The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) supports the Spanish trade unions (CCOO and UGT) in calling for the prosecution case to be dropped against 8 trade unionists who each face sentences of up to 8 years and 3 months.
The case relates to events outside an Airbus factory in Getafe, near Madrid, in September 2010 during a general strike to protest against Government changes to labour law. The workers’ demonstration was attacked by riot police and several people were injured.
The Spanish trade unions argue that
Commenting on the European Commission’s announcement today of its priorities for dealing with the refugee crisis in 2016, Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, said
“Europe needs to show humanity, solidarity and responsibility to the refugees. They are risking their lives to escape war and poverty. The Commission seem more concerned not to criticize the member states, however badly they are behaving, instead of proposing effective solutions to an emergency which will grow during 2016.”
On the eve of a discussion in the College of European Commissioners on giving ‘Market Economy Status’ to China, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) underlines the risk to European industry and jobs.
“The European Union has clear criteria for market economy status” said ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini “and China clearly does not meet them. What’s more, it would open the EU to unlimited dumping of Chinese goods on our market which would be catastrophic for European manufacturing and jobs.”
ETUC welcomes the agreement reached today between trade unions and employers in central government administrations.
The agreement sets out common minimum standards for the rights of workers and their trade union representatives to be informed and consulted. Workers will be better placed to deal with their employers when these seek changes in the work place. It gives workers a say when the employer proposes restructuring, or changes in working time. It also allows workers to propose health and safety or work/life balance improvements.
Commenting on the lack of new initiatives from the European Council to tackle the refugee crisis, Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, said: “EU leaders are completely failing to step up to the scale of the humanitarian crisis inside and outside the EU. It is deeply disappointing, and makes life more difficult for the refugees and communities struggling to host them, that our leaders have done little more than agree to carry out previous decisions.
The ETUC and its British (TUC) and Italian affiliates (CGIL, CISL, UIL) deplore the social implications of the call for a two speed Europe as outlined by Foreign Ministers Gentiloni and Hammond in their joint article published on 15 December (see link below).
Today - Wednesday December 16 - the European Court of Justice has ruled that the European Commission breached EU law in the way it has managed the issue of endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDCs).
The Court found that the EU Commission failed to adopt criteria for testing endocrine disruptors, contrary to EU legal provisions setting strict deadlines for protecting health.
In June 2014, Sweden decided to take legal action against the Commission, and was supported by the European Parliament and several Member States.
The European Council is meeting tomorrow and Friday to discuss 6 issues: the refugee crisis, terrorism, economic and monetary union, internal market, energy union and the United Kingdom. What’s new to look out for?
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) will be watching out for the following:
Today, Tom Vrijens was elected President of the Youth Committee of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).
ETUC Youth Committee elected its President and its ‘bureau’, the governing body which steers political decisions.
Commenting on employment figures for Q3 2015 that show a
1.1% increase in the Euro area and the EU 28 compared to the same quarter last year, and a
0.3% increase in the Euro area, and 0.4% in the EU28 compared to the previous quarter;
Veronica Nilsson, Deputy General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), said “If this is a recovery it is painfully slow.”
The ETUC welcomes the announcement made by Finance Ministers on going ahead with a Financial Transaction Tax.
ETUC Deputy General Secretary Veronica Nilsson said “The FTT is still on track after all this time, although many of the key details still need to be worked out.”
Montserrat Mir, ETUC Confederal Secretary, calls for an ambitious and binding climate agreement at COP21 with a Just Transition for workers
More info: cop21.etuc.org
The ETUC warns that granting Market Economy Status (MES) to China, now, would damage European workers and economies, and it calls on EU Trade Ministers meeting today (27.11.2015) not to take this decision.
“Recognising China as a market economy would encourage the unlimited dumping of cheap Chinese imports, with an immediate and devastating impact on a large number of manufacturing sectors in the EU,” stated ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini.
The European Commission kicked off its annual cycle of economic policy guidance with a heavy emphasis on ‘structural reforms’, very little reference to the ‘fairer’ Europe repeatedly promised by President Juncker, and no mention of additional efforts to increase investment.
The ETUC is concerned that creating more flexible labour markets appears to be the number one priority. Despite claims to the contrary, this will inevitably lead to more precarious jobs.
European trade unionists will mark November 25 – the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against women – with a pledge to work against violence against women, whether at the workplace or at home, until it is eliminated.
The shocking facts are that
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) notes that the European Commission has not rejected any national budget plan for next year, and takes this as a much-needed sign of easing off austerity.
“Renewed austerity is the last thing Europe needs right now” said Veronica Nilsson, Deputy General Secretary of the ETUC “The European Commission is absolutely right not to push for it. With fragile recovery, high unemployment and the refugee emergency, cutting public spending could create another crisis.”
The European Trade Union Confederation, representing 90, trade union organisations in 40 countries, said it stood with the people of Paris at this terrible, frightening time.
Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the ETUC, said "We are with the families and loved ones of the victims, with the workers dealing with these murderous attacks, and with all people of Paris who are shocked, grieving and fearful. We are with our French trade unions and all their members."
The freedom of movement of workers and equal pay for equal work are fundamental rights and European principles which cannot be negotiated away said the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).
Responding to Prime Minister Cameron's long-awaited EU reform demands, Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the ETUC warned "European trade unions will call on their Governments and the European institutions to refuse to open negotiations on any change that would undermine freedom of movement of workers, and equal pay for equal work."
On 11-12 November EU and African Heads of Government will meet in Valletta to discuss the refugee and migration crisis.
The International and European Trade Union Confederations (ITUC and ETUC) have made a joint call to European and African leaders to agree concrete measures for dealing with the unprecedented waves of people fleeing war, poverty and persecution.
Commenting on the European Commission’s economic forecast, ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini said “Low growth and high unemployment is a bleak outlook for citizens.”
"The European Commission needs to be much more active in encouraging wage increases to drive demand, and in securing public and private investment. I am astonished that Commissioner Moscovici did not even mention the Juncker investment plan, he obviously does not expect it to make a big impact.”
The ETUC welcomes the European Commission’s efforts to raise awareness of the gender pay gap and its pervasive consequences.
“At the same time,” said General Secretary Luca Visentini, “we deplore the lack of new legislative action to revise the Equal Pay Directive. Without further legislation, discrimination against women in pay and at work will continue.
Commenting on the Commission’s ‘Internal Market Strategy’ Communication, the ETUC’s Liina Carr said
“The European Commission is right to want to create jobs and socially fair growth through the single market. It remains to be seen if this strategy can deliver it.”
“Trade unions support a better functioning single market with sensible rules that protect workers and consumers. The recognition in this Communication of the need to protect workers’ rights is a start.”
The ETUC
