• 25.10.2023 Document

    Tripartite Social Summit: Esther Lynch intervention

    The Tripartite Social Summit took place on 25 October 2023. Interventions by Esther Lynch (ETUC), Enrico Somaglia (EFFAT) and Maxime Legrand (CEC) are attached. The text of Esther Lynch's intervention A Green Industrial Policy for a Great Jobs Economy follows: President von der Leyen, President Michel, Prime Minister Sanchez, Vice-President, Commissioner, Vice-President, Deputy Prime Minister, Secretary of State, colleagues,
  • 17.10.2023 Document

    Condolences to victims of Brussels terror attack

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    The ETUC expresses its deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the terrorist attack in Brussels.  The ETUC also stands in solidarity with our Swedish affiliates LO, TCO and SACO, and with Sweden's football supporters who were visiting Brussels for the match against Belgium.  After darkness we hope for light. 
  • 09.10.2023 Document

    Israel-Palestine: EU must play active role in de-escalation

    The ETUC joins the ITUC in strongly condemning the attacks on civilians. We are gravely concerned at the escalating violence between Israel and Hamas, following the attacks launched against Israel from Gaza. There is no justification for the killing of civilians on any side. Unions are united in calling for all acts of violence to end immediately and for all civilians to be released immediately, unconditionally, and unharmed. The ETUC extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims.
  • 06.10.2023 Document

    For an EU that protects decent work

    World Day for Decent Work
    Trade unions strive towards a Europe in which working conditions and pay allow people to live in dignity. On World Day for Decent Work, the ETUC highlights three urgent measures to ensure no worker is left behind: strengthening collective bargaining, enforcing the rights of people working through online platforms and requiring all internships to be paid. Europe needs a pay rise
  • 04.10.2023 Document

    ETUC response to the second-phase consultation of Social Partners under Article 154 TFEU on a possible revision of the European Works Council Directive (2009/38/EC)

    Adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 27-28 September 2023 In its legislative-initiative resolution[1]adopted by a large majority on 2 February 2023, the European Parliament called on the Commission to revise the European Works Council Directive[2]  with the aim of strengthening European Works Councils (EWCs) and their ability to exercise their right to information and consultation.
  • 04.10.2023 Document

    European Week of Teachers – support ETUCE

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    The ETUC  stands with teachers and their European trade union federation, the ETUCE, for the European Week of Teachers. The week of action aims to raise policy solutions in their 10 key demands to make teaching more attractive.
  • 02.10.2023 Document

    ETUC position on the response to the Social Partner Consultation on CMRD6

    ETUC position on the  response to the Social Partner Consultation on CMRD6 Adopted at the Executive Committee of 27-28 September 2023 Introduction The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) welcomes the European Commission’s intention to revise the Directive on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic substances at work (CMRD or Directive 2004/37/EC).
  • 28.09.2023 Document

    Yolanda Diaz address to ETUC Executive Committee

    Yolanda Diaz
    Yolanda Diaz, Second Vice-President of the Government of Spain and Minister of Labour and the Social Economy, addressed the ETUC Executive Committee on 28 September in Madrid.  Please find the text of the address (in Spanish) in the link.
  • 22.09.2023 Document

    ETUC support to Northern Ireland strikes

    Solidarity letter sent by the ETUC to trade unions in Northern Ireland   I am writing to express the ETUC’s solidarity with the workers taking a courageous stand in Northern Ireland. The wave of coordinated collective action by ICTU unions, initiated on 21 September 2023 and culminating in a strike rally in front of Belfast City Hall on 22 September, underscores the collective determination of working people to secure fair wages, improved working conditions, and a brighter future for themselves and their communities.
  • 20.09.2023 Document

    Commission’s Lampedusa plan: ETUC calls on Commission to change approach

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    Following the visit of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to the island of Lampedusa on 17 September, the ETUC reiterates the urgent need for a fair and humane European asylum and migration policy, in line with international and EU legal obligations and in full respect of fundamental rights.
  • 19.09.2023 Document

