Adopted at the meeting of the ETUC Executive Committee on 12 June 2014
The result of the elections demonstrates the growing distance between workers and citizens with the EU institutions and their leaders. It is a clear signal that austerity policies imposed by national governments during the last five years failed.
The message of voters is clear. Unemployment, precarious work, low pay is the major EU problem. Policies supporting the creation of quality jobs, protecting people and the European social model must be implemented.
Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee on 11-12 March 2014
Undeclared work is a serious form of social dumping and it is high time that concrete action is taken at EU level in order to prevent undeclared work and to protect undeclared workers.
The EU needs better enforcement of existing labour laws and standards as well as a stronger role in promoting more, and better, cooperation and coordination between the different national administrations.
Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee on 11-12 March 2014
Background
Work-based learning, which is generally associated with apprenticeships for young people and dual systems of vocational training, is part of the policies supporting the transition from school to the labour market. It is integrated into broader education and training policies linked to labour market issues. [1]
Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee on 11-12 March 2014
Summary
The Executive committee endorses the Report “Towards a Legal Framework for Transnational Company Agreements”[1] as a solid basis to support trade union demands for clearer and more transparent rules for transnational negotiations with multinational companies
Key Messages
To ensure a full recovery, Europe needs structural investments, fair pay and decent working conditions for all workers. The ETUC therefore calls on the Spring European Council to adopt a new direction as, without a radical shift in policy, the European Semester 2014 will do nothing to secure a sustainable recovery.
Resolution adopted by the ETUC Executive Committee at its meeting on 11-12 March 2014
On 29 September 2010, Spain’s main unions the CCOO and UGT (Comisiones Obreras and Unión General de Trabajadores) called for a general strike to express their opposition to the policies implemented by the national government regarding labour issues, which represented a sharp decline in the rights of workers.
The right to strike is a fundamental right enshrined in the Spanish Constitution, which must be protected especially when exercised.
Brussels, 03-04/12/2013
- The dramatic events in Lampedusa provoked a wave of indignation throughout Europe and worldwide. It is one of the recurrent tragedies involving migrants on the border of Europe, notably in the Mediterranean Sea.
- The Southern routes of migration will be fed by wars and persecutions and natural events hitting the population in Africa and in the Middle East. The political instability of such areas reduces margins of cooperation with origin/transit countries.
Brussels, 03/12/2013
The Executive Committee of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) today considered worrying developments in Ukraine and condemned the violent repression of demonstrators in Kiev.
They expressed regret that the conditions were not right for the partnership agreement with the EU to be concluded in Vilnius on 29 November 2013.
Adopted at the meeting of the Executive Committee on 3-4 December 2013
With the publication of REFIT (Regulatory Fitness and Performance: Results and Next Steps) on 2 October 2013, the Commission took yet another step in a process aimed at the deregulation of Europe, the dismantling of legislation protecting workers’ rights and the weakening of social dialogue.
Brussels, 22-23/10/2013
The President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, declared the shutdown of ERT a threat to “freedom and pluralism in the media”. The public media as an independent voice is a pillar of western democratic systems and has the permanent role of monitoring and supervision of the other powers. Never before has such a case of the quasi elimination of the media happened in democratic systems. This case once again shows that economic democracy and democracy in the workplace in particular need to be strengthened.
Brussels, 22-23/10/2013
Key messages
• Europe’s major challenge is to transform what could be the end of a recession into a robust process of self-sustained growth, with mutually strengthening investment, demand and job creation adding to growth dynamics
• To achieve this, the strategy of austerity and structural deregulation needs major change
• Fiscal austerity must be relaxed further and both nominal as well as structural deficit targets must correspond to the state and intensity of the business cycle
Brussels, 23/10/2013
The current multi-faceted crisis exploded five years ago essentially in the financial sector; it triggered an economic and then a sovereign debt crisis.
To combat this crisis EU leaders have adopted and implemented policies through brutal austerity measures and internal devaluation.
This exacerbated the crisis, destroyed functioning economic structures, reduced consumption, increased inequalities and poverty, attacked wage levels, dramatically raised unemployment, jeopardised social cohesion and the support to the EU project.
Brussels, 23/10/2013
• The EU economic governance introduced unwanted interventions on collective bargaining and wage setting mechanisms, particularly through the CSRs.
• In this context a new method of internal and autonomous coordination is needed to prevent and/or counter such interventions, by involving the ETUC affiliates in a multi-level exercise (EU, national, sectoral), fully respecting the autonomy of social partners at the appropriate levels.
Brussels, 22-23/10/2013
For quality jobs, equality and democracy in Europe!
From 22 to 25 May 2014, elections will be organised in each Member State of the European Union (EU) to elect the MEPs who will sit in the next European Parliament (EP). In particular, the European Parliament has the power to approve or reject European laws, decide on the European budget and choose the President of the European Commission.
Brussels, 23/04/2013
Key messages;
• The key concern is that the EU needs real social investment. Social benefits bring value to individuals and to society and therefore it is justified to dedicate adequate budget resources to deliver social benefits and services to the people who are in need and entitled to social rights. Europe needs a real investment package to promote growth, employment and ensure economic and social cohesion. The ETUC has called for an additional investment equivalent to 1-2% of European GDP.
Brussels, 05/06/2013
Key messages
The European Council must critically assess the European Semester to determine if the process meets the challenges of creating quality and sustainable jobs. Inadequate policies pursued by the Member States and the European Union need to be corrected. The ETUC calls on the European Union to adopt a REAL change of course and strategy by prioritising growth, jobs and social cohesion. This requires:
Brussels, 25/04/2013
On 12 March 2013, the European Commission adopted a draft negotiating mandate for a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the USA. This represents a significant step-change in transatlantic relations, which collectively account for half of global GDP in terms of value.
