almost at a standstill in the final quarter of 2015, should ring alarm bells with EU leaders meeting at the summit later this week.”

Completing Economic and Monetary Union: Rebalancing European Economic Governance (ETUC position) Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee on 16-17 December 2015 Introduction The Commission Communication of 21 October describes the initiatives the Commission will undertake in stage 1 of the process to deepen EMU. In this stage, the Commission will intensify the use of policy instruments and levers that already exist within the current Treaties in order to improve the functioning of EMU.

Adopted by the ETUC Executive Committee at its meeting on 10-11 March 2015 The political change in Greece is an opportunity, not only for that crisis-ridden country but also for a fundamental reassessment and revision of EU economic and social policies focusing on failed austerity and structural reforms of the labour market.

Adopted at the meeting of the Executive Committee on 22 October 2014   ANNUAL GROWTH SURVEY 2015: EUROPE MUST HAVE A NEW START The ETUC’s priorities for the 2015 Annual Growth Survey   

Commenting on the latest unemployment figures, which show a 0.7% reduction cross the EU over the last 12 months, Claudia Menne, Confederal Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, said “Unemployment is still over 25 million, which is totally unacceptable. A 0.7% reduction, when unemployment is so high, is completely inadequate.” “Youth unemployment is also still far too high.”

Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee on 11-12 March 2014 Undeclared work is a serious form of social dumping and it is high time that concrete action is taken at EU level in order to prevent undeclared work and to protect undeclared workers. The EU needs better enforcement of existing labour laws and standards as well as a stronger role in promoting more, and better, cooperation and coordination between the different national administrations.

Adopted at the Executive Committee 11-12 March 2014   Europe 2020 not yet fit for purpose In the very beginning, the Europe 2020 strategy, like its predecessor the Lisbon Strategy, relied on instruments which were not efficient, in particular, the open method of coordination. Then economic governance structures were established to better coordinate economic policies, and Europe 2020 had to fit into this new governance architecture, which was not conceived to help it reach Europe 2020 (namely employment or social) objectives.

Best practices and trade union contributions

Brussels, 13/11/2013 Sadly, the prospect of a jobless recovery continues to loom large in Europe. The AGS proposes a continuation of the very economic strategies that have prolonged the crisis and contributed to the decline in employment and the social situation in many countries. A radical change is needed. Europe needs investment not austerity; member states must stop the strategy of an endless race to the bottom based on lower wages and working conditions.

Brussels, 22-23/10/2013    Key messages •    Europe’s major challenge is to transform what could be the end of a recession into a robust process of self-sustained growth, with mutually strengthening investment, demand and job creation adding to growth dynamics •    To achieve this, the strategy of austerity and structural deregulation needs major change

Brussels, 27/09/2013 Bernadette Ségol (ETUC) General Secretary said: “We protest against this clear and irresponsible interference by EU institutions in national wage setting systems. The limits of EU rights in the field of wages must be respected. The EU has no competence to intervene in wages (article 153-5); its competence to issue wage recommendations through broad economic guidelines is limited to just that, recommendations. There should be no pressure whatsoever on national wage setting systems and more particularly on minimum wages”.

Brussels, 05/06/2013 Key messages The European Council must critically assess the European Semester to determine if the process meets the challenges of creating quality and sustainable jobs. Inadequate policies pursued by the Member States and the European Union need to be corrected. The ETUC calls on the European Union to adopt a REAL change of course and strategy by prioritising growth, jobs and social cohesion. This requires:

Brussels, 05-06/03/2013 {{INTRODUCTION }} European migration policy is being deployed in a new institutional environment in which the European Parliament can intervene as co-legislator. It has opened doors to the greater involvement of civil society in a consultative role, from which the ETUC has benefitted as well.