Dear Readers, We have just published the December 2017 edition of the ETUC Newsletter. To read the document, please click here. Enjoy!

Responding today to the European Commission’s proposal for a Directive on Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions, Esther Lynch, ETUC Confederal Secretary, welcomed some important improvements, although this reform is not the game-changer unions needed or expected.

Today, 20 December, the social and economic partners took part in the signing ceremony of a partnership agreement with the European Commission on integrating refugees into EU labour markets. “We aim to combine our efforts with those of each Member State in alleviating the migration crisis,” said Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation. “It is vital to ensure inclusive paths and equal treatment for refugees and asylum-seekers in the labour market and society.

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled today that Uber is a transport service provider and not merely a smartphone application. The European Trade Union Confederation warmly welcomes this logical judgement. According to the CJEU, this means “Member States can therefore regulate the conditions for providing that service”.  

Ten years after the disastrous anti-worker Laval ruling by the European Court of Justice – on 18 December 2007 – the European Trade Union Confederation says the European Pillar of Social Rights obliges the EU to repair the damage caused.  

On International Migrants’ Day, the trade union movement reiterates its solidarity with undocumented migrant workers. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) today issue a leaflet to support trade unions in their efforts to speak up for and organise undocumented workers.

The European Trade Union Confederation – representing 89 trade unions in 39 countries and representing some 45 million workers from all sectors and industries -  stands with Ryanair workers, and calls on Ryanair to honour its promise to recognise its workers’ trade unions.

Following EU leaders agreeing to “put people first, to further develop the social dimension of the Union … to promote convergence and … implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights” at their Summit last night, the European Trade Union Confederation proposes:

Trade union leaders from across Europe meeting in Brussels today reaffirmed their commitment to quality jobs for all working people – and agreed that creating quality jobs should be a top priority for European economic policy.   High unemployment, low investment and the growth of online platforms and low-value service industries have resulted in far too many new jobs being badly paid, insecure and poor quality.  

The European Commission’s ‘Platform for Coal Regions in Transition’ is a good start to try to ensure that climate action leaves no worker behind says the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).

Today, the Youth Committee elected Viktória Nagy as President of the Youth Committee of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). "Despite economic growth all over Europe, workers are still looking for their recovery from the crisis” said Viktória Nagy, “and too many young people are trapped in precarious jobs. Zero-hour contracts, sub-minimum wages and unpaid traineeships must end."