Commenting on the European Commission’s first Strategic Foresight Report, ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini said
“ETUC supports any policy initiative that helps to manage change in a sustainable, fair and democratic way.
“A longer-term perspective is useful, especially if it leads to new policies consistently contributing to a fairer and more inclusive society.
"A shift from the current GDP-based narrative of measuring progress towards a more well-being centred one would be welcomed by the ETUC as this has been a long-standing demand.
The overwhelming majority of European trade unions representing 45 million workers have voted in favour of a new EU law to support fair minimum wages and collective bargaining.
Following a full and open debate, members of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) endorsed a call for a European Directive with 85% of the votes in favour.
87 national unions from all over Europe took part in the vote, plus 10 European sectoral trade unions.
The European Trade Union Confederation is calling on national governments to keep emergency job protection measures in place after EU unemployment rose for the fifth month in a row.
Despite an easing of lockdown measures, 336,000 more people became permanently unemployed between June and July, official figures published today by Eurostat show.
Trade unions are calling on EU foreign ministers to defend the fundamental right to strike as workers joining walkouts in Belarus face violence and arrest.
A meeting of ministers in Berlin tomorrow (Thursday) to discuss sanctions on the Belarusian regime comes as members of the country’s independent trade unions risk their lives to defend democracy.
At least three trade union leaders* have been arrested while rank and file members face threats of dismissal or pay cuts for exercising their right to strike.
Commenting on the special EU video summit on Belarus Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), said
“The words of the EU leaders on Belarus were strong and I hope they send a clear and powerful message to Lukashenko. It remains to be seen what the targeted sanctions will be and whether they will be as hard-hitting as the words spoken suggest. The EU needs to follow up with decisive action including sanctions that hit Lukashenko and his cronies very hard.”
The European trade union movement, in a letter today to Presidents von der Leyen, Michel and Sassoli, urges the European Union to EU relations with Belarus including “the reintroduction of commensurate sanctions for electoral fraud and violence.”
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) wrote a letter today to the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission to ask for urgent meetings with the aim to discuss how to reinforce the social partners’ involvement in the design, governance and implementation of MFF and Recovery Plan, at both European and national levels. ETUC also insists on ensuring that respect of social dialogue, collective bargaining and workplace democracy are binding conditions for funding.
Two million Europeans working abroad will begin benefiting from better pay and conditions from today as the revised posted workers directive comes into force.
The revision, once transposed into national law by member states, enshrines the principle that people doing the same work in the same place must receive the same wage.
It should also oblige employers to cover the cost of travel, board and accommodation of posted workers.
European trade unions demand that EU leaders finally prioritise ratification of the Istanbul Convention following reports Poland plans to withdraw from the treaty on violence against women.
The OECD have backed trade unions’ calls for the EU to extend collective bargaining coverage to close the gender pay gap, especially for women who worked on the frontline of the Covid crisis.
Commenting on the European Parliament’s resolution, adopted today, on the EU Recovery Plan and EU budget which will lead to tough negotiations between the EU institutions, Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation said
“The European Parliament is right to attack the European Council’s proposed cuts to the EU budgets for solvency support, health and the Just Transition Fund. Trade unions strongly support MEPs in demanding these budgets are restored, and to stand firm against the pressure they will come under from national governments.
Reacting to the adoption of the EU Recovery Plan by the European Council, ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini said:
“The adoption of the EU Recovery Plan is good news for the 60 million people across the EU who depend on rapid investment to save their jobs or avoid long term unemployment. The ETUC thanks Presidents Michel and von der Leyen, and the more forward-looking leaders, for their perseverance in reaching an agreement in the most difficult EU negotiations ever.
