“The European Trade Union movement is shocked by the proposal to put up a wall between Hungary and Serbia” said Bernadette Ségol, Secretary General of the European Trade Union Confederation. “After playing such a prominent role in the fall of the iron curtain it is hard to believe that just over 25 years later Hungary would want to build a new iron curtain.”
European trade unions today launched strong criticisms of the European Commission’s ‘better regulation’ plans – accusing the EU executive of putting “the supposed needs of business above all others”.
A declaration adopted today by national trade union leaders at a meeting of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), says “legislation should have a societal benefit” and “the needs of businesses do not come above those of workers or, for example, the environment.”
Commenting on employment figures from Eurostat showing an increase of 0.1% in the Euro area in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the previous quarter (and 0.8% compared to the same quarter of 2014) and 0.3% in the EU as a whole (1.1% compared to the 1st quarter of 2014), Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, said “Jobs are increasing in Europe very slowly and modestly. Employment remains well below 2007 levels. What concerns me is that jobs are picking up faster outside the EU, and that up to half the new jobs are precarious.
The ETUC is dismayed that today’s Justice and Home Affairs Council will not approve the measures proposed by the European Commission to address the humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean.
In view of the concern expressed by national governments at the emergency Council meeting only a few weeks ago, when the crisis was prominent in the media, it is worrying that the proposals put forward by the European Commission in the EU Agenda on Migration are now being pushed back.
On 10th and 11th June will take place the EU-CELAC Summit, bringing together European, Latin American and Caribbean leaders to strengthen relations between both regions.
With the European Parliament set to vote tomorrow on the controversial ‘Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership’, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) – which calls for a ‘an EU-US trade deal that works for the people’ – sets out four big questions on what the MEPs will decide.
ISDS – Will the Parliament demand no ISDS, or a reformed ISDS?
The Parliament’s draft report supports Commissioner Malmström attempts to ‘reform’ ISDS, but amendments to scrap ISDS will be tabled in the Plenary vote.
EU national Governments have a duty to deal collectively and responsibly with the humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean – not only of people drowning at sea, but many thousands of desperate men, women and children taking any risk to reach refuge in the EU from poverty and conflict in African and the Middle East – said the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).
“The EU faces a humanitarian crisis of unknown dimensions” said Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the ETUC. “The EU’s response must be decisive and humanitarian.”
Last night the car of the General Secretary of the Confederation of Trade unions of Montenegro (CTUM), Marko Nikcevic, was destroyed by a car bomb.
Mr Nikcevic has been in office since November 2013 and has started a far-reaching reform of the union, including external audits. Massive financial abuse has been discovered and reported to the Prosecutor for Organised Crime. In later March 2015 opponents of the CTUM leadership organized a putsch supported by the Ministry of Labour to oust Mr Nikcevic from office.
Commenting recent developments in creditors talks on Greece, Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European trade Union Confederation (ETUC) said:
“Greece has suffered enough. The EU and the IMF should not impose further pain on Greek pensioners and workers. It is beginning to look like punishment for voting for an anti-austerity government.”
“There needs to be a sensible compromise. Grinding the face of the Greek people into the dirt is not the way forward.”
The ETUC and RENGO – the European and Japanese Trade Union Confederations - believe that the strategic partnership and free trade agreements being negotiated by Japan and the EU, could stimulate growth and create jobs in the EU and Japan.
The trade union confederations are united in demanding that any partnership and/or trade agreement
A Partnership Agreement between CEN (European Committee for Standardization) and ETUC (European Trade Union Confederation) will serve to strengthen the representation of workers within the European Standardization System. The agreement means that ETUC has the possibility to nominate representatives who will participate in the work of CEN Technical Bodies at European level. In this way, trade unions can directly contribute to the development of European Standards relating to the health and safety of workers, the delivery of services, and other issues of relevance to employees.
