Dear Readers, We have just published the March 2018 edition of the ETUC Newsletter. To read the document, please click here. Enjoy!

Today the European Council will approve a ‘European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships’. This is largely based on proposals made by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) https://www.etuc.org/press/trade-union-contribution-quality-apprenticeships-europe in 2016 - the culmination of work by trade unions including through European ‘social dialogue’ with employers.  

To be checked against delivery   Speech by Katja Lehto-Komulainen, ETUC Deputy General Secretary, at the Tripartite Social Summit Brussels, 21 March 2018   Dear Minister, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, The economy is recovering, indeed, but slowly, and major problems remain, especially in the ability of labour markets to provide enough high-quality employment to go around. The total hours worked in the EU are still below pre-crisis levels, and the average hours worked per employee are well below.

To be checked against delivery   Speech by Luca Visentini, ETUC General Secretary,  at theTripartite Social Summit Brussels, 21 March 2018   Prime Minister, Ministers, Presidents, Vice President, Commissioners, social partners,   We acknowledge that the economic situation and employment rates in Europe are improving.

Responding favourably to the European Commission’s proposal today for a 3% minimum tax on revenues of large digital companies such as the GAFAs (Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon), the ETUC calls on the EU and all Member States to ensure that “digital value” is taxed where it is created.

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) urges MEPs and EU Governments to support the compromise deal on the Posting of Workers Directive agreed last night in ‘trilogue’ negotiations between the European Parliament, Commission and Council.

Dear readers, The ETUC is pleased to send you the new edition of the ‘Workers’ Voice – National UPdates’ newsletter, outlining a selection of recent trade union successes and innovations at both national and sectoral level. This bulletin is published online four times a year. We focus once more on how European unions are working constructively, in different countries and at different levels, with other actors such as employers, governments and civil society organisations, to promote justice and social progress, and to improve the lives of workers.

Working people in 9 EU countries are earning less in 2017 than they did in 2010! The countries are Italy, UK, Spain, Belgium, Greece, Portugal, Finland, Croatia and Cyprus.   Working people in 6 of those countries – Italy, UK, Spain, Belgium, Greece and Finland – also earned less in 2017 than they did in 2016.   The figures are contained in a new report ‘Benchmarking Working Europe 2018’ published on Monday 19 March by the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) – see below for details.    

The EU and the UK Government should take up the proposal of the European Parliament for a future EU-UK relationship based on “a level playing field” including “social and workers’ rights”, says the European Trade Union Confederation. In a resolution to be voted on today, the European Parliament says that membership of the internal market and the customs union is the only solution to guarantee “frictionless trade and fully preserve the benefits of our economic relations”.

The European Trade Union Confederation today welcomed the European Commission’s Social Fairness package.   ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini said: “These initiatives should bring some real improvements for working people and ensure that the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights are implemented through binding measures that make a positive difference to people’s lives. It’s a step forward which the ETUC welcomes as far as it goes.  

Commenting on the publication of the EU economic policy ‘semester’ winter package and country reports, Katja Lehto-Komulainen, Deputy General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) said:

For International Women’s Day, on March 8, trade unionists across Europe are calling for a swift adoption of the proposed EU Directive on work-life balance.   EU legislation in this field will strongly enhance women’s employment opportunities and enable a more equal take up of family-related leave by couples.   If adopted the new Directive will strengthen rights in many member states, according to a study* commissioned by the ETUC:  

On Thursday 8 March EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier will discuss Brexit with trade union leaders from all over Europe. The trade union leaders – meeting at the European Trade Union Confederation Executive Committee (ETUC) - will adopt a statement calling for any Brexit deal to maintain EU standards for workers’ rights and to minimise disruption to trade between the EU and the UK.