• 28.06.2017 Press release

    EU Finances: budget must increase

    Commenting on the European Commission Reflection Paper on the Future of EU finances, Liina Carr of the European Trade Union Confederation said “The EU budget needs to be redesigned to meet urgent and future challenges, and to increase.” “This reflection paper that does not reflect the Commission’s often stated wish for a more social Europe. On the contrary, the Commission seems determined to reduce the EU’s spending on social priorities and tackling regional inequality.”
  • 28.06.2017 Press release

    Brexit: UK offer for EU citizens "far from generous"

    Commenting on the UK Government’s proposal on the future rights of EU citizens living in the UK, ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini said: “The rights of EU citizens in the UK, and UK citizens in the EU, should not be up for negotiation. There needs to be automatic and mutual granting of full rights. “Far from being very generous, the proposals are limited, and create significant new hurdles which EU citizens will need to overcome in order to access rights to residency and permanent access to entitlements in the UK.
  • 27.06.2017 Press release

    Work shouldn't hurt

    The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is launching a call for the EU and national governments to do more to support workplace health and safety reps to tackle back, neck and shoulder pain.   Back, neck and shoulder pain (alongside pain in other joints such as hands, elbows and knees) - known collectively and technically as musculoskeletal disorders (or MSDs) – are the most common work-related disease in Europe. The most common causes are repetitive hand or arm movements, and sitting for long periods of time.  
  • 21.06.2017 Press release

    After 9 years of austerity Europe's public sector workers deserve a pay rise!

    On 23rd June, Public Services Day, citizens around the world acknowledge the wide range of education, health, social and other key services delivered all day and everyday by public service workers. This year the European federations for public service (EPSU) and education (ETUCE) highlight the contribution made by millions of public service workers to maintain quality services while suffering the long-term effects of pay cuts and pay freezes. Public service workers do not deserve this treatment.
  • 20.06.2017 Press release

    Trade union action against the proposed European services e-card

    The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is strongly opposed to the services e-card proposed by the European Commission. To push forward our concerns, ETUC together with the European Federation of Building and Woodworkers (EFBWW) and the European service workers’ trade union (UNI-Europa) are organising a trade union “rejection of the services e-card” action within and outside the European Parliament on 21 June 2017, the day of a public hearing in the internal market committee. Trade unions want to be heard as workers’ concerns have not been met by the proposal.
  • 19.06.2017 Press release

    ETUC backs two EU reports on online platforms & collaborative economy

    The European Parliament on 15 June 2017 adopted two important reports on online platforms and the collaborative economy. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) worked closely with MEPs to make sure that trade union demands were taken on board. The Parliament’s message stresses trade unions’ concerns on safeguarding workers’ rights in the digital economy, calling on the European Commission and/or Member States:
  • 14.06.2017 Press release

    Trade unions to fight for a stronger European Pillar of Social Rights

    European trade unions today resolved to call on the European Commission, national Governments and the European Parliament to adopt a stronger European Pillar of Social Rights.   Meeting as the Executive Committee of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), national and European trade union leaders also decided to hold a ‘European Day of Action’ in Gothenburg on 16 November - the day before the Gothenburg EU Social Summit takes place and which is due to adopt the Pillar.