• EU pay transparency directive: Commission leaks reveal battle over equal pay
    Equal Pay protest

    EU pay transparency directive: Commission leaks reveal battle over equal pay

    The European Commission is finally set to present its pay transparency directive on 4 March – 460 days after President von der Leyen took office on a pledge to deliver it “within 100 days.” But now ETUC’s hopes for progress on reducing the gender pay gap are being undermined by conflict in the European Commission’s policymaking with what seems to be THREE different versions of the draft Directive being leaked.  
    Press release Published on 25.02.2021
  • Climate change adaptation strategy fails to protect workers
    climate adaptation

    Climate change adaptation strategy fails to protect workers

    The European Commission published today its new Adaptation Strategy designed to increase the resilience of the EU against climate change consequences.   While the European Trade Union Confederation strongly welcomes the idea of developing a new EU Adaptation Strategy, we regret to see that the one proposed by the Commission today fails to protect European workers against climate change consequences.
    Press release Published on 24.02.2021
  • EU can’t let platforms with illegal practices re-write laws
    Cover

    EU can’t let platforms with illegal practices re-write laws

    The ETUC is calling on the European Commission to face down cynical new efforts by platform companies to avoid their most basic obligations to their workers. The Commission will tomorrow launch a consultation on improving the working conditions in platform companies like Uber, Deliveroo or Glovo.
    Press release Published on 23.02.2021
  • EU action needed after Uber & Deliveroo court defeats
    Uber driver

    EU action needed after Uber & Deliveroo court defeats

    Major court rulings against the exploitative employment practices of platform companies this week show the urgency over EU action over this broken business model. 
    Press release Published on 19.02.2021
  • 24m could get pay rise under EU directive
    Pay rise

    24m could get pay rise under EU directive

    More than 24 million workers on low wages in the EU would receive a much-needed pay rise if trade union proposals for the EU’s draft Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages are accepted. The European Trade Union Confederation is pushing for a ‘threshold of decency’ to be included in the legislation that would ensure statutory minimum wages could never be paid at less than 60% of the median wage and 50% of the average wage in the Member State.
    Press release Published on 18.02.2021
  • Statement on Covid vaccines: people must come before profit
    Cover

    Statement on Covid vaccines: people must come before profit

    In light of recent complications with the Covid-19 vaccines roll out, the ETUC believes that a higher degree of democratic control is needed over the process and that people must come before profit. While unions fully support the principle of European coordination on vaccines as a means of avoiding vaccine nationalism, the process so far has been blighted by a lack of transparency in procurement and unexplained delays in production which have cost lives and livelihoods. 
    Press release Published on 17.02.2021
  • EU must end austerity policies paused during pandemic
    Social Europe Yes We Can

    EU must end austerity policies paused during pandemic

    European trade unions, together with a large coalition of NGOs and academics, are leading a campaign for the European Commission to permanently scrap austerity policies which have been paused during the pandemic. A ‘General Escape Clause’ relaxing the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact was introduced last year as part of the European Commission’s response to the Covid-19 crisis, which also included the creation of the SURE emergency job support scheme and the unprecedented recovery fund.
    Press release Published on 17.02.2021
  • Survey highlights plight of young people in pandemic
    ETUC Youth - Time for Quality Jobs

    Survey highlights plight of young people in pandemic

    11 months after the start of the pandemic, young trade union leaders say that young unemployed, those neither in employment or education or training, and workers in platform companies are not being helped enough by job and wage protection schemes and related emergency measures. These findings will be presented today to Commissioner Nicolas Schmit and the Portuguese President of EU Council of Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Ministers, Ana Mendes Godinho at an online conference ‘(How) Will Europe prevent a Lost Generation?’ attended by over 200 young people.
    Press release Published on 15.02.2021
  • EU warns against withdrawing job support too soon - but must refinance SURE
    Luca Visentini EU forecast

    EU warns against withdrawing job support too soon - but must refinance SURE

    The European Commission has today joined trade unions in warning member states against prematurely withdrawing financial support for workers and businesses. But the Commission must now put its money where its mouth is and refinancing the successful SURE job support for 2021 to ensure that all member states can maintain support measures as requested. 
    Press release Published on 11.02.2021
  • Commission omits workplace dangers from priority cancer actions
    Stop Cancer at Work

    Commission omits workplace dangers from priority cancer actions

    Responding to the publication of the European Commission’s Beating Cancer Plan, ETUC Deputy General Secretary Per Hilmersson said: “While we welcome the fact that health and safety at work is included in the plan, the level of ambition is disappointing. More than 100,000 people die every year from occupational cancer – around 10% of all cancer deaths in Europe. Work-related cancer should be a specific ‘flagship initiative’ in the plan.
    Press release Published on 03.02.2021
  • Workers' voice - The ETUC newsletter - January 2021
    Cover

    Workers' voice - The ETUC newsletter - January 2021

    Dear Readers, We have just published the January 2021 edition of the ETUC newsletter. To read the document, please click here. Enjoy!
    Press release Published on 29.01.2021