Did you know about the tradition pea soup 🍵✊ on picket lines in Finland❓
— EUROPEAN TRADE UNIONS (@etuc_ces) June 4, 2024
From Helsinki to Europe - the only thing that's hotter than our soup is our determination to stand up for democracy.#SAKedustajisto 🤩 the workers of @duunarit are an inspiration. pic.twitter.com/n38syA4mE6
Dear colleagues, dear friends,
I would like to thank you all for the invitation to join this important Delegate Council.
It is an honour for me to bring to you the message of support and solidarity of the European Trade Union Confederation and our 45 million workers and their trade unions.
Solidarity is at the core of what trade unions are.
We are strong when we are united, when we stick together.
And, colleagues, today, more than ever, solidarity is essential because the attacks against trade unions are becoming stronger and stronger in Europe and in the world.
Since becoming General Secretary, I have stood on picket lines and participated in demonstrations with thousands of European workers.
Decent people.
Hardworking people.
Forced to take strike action to defend their rights, to get a decent pay rise to win a collective agreement.
Forced to take to the streets to defend the vulnerable, to fight for peace, for respect, no matter where we are from or what work we do, or who we love.
Fighting against the doom spiral of austerity and instead for an economy that rewards work and workers not just wealth.
We have joined picket lines across Europe, and we also joined your picket line against your far-right government trying to restrict the right to strike and introduce social welfare cuts. We stand with you to defend against the weakening of job security and against the cuts to social benefits that making the lives of poor people, often workers, even harder and put the vulnerable in more desperate conditions.
The possibility to strike to show our dissent is a core right of every worker. It is an essential part of a functioning democracy. It for this reason that we are appalled at the Finnish government’s decision to limit the right to strike in the recent parliamentary seating of the 8th of May. Going against what workers want, and what workers need.
Our message is your message - The right to strike cannot be considered a crime!
Instead of attacking trade unions, respectable governments work with them.
Finland had strong roots in proper consultation with social partners. Your history demonstrates that the tripartite dialogue worked for the benefit of all: government, employers, and workers. However, this government has snubbed this long tradition and unilaterally, without any proper consultation, has declared war against workers’ rights and the trade union movement.
Colleagues and friends, the ETUC is with you in this battle.
And we have to tell employers and governments:
Trade unionism is not a crime
Collective action is not a crime
Striking is not a crime
These are fundamental rights – that must ALWAYS be protected
But... union busting, now that is a crime
Colleagues,
it is not a surprise that unscrupulous employers attack trade unions. It is not a surprise that the far-right attack trade unions.
Because we are – trade unions are – the collective power of working people.
We are the most important agent for positive change for social justice in the society.
And – in particular facing threats and difficulties – we need to increase our strength, and we need to stick together, in solidarity.
Colleagues,
We are today facing a social justice emergency. Insecurity and precariousness is the everyday reality of many working people. And the cost of living crisis has made things much worse. Above 10% of workers in Europe are at risk of poverty. 73% of people think their standard of living will decrease in the next year. All this while shareholders keep increasing their revenues.
And the European elections this week will be a key moment to decide how the European Union moves forward.
We need a project of hope that delivers security and safety to workers, improved pay and working conditions, improved living conditions, social justice.
We need a project of hope that supports trade unions, collective bargaining and social dialogue, as key pillar of democratic societies.
Colleagues, the vote you will all cast on the 9th of June is so important.
We have a vision for Europe, one which is sustainable for the medium and long term. The ETUC has put forward its Manifesto for a Fair Deal for Workers, which calls for parties and candidates to put workers’ and their communities’ needs at the centre of the work in the next term.
We need a project of hope that delivers security and safety to workers, improved pay and working conditions, improved living conditions.
We cannot fall into the trap of a backwards looking approach that focuses on deregulation. Considering competition as uniquely based on costs of companies is a failed approach that ignores the essential role played by quality public services, housing, childcare, transport in creating a high added value, genuinely competitive economy.
We need a regulatory environment that protects workers and guarantees a level-playing field.
We must do better for Europe: we cannot go back, we must go forward.
We must lead with ambition: to treasure, defend and reinforce Social Europe in the next years!
The ETUC has a clear blue print for the coming years. I can assure you that we will be doing out utmost to ensure that we reach these goals for the sake of every worker in Europe and his or her family.
Sisters and Brothers,
To win for working people we need strong trade unions and strong mobilisation of working people.
Every day, in our trade unions, we do our part to get closer to that goal.
In every country, we act collectively for what is right. In every language, we raise our voices for justice.
It is through our struggles at the workplace, in the streets and at the ballot box that we have won the labour rights and the freedom to take a stand for what is right.
There have always been those who use fear and division to attempt to stop us. Now once again, they are threatening to take our victories away from us, to make us work longer and harder.
But we won’t let them silence us. They will not win. We will stick together, and once more, we will overcome.