Dear readers,    Welcome to the fourth edition of the Workers’ Voice National UPdates. Following the recent launch of the ETUC Pay Rise Campaign, this issue focuses particularly on pay developments in different countries. They demonstrate that trade unions make a difference and collective bargaining is having an impact. But there is still a long way to go to achieve our recovery! Join our campaign #OurPayRise.

Workers are still not feeling economic recovery: wages are lower now than they were eight years ago in seven EU member states, according to new research published today by the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) and European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). The research also shows that in 18 EU countries wages have grown much slower over the seven years after the crisis than in the eight years before that.

The ETUC and ITUC have expressed strong support for the efforts by its French affiliates to defend the new law requiring French multinational companies to establish vigilance plans to avoid and remedy violations of fundamental rights and environmental standards throughout their supply chains and operations. Two days after the adoption of the law on 21 February, Members and Senators from the Republican Party, backed by employer organisation MEDEF, referred the issue to France’s Constitutional Council claiming that the law is unconstitutional.

Following the meeting between the S&D President, Gianni Pittella, and the General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), Luca Visentini, over the forthcoming Brexit negotiations, Pittella and Visentini jointly stated: "Brexit risks disrupting the lives of millions of citizens and workers both from the UK and EU. The House of Commons will be called upon to vote to protect the rights of 3 million EU nationals settled in Britain after Article 50 is triggered.

On 7 March 2017, seven Turkish trade unionists lost their lives and 35 more were injured as a result of a tragic bus accident which occurred in the İnegöl district of Bursa. They were members of a delegation attending the events organised by Turk-Is to celebrate 8th March, the International Day of Women Workers. The ETUC mourns the passing of those who lost their lives. We also send our condolences to their families, as well as best wishes for a quick recovery to the injured. Our thoughts are with you.

A pay rise for women would narrow the gender pay gap, and boost the economy by giving millions of working women more money to spend. A pay rise that narrows and ultimately eliminate the pay gap between women and men could be achieved by:

After nine months of negotiations, EU employers and trade unions approved a framework agreement on active ageing and an intergenerational approach. The agreement is to ensure a healthy, safe and productive working environment and work organisation to enable workers of all ages to remain in work until legal retirement age. It is to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and experience between generations at the workplace and takes into account the changing national demographic and labour market realities.

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

Commenting on the leaked European Commission White Paper on the Future of Europe published in European media this morning, Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, said “I hope this is an early draft as it is very timid and rather dispiriting.”     “That the European Commission is unable to present anything other than reflections and scenarios, with a short summary of the pros and cons of each scenario, shows just how uncertain the future is.

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.

SECRÉTAIRE GÉNÉRALE ADJOINTE DE LA CONFÉDÉRATION EUROPÉENNE DES SYNDICATS CES KATJA LEHTO-KOMULAINEN ASSEMBLÉE SYNDICALE DU CONSEIL SYNDICAL INTERREGINAL PYREMED, 23.2.2017, À PERPIGNAN QUELLE EUROPE SOCIALE? Dear trade unionists and participants, It is a great pleasure for me to attend this meeting here in Perpignan.  

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.”

Article by Liina Carr, published on Social Europe As MEPs Vote On CETA, Trade Unions Demand A New Approach To Trade After months of argument which brought hundreds of thousands of protestors onto the streets of European cities, the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is this week taking a further step towards implementation, with the vote in the European Parliament.