    BEFIT: Commission gives green light to tax avoidance until 2031

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    The European Commission recently published its long-awaited BEFIT (Business in Europe: Framework for Income Taxation) proposal for the taxation of large multinational companies. It follows a long-term effort to introduce group taxation with a formula for allocating taxable profits where value is created (in terms of payroll, number of employees, assets). This was the intended objective of the CCTB and CCCTB proposals, which have now been withdrawn from the European agenda.
  • 12.09.2023 Document

    Joint call for a ban on deregulation for SMEs

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    CFDT, FO, CFTC UNSA and DGB with the support of the ETUC call for a ban on deregulation for SMES    Deregulation: no - Simplification: under strict conditions The Franco-German Initiative on the relief package for SMEs is disguised deregulation: SMEs fall in a legal no man’s land; Business cannot be above the law
  • 10.09.2023 Document

    Solidarity message to Moroccan trade unions following the earthquake

    Dear colleagues, It is with deep sadness that we have learned the terrible news of the earthquake in Morocco which - according to the information available to us at present - has caused the death of more than a thousand people, with a further thousand injured. The European Trade Union Confederation, with its 45 million members from 93 organisations in 41 countries, wishes to express its deepest solidarity with you, your members, their families and, beyond that, with all workers and people in Morocco. We will be organising a solidarity visit as soon as possible.
  • 08.09.2023 Document

    Urgent letter of the European Trade Union Confederation on upcoming “relief package” for small- and medium-sized companies

    Esther Lynch, ETUC General Secretary, has written to Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission and Thierry Breton, Commissioner for Internal Market calling for an urgent meeting on the upcoming “SME relief package”. The text of the letter: Dear Vice-President Vestager, Dear Commissioner Breton, We are contacting you to ask for an urgent meeting on the upcoming “SME relief package” for small- and medium-sized companies, that we understand will be published next week by the European Commission.
  • 24.08.2023 Document

    Lettre de solidarité de la Confédération européenne des syndicats à la CGT et à Sébastien Menesplier : le syndicalisme n'est pas un crime

    Chère Sophie, La Confédération européenne des syndicats, qui représente plus de 45 millions de travailleurs en Europe, tient à exprimer son soutien et sa solidarité à la CGT et à Sébastien Menesplier, Secrétaire général de la Fédération nationale des mines et de l'énergie CGT. Nous sommes choqués que Sébastien Menesplier ait été convoqué par la gendarmerie de Montmorency pour les actions menées par les électriciens et gaziers pour protester contre la réforme néfaste du système de retraite français.
  • 24.08.2023 Document

    Lettre urgente de la Confédération Européenne des Syndicats concernant les attaques contre les syndicats : le syndicalisme n'est pas un crime

    Madame la Première Ministre de France, Madame Borne, La Confédération européenne des syndicats représente plus de 90 organisations syndicales nationales - ainsi que dix fédérations syndicales européennes - regroupant plus de 45 millions de travailleurs à travers l'Europe. Je vous contacte pour vous faire part de l'inquiétude de la Confédération européenne des syndicats face aux développements en France qui vont manifestement pénaliser l'action syndicale en général.
  • 09.08.2023 Document

    Trade union reaction to Pierre Régibeau's interview in L'Echo concerning industrial and competition policy

    Dear Commissioner Vestager,           We are writing to you to express our deep concern regarding comments made by Pierre Régibeau, the outgoing Chief Competition Economist DG Competition, with regard to European industry and to seek clarification regarding the Commission’s commitment to the future of European foundation industries and their highly-skilled workforce.            
  • 09.08.2023 Document

    In Memoriam of MEP Trillet-Lenoir

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    It is with sorrow that we learnt about the passing away of MEP Véronique Trillet-Lenoir earlier this month. Her remarkable dedication to the health and safety of workers will be remembered.   As a public servant dedicated to achieving health and safety at work, MEP Trillet-Lenoir demonstrated a solid commitment to improving the lives of workers throughout the EU. Her recent involvement in the revision of the Directive on asbestos at work demonstrated her dedication and commitment to making workplaces safer for all.