Adopted at the Executive Committee meeting of 24-25 June 2024
Introduction
Preventing and combatting gender-based violence in the world of work is a key priority of the ETUC. The recently adopted Directive combatting violence against women and domestic violence fails to deliver meaningful provisions to make the world of work safer for women workers. It also fails to recognise our role as trade unions to end gender-based violence.
Adopted at the Executive Committee meeting of 24-25 June 2024
In its Action Programme, adopted at its 15th statutory congress, ETUC promotes a peaceful resolution in Palestine, the respect of international law and demands the right of all peoples to self-determination, including that the EU considers the impact on workers when deploying sanctions.
Interregional Trade Union Councils’ (IRTUCs) Coordinating Committee
Internal Rules Of Procedure
Adopted at the Executive Committee meeting of 24-25 June 2024
Introduction
Dear President Michel,
I am contacting you regarding the ongoing discussions on the EU Strategic Agenda 2024-2029 and in view of the European Council meeting on 27/28 June.
The ETUC is concerned that – according to the information received – the draft of the Strategic Agenda still does not include the necessary focus on the improvement of the situation for working people, their families and communities.
Dear Environment and Labour Ministers,
In conjunction with the European Trade Union Confederation, we, the undersigned, serving as Presidents and General Secretaries of Trade Unions from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), are compelled to underscore the importance of safeguarding just transition initiatives deliberated within the Environment Council Conclusions.
Brussels, 11 March 2024
Letter sent to Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice President of the European Commission
Dear Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis
Dear Prime Minister Kallas,
I am reaching out to you on behalf of working people and trade unions across Europe to ask you to support the Directive on Improving Working Conditions in Platform Work
Your support, Estonia’s support, is the decisive factor for the adoption of the Directive.
I understand that your government will decide closer to the vote in EPSCO on Monday 11th of March on its position.
Brussels 06/03/2024
Dear Mr Arras, Dear Mr Pozzana,
Over the past two years, we have met on several occasions at events related to the advocacy for the Platform Work Directive.
Dear President,
Dear members of the Permanent Representations to the EU,
On 10 February, the military junta of Myanmar announced that they will begin mandatory military conscription. We, ETUC and all European Industry Federations (EIFs), completely oppose this shocking announcement and on behalf of workers and trade unions in Myanmar and their international trade union representation, we call on the EU Member States to agree on urgent EU action as soon as possible.
Esther Lynch wrote to the Spanish trade unions expressing the condolences and solidarity of the ETUC for the residential building fire that took place in Valencia.
Dear colleagues,
I am writing on behalf of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) to express our deepest condolences and unwavering solidarity in the wake of the tragic fire that recently struck a residential building in Valencia, Spain.
On October 16, 2023, the European Parliament’s lead committees, the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) and the Committee on International Trade (INTA) adopted, with an overwhelming majority, their position on the proposed on the proposed EU Forced Labour Regulation.
The ETUC joined forces with civil society organisations to urge the EU Council to speed up negotiations to adopt a General Approach.
The letter outlines four core elements that must be included in the Council's position:
The ETUC stands with teachers and their European trade union federation, the ETUCE, for the European Week of Teachers. The week of action aims to raise policy solutions in their 10 key demands to make teaching more attractive.
The European Commission recently published its long-awaited BEFIT (Business in Europe: Framework for Income Taxation) proposal for the taxation of large multinational companies.
It follows a long-term effort to introduce group taxation with a formula for allocating taxable profits where value is created (in terms of payroll, number of employees, assets). This was the intended objective of the CCTB and CCCTB proposals, which have now been withdrawn from the European agenda.
It is with sorrow that we learnt about the passing away of MEP Véronique Trillet-Lenoir earlier this month. Her remarkable dedication to the health and safety of workers will be remembered.
As a public servant dedicated to achieving health and safety at work, MEP Trillet-Lenoir demonstrated a solid commitment to improving the lives of workers throughout the EU. Her recent involvement in the revision of the Directive on asbestos at work demonstrated her dedication and commitment to making workplaces safer for all.
ETUC reply to the first phase of the Social Partner Consultation on a possible revision of the European Works Council Directive (2009/38/EC)
Adopted by written procedure on 22 May 2023
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) welcomes the European Commission’s intention to address the shortcomings of the European Works Council Directive (Directive 2009/38/EC) through a legally binding initiative.
Working people always suffer in conflicts and the pursuit of peace is a fundamental trade union value.
On 24 February 2022 Russian military forces invaded Ukraine, bringing destruction to peaceful cities and workplaces. It has been a year of shock and pain, devastating news and images, but also a year of bravery and consolidation of Ukrainian people and their unions and a year of solidarity, unity, and support.
Dear President of the European Commission Ms von der Leyen,
Dear High Representative and Vice-President of the European Commission Mr Borrell,
Dear President of the European Parliament Ms Metsola,
Dear President of the European Council Mr Michel,
The role and involvement of Social Partners in the European Semester and EU economic governance
ETUC document discussed at the Executive Committee Meeting of 27-28 October 2022
The ETUC encourages the European Commission to set up a more structured and binding framework for social partners involvement in the EU Semester having respect of national practices but mandating the national governments to consult social partners according to quality criteria, and report on the effectiveness of their involvement and its results.
Proposal for a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CSDD) - Updated Roadmap to mobilise ahead of the EU trialogue
Discussed at the Executive Committee meeting of 27-28 October 2022
Summary of key messages
Based on the ETUC key demands as adopted by the Executive Committee in December 2019 in the ETUC Position calling for a European Directive on mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence and responsible business conduct[1], the ETUC position ‘Towards an EU law on mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence: indicative roadmap for ETUC actions in 2021-2022’ (December 2021)[2] as well as the ETUC Position ‘ETUC initial analysis of the Commission’s proposal for a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence and updated roadmap for ETUC actions in 2022-2023” (March 2022)[3], the ETUC Executive Committee is asked to discuss and take note of this (updated) position paper which provides in particular a summary of the main amendments the ETUC intends to put forward to the European Parliament and Member States and other stakeholders as well as an overview and update of the actions undertaken March 2022 and some suggestions for further actions in view of the EU trialogue which is likely to start in Q2 in 2023 at the earliest.
After the year of rail in 2021 and the year of youth in 2022, the European Commission decided to put the focus on skills for 2023. The challenge of skills is of course of paramount importance for the trade union movement, but we expect results and concrete policies, not declarations of good intentions. Rail workers have seen little to no improvements to their difficult working conditions and young workers are the most affected by consecutive crisis.