Speech by Esther Lynch, ETUC General Secretary In Memory of Trade Union and Resistance Fighters Fort Breendonk - 4 May 2025We gather today at Fort Breendonk, not just to remember, but to recommit. To recommit to the fight against fascism, tyranny, and hatred – and to honour the brave women and men, many from our own labour movement, who gave their lives in that struggle.

On international workers’ day, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is telling European leaders that the needs of working people must be put at the top of the agenda. From tariffs to climate change, Europe needs an industrial policy to protect and create quality jobs in every region and every sector. 

The European Commission must stand up to the attempt by US President Donald Trump to “intimidate” European companies out of complying with European equality law, the General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) said today. At the Trade Unions Against Discrimination Conference in Berlin, Esther Lynch called on Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to defend Europe’s equality standards and demand that the US Government withdraw its threat to European companies.

Europe’s workplace stress epidemic is killing around 10,000 people a year, according to a new analysis which shows the urgent need for an EU directive on psychosocial risks at work.

The European Trade Union Confederation reiterates its full support for Ukrainian trade unions. The ETUC expresses its solidarity and support for FPU following the latest attacks on trade union property and the house arrest of their President and member of the ETUC Executive Committee Grigoriy Osovyi. As Ukraine engages in accession discussions, it is crucial to ensure full compliance with the social acquis, full respect for the role of social partners and trade unions, promotion and reinforcement of social dialogue and collective bargaining.

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is saddened by the passing of Pope Francis, a global voice for dignity, justice, and solidarity. His unwavering support for workers' rights, fair wages, and social justice inspired millions and resonated deeply with our trade union mission. 

A trade union delegation, coordinated by the ETUC, participated in a social partner exchange of views with Commission Vice-President Minzatu on 16 April, highlighting the urgent need for immediate measures to ensure quality jobs and uphold Europe's social model.

The ETUC has called on the EU to protect jobs and stand firm against any back-tracking on standards and rights in negotiations with the US administration. The 31 million people who work in manufacturing across the EU, many of whom are still facing the consequences of the US’ 25% tariffs, are relying on immediate EU action. The EU must equip itself with the tools to protect jobs from the consequences of the US tariffs. Securing these jobs and investing in expanding the know-how of Europe’s workforce will be crucial to the success of the EU’s industrial strategy. 

The ETUC and the EFBWW (European Federation of Building and Woodworkers) have urged the European Union to take decisive action to simplify subcontracting practices by limiting their use and promoting direct employment.

Workers and their unions across Greece are on general strike today to call for measures to address the cost-of-living.  The ETUC has echoed their demands towards the EU institutions and called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to use all available tools to see that collective bargaining agreements at all levels are reinstated. “Austerity may be officially over, but its structural legacies remain deeply entrenched in labour market governance,” reads a letter by GSEE President Yannis Panagopoulos and General Secretary Nikos Fotopoulos.

This month marks 10 years since the ETUC decided to step up its implication in EU standard-setting. Since 2015, the ETUC has worked to ensure better representation and more effective participation of trade unions in standardisation.  Standards permeate the world of work. They provide rules and guidance on how products and tools are made, methods are applied, and services are rendered.  Not only are they crucial in enabling the single market through interoperability and compatibility; they also ensure the safety and quality of products. 

The Trade Union Intergroup of the European Parliament – a cross-party group of Members of the European Parliament motivated by forwarding the interests of working people – held its first meeting since the EU elections today in Strasbourg. The Trade Union Intergroup is co-chaired by MEPs Dennis Radtke (EPP), Estelle Ceulemans (S&D), Jana Toom (Renew Europe), Maria Ohisalo (Greens/EFA) and Leila Chaibi (Left), and is supported in its work by the European Trade Union Confederation. ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch participated in the launch of the Intergroup.

The 20% tariffs on goods from the EU announced today by the US government will hit working people hardest. While the full extent and impact of the tariffs announced by the US is not yet clear, it is essential that the EU response delivers a comprehensive strategy to stabilize the economy and save jobs as it responds to the changed trade environment. Europe must not be bullied out of our values and standards. We must not water down our rights and rules. Essential elements to protect jobs and incomes

Following the decision to open the ‘stop the clock’ urgency procedure on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the ETUC is calling on all MEPs to vote down the postponement of the directives. 

Workers and their unions are on general strike across Belgium to face down a sweep of anti-worker measures in the coalition agreement of the government. Pension restrictions, annulment of negotiated overtime bonusses, demonstration bans and forcing trade unions to report on their strike funds. These are only a few of the measures the Belgian government coalition agreement implies. 

The ETUC and industriAll Europe have called on the EU to urgently bring in job protection measures in response to today’s announcement by the Trump administration that it will impose 25% tariff rate on cars imported from Europe.

Responding to the European Commission’s proposals for a Preparedness Union Strategy, ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch said: "Preparedness means being ready for climate, biological and security events. We’ve received reports time and again that the workplace dimension was overlooked. This is a real risk when there is top down decision-making that discards the reality on the ground, trade unions need to be included.

The ETUC has called on the Commission to expand the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund and make it into a pre-emptive tool to save jobs, as part of its initiatives set to be announced tomorrow.  The resources allocated to the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund are not sufficient to meet the threat of mass layoffs faced by working communities across Europe. Funding must be massively scaled up to meet the challenges the EU is facing in the turbulent geopolitical context. 

The ETUC estimates that over 100,000 jobs will be lost if worker-focussed measures are delayed until October 2025. In exchanges with President Costa and President von der Leyen at the Tripartite Social Summit today, trade unions stressed the urgent need for EU action, currently at risk of being delayed until the end of the year.