Brussels, 20/02/2008 “We strongly support the opinion of the Commission that EWCs must be in a position to play their full part with regard to development in undertakings, anticipating and accompanying change, and fostering genuine transnational social dialogue in a rapidly changing economic and social context,” says Reiner Hoffmann, Deputy General Secretary of the ETUC.

Brussels, 20/02/2008 Real salaries in Europe are on a downward spiral. The share of wages as a proportion of national income (Gross Domestic Product – GDP), continues to fall. By contrast, companies' profits have been rising. Wealth exists, but it is more and more unequally shared. The European Trade Union Confederation says “stop” to the repeated calls for wage moderation aimed at ordinary workers alone but not at board rooms, and “stop” to governments and employers who too freely resort to lower wages as the only means of adjustment.

Brussels, 20/02/2008 The restrictive measures, first introduced in February 2002, consist of a ban on entry into the EU and a freeze on financial assets for individuals who engage in activities that seriously undermine democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law in Zimbabwe. An embargo on the supply of arms and equipment intended for military operations is also in force.

Ljubljana, 05/04/2008 The European trade unions will demonstrate on 5 April to demand increased pay. This is the date of the European finance ministers' meeting (ECOFIN) in Slovenia. - <strong>Photo Gallery</strong> - Circular - Programme of the demonstration - Trade union leaders participating in the demonstration - Order of the demonstration

Brussels, 07/02/2008 At the current time:

Brussels, 06/02/2008 Trade unions welcome the UN Commission's decision to focus on 'full and productive employment and decent work' as its 2007-2008 priority. Alarming trends in unemployment in the wake of the current global market turmoil and the threat of recession - revealed in the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) new Global Employment Report 2008 - mean urgent action is needed.

Brussels, 05/02/2008

Brussels, 31/01/2008 The meeting takes place at a time of serious concern about the future health of the European economies. In this context, the ETUC will be emphasising its opposition to current excessive wage moderation, and stressing the need to protect workers' spending power and promote good jobs and adequate social protection in efforts to counter recessionary risks. The ETUC will deliver two strong messages in advance of the informal meeting of employment and social affairs ministers taking place on 31 January to 2 February:

Brussels, 30/01/2008 The Convention becomes legally binding on the first ten countries to have ratified it (Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Georgia, Moldova, Romania and Slovakia), on 1 February, with Bosnia-Herzegovina, France and Norway following on 1 May. Most European countries have taken the first steps to ratify the Convention, with the UK having already announced its intention to complete the ratification by the end of 2008.

Brussels, 23/01/2008

Brussels, 17/01/2008 This agreement reflects the common will – as unions engaged in pension or savings fund management or as cooperative, mutual and non-profit insurance companies or asset managers – to promote actively practices respectful of environmental, social and governance criteria (ESG) in the companies in which they hold shares.

Brussels, 18/01/2008 In particular, it must be guaranteed that companies cannot ride roughshod over European and national workers’ rights without sanctions. Furthermore, there must be guarantees that no layoffs or transfers can be carried out without thorough, prior information and serious consultations with the workers’ representatives and their trade unions. The ETUC has welcomed the Commission’s introduction of the revision of the EWC directive. It must now quickly reach a conclusion.

Brussels, 16/01/2008 At that conference, the ETUC and its industrial federations stated that trade defence instruments (TDI) needed to be strengthened rather than weakened, because they protect not only growth and jobs, but also social progress worldwide. The Commission's proposals – apart from the fact that they did not sufficiently take account of the results of the public consultation – were in danger of accentuating social and environmental dumping by weakening procedures.