June 2006
Sustainable development plays an important role in the ETUC's actions and policies.
Although trade unions are mainly recognised as social and economic actors, national trade unions and industry federations have been involved with environmental issues since the 1970s. Research undertaken by the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI-REHS) Health and Safety Department for the ETUC (1) demonstrated that, over the last decade, trade unions have been a driving force in integrating the environment into social and economic development.
Growing poverty in Europe and around the world, lack of access to essential resources for billions of people, the threat of climate change, and so on, have increased the urgency of meeting the three main challenges of sustainable development: social equity, environmental protection and economic efficiency.
At EU level, important policy developments, transitions and reallocation of resources are taking place, directly within sustainability strategies or in connection with industrial reforms, EU enlargement and the lowering of trade barriers.
The ETUC is determined to adopt a wider ranging approach on sustainable development. It sees the integration of economic, social and environmental objectives not as conflicting requirements but as complementary elements of a broadly defined improvement in job quality and development. The main trade union concern is to integrate social objectives into global strategies.
The ETUC and ETUI-REHS have worked to create a European trade union perspective on sustainable development (1). Within this framework the ETUC has developed actions and expressed opinions on a number of subjects, either directly or indirectly via the European institutions where the ETUC is represented.
At company and sectoral levels
Ensure health and safety of workers
The European Framework Directive on Health and Safety has given the ETUC, through the ETUI-REHS, a statutory status within the European institutions that are responsible for risk prevention at workplaces.
According to the ETUC, workers' rights to information and consultation should be broadened to include environmental issues in all Member States.
The ETUC has been actively involved throughout the debate on the Commission‘s proposal for a system of Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) and called for the new policy to give more emphasis to workers' health and safety issues, with a stronger focus on reducing workers' exposure to dangerous chemical substances.
Promote a real Corporate Social Responsibility
In the European Corporate Social Responsibility Forum, the ETUC has fought for CSR to be placed in a legislative framework, with clear rules for certification and monitoring throughout the Community. Furthermore, the ETUC has called for the integration of these issues within collective bargaining.
On EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme), the ETUC and many national trade unions have joined in lobbying for EMAS to be implemented in companies and for workers and trade unions to be part of the process.
Ensure the sectoral dimension of sustainability policies is taken into account
Policies and measures needed to address global sustainability problems are likely to have severe impacts on employment in specific sectors or regions, which may in turn hold back their implementation. That is why the ETUC is calling for the EU climate change policy to include a Transition Programme for workers in sectors and regions affected by measures to limit emissions. The ETUC intends to assess thoroughly the impact on sectoral and regional employment of different emissions reduction and transition strategy scenarios.
Negotiate framework agreements
The European partners in the wood industry ratified an agreement aiming at the sustainable use of wood resources for biomass production.
At European policy level
Revitalise the social dimension of the European Strategy for Sustainable Development
The ETUC supported the adoption of an EU Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS) by the Göteborg Council in 2001, and its inclusion in the Lisbon Strategy. The ETUC's main objective is to ensure that the proposed policies and measures achieve the potential of environmental protection for sustainable job creation.
In 2001, the ETUC initiated a coalition with the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and the Platform of European Social NGOs (Social Platform) to develop common proposals for the Spring European Council, and to organise debates between members. This led to common declarations and joint conferences in Barcelona 2001, Brussels 2003, and Dublin 2004, and a joint Manifesto on investing for sustainable development.
In June 2005, the ETUC Executive Committee adopted a resolution calling for trade unions to be recognised as negotiating partners on all topics relating to sustainable development.
In June 2006 the ETUC welcomed the European Council's adoption of a renewed SDS, integrating European social, economic and environmental policies into a single framework, and recognising that high social and environmental standards are prerequisites for sustainable economic growth.
However, it expressed concern that the relationship between the SDS and the objectives of the Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs remains unclear.
{{The ETUC called for:
- an analysis of investment needs, and the potential for job creation;
- fiscal reform to transfer taxation away from labour and towards the use of resources.
- The setting up of a European Advisory Council on sustainable development, to boost civil society involvement.}}
Exercise pressure on the European energy policy
With the help of trade union experts, the ETUC launched a strategy to achieve an equitable energy transition in Europe, based on a more rational use of power, the development of renewable energies and the inclusion of workers' social concerns.
During its 2003 climate change conference, the ETUC presented a special report summarising the trade union climate change actions in Europe (2) and called for a truly European policy on climate change.
The ETUC is now represented on the European Commission's High Level Group on Competitiveness, Energy and the Environment.
Enhance social dialogue on environmental issues
The ETUC intends to be recognised as a negotiating partner on sustainable development matters at European level. Therefore, the ETUC welcomes EU Environment Commissioner Wallström's invitation to open a social dialogue on the EU sustainability strategy with the Commission and the employers' organisations. European Works Councils and social dialogue Intersectoral Committees should play a key role in improving negotiation channels.
At international level
Implementing the action plan of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development
At the Johannesburg Summit and in two resolutions, the ETUC called upon the EU to take the lead in delivering the principles and actions agreed in Johannesburg (3). The ETUC particularly demanded an increase in official development assistance to reach the level agreed by the United Nations, i.e. 0.7% of GDP. Furthermore, the ETUC demanded private-public partnerships to meet the Plan of Action's objectives and to adhere to the Rio principles without leading to the privatisation of services of general interest.
The ETUC is trying to influence the EU in the preparation of a ten-year plan for the transformation of systems of consumption and production. The ETUC will make sure that workers are recognised as participants within this process. Social dialogue at all levels - sectoral, national and European - will play a key role.
The European trade union movement and, in particular, European Works Councils, will monitor multinational businesses to ensure they observe the OECD's guidelines and the ILO's fundamental social standards.
Contribution to international debates
The ETUC will continue to contribute to sustainability debates at international level in partnership with the new International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the Pan-European Regional Council.
References
(1) Toward a European Trade Union perspective on sustainable development, ETUC/TUTB, Brussels 2001
(2) European trade unions as actors for mitigation of climate change, TUTB/QA+, 2003
(3) European trade unions as actors for sustainable development, ETUC/TUTB, Brussels 2002
Useful links
For all related resolutions, documents, events, see ETUC and ETUI-REHS websites
