The European trade union movement, rejects the war and violence, condemns continuous aggression by Russian Federation against Ukraine and expresses full support and solidarity to Ukrainian people in their fight for democracy, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Wages are not the cause of inflation. Workers are the victims of this crisis, with the value of their wages falling while prices for everyday goods are rising. At the same time, the value of pensions and of income support is decreasing in real terms. This situation is increasing existing inequalities, with low paid workers and vulnerable people hit the hardest.
This crisis is being driven by excess profits – not wages. We are experiencing a profits-price spiral not a wages-price spiral. For example, energy and food companies have doubled their profits in 2022.
Working people always suffer in conflicts and the pursuit of peace is a fundamental trade union value.
On 24 February 2022 Russian military forces invaded Ukraine, bringing destruction to peaceful cities and workplaces. It has been a year of shock and pain, devastating news and images, but also a year of bravery and consolidation of Ukrainian people and their unions and a year of solidarity, unity, and support.
Dear President,
Dear Vice-Presidents,
In light of your forthcoming debate on competitiveness within the College, the ETUC