The European Union has given long-lasting peace across our continent and has brought European people together around the fundamental values of democracy, human rights, freedom and equality.
Democracy needs to be lived in order to remain alive. We therefore urge citizens across Europe to go out and vote in the European elections from 23-26 May 2019 in order to have a say on the future and to defend democracy, sustainable economic growth and social justice.
EU Employment Ministers meeting in the Employment Council yesterday agreed to recommend that all member states should guarantee adequate and effective social protection - such as sickness, unemployment, maternity and paternity benefits and pensions - to all working people including the self-employed. Unfortunately the Ministers did NOT agree to recommend that mandatory social protection should include the self-employed – who now make up more than 15% of the Europe’s workforce - somewhat undermining the principle of equal social protection for all.
EU Employment Ministers today agreed a ‘general approach’ on the Regulation establishing a European Labour Authority (ELA).
This now means the final regulation to set up the Authority will be negotiated in trialogue discussions between national government officials, MEPs and the European Commission.
Trade unions this week succeeded in getting Just Transition accepted as an integral part of the UN framework of climate action.
At the opening of COP24 in Katowice the Polish Presidency presented its ‘Solidarity and Just Transition Silesia Declaration’ with the full support of the European Union.
The declaration
Letter sent to Saulius Skvernelis, Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania
Subject: Lithuania needs a significant increase of the minimum monthly wage
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) supports the position of the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation (LTUC/LPSK), which is its affiliate, and favours its aim to raise the minimum monthly wage in Lithuania by 50 instead of 20 euros.
Letter sent to Ms Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and to Ms Marianne Thyssen, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility
Dear High Representative Mogherini, dear Commissioner Thyssen,
To the EPSCO Council Ministers
Make the European Pillar of Social Rights real – Adopt a meaningful general approach for the Work-Life Balance and Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions Directives
Dear Minister,
I am writing to you in view of the discussions taking place in EPSCO on 21st June, on the Commission’s proposals for two Directives aimed at achieving the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, recently proclaimed by all Member States.
OPEN LETTER
It’s in your hands – the fate of working parents and carers across Europe depends on you
Time for the EPSCO Council to adopt a position on the EU Work-Life Balance directive
Brussels, 18 June 2018
Dear Ministers,
Declaration of the International Trade Union Conference
“The Voice of Integration of the Western Balkans”,
Sofia, 9 May 2018
As the EU-Western Balkans Summit is about to take place in Sofia on 17 May 2018, under the auspices of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, at which the EU is expected to reaffirm its commitment to the integration of its partners in the Western Balkan countries and once again emphasise the region's place within the European family:
ETUC urges the Danish public employers to ensure unrestricted collective bargaining and withdraw threat of lockout.
Dear Colleagues,
The ETUC supports your demands and struggle to win fair wage growth in the public sector, reflecting the wage development in the private sector. We also support your call for a collective agreement to regulate the teachers working hours.
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has instituted an award to honour the outstanding and dynamic scientific work, of great value to the European trade union movement, of the late labour law Professor Brian Bercusson: the ETUC Brian Bercusson Award.
Through this Award, the ETUC and the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) support academic research that deepens understanding and promotes transnational workers’ rights in Europe.
Brussels, 23 March 2018
Dear Presidents,
Dear Prime Minister
The ITUC and ETUC have several times expressed to you their deepest concerns, directly or indirectly, about the developments taking place in Turkey since the failed coup of 15 July 2016.
