JOINT STATEMENT OF ETUC, ITUC, TURK-IS, HAK-IS, DISK, KESK
Following the visit of ETUC and ITUC to Ankara on 12-13 October 2016
A joint ITUC and ETUC delegation visited Ankara on 12 and 13 October 2016.
The European Trade Union Confederation is calling on the European Commission to tackle the number one cause of occupational sickness in Europe: the epidemic of back, shoulder, neck, elbow, hand and knee pain costing workers severe loss of quality of life and millions of days off work.
The cost to employers, workers and health services has been estimated at €163 billion.
A new website – up online today with the support of the European Trade Union Confederation – will enable workers to find out more about cancer risks at work and the dangers of exposure to carcinogens.
Every year, more than 100,000 people die in Europe as a result of working with carcinogens. The new site: www.roadmaponcarcinogens.eu highlights the need to limit exposure to cancer-causing agents.
Trade unions see low-carbon industry as an opportunity for a sustainable prosperity, and want industrial regions in the EU to draw up long-term strategies for reducing emissions, with close involvement of trade unions and employers.
That’s the conclusion of a 2 year EU-funded project conducted with trade unions and other regional organisations in seven industrial regions across the EU.
The EU could raise low pay, benefitting workers and families throughout Europe and beyond, says the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).
In the run up to the World Day of Decent Work on October 7, the ETUC is highlighting
Industries where some wages are far from decent;
How wages would be improved if companies and other organisations were given legal responsibility to ensure that companies in the supply chain (from whom they buy products or services from) are legitimate and offer decent pay.
Examples of work that is far from decent include
Commenting on European Commissioner Marianne Thyssen’s proposals – announced today - for tackling youth unemployment, the European Trade Union Confederation warned that the funds did not match the good intentions.
The gig economy needs to grow up and meet its responsibilities to workers and society by turning undeclared work into declared work, and the European Commission needs to help online platforms to do so warned the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), together with UNI Europa, the European Services Workers Union.
The Euro-Mediterranean Social Partners
DECLARATION ON SOCIAL DIALOGUE
Third Union for the Mediterranean Employment and Labour Ministerial Conference of 26 and 27 September in, Jordan
Jordan, 26 September 2016
A broad group of civil society and consumer organisations as well as trade unions call on the EU’s trade ministers to reject the signature of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Canada [1]. The trade ministers are gathering in Bratislava today and tomorrow to discuss the ratification of the CETA agreement.
Just as the representation of workers on company boards is getting back on the political agenda*, an attempt is being made to get the German system of board-level worker representatives declared illegal!
A case is being brought to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) claiming that the German law is discriminatory for the subsidiaries of German companies in Europe and therefore incompatible with European law.
The OECD today calls for more investment and for investment to be excluded from Eurozone fiscal rules.
It also notes that high inequality and stagnant wages make growth more difficult.
Key quotes from the Outlook include
“Poor growth outcomes combined with high inequality and stagnant incomes are further complicating the political environment, making it more difficult to pursue policies that would support growth and promote inclusiveness.”
