“Considering the tiny majority Ursula von der Leyen got in Parliament", said Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, “we urge the new President of the Commission to build an alliance with the democratic parties only, and to reconfirm the cordon sanitaire against the far right. If she wants to deliver as Commission President, she needs to rebuild the trust that was jeopardised by the Council’s decisions. She needs to work for a more democratic European Union.”

The European Trade Union Confederation supports the Friuli Venezia Giulia-Slovenia Interregional Trade Union Council and Italian and Slovenian civil society in opposing border closure.

ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini today called on the European Parliament, in its discussions and votes in the oncoming weeks, to support democracy and a more just and sustainable Europe. "I congratulate David Sassoli on his election as President of the European Parliament. The ETUC is ready to work with him and the Parliament to defend and deliver on the needs of Europe's working people and citizens for a more social, sustainable and fair Europe"  said Luca Visentini.

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) condemned the arrest today by the Italian authorities of Carola Rakete, the captain of the Sea Watch ship rescuing migrants at risk of drowning in the Mediterranean. “Saving people at sea is a moral and legal duty” said Luca Visentini, Secretary General of the ETUC “and people who do it should be honoured not arrested.”

Dear Readers, We have just published the June 2019 edition of the ETUC newsletter. To read the document, please click here. Enjoy!

Climate change and digitalisation are among challenges which must be dealt with in a socially fair way according to a new EU report on the future of industry. The European Commission is today publishing ‘a vision for the European industry until 2030’ – the final report of their high-level roundtable set up in December 2017 which brought together unions with employers and experts to prepare an EU industrial policy.

A new UN International Labour Organisation (ILO) Declaration on ‘the Future of Work’ – adopted today at the ILO’s Centenary conference -  means that governments and employers must work with trade unions, and redouble their efforts to ensure decent work in a global economy radically changed by free trade and deregulation, digitalisation and the climate crisis. The Centenary Declaration calls on all its members – governments, employers and trade unions  of 187 states worldwide – to work together, and through ‘social dialogue’, for

The European Trade Union Confederation today congratulated trade union representatives at the UN International Labour Organisation for reaching agreement today with governments and employers on a world-wide Convention (and accompanying Recommendation) for the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work. The Convention establishes for the first time a global and unique right of everyone to work free from violence and harassment. The Convention would require countries across the globe to

Commenting on EU Prime Ministers agreeing today a six page ‘Strategic Agenda’ 2019-2024, Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) said “I am encouraged that the Prime Ministers agreed a text on ‘Building a climate-neutral, green, fair and social Europe’ which specifically mentions implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights.  If this is done over the next four years Europe will be a much better place.

The International Trade Union Confederation’s ‘Global Rights Index 2019’, published today, says that

Dear readers, Our latest edition of Workers’ Voice National Updates picks out some interesting examples of how trade union collective bargaining with employers at local and national level achieves real benefits for workers and promotes more equal working conditions across the EU. Every three months we highlight just a few examples of how unions in Europe are cooperating across borders and working constructively with employers, governments and civil society organisations to foster social progress and justice.

Euro Pride 2019 - ETUC stands with you  Video messages by Ludovic Voet and Isabelle Schömann, ETUC Confederal Secretaries

The adoption of Council Conclusions on The changing world of work: reflections on new forms of work and implications for the safety and health of workers at today’s EPSCO meeting establishes a good foundation for the incoming European Commission to work on, commented the ETUC’s newly elected Deputy General Secretary Per Hilmersson.