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

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.

Dear Readers, We have just published the September 2016 edition of the ETUC Newsletter. To read the document, please click here. Enjoy!

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.”

Commenting on President Juncker’s State of the Union speech, Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, said: “I welcome the promise to double the investment plan, and to continue the Youth Guarantee. At the same time I am disappointed he did not announce any new action to tackle low wages, precarious work or the exploitation of migrant workers. There is also clearly still a need to press for more public investment as part of the Juncker plan.