Euro-demonstration in Strasbourg on 16 December 2008

Brussels, 13/11/2008



Why a campaign?


The Euro-demonstration for ‘Priority to workers’ rights, not longer working hours’ on 16 December 2008 in Strasbourg, France, will be the launch of a broader campaign initiated by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) in the run-up to the 2009 European Parliament elections. The campaign is aimed at fighting the crisis and giving priority to jobs, wages and workers’ rights.

Especially at a time of looming recession and rising unemployment, workers need more rights to information and consultation, better controls on working time, guarantees of decent levels of pay and benefits, and respect that their fundamental rights to collective bargaining and strikes are not undermined by the European Court of Justice and the single market.

In subsequent stages, the campaign will thus focus on these issues, as well as condemning casino capitalism and making workers pay for the financial and economic crisis.






What is it about?


On 17 December 2008, the European Parliament will vote on the proposals for a revision of the Working Time Directive (WTD). ETUC supports a revision of the WTD only if Europe’s fundamental principles of healthy working hours, better work–life balance and decent wages are safeguarded. ETUC therefore opposes the June 2008 Council proposals that overturn those principles and undermine the rights and interests of workers and their families.

To block the Council’s unacceptable position, the whole European Parliament needs to adopt the report drawn up by MEP Alejandro Cercas, which has already been agreed in the Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, with an absolute majority on every single amendment. This is a battle to safeguard basic principles and not the time for philosophising on what would be the best possible revision of the WTD.

The Euro-demonstration ‘Priority to workers’ rights, not longer working hours’ on 16 December in Strasbourg aims at encouraging the European Parliament to do the right thing and vote down the Council’s proposals on the WTD.

ETUC expects the participation of a large number of European trade unionists for this event to demonstrate their opposition to this undermining of Social Europe.




Manifesto


To read the manifesto, click on icon.





Further information


- Information leaflet on the Working Time Directive and the issues at stake (also available as PDF document (327Kb))


- Route of the demontration (1Mb PDF)

- Information for the press

-Euro-demonstration: European unions say ‘no’ to social regression

- Visit ETUC's Photo gallery of the Euro-demonstration