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.

Tomorrow the European Commission launches a report by a High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence (AI) giving recommendations to the EU on ethics for trustworthy AI.  Thiébaut Weber, Confederal Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, was the only trade union representative on the High-Level Group.

MEPs must vote for new rights for working parents and carers says the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). Today, April 4, the European Parliament will vote on the final deal for the Directive on Work/Life Balance – already  agreed in ‘trilogue’ negotiations and subsequently by Council. The Directive will bring new rights in many European countries including

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) criticised member states following a decision today not to approve the deal on coordination of social security.

Brussels, - 29.03.2019 - The alliance of the formaldehyde producers and workers has been praised for their work in improving the safety of workers in the formaldehyde sector.

The Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament will vote on Monday on the agreement reached between the European Council, Commission and Parliament on the Directive on cross-border conversions, mergers and divisions, part of the so-called Company Law Package. A Directive to regulate cross-border restructuring processes is important and the result of the negotiations contains some improvements.

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

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has been following - with growing concern and frustration - discussions in South Korea about the ratification and full implementation of fundamental UN ILO Conventions, notably Convention 87 on Freedom of Association and Convention 98 on Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining, which the South Korean government committed to in the 2011 EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement.

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) supports the ‘European Week of Action’ for ‘Fair Transport for Europe’ by the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) – and European and national trade union leaders will join the Brussels demonstration on Wednesday March 27.

The wages of workers in 8 EU countries are lower on average - in ‘real terms’ (adjusted for inflation) – than ten years ago. A new study by the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) – to be published tomorrow – shows that average wages in UK, Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Hungary, Croatia and Cyprus were lower in 2018 than in 2009. It also shows that real wages have stood still – with zero increase – in Belgium and Finland – over the same period. The figures show that average wages, adjusted for inflation, went down 2009-19 by

Speech given by Luca Visentini at the Tripartite Social Summit on 20 March 2019 in Brussels Check against delivery Dear President Tusk, dear President Juncker, dear Prime Minister Dăncilă, Dear Vice President, Commissioner, Ministers, authorities and colleagues, This Tripartite Social Summit takes place two months before the European elections, and we all bear the responsibility to launch a positive message to European citizens, workers and businesses:

Commenting on the deal today in ‘trilogue’ on social security coordination, Liina Carr, Confederal Secretary at the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) said