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 meeting of the Executive Committee on 2-3 December 2014
Investment for sustainable growth and decent jobs is a long-standing ETUC demand.
The ETUC therefore welcomes the EU focus on investment and concrete initiatives contributing to this end and, in particular, the recent initiative towards an EU-level investment plan.
Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee on 28-29 October 2015
Communicating effectively – Taking ETUC, European and national affiliate cooperation to a new level
Communications plays a central role in achieving ETUC objectives.
The ETUC must communicate with EU institutions and ‘actors’ that influence EU policy, including the media and should be able to better spread its messages and actions among the affiliates.
Resolution adopted at the Executive Committee meeting of 21-22 October 2014
Key messages:
· The ETUC calls for a Directive introducing a new and integrated architecture for workers’ involvement in European company forms. Building on the existing EU acquis, the Directive should set high standards on information and consultation, and introduce ambitious minimum standards on workers’ board level representation as an additional source of workers’ influence.
Adopted by the Executive Committee at its meeting on 21-22 October 2014
Economic policies followed until now to tackle the economic and social crisis have failed. They brought about low growth and deflation, increased precarious work and unemployment, particularly youth unemployment, rising poverty and inequalities. Divergences within and between countries increased.
Competition has been extended to all fields, including taxation, workers’ rights, workers’ wages, workers’ protection, working conditions, and social protection.
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the European Women's Lobby (EWL) call on Members of the European Parliament to support for the revision of the Maternity Leave Directive.
Read the joint letter
Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee 12 June 2014
The ETUC Executive Committee reiterates how important it is that the interests of workers are represented when considering the issue of standardisation.
It makes reference to the resolution adopted on 5 and 6 June 2013 and to the ETUC’s role in European standardisation within the framework of the new legislative context defined in Regulation No. 1025/2012.
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.