4 June: the European social partners meet the European Commission President
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the other European social partners will meet the European Commission President Mr Barroso, on 4 June, to discuss the problem of the consequences of the crisis and of austerity measures on employment and the social dimension.
During the meeting, the trade union delegation [1] will highlight its priorities:
The European Union needs a recovery plan to stimulate growth through its own development, as well as strong industrial policies based on a low-carbon approach and the use of new technologies. The ETUC will reiterate its warning against the austerity measures being adopted by many governments, because they are a threat to growth and purchasing power. Such austerity measures will also reduce the impact of social benefits, the last bastion against social exclusion, and will aggravate widespread precariousness.
The ETUC also considers it urgent to bolster fiscal coordination at European level. Indeed, the asymmetry in competitiveness within Europe creates a problem for economic and social cohesion in the European Union.
Lastly, the European Union must press on with its efforts to tighten financial regulations. We must develop new taxation revenues such as a tax on financial transactions. The ETUC defends financial regulation to reverse the trend of high risk speculation.
The future of Europe cannot be based on creating precarious jobs and a downward spiral in social protection. At its Executive Committee meeting on 1 and 2 June 2010, the ETUC decided to launch a campaign for growth and against drastic cuts in public spending. A Euro-demonstration will be held on 29 September in Brussels.
ETUC Video:
[1] Composition of the trade union delegation:
John Monks, ETUC General Secretary Joël Decaillon, ETUC Deputy General Secretary Bernard Thibault, General Secretary of the CGT (General Labour Confederation - France) Yannis Panagopoulos, President of the GSEE (General Confederation of Greek Workers).
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