Today, on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Treaties of Rome, and the day before an informal EU summit to celebrate the anniversary and reflect on the current state and future of the EU, the European Trade Union Confederation
The European Trade Union Confederation published today its plan for a European Public Treasury.
The ETUC’s proposal would be a way to insure a minimum level of public investment in all Member States. The European Commission has called for a fiscal expansion of up to 0.5% of GDP in 2017 across the euro area on the whole, but this is not compatible with the Stability and Growth pact.
Jeroen Dijsselbloem has to resign as President of the Eurogroup says ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini.
“His insults about countries spending money on women and drink are bad enough,” said Visentini, “he has to resign immediately as Eurogroup President.
“Europe needs a more open-minded Eurogroup President who could build consensus among Ministers to deliver what Europe desperately needs – a way to increase public investment, to reform the Growth and Stability Pact, and to boost demand through pay rises in the public and private sector.
European trade unions leaders in Rome to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome will give a press conference on March 24, 17.30 - Palazzo Chigi, Piazza Colonna, 370, Roma with ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini, ETUC President Rudy De Leeuw and General Secretaries Carmelo Barbagallo, Susanna Camusso, Annamaria Furlan of the 3 Italian trade unions UIL, CGIL, CISL.
Today, Tuesday, 21st March, the WTO Dispute Settlement Body will hear China's request for a panel to rule on the EU's anti-dumping measures against imports from China.
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) supports the call by AEGIS, representing many EU industry sectors, for the EU to firmly oppose that claim. "Dumping kills jobs, investments and competition. The EU instruments against illegal dumping must not be weakened just because China is taking its case to the WTO", says Liina Carr, ETUC Confederal Secretary.
Dear readers,
Welcome to the fourth edition of the Workers’ Voice National UPdates. Following the recent launch of the ETUC Pay Rise Campaign, this issue focuses particularly on pay developments in different countries. They demonstrate that trade unions make a difference and collective bargaining is having an impact. But there is still a long way to go to achieve our recovery! Join our campaign #OurPayRise.
Workers are still not feeling economic recovery: wages are lower now than they were eight years ago in seven EU member states, according to new research published today by the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) and European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).
The research also shows that in 18 EU countries wages have grown much slower over the seven years after the crisis than in the eight years before that.
The ETUC and ITUC have expressed strong support for the efforts by its French affiliates to defend the new law requiring French multinational companies to establish vigilance plans to avoid and remedy violations of fundamental rights and environmental standards throughout their supply chains and operations. Two days after the adoption of the law on 21 February, Members and Senators from the Republican Party, backed by employer organisation MEDEF, referred the issue to France’s Constitutional Council claiming that the law is unconstitutional.
Following the meeting between the S&D President, Gianni Pittella, and the General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), Luca Visentini, over the forthcoming Brexit negotiations, Pittella and Visentini jointly stated:
"Brexit risks disrupting the lives of millions of citizens and workers both from the UK and EU. The House of Commons will be called upon to vote to protect the rights of 3 million EU nationals settled in Britain after Article 50 is triggered.
On 7 March 2017, seven Turkish trade unionists lost their lives and 35 more were injured as a result of a tragic bus accident which occurred in the İnegöl district of Bursa. They were members of a delegation attending the events organised by Turk-Is to celebrate 8th March, the International Day of Women Workers.
The ETUC mourns the passing of those who lost their lives. We also send our condolences to their families, as well as best wishes for a quick recovery to the injured. Our thoughts are with you.
A pay rise for women would narrow the gender pay gap, and boost the economy by giving millions of working women more money to spend.
A pay rise that narrows and ultimately eliminate the pay gap between women and men could be achieved by:
After nine months of negotiations, EU employers and trade unions approved a framework agreement on active ageing and an intergenerational approach. The agreement is to ensure a healthy, safe and productive working environment and work organisation to enable workers of all ages to remain in work until legal retirement age. It is to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and experience between generations at the workplace and takes into account the changing national demographic and labour market realities.
Commenting on the leaked European Commission White Paper on the Future of Europe published in European media this morning, Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, said
“I hope this is an early draft as it is very timid and rather dispiriting.”
“That the European Commission is unable to present anything other than reflections and scenarios, with a short summary of the pros and cons of each scenario, shows just how uncertain the future is.
Speech given by Katja Lehto-Komulainen, ETUC Deputy General Secretary
PES: THE FUTURE OF EUROPE - Shaping our Future Together
Rome, 24 March 2017
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Remettre de l’ordre idéologique et philosophique
L’Europe a connu des temps difficiles. De nombreux travailleurs s’inquiètent pour leur avenir, leur emploi, leurs revenus et la situation de leur famille.
SECRÉTAIRE GÉNÉRALE ADJOINTE DE LA CONFÉDÉRATION EUROPÉENNE DES SYNDICATS CES KATJA LEHTO-KOMULAINEN
ASSEMBLÉE SYNDICALE DU CONSEIL SYNDICAL INTERREGINAL PYREMED, 23.2.2017, À PERPIGNAN
QUELLE EUROPE SOCIALE?
Dear trade unionists and participants,
It is a great pleasure for me to attend this meeting here in Perpignan.
Commenting on the European Commission’s ’winter package’ on EU economic policy, ETUC Deputy General Secretary Katja Lehto-Komulainen said
“There is a missing ingredient in EU economic policy – growth that benefits everyone. For recovery to reach all workers we need a pay rise for workers across Europe, and more public investment. The European Commission now needs to make specific recommendations on increasing wages, collective bargaining and public spending.”
Article by Liina Carr, published on Social Europe
As MEPs Vote On CETA, Trade Unions Demand A New Approach To Trade
After months of argument which brought hundreds of thousands of protestors onto the streets of European cities, the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is this week taking a further step towards implementation, with the vote in the European Parliament.
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is launching a campaign for a pay rise for workers throughout Europe: to drive economic growth and tackle inequality.
Over the last two days European trade unionists have been discussing the need for pay rises with employers and Government at a conference in Brussels.
On February 15 the European Parliament will vote on the reform of the EU’s pioneering Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
This is one of the main ways adopted by the EU to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and its reform is essential to meeting the EU’s commitments to tackle climate change agreed at the UN Paris climate summit.
Commenting on the outcome of the Valletta informal Summit, ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini said
“The EU has decided to pay Libya, with a Government that controls only a part of the country, to keep refugees and migrants out of Europe. To make matters worse they are paying for this out of development funds. It would be like Trump getting Mexico to pay for the border wall, except the EU has come up with a way to do it.”
Speech by ETUC Deputy General Secretary Katja Lehto-Komulainen at European Parliamentary Week 2017; Interparliamentary Conference on Stability, Economic Coordination and Governance in the European Union; Towards a more comprehensive and coordinated social dimension
Mr. Chairperson, MEPs and members of national parliaments, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is an honour to speak here today on behalf of the European Trade Union Confederation, the ETUC.
Conference,
