Warsaw, 28/05/2010 President, delegates and fellow guests, thank you for this invitation to address your Congress once again. I came to a previous one and, since then, it has been a roller coaster for Poland, and for Europe – a period of breakneck growth followed by a crash, not so bad here as in most other EU countries but unemployment at 12,3% (from 10,9% a year ago) and high poverty is a distressing situation for the country’s workers.

Brussels, 28/05/2010

Brussels, 19/05/2010 “Now that some governments are even suspending aid transfers to Colombia in response to the illegal activities of DAS, it is crystal clear that there is no credible way these negotiations can be concluded in this manner,” commented John Monks, ETUC general secretary. “The ETUC reiterates our demand – shared by all three trade union centres in Colombia - that the FTA not be signed under the current circumstances.”

Berlin, 18/05/2010 President, delegates, Your time is precious. My speaking time is limited. So I will limit my intervention to the essentials. The global casino is turning at maximum. Financial markets seem to drive politics. The turmoil on these markets, the high speed speculation against the European currency, the uncontrolled power of rating agencies – all this is constantly threatening our European cohesion, our social fundamentals, our social model, the social market economy.

Brussels, 17/05/2010 The ETUC is at the forefront in defending human rights. This fight not only includes trade union rights, but it also covers a strong commitment to equal treatment and non-discrimination as well as respect and dignity for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people (LGBT).

Brussels, 14/05/2010 These packages reflect elements of the tough conditions decided on recently by the European authorities, conditions which are even harder than those being applied by the IMF in other cases of this kind.

14/05/2010

Brussels, 11/05/2010 There is a clear risk that countries which need the support will have to implement drastic cuts in public expenditure, which are likely to push the economy into prolonged recession with serious resulting rises in unemployment. Again workers are likely to bear the costs of the crisis. For the ETUC, the terms of help are too tough, and EU finance must be directed to help economic and employment growth.

Brussels, 07/05/2010 Says John Monks, general secretary of the ETUC: "Europe saved the banks. Social system and fair labour standards are as important, even more important, as the banks and should not be allowed to be bankrupted by the speculators". To fight the fire of speculation with the fire of European unity, the ETUC urges the heads of governments to show the same courage and creativity as they did when saving the banks:

Brussels, 06/05/2010 “We trust that those responsible for this and the other acts of appalling violence yesterday will be brought to justice without delay,” said Guy Ryder and John Monks, general secretaries of the international and European trade union bodies.

Rimini, 06/05/2010 It is always a pleasure to visit Italy and a privilege to attend CGIL events, which are always held in nice places – the summer school in Chinciano Terme in Toscana and now this Congress, like the last, in the land of La Dolce Vita. I hope this Congress is a dolce experience.

Brussels, 05/05/2010

Athens, 05/05/2010 I bring greetings and messages of solidarity from the 80 affiliates and 60 million members of the European Trade Union Confederation. Everyone in the ETUC knows the seriousness of the situation. Everyone appreciates that things must change. But everyone too knows that the response of the EU so far to the Greek crisis has been hesitant, clumsy, and now positively dangerous, not just to Greece but to Europe.