The ETUC welcomes the European Commission’s efforts to raise awareness of the gender pay gap and its pervasive consequences.
“At the same time,” said General Secretary Luca Visentini, “we deplore the lack of new legislative action to revise the Equal Pay Directive. Without further legislation, discrimination against women in pay and at work will continue.
Commenting on the Commission’s ‘Internal Market Strategy’ Communication, the ETUC’s Liina Carr said
“The European Commission is right to want to create jobs and socially fair growth through the single market. It remains to be seen if this strategy can deliver it.”
“Trade unions support a better functioning single market with sensible rules that protect workers and consumers. The recognition in this Communication of the need to protect workers’ rights is a start.”
The ETUC
Commenting on the European Commission’s Work Programme 2016, the European Trade Union Confederation:
Welcomed the Work Programme Communication’s commitment to
Gloria Mills was today elected President of ETUC Women’s Committee.
“EU legislation was an important milestone on the road to women’s equality” said Gloria Mills, “and there is still a long way to go. ETUC Women’s Committee will increase its efforts to close the gender pay gap and smash the glass ceiling across Europe. We will give working women a voice in shaping the EU proposals for a better work/life balance which should be coming out next year.”
Governments, employers and trade unions must work together to enable European companies and workers to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by digitalisation, and avoid job losses and worsening working conditions warned the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).
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President Juncker
President Tusk
President Bettel
Vice President Dombrovskis
Commissioner Thyssen
Minister Schmit
Deputy Prime Minister Asscher
Minister Richter
Esteemed authorities,
Dear colleagues from social partners,
First of all let me tell you that the ETUC fully supports the European Commission’s initiatives to address the refugee emergency in Europe.
The ETUC is appalled that almost 1 in 4 Europeans is still at risk of poverty, according to statistics issued today by Eurostat.
While the EU 2020 strategy aims to reduce the number of people at risk of poverty by 20 million by 2020, that number has increased by 5 million since 2008, and in 2014 stood at 122 million, or 24.4% of the population.
“The ETUC welcomes the commitment made by Commissioner Thyssen to make the creation of decent jobs and social fairness her top priority,” said Veronica Nilsson, Deputy General Secretary of the ETUC.
25 % of EU citizens will experience mental health problems in their lifetime as result of poor work-design & high workloads according to EU estimates.
Cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, dermatologic problems, suicide, relationship problems with colleagues (as well as with family and friends), and increased risk of violence are all potential consequences of mental health problems. In turn employee performance and productivity, rates of sick leave, absenteeism, accidents and staff turnover all suffer as a result of such problems.
The ETUC has long called for trade deals that work for all, and welcomes the European Commission taking up the same call in its new strategy ‘Trade for All: Towards a more responsible trade and investment policy’.
“The Commission promises to promote sustainable development, human rights and good governance in future trade agreements,” said Liina Carr, Confederal Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, “and we look forward to the EU translating those aspirations into reality.”
Speaking ahead of the European Summit, Luca Visentini, the new General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, will tell Presidents Juncker and Tusk and Prime Minister Bettel (chair of the rotating Council Presidency) at this morning’s ‘Tripartite Social Summit’ that the ETUC
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Delegates, colleagues, friends,
First of all I would like to thank you sincerely for the support you have expressed for me, for the President, and for the Secretariat for the next 4 years.
We've got a great new team now, and I'm really happy with that.
We have succeeded in ensuring full gender equality, and all geographical areas of Europe are represented. We have brought in colleagues who are full of energy and enthusiasm, ready to deliver ETUC policy.
