The International and European Trade Union Confederations called on the International Monetary Fund to stop insisting that Greece undertake even more pension cuts and labour market deregulation before the Fund will agree to a new loan programme, or to signing off on disbursements by European institutions.  

The ETUC is calling on EU representatives to defend trade union rights when they meet members of the Kazakhstan government in Astana today. In a letter to EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini and Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ITUC), condemn the arrest and interrogation of trade unionists and moves to deregister trade unions in Kazakhstan.  The International Labour Organization has repeatedly urged Kazakh ministers to repeal the law that restricts union activities.

With the UK Government expected to trigger article 50 this week, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has called on EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier to ensure “a social and economic agreement that protects jobs, living standards and workers’ rights, and not a free trade deal built on a platform of lower pay, tax and standards.” The ETUC called for  

Commenting on 'The Rome Declaration', in which 27 EU member States "pledge to work towards ... a social Europe ... which ...promotes economic and social progress as well as cohesion and convergence...equality between women and men...rights and equal opportunities for all; ...which fights unemployment, discrimination, social exclusion and poverty" and refers to the "key role of social partners",  Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), who was present at the signing, said:

Today, on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Treaties of Rome, and the day before an informal EU summit to celebrate the anniversary and reflect on the current state and future of the EU, the European Trade Union Confederation

The European Trade Union Confederation published today its plan for a European Public Treasury. The ETUC’s proposal would be a way to insure a minimum level of public investment in all Member States. The European Commission has called for a fiscal expansion of up to 0.5% of GDP in 2017 across the euro area on the whole, but this is not compatible with the Stability and Growth pact.

Jeroen Dijsselbloem has to resign as President of the Eurogroup says ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini. “His insults about countries spending money on women and drink are bad enough,” said Visentini, “he has to resign immediately as Eurogroup President. 

The European Trade Union Confederation offers its solidarity and condolences to the victims of the Westminster attack and the people of London.

European trade unions leaders in Rome to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome will give a press conference on March 24, 17.30 - Palazzo Chigi, Piazza Colonna, 370, Roma with ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini, ETUC President Rudy De Leeuw and General Secretaries Carmelo Barbagallo, Susanna Camusso, Annamaria Furlan of the 3 Italian trade unions UIL, CGIL, CISL.

Today, Tuesday, 21st March, the WTO Dispute Settlement Body will hear China's request for a panel to rule on the EU's anti-dumping measures against imports from China. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) supports the call by AEGIS, representing many EU industry sectors, for the EU to firmly oppose that claim.  "Dumping kills jobs, investments and competition. The EU instruments against illegal dumping must not be weakened just because China is taking its case to the WTO", says Liina Carr, ETUC Confederal Secretary.

Dear readers,    Welcome to the fourth edition of the Workers’ Voice National UPdates. Following the recent launch of the ETUC Pay Rise Campaign, this issue focuses particularly on pay developments in different countries. They demonstrate that trade unions make a difference and collective bargaining is having an impact. But there is still a long way to go to achieve our recovery! Join our campaign #OurPayRise.

Workers are still not feeling economic recovery: wages are lower now than they were eight years ago in seven EU member states, according to new research published today by the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) and European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). The research also shows that in 18 EU countries wages have grown much slower over the seven years after the crisis than in the eight years before that.

The ETUC and ITUC have expressed strong support for the efforts by its French affiliates to defend the new law requiring French multinational companies to establish vigilance plans to avoid and remedy violations of fundamental rights and environmental standards throughout their supply chains and operations. Two days after the adoption of the law on 21 February, Members and Senators from the Republican Party, backed by employer organisation MEDEF, referred the issue to France’s Constitutional Council claiming that the law is unconstitutional.