London, 05/06/2009 Thanks for this chance to contribute to today’s conference. At a time of economic and political storms and crisis, it is easy to dismiss or relegate the only slightly longer term challenges that we face. But that is a luxury we cannot afford because of the magnitude and complexity of the environmental challenge. Tackling climate change cannot just be a strategy for Britain. There must be an international and European dimension.

Londres, 29/05/2009

Bruxelles, 26/05/2009

Brussels, 03/06/2009 To prevent and control a situation of mass unemployment, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is calling for a different and broader approach. - To address the lack of demand dynamics and get the economy back moving again, Europe needs an expanded and sustained recovery programme: Europe needs to invest annually 1% of GDP in the coming three years in the ‘greening of the economy’.

London, 29/05/2009 Cathy, Keith and Jeff have remembered our remarkable friend, Brian Bercusson in the most appropriate of ways. To Cathy, let me say simply, ‘Thank you for letting us have Brian for all those years, during which the ETUC was going through a crucial formative period.’ We all know that he was a man who loved his work and that in this sense he was probably impossible to ‘manage’. He worked too hard, but he would have never done it any other way.

Brussels, 26/05/2009 I am glad this meeting is being held in the International Trade Union House (ITUH), home of ETUC and ITUC. I’m glad also that the Commission is seeking to involve civil society in dialogue over trade. This isn’t a subject that can or should be ghettoised to trade experts. International trade is high on the trade union agenda. And the EU’s exclusive competence on trade issues makes this a European subject par excellence. Hence the key interest of the European Trade Union Confederation.

Brussels, 28/05/2009

Paris, 28/05/2009 The Paris Declaration’s aim is twofold: fight the crisis and push forward a more equitable society. The declaration is built on five key points, namely:

Paris, 27/05/2009 President Delors, Frère Jacques, Candido, fellow delegates and guests, make no mistake; we are at a crossroad for trade unionism and for Europe. we are at a crossroads for trade unionism and for Europe. It is now time for the trade unions to be debating the future of our societies and to be asking ourselves fundamental questions about our values, about our objectives and about the means we use to attain them. And asking ourselves too about the role of Europe and its future.

Rome, 20/05/2009

Rome, 20/05/2009 Chair, General Secretary, delegates, fellow guests. Thank you for this invitation to address the Congress of CISL, sadly at a time of great crisis for Italy and Europe.

Berlin, 16/05/2009

Berlin, 16/05/2009 European Action Day Greetings from the European Trade Union Confederation. These three Spring Days, the trade unions of Europe are on the march. From the north to the south, from east to west, the unions are demonstrating their will, their determination to fight the crisis. We originally planned four major European demonstrations. Now it is up to seven, as Bucharest, Luxembourg and Birmingham today join the protests:

Brussels, 16/05/2009 Demonstrators are demanding more ambitious and more courageous action by Europe and national governments to help the growing armies of unemployed. They also demand that never again can the excesses of financial capitalism to be allowed to wreck the world economy.

Brussels, 15/05/2009

Brussels, 14/05/2009 In the Enerji case judgement published on 21 April 2009, the European Court of Human Rights condemned Turkey for violation of Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which relates to the freedom of association including the right to form and join a trade union. In this case, the Turkish government had issued a general ban on strike actions for civil servants in the context of national action days organised by a Turkish trade union for the recognition of the right to collective bargaining in the public sector.

Brussels, 13/05/2009

Brussels, 11/05/2009 In a context of crisis, with unemployment reaching staggering levels, the European trade unions will march to protect employment and to reiterate that every effort must be made to keep workers on the job. We want social and employment policies that emphasise security, not flexibility. Such policies are a prerequisite for a social Europe capable of developing its full potential.

Brussels, 08/05/2009 The European trade union movement has scored several successes with the outgoing Parliament, notably on key issues such as the Bolkestein Directive, the regulation for the registration of hazardous chemicals (REACH), the climate change package, as well as the rejection of the Port Package and of a weakening of the Working Time Directive. The European Parliament has scored some goals against the neo-liberal trend, but not enough.

Brussels, 07/05/2009 The report on the Commission proposals, prepared by the socialist MEP Mrs Estrela, included important provisions aiming to improve the health and safety protection for pregnant workers and their unborn child, as well as to improve the conditions of maternity leave.

Brussels, 07/05/2009 The ETUC calls for: More and better jobs: Investment in an expanded European recovery plan to mobilise a new drive for growth and jobs. The ETUC demands the European Council and Commission to draw up a European investment plan totalling an annual 1% of GDP to provide more and better jobs, to promote innovation, research and development, to help employment in key industries, to invest in new, green and sustainable technologies, and to maintain vital public services.

Brussels, 05/05/2009

Brussels, 04/05/2009

Brussels, 30/04/2009

Brussels, 27/04/2009 To mark its solidarity with its Turkish affiliates, ETUC is supporting the various demonstrations that will take place in Turkey on 1 May and calls on the Turkish government to respect the right to demonstrate on Labour Day and to make sure that there is no repetition of last year’s incidents.