• More than 200 European Works Council members meet in Brussels to push for urgent revision of EU Directive

    More than 200 European Works Council members meet in Brussels to push for urgent revision of EU Directive

    Brussels, 19/04/2007 European Works Councillors, together with ETUC and the European Industry Federations, will demand an effective system of information, consultation and participation rights and the definition of a legal framework for transnational collective bargaining, in order to foster a sustainable European integration process based on a strong social dimension.
    Press release Published on 19.04.2007
  • Publication of a joint trade union guide

    Publication of a joint trade union guide

    Brussels, 17/04/2007 On 4 April, the Commission announced that the "EU offers full market access to Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) regions as part of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations". Indeed, the negotiations that will lead to the conclusion of EPAs entered into their final phase in 2007. The Cotonou Agreement, the framework for negotiation of the EPAs, calls on the trade union organisations from the ACP and European countries alike to participate actively in their development (principle of active participation).
    Press release Published on 17.04.2007
  • ETUC welcomes the condemnation of the Bulgarian Government by the ECSR (Council of Europe) for not respecting the right to strike in the public sector

    ETUC welcomes the condemnation of the Bulgarian Government by the ECSR (Council of Europe) for not respecting the right to strike in the public sector

    Brussels, 12/04/2007 This decision follows from a collective complaint submitted in 2005 jointly by ETUC, Podkrepa and CITUB after the refusal of the Bulgarian government to broaden the right to strike of civil servants in general as well as to repeal the absolute ban of strikes by workers in the communications and health sector. The ECSR's decision, which was now made public, concludes that the currently applicable Bulgarian laws providing for:
    Press release Published on 12.04.2007
  • Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE) - 33rd Congress

    Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE) - 33rd Congress

    Athens, 17/03/2007 President, friends, I'd like to thank the previous speakers for the warm-up or the windup. It is with great pleasure that I come to the 33rd Congress of the GSEE to bring greetings from the ETUC, to express our appreciation of the support from, and the work of, the GSEE and to pledge to work together in the future. As your slogan says - Trade Unions- Our Strength.
    Speech Published on 03.04.2007
  • European trade union view made clear at European Parliament hearing on EADS

    European trade union view made clear at European Parliament hearing on EADS

    Brussels, 28/03/2007 The purpose of the hearing was to discuss the reasons for the Airbus crisis, possible solutions and the role of the European institutions and the social partners in the development of the European aeronautics industry. The Parliamentary groups invited the EMF and ETUC, together with the trade unions involved in EADS, to an exchange of views on this issue.
    Press release Published on 28.03.2007
  • Euromed conference: new stimuli for the Barcelona process

    Euromed conference: new stimuli for the Barcelona process

    Berlin, 16/03/2007 The ETUC took the initiative to set up the Euromed Trade Union Forum in order to develop and to harmonize trade union policies in the context of the Barcelona process. It is clear to everybody that Barcelona is not a success story. One of the reasons for some failures is that the policies conducted focussed mainly on trade, market and economic reform and security. Social aspects especially, but also employment effects of the structural reforms had been neglected.
    Speech Published on 27.03.2007
  • A stronger social dimension is vital for a successful Euro-Mediterranean partnership, says the ETUC

    A stronger social dimension is vital for a successful Euro-Mediterranean partnership, says the ETUC

    Brussels, 27/03/2007 ETUC Deputy General Secretary Maria Helena André and Maghreb Trade Union Confederation General Secretary Abdessalam Jrad underlined that this was the first tripartite conference on social issues to take place since the launch of the Barcelona process, thereby meeting a long-standing trade union demand.
    Press release Published on 27.03.2007
  • The Pan-European Regional Council (PERC) Founding Assembly

    The Pan-European Regional Council (PERC) Founding Assembly

    Rome, 19/03/2007 To be checked against delivery Colleagues, dear guests, Today's conference is a significant step towards a new culture of trade union cooperation and action all over the European continent.
    Speech Published on 22.03.2007
  • Translations jointly or separetly elaborated by the national social partners

    Translations jointly or separetly elaborated by the national social partners

    - Please note that only the English version of the European framework agreement on work-related stress is the official one. - The translation into Spanish available on this website is the translation as it was annexed by the Spanish interprofessional social partners to their so-called Acuerdo Interconfederal para la Negociación Colectiva' (AINC) for 2005”.
    Press release Published on 21.03.2007