The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has issued an unprecedented ‘emergency alert’ that highlights countries and situations where the opportunity for working people in Europe to achieve decent wages and working conditions is under threat. “At the heart of Europe is a social contract that offers working people the opportunity to get decent wages and working conditions” said Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the ETUC. “But the foundation on which that social contract is built needs urgent repair and renovation.”

Today’s proposal by the European Commission to promote fairness and transparency for users of online marketplaces is a necessary step, but totally fails to protect workers who rely on online platforms for their livelihoods. According to the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), the measure falls short by limiting regulation of unfair practices to shopping platforms offering goods and services, such as Amazon or eBay, and search engines.

Reacting to the European Commission’s proposals for new company law rules*, published today, European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) Deputy General Secretary Peter Scherrer said: “The proposals on cross-border conversions show a welcome change of direction in EU company law, which until now has facilitated deregulation and regime shopping. The Commission aims to ensure that a company has genuine economic activity in the Member State where it wants to relocate its registered office. The proposed Directive therefore offers a basis for discussion.

Speech by Katja Lehto-Komulainen, ETUC Deputy General Secretary   Dear all, Let me address three points on behalf of the European Trade Union Confederation. The ETUC is proud to be part of the EMIN network – and bus tour - promoting adequate minimum income schemes throughout Europe. - The right to an adequate minimum income is a key demand today: we need to ensure an acceptable and dignified standard of living for all.

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) urges the European Commission to include in its forthcoming ‘European Company Law package’ binding measures to protect workers and end ‘regime shopping’ which allows companies in Europe to move their headquarters to another Member State where they pay less taxes and lower wages regardless of where their genuine economic activity take place.

Belgian and international trade unions have demanded the immediate release from prison of former Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. In a letter delivered to the Brazilian ambassador in Brussels, the CSC, the FGTB as well as the ITUC and the European Trade Union Confederation stated that Lula’s arbitrary imprisonment is a threat to democracy. Trade unions in Asunción, Buenos Aires, Geneva, Jakarta, Lima, London and Rabat are also gathering at Brazilian embassies today, following protests in recent days in Madrid, Montevideo, Paris, Rome and Washington, D.C.

Commenting on the European Commission’s whistle-blower protection proposals, Esther Lynch, Confederal Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) said:

New figures calculated by the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) and European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) show that wage increases in the European Union over the last 16 years would have been FOUR TIMES higher if they had fully reflected productivity increases. It is standard economic theory that wage increases should follow productivity increases. But in Europe productivity has increased far more than wages. From 2000 to 2016 productivity increased three times more than wages in Germany and Croatia, and two times more than wages in Poland and Belgium.

According to media reports the European Commission will today recommend that Albania and Macedonia start EU accession negotiations, and be critical about Turkey’s lack of progress towards EU fundamental human rights, justice and freedom of expression. The European Trade Union Confederation

Dear Readers, We have just published the March 2018 edition of the ETUC Newsletter. To read the document, please click here. Enjoy!

Today the European Council will approve a ‘European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships’. This is largely based on proposals made by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) https://www.etuc.org/press/trade-union-contribution-quality-apprenticeships-europe in 2016 - the culmination of work by trade unions including through European ‘social dialogue’ with employers.  

To be checked against delivery   Speech by Katja Lehto-Komulainen, ETUC Deputy General Secretary, at the Tripartite Social Summit Brussels, 21 March 2018   Dear Minister, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, The economy is recovering, indeed, but slowly, and major problems remain, especially in the ability of labour markets to provide enough high-quality employment to go around. The total hours worked in the EU are still below pre-crisis levels, and the average hours worked per employee are well below.

To be checked against delivery   Speech by Luca Visentini, ETUC General Secretary,  at theTripartite Social Summit Brussels, 21 March 2018   Prime Minister, Ministers, Presidents, Vice President, Commissioners, social partners,   We acknowledge that the economic situation and employment rates in Europe are improving.