Dear Readers, We have just published the October 2021 edition of the ETUC newsletter. To read the document, please click here. Enjoy!

The ETUC expresses its solidarity with public sector workers in Slovakia and their union KOZ SR campaigning for a fair pay rise. Hundreds of workers demonstrated outside the government’s headquarters on Wednesday as the second round of collective bargaining negotiations took place – not only to support their negotiators but protest against the dramatic reduction in living standards of other workers and citizens, particularly pensioners, amid increases in the price of food, electricity and housing due to inflation.

The ETUC is calling for investment and fair wages in the care sector after a new report revealed the sector has been hit by an exodus of workers since the pandemic. Between 2019 and 2021 over 400,000 care workers left the sector, according to European Public Service Union EPSU. On today’s Global Day of Action for Care, ETUC calls on the EU to: Insist on investment in care - through the ‘EU Care Strategy’ promised by President von der Leyen, and

Dear colleagues, My name is Luca Visentini and I speak here on behalf of trade unions from all over Europe. The citizens’ panel have discussed and pushed forward an impressive and very ambitious set of proposals and demands, which together with the inputs posted in the online platform will enable us to make the future of Europe better and more inclusive. I would like to mention just two of these ideas.

Commenting on the conclusions of the European Council, ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini said:

  VTC Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment - Transforming Europe's recovery into long-term sustainable growth supporting more and better jobs   Opening speech of Luca Visentini, ETUC General Secretary (20 October 2021)  [To be checked against delivery] Presidents von der Leyen, Michel, Janša, Vice President, Commissioner, Ministers, Colleagues from the Social Partners,

  EUROPEAN COMMISSION WORK PROGRAMME 2022 Potentially positive initiatives include   Missing include Seriously bad gimmick includes Protection of Workers from risks of exposure to asbestos at work European Green Deal (on zero pollution, right to repair and plastics) Media Freedom Act Care Strategy Recommendation on Minimum Income  

Responding to the relaunch of the review of EU economic governance, ETUC Confederal Secretary Liina Carr said: “The EU’s fiscal rules failed in the past, have been abandoned in the present and are unfit for the future. This review is an important step towards a Europe that puts the people and planet before arbitrary and self-defeating debt targets. 

Responding to vote in the European Parliament on the Villumsen report

Roma, 16 ottobre 2021 È un grandissimo onore per me, un italiano alla guida del sindacato europeo, esprimere a questa piazza straordinaria il sostegno di tutte le lavoratrici e i lavoratori d’Europa. Oggi e durante questi ultimi giorni, tante manifestazioni di solidarietà si stanno svolgendo e si sono svolte in molte capitali europee. Il movimento sindacale d’Europa è unito contro il vile attacco fascista che ha colpito la CGIL e tutto il sindacato italiano.

Dear Maurizio, I would like to express to you the most sincere solidarity and full support of the European Trade Union Confederation for the shameful attack by right-wing extremists and No-Vax on the headquarters of the national CGIL yesterday. As you rightly reminded us, trade unions, in Italy, in Europe and in the world, have always been the defenders of democracy, and it is no coincidence that the fascist and violent instrumentalisation of the anti-vaccine protests is directed against the trade union movement and CGIL in particular.

Commenting on the global tax deal involving 136 countries including all OECD and G20 countries for a 15% minimum corporate tax rate and taxing rights on USD 125 billion of profit , ETUC’s Liina Carr commented

The ETUC is calling on EU Finance Ministers to overturn their decision in 2017 not to define as tax havens, and not to impose sanctions on, countries that fail to disclose who owns companies registered in their country. “EU Finance Ministers should do far more to reveal who is hiding money in tax havens” said Liina Carr, ETUC Confederal Secretary “instead of taking countries off the list of tax havens.”