#ETUC19 Congress - Opening speech by Luca Visentini, ETUC General Secretary CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Dear comrades and friends, Dear delegates and colleagues, Esteemed authorities, It’s a great pleasure to welcome all of you to the 14th Congress of the European Trade Union Confederation!

In a strong show of support for workers, civil servants and unions in central government, the Congress of the European Trade Union Confederation branded as unacceptable the attempts of the Commission to reject a social partner agreement.

Today, the opening day of ETUC Congress – the largest European gathering of national trade union leaders for four years – ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini will thank outgoing European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker for rescuing ‘social Europe’, and discuss with Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa the need for a renewed social contract for Europe.

The European Union Confederation (ETUC) welcomed the ruling of the European Court of Justice on recording working hours which should end the widespread practice of unpaid overtime. Esther Lynch, ETUC Confederal Secretary, commented “Workers can’t afford to give their time to employers for free. Member States will need to work with employers and unions to review national laws and practices and ensure that all working time is paid and workers are properly compensated when they put in over time.”

Commenting on the widely leaked and reported Sibiu declaration, Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation said: “We can support all 10 principles, although they are very general and contain no concrete proposals for action. “The statement in support of European unity, democracy and rule of law is useful in these days of populist, strong-man and anti-European politics. It is a pity no mention is made of dialogue with social partners and civil society.

Dear Readers, We have just published the April 2019 edition of the ETUC Newsletter. To read the document, please click here. Enjoy!

Over 8,000 trade unionists took part in a march and rally today in Brussels calling for ‘A fairer Europe for workers’ organised by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). The march gathered outside the European Parliament in Place Luxembourg and finished with a rally near the European Council and Commission in Avenue Auderghem, by Rond Point Schuman.

There will be a march and rally on Friday 26 April in Brussels for ‘A fairer Europe for workers’ called by the European Trade Union Confederation. The march gathers outside the European Parliament in Place Luxembourg at 10.30 and concludes with a rally near the European Council and Commission in Avenue Auderghem (by Rond Point Schuman). The march is to draw attention to the European elections, to call for a better and more social Europe, not less Europe – and for social progress, better pay and better working and living conditions.  

Almost two hundred thousand people die every year in the European Union as a result of workplace diseases, illnesses and accidents. The reality is much worse - there is massive under reporting by employers, and when a worker is killed by their work it harms whole families. The ETUC is calling for the European Union – in particular the new European Parliament to be elected in May and the new European Commission to be appointed following the elections – to

The plenary of the European Parliament decided today by a very narrow majority not to have a vote on the report on the coordination of social security systems and therefore not to adopt a first reading position before the end of the term.

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) have expressed deep concern over a campaign of violence against the Greek national trade union GSEE, perpetrated by a minority Stalinist faction which is attempting to disrupt the GSEE’s work. 

Dear readers We are pleased to bring you the April 2019 issue of Workers’ Voice National UPdates, showing how trade unions are constantly taking new and innovative actions for social justice and progress in many European countries. National UPdates is sent to your mailbox quarterly. We hope you like it    To read the document, please click here.

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) calls on the UN International Labour Organisation (ILO) – which marks its 100th anniversary in June – to redouble its efforts to ensure decent work in a global economy radically changed by free trade and deregulation, climate change and digitalisation. With 16 million unemployed and 21.5 million in working poverty in the EU, the ETUC is working to persuade the ILO to adopt a bold and forward-looking Declaration at its centenary conference in June to deliver a decent future of work.