Emergency motion on fundamental rights in Spain
Five years ago, on September 29, both major Spanish unions, CC.OO and UGT organised a general strike against the neoliberal reforms that the Spanish government was launching in Spain. On Tuesday, as the ETUC Congress opened, Spanish workers continued to suffer the impact of the economic crisis, the labour reforms and a trade union witch-hunt, with 300 trade unionists penalised for exercising their right to strike.
Emergency motion on health and safety at work
Adopted at the ETUC 13th Congress on 2 October 2015
To work in a healthy and safe environment is a fundamental human right. Work should not put the lives or health of workers at risk.
The ETUC Congress condemns the attempts to put into question the existing framework of health and safety protection and to classify much needed health and safety standards as needless red tape or "the most burdensome if EU legislative acts".
Emergency motion - Solidarity with Turkish and Kurdish journalists suffering repression
Adopted at the ETUC 13th Congress on 2 October 2015
For freedom of speech.
Emergency motion - UK referendum renegotiation strategy
Adopted at the ETUC 13th Congress on 2 October 2015
Congress notes that there will be a referendum on Britain’s continued membership of the European Union at some time in the next two years. The British government is currently seeking to renegotiate the relationship between the EU and the UK, and the British Prime Minister will be raising the issue at the European Council in October.
Emergency motion on Northern Ireland
Adopted at the ETUC 13th Congress on 2 October 2015
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions as a matter of urgency requests this Congress to intervene in demanding the political parties in Northern Ireland with the assistance of the British Irish and U.S Governments to resolve the political impasse in Northern Ireland.
Taking into account that
Greece and its working people for five years face a deepening economic, social and political crisis resulting from consecutive rounds of austerity and labour market deregulation which entrapped the country in a vicious circle of recession and unprecedented unemployment against deepening poverty and inequality.
Congress Resolution presented by Executive Committee on Improving gender balance in ETUC
Having regard to the statutory amendments submitted by the TUC, aiming at improving women’s representation in ETUC statutory bodies and largely inspired by the principles of the Road Map adopted at the Executive Committee in June 2014;
Endorsed by the Executive Committee at its meeting on 17-18 June 2015
In its Communication “A digital single market strategy for Europe” (6 May 2015) the Commission adopts the traditional internal market approach.
Position adopted by the Executive Committee of 17-18 June 2015
In December 2015, countries will meet in Paris under the UN auspices to seal a new global agreement to fight climate change. Ahead of this crucial summit, the ETUC reiterates its key demands to Parties, and specifically to the EU which must continue to play a leading role in the negotiations.
ETUC declaration on 'Better Regulation'
Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee on 17-18 June 2015
The ‘Better Regulation’ package[1] published the 19/05/2015 by the European Commission is supposed to ensure better, simpler, less burdensome EU regulation.
In its meeting in March 2015, the ETUC Executive Committee affiliated the two representative confederations from Montenegro, CTUM and UFTUM.
CTUM was affiliated because the new leadership, elected at their congress in November 2013, engaged in a serious and complex reform process. This process clearly disturbs those forces who want to keep CTUM under full control. The same are responsible for enormous financial abuses that ruin the trade union’s reputation.
Adopted by the ETUC Executive Committee at its meeting on 17-18 June 2015
The ETUC expresses its support for the demonstration on immigration which will take place on Saturday 20 June 2015 in Rome.
The tragedy in the Mediterranean, the loss of thousands of lives, the terrible suffering of those who seek refuge fleeing hunger, poverty, war and persecution require a European response based on humanity, solidarity, integration and inclusion.
Europe must overcome divisions and nationalism and give a common response to this humanitarian emergency.
Adopted by the ETUC Executive Committee at its meeting on 17-18 June 2015
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) expresses its solidarity with its member organisations GSEE and ADEDY, with Greek workers and citizens, at a time of high risks for their country and their people.
ETUC’s recommendations to the national governments and to the European Union on how to overcome obstacles to the mobility of frontier workers in Europe
Adopted by the ETUC Executive Committee at its meeting on 10-11 March 2015
Position adopted by the Executive Committee of 10 and 11 March 2015
Quality job creation should be the number one priority. Twenty-four million men and women, and five million under 25s, are currently unemployed and some 10 million jobs have been destroyed since the onset of the crisis in 2008. Although unemployment levels have finally starting going in the right direction, Europe’s job-rich recovery continues to fail to materialise.
Adopted by the ETUC Executive Committee at its meeting on 10-11 March 2015
The political change in Greece is an opportunity, not only for that crisis-ridden country but also for a fundamental reassessment and revision of EU economic and social policies focusing on failed austerity and structural reforms of the labour market.
Adopted by the ETUC Executive Committee at its meeting on 10-11 March 2015
When the ETUC Executive Committee convened for their meeting on March 10, pilots in the budget carrier Norwegian had been on strike for 11 days.
The main demand of the Norwegian Pilot Union (NPU) was to have a collective agreement with their real employer, Norwegian Air Shuttle.
In Denmark, Ryanair is establishing a base in Copenhagen, and are refusing the Danish unions’ request for a collective agreement.
Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee on 2-3 December 2014
The European Commission will review the framework of European economic governance in a communication to be published next month. With this note, the ETUC intends to contribute to this review. The note first provides a short and general evaluation of European economic governance, and then recommends a number of substantive changes and different policy approaches which the ETUC believes are required to deliver an effective European economic governance framework.
Adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting on 2-3 December 2014
General comments
The ETUC welcomes much of the approach and the aims of the proposed amendments to the IORP directive. Transparency, better governance and in the end safer pensions is positive.
