Brussels, 03/04/2006 The two trade union organisations have written to Bosnian Prime Minister Mr Adnan Terzic, calling on him to take all necessary steps to protect the lives and safety of Mr Biber and his family, and to ensure that he can continue to carry out his trade union activities. Mr Biber has already been the victim of threats and attacks in 2003. Recently, he has been active in pressing for the new law on the 'revision of privatisation', designed to protect workers' employment and contract rights.

Brussels, 27/03/2006 “We call on the European Commission to take good note of the Council's support for the outcome of the Parliament's first reading, and to reflect this in its forthcoming amending proposal,” declared ETUC General Secretary John Monks. “Any move to reverse the hard-won consensus at this stage will only bring further damaging delays in achieving an acceptable opening of the EU market for services.”

Brussels, 23/03/2006 The work programme 2006-2008 is the second multi-annual work programme of the EU social dialogue. It reflects a joint wish to further establish the social partners' autonomy and builds on the achievements of the previous programme, which covered the period 2003-2005.

Brussels, 21/03/2006 Workers in Europe are worried about the lack of decent jobs, precarious and insecure jobs that are spreading throughout the economy and about the rising levels of poverty and social exclusion. They reject a policy agenda that, using the alibi of ‘business friendly' competitiveness, will make matters worse by reducing wages, working conditions, social protection and prolonging working hours. The ETUC calls upon the Spring Council to rebuild workers' confidence and support for Europe by :

Brussels, 20/03/2006 The introduction of insecure employment and the attack on existing workers' rights, in this case in France but also taking place in a number of other European countries, is not the right way to relaunch growth, boost European competitiveness and create jobs. On the contrary, these kinds of measures create a situation of social dumping in the EU, which will damage the future of Europe.

Brussels, 16/03/2006 “We are in favour of a more open approach,” affirmed ETUC General Secretary John Monks, “but it must be based on the principles of equal treatment and upward harmonisation of working conditions and social protection.”

Brussels, 15/03/2006 During the Competitiveness Council on 13 March, some of the 25 Member States took the view that the European Parliament's compromise goes too far, and reduces the ambitions of the original proposal. "The compromise achieved by the European Parliament is currently in the hands of the Commission and the Council,” declared John Monks, ETUC General Secretary. “We remain very watchful on the evolution of this text and we will take care to ensure that the European Parliament's proposal is not undermined in substance.”

Brussels, 14/03/2006 In the context of the debate on CSR at European level, the ETUC has always adopted a positive and constructive approach, and has consistently put forward proposals on the subject. Nonetheless, it appears that the debate on the subject of CSR is at risk of taking place without the true participation of the organisations representing the 'social side'.

Brussels, 14/03/2006 The Committee, on which all ETUC-affiliated organisations are represented, will assess the outcome of the European Parliament vote on the Services Directive, and the likely content of the European Commission's forthcoming revised proposal, due to be published in April. The meeting will also draw up a resolution to go to the EU Spring Summit, in response to the Commission's Annual Progress Report on growth and jobs.

Brussels, 12/03/2006

Brussels, 08/03/2006

Brussels, 07/03/2006 The recent EU report on gender equality between women and men shows that women are paid less than men, hold fewer political jobs and are very poorly represented in top management positions in companies.

Brussels, 03/03/2006 The recovery is simply not strong enough to face : - the efforts to cut public deficits that are in the pipeline for 2007 - continuing excessive wage moderation and complete absence of real pay increases - and, on top of that, a series of interest rate hikes. If the ECB continues to raise interest rates in coming months, it will serve the upturn a blow from which it might not recover.