SAFE AT HOME, SAFE AT WORK Trade union strategies to prevent, manage and eliminate work-place harassment and violence against women

20 JULY - UPDATED VERSION  ETUC Mid-Term Conference – Rome, 29-31 May 2017 THE ETUC ‘ROME DECLARATION’ Declaration adopted at the ETUC Mid-Term Conference in Rome on 29-31 May 2017.   It is ten years since the financial crisis of 2007-2008. 

French presidential elections are crucial not only for France but for the whole of Europe. France has always been at the heart of the European Union, and the risk of a French President who is opposed to the EU and who calls into question France’s membership of the Euro and the European Union, is very worrying. The European Trade Union Confederation supports the European integration and calls for a more just, social, inclusive and democratic Europe.

The ETUC stands firmly against social dumping and for a fair internal market Adopted at the Executive Meeting of 15 and 16 March   The Executive committee of the ETUC in its meeting on the 15 & 16 of March in Malta discussed the new Services Package, including the European Services e-Card, as presented by the European Commission on the 10th of January.

  Statement of Solidarity with the Women wearing Black for fear of losing their reproductive rights Statement adopted at the Women’s Committee of 3 November 2016

The European Union and China have a multidimensional economic relationship—we trade over 1 billion euro per day, we are negotiating an investment agreement, and we look forward to China’s accession to the Government Procurement Agreement of the WTO-World Trade Organisation. It is in the interest of European business and trade unions that the EU strives for a balanced economic relationship with China. However, the question of how to treat China in anti-dumping investigations will feature prominently in our relationship this year.

ETUC statement on the next steps after the UK referendum Statement adopted by the Extraordinary Enlarged Steering Committee, London 11 July 2016

Ahead of the negotiations to establish an Inter-Regional Association between the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) and the European Union (EU), we want to hereby make this Joint Trade Union Statement:

We, the European trade union movement, stand in solidarity with the people of France, and the French trade unions following the murderous attacks on innocent people in Paris. We, trade unions throughout Europe, condemn without reservation these barbaric murders. There can be no justification for the deliberate, cold-blooded taking of people’s lives, for causing injury and trauma, for bringing grief to the family and friends of the victims. We commend the bravery of the police, security and emergency services, and ordinary citizens, during and after the attacks. 

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.

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 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. 

Ahead of EU-US trade negotiations the American and European trade unions – AFL-CIO and ETUC  have issued a Declaration of Joint Principles.

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.  

Adopted at the meeting of the Executive Committee on 11-12 March 2014     The European Council of 21 March 2014 will address industrial policy, energy and the fight against climate change. On 22 January 2014, the European Commission published two communications entitled "For a European Industrial Renaissance" and "A policy framework for climate and energy in the period from 2020 to 2030". The aim of this declaration is to remind Europe's political leaders of some key elements of the ETUC's position on these issues.