Brussels, 06/10/2010 Said John Monks, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation: “{Innovation Europe will not come about without quality jobs, and recognising that all workers in all fields should be recognised as professionals capable of innovation and increased effectiveness and satisfaction. Raising the levels of skills and respect are crucial to this process. The ETUC will play its part in emphasising these aspects of the agenda issued today}.”

Brussels, 06/10/2010 “We welcome the Leaders’ support for the Global Jobs Pact, ILO fundamental principles and rights at work, the need for equitable distribution of income, and dialogue between social partners,” said International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) General Secretary Sharan Burrow.

Brussels, 29/09/2010 John Monks declared: “This day is a resounding success for European workers and a clear signal to the leaders of Europe: you can no longer merely listen to the market, you can no longer ignore the anger and concern of the workers.” - Pictures of the Euro-demonstration in Brussels: http://www.etuc.org/a/7697 - Video Clips: http://www.youtube.com/etucces

Brussels, 29/09/2010

Brussels, 23/09/2010 “The austerity plans of the UK Coalition Government to repay debt are too harsh. They are paying back too much debt, too quickly. They risk killing off jobs and growth in regions of the UK like Northern Ireland which are heavily dependent on the public sector. Other European Governments share the same fetish for austerity and they are on course to plunge Europe back into recession".

Brussels, 22/09/2010

Brussels, 16/09/2010 The ETUC agrees with the resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 9 September calling for the immediate cessation of the expulsions of Roma, which states that "mass expulsions are prohibited by the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and that such measures are in violation of the Treaties and law of the European Union, since they amount to discrimination on the basis of race and ethnicity".

Brussels, 15/09/2010 John Monks said: “Cutting in a recession is crazy and we must fight it. We need Eurobonds to help the weaker economies and a new financial transaction tax so that speculators cannot escape paying a fair share of the debts they have dumped on the rest of us. We need special action too to help the young, many of whom can get neither jobs nor education in the crisis.” - John Monk’s speech : www.etuc.org/a/7647

Manchester, 15/09/2010 President, delegates, fellow guests. It’s been seven years since I moved to the ETUC, and left the TUC in the very capable hands of Brendan. Brendan has done one thing I never managed – bringing Congress back to Manchester, the TUC’s – and my – home town. There is of course a rich history of working class struggles round here besides the original TUC – the first factories, the origins of many of today’s unions, Friedrich Engels, co-ops, the Pankhursts.

Brussels, 15/09/2010 The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) rejects such a European ‘sanctions team’ cracking down on wages. Says John Monks, General Secretary of the ETUC: “The policy of repressing wages, making labour markets more flexible and weakening trade unions has gotten us into this mess; returning to a similar policy will make matters even worse”.

Brussels, 13/09/2010 - Letter to the President of the European Commission - Reply from the President of the European Commission

Brussels, 13/09/2010 “I am confident that the successful implementation of these new laws will not only help enhance the competitiveness of the European chemical industry, but also deliver better protection for workers, consumers and the environment”, said Joël Decaillon, ETUC Deputy General Secretary.

Brussels, 09/09/2010 John Monks said: “This is the worst economic crisis in the post war history of Western Europe. Our campaign is against austerity, and, instead, for jobs and growth: cutting in a recession, cutting when unemployment is already high, cutting when economic growth is low, cutting labour rights and pensions, this is wrong”. “So we call for a rethink and a change – in Spain and in Europe - on September 29. We are mobilising: they will have to listen to us”, he added.