• EU governments must end social dumping - ETUC calls on ministers to enforce posted workers' rights

    EU governments must end social dumping - ETUC calls on ministers to enforce posted workers' rights

    Brussels, 06/12/2013 Labour ministers will meet on 9 and 10 December to discuss the Enforcement Directive of the Posting of Workers Directive as part of the Employment, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) Council. In a letter to the responsible ministers, ETUC Secretary General Bernadette Ségol asks EU governments to respect the rights of workers and end social dumping in Europe.
    Press release Published on 06.12.2013
  • Austerity is illegal: European trade unions demand a change of policy- Troika acts against EU law and human rights, according to senior lawyer

    Austerity is illegal: European trade unions demand a change of policy- Troika acts against EU law and human rights, according to senior lawyer

    Brussels, 29/11/2013 The report was adopted on 28 November in Vienna and presented at a conference of lawyers from across Europe. The European Commission and the European Central Bank are, due to their involvement in the troika, breaching the primary law of the EU, since the Treaty of Lisbon also includes the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
    Press release Published on 29.11.2013
  • Trade unions oppose privileged rights for Big Business in EU-Canada trade deal / Investor-state dispute settlement on negotiating table this week

    Trade unions oppose privileged rights for Big Business in EU-Canada trade deal / Investor-state dispute settlement on negotiating table this week

    Brussels, 25/11/2013 This “next generation” free trade agreement will include a controversial and unnecessary investor-to-state dispute settlement process (ISDS). In spite of the 18 October EU-Canada deal, negotiations on investment protection and ISDS continue.
    Press release Published on 25.11.2013
  • SACO Congress

    SACO Congress

    Stockholm, 15/11/2013 Check against delivery President, Friends, Thank you for giving me the floor. I bring you the greetings of the European Trade Union Confederation. I would like to take this opportunity to talk to you about our main concerns, our main issues, our main priorities. You will not be surprised if I start by a few words about the crisis we have and are still going through.
    Speech Published on 22.11.2013
  • EU Cohesion Policy endorsed in a rush - Deal not enough to meet demands of European Social Fund

    EU Cohesion Policy endorsed in a rush - Deal not enough to meet demands of European Social Fund

    Brussels, 21/11/2013 While ETUC understands that this approval was urgent, in order to start the next programming period on time, at the same time it is deeply concerned by the final decisions made on the European Social Fund (ESF), as well as the macroeconomic conditionalities in cohesion policy.
    Press release Published on 22.11.2013
  • For a Just Transition in Europe Trade unions call on equitable climate deal that protects workers

    For a Just Transition in Europe Trade unions call on equitable climate deal that protects workers

    Brussels, 19/11/2013 The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the Polish trade union confederation, Ogólnopolskie Porozumienie Zwi?zków Zawodowych (OPZZ), would like to take the opportunity of this UN conference taking place in Warsaw, to stress the importance of having an European energy and climate policy that puts the Just Transition into action.
    Press release Published on 19.11.2013
  • ETUC supports Bulgarian trade unions in crisis situation

    ETUC supports Bulgarian trade unions in crisis situation

    Brussels, 18/11/2013 Against the background of months of growing public discontent at political mismanagement, the Bulgarian parliament has been discussing the budget law for 2014. The parliament’s budget and finance committee will consider this in second reading on 20 November. Constructive trade union proposals advanced in the National Council for Tripartite Co-operation, aimed at dealing with escalating poverty, unemployment, the degradation of public services, corruption and the fight against monopolies have fallen on deaf ears.
    Press release Published on 18.11.2013
  • ETUC on the inter-ministerial summit on youth employment: stop talking, act now!

    ETUC on the inter-ministerial summit on youth employment: stop talking, act now!

    Brussels, 14/11/2013 About 120 young trade unionists and youth NGO representatives from all over Europe gathered in Paris for the Youth Summit for Quality Jobs on the occasion of the summit of European head of states and ministers of labour. The summit was complemented by many side events organised jointly by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), the French trade unions (CFDT, CGT, FO and UNSA) and the European Youth Forum, with the support of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OCDE).
    Press release Published on 14.11.2013
  • Annual growth survey: current policies offer little hope for Europe's jobless - ETUC says change, not stagnation, is key to recovery

    Annual growth survey: current policies offer little hope for Europe's jobless - ETUC says change, not stagnation, is key to recovery

    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.
    Press release Published on 13.11.2013
  • ETUC and the European Chemicals Agency work together for safe use of chemicals at work

    ETUC and the European Chemicals Agency work together for safe use of chemicals at work

    Brussels, 13/11/2013 The site was developed in co-operation with the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) to help workers benefit from the provisions of the chemicals legislation. The new web section explains how REACH, CLP and the Biocidal Products regulations can enhance safety at work, reduce exposure to hazardous chemicals and help prevent illnesses, injuries and accidents caused by chemical substances. It provides examples, practical information, tips and useful links to workers exposed to chemicals.
    Press release Published on 13.11.2013
  • UGT-P 35th anniversary

    UGT-P 35th anniversary

    Lisbon, 28/10/2013 [Check against delivery] Caras e Caros Colegas, Em nome da Confederação europeia de sindicatos (CES) , eu gostaria de dizer aqui uma palavrinha em portugês, para agradecer a UGT assim que o seu Secretario geral e amigo Carlos Silva, por me ter convidado a comerorar, convosco os 35 anos da UGT. I like to introduce the European Trade Union Confederation as the European Trade Union because this designation immediately shows what we are, what we do and for whom, and why we do it.
    Speech Published on 12.11.2013