“We welcome our colleagues from Montenegro and FYRO Macedonia into the European trade union movement” said Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the ETUC, “and will work with CTUM, UFTUM and FTUM to improve working conditions for all people in Montenegro and FYRO Macedonia, and to ensure the full adoption of EU social and trade union rights on the way to full EU membership. The destiny of the people of Montenegro and FYRO Macedonia and of the EU is together.”  

Luca Visentini is the proposed successor to Bernadette Ségol as General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation. A meeting of the ETUC’s Executive Committee voted the 46 year old current Confederal Secretary of the ETUC as ‘General Secretary Designate’, subject to final decision by ETUC Congress in October in Paris.*

European trade unionists today made a united call for tax justice, and demanded new national and European actions to end to tax evasion and avoidance, tax havens and aggressive tax planning.

EU Governments must break a 7 year impasse and agree 18 weeks minimum paid maternity leave says the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).   To mark International Women’s Day the ETUC is • Highlighting the need to raise European maternity leave rights to international standards, and • Urging EU Governments to reach agreement on a proposal that has been blocked since 2008!   

European trade unions are ready and willing to give social dialogue a new start, and will participate actively in the High Level Conference on Social Dialogue on March 5*. “Social dialogue is in need of a new start” said Bernadette Ségol, Secretary General of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). “There needs to be more concrete results and better implementation at European level. At the same time, national social dialogue needs to be repaired from the damage caused by ‘structural reforms’ and other EU and national policies adopted since the crisis.”

Dear Readers, We have just published the February 2015 edition of the ETUC Newsletter. To read the document, please click here. Enjoy!  

The European Commission’s Energy Union package is ambitious and broad-ranging, says the European Trade Union Confederation, but its ‘action points’ lack detail on how it will be achieved. The ETUC welcomes the inclusion in the Energy Union package of references to:

Full article in NEWEUROPE : http://www.neurope.eu/article/europe%E2%80%99s-top-trade-unionist-argues-end-austerity

ETUC General Secretary Bernadette Ségol today said Germany was “playing with fire” in rejecting the new Greek Government’s compromise proposal for an its extension of its bailout. “Germany is demanding unconditional surrender from proud people that has elected a new Government on a crystal clear platform of easing austerity.” “There needs to be a deal and for that all sides need to compromise. German is playing hardball but is playing with fire.”   

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is calling on EU Finance Ministers meeting tomorrow to back and boost an ambitious investment plan for Europe.   The Ministers are due to discuss the Juncker investment plan of €315bn over the next three years.   The ETUC strongly supports investment as a means to create demand, growth and jobs, and calls on Finance Ministers to

In a judgment published today (aff. C-396/13 - Sähköalojen ammattiliitto), the European Court of Justice (ECJ) gave its interpretation of Article 3.1 of Directive 96/71 on Posting of Workers Directive which says that the posted worker must be guaranteed the minimum rate of pay of the host country.

Commenting on the elections and new Government in Greece, European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) General Secretary Bernadette Ségol said, following a meeting of the ETUC Steering Committee with national trade unions leaders:   “The situation in Greece represents an opportunity not only for Greece but for all Europe.  It is an opportunity to re-evaluate the economic and social policies pursued since the crisis, and to take a new path.