Tomorrow the European Trade Union Confederation Congress kicks off in Paris with the leaders of trade union organisations all over Europe, representing millions of workers from Lisbon to Helsinki, under one roof for the first time in four years. 
 
 Media are welcome at Congress, and are particularly invited to 
 

At its Congress in Paris, the European Trade Union movement will elect a new leadership team for the next four years, including a new President and General Secretary, two Deputy General Secretaries and four Confederal Secretaries. The candidates are Name Country  Candidate for post of Rudy De Leeuw Belgium President Luca Visentini Italy General Secretary

Today the European Commission announced its initiative on getting the long-term unemployed back to work. The proposal for a Council Recommendation, presented by Commissioner Thyssen, suggests that all jobseekers, who have been out of work for more than 12 months, receive individual assessment and a job integration agreement. The ETUC supports its objective.

According to Eurostat today, employment in Europe and the Euro Area continues to expand with more than 400.000 jobs being added in the second quarter. “New jobs are welcome” said Józef Niemiec, Deputy General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). “But in many cases, the jobs created are of a questionable quality. In the UK, for example, the number of zero hour contracts has risen by 20% over the last year and the jobs created in Spain are mostly low paid, part time and temporary jobs.”

Commenting on the outcome of the Home Affairs Ministers Council on the refugee crisis, Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), said “The failure to take the necessary decisions is a disgrace. “The little that has been agreed is grossly inadequate. The next time the Ministers meet the humanitarian crisis is likely to be considerably worse. They are playing political games while people are crying out for help, while people are dying.

Dear Readers, We have just published the #ETU15 Congress 2015 Special Edition of the ETUC Newsletter. To read the document, please click here. Enjoy!

At its Congress in Paris, in September, the European Trade Union movement will adopt new policies and demands for economic recovery and quality jobs a fairer society and Stronger EU economic policy coordination, especially within the Eurozone  

Workers without a fixed workplace will have to be paid for travel time thanks to a European Court of Justice ruling. “The European Court of Justice have dealt a blow against the exploitation of workers” said Veronica Nilsson, Confederal Secretary of the ETUC. “This is good news for many home care workers, repair and maintenance staff and other mobile workers.”   

Justice and Home Affairs Ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday must show that EU Governments are capable of acting together, decisively and with compassion towards refugees. “EU Governments have got to respond positively to President Juncker’s proposals to tackle the humanitarian emergency on our borders” said Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation. “The inability of European Governments to act together so far on the refugee crisis is an international embarrassment for the EU and its citizens.”

Speech given by Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation at 'No to Slavery at Work' event 10 September 2015, Vilnius [Check against delivery] Dear colleagues, friends,   I am pleased to be with you here today in Vilnius, and to bring you the support and solidarity of the European Trade Union Confederation and of your brother and sister trade unionists across Europe.

Commenting on Jean-Claude Juncker’s ‘State of the Union’ speech, ETUC General Secretary Bernadette Ségol said     “President Juncker clearly grasps how Europe needs to react to the refugee crisis. His leadership and proposals are welcome although they are light on detail with a lot to be worked on. What matters now is that member states act decisively, together and with compassion.”

In a joint declaration the General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) Bernadette Ségol and the General Secretary of the Union Générale des Travailleurs Tunisiens - UGTT (General Union of Tunisian Workers) Houcine Abassi underlined the importance of economic recovery in Tunisia. Bernadette Ségol said "It's certainly very important that the European Union and Member States help to strengthen security in Tunisia. A climate of confidence is vital for the well-being of citizens and visitors, and also for investments to recover".

The ETUC and its Youth Committee condemn the bomb attack in the Turkish town of Suruc, which killed at least 30 people taking part in a meeting of young activists to discuss the reconstruction of the neighbouring Syrian town of Kobane, as “barbaric” and mourns the loss of life. “The taking of the lives of good people, young activists, friends and family members is an unspeakable crime,” said Patrick Itschert, Deputy Secretary General of the ETUC. “It is a direct attack on decency and the engagement of young people in building a better society".

Congress will be fully available through web streaming in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish plus original language.

Today, the Commission released its “Energy summer package” which is supposed to lead the way in transforming Europe's energy system. “ETUC supports the Energy union” said ETUC Deputy General Secretary Józef Niemiec. “We hope it will make the EU less dependent on energy imports, more energy efficient, more sustainable, and create more quality jobs.”

ETUC General Secretary Bernadette Ségol today met the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, the current chair of the EU Council, to discuss the EU agenda for the coming 6 months and set out the European trade union movement’s priorities. 
 
 Top of the agenda were: 
 
 Speedy implementation, and a boost in funds from members states, for Juncker’s €315bn investment plan. 

The EU social partners' fifth autonomous work programme, a “Partnership for Inclusive Growth and Employment”, sets the course for EU social partners’ joint actions for 2015-2017. EU social partners also agreed on a joint in-depth employment analysis of the functioning of European labour markets.

Commenting on this morning’s Eurozone agreement on Greece, Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation said   “The EU has avoided the catastrophe of Grexit. But it comes at an incredibly high and hard price for the Greek people. To condemn Greece to years’ more recession would be a very bad outcome for all. The EU now has to deliver its rescue package without adding further conditions or even more austerity in the negotiations that will follow.

Speech given by Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation 2015 Biennial Delegate Conference (ICTU) 9 July 2015, Ennis [Check against delivery]   President, delegates,   I am honoured to address you once more – for the third and last time as ETUC General Secretary- at your Biennial Delegate Conference.  

OPEN LETTER to: ·         EU Heads of States and Governments, ·         Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, ·         Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament, ·         Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, ·         Xavier Bettel, President of the Council of the European Union, ·         Mario Draghi, President of the European Central Bank, ·         Jeroen Dijsselbloem, President of the Eurogroup, ·         Christine Lagarde, Director-General of the International Monetary Fund.

Today up to 13 EU member states will decide whether to extend restrictions on Croatian workers’ freedom of movement within the EU. Croatia’s accession to the EU in July 2013 brought immediate free movement of goods, services and capital – but not of workers!   Until 30 June 2015 EU member states were allowed not to respect freedom of movement of workers from Croatia. The EU allows further periods of up to five years in which EU member states can ignore freedom of movement for Croatians (until end June 2020). 

Commenting on the Greek referendum and its aftermath, European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) General Secretary Bernadette Ségol said “Greek people have voted against unemployment, poverty and austerity policies that have made its debt unsustainable. People must not be penalised for the way they voted.” " EU leaders have an historic responsibility to find a sensible compromise. The decision should not be a technical one or left to the ECB, it must be a political decision.” 

  Today the controversial EU-US trade and regulatory cooperation deal TTIP took one step forward and one step back . The European Parliament’s vote on TTIP supported some important improvements to the proposed deal, but largely ignored public concern about special legal treatment for foreign investors. The Parliament did support the ETUC’s proposals that  •           UN International Labour Organisation standards – such as the right to join a trade union - be included and enforceable in TTIP

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) calls on MEPs to vote against the amendment on ISDS which proposes to scrap the old ISDS and bring in a new one! ETUC General Secretary Bernadette Ségol said “The amendment still gives foreign investors special legal treatment. There was a public consultation on ISDS, the outcome was 97% of responses against ISDS, but some people in the European institutions seem determined to deliver ISDS for big business regardless of what anyone thinks.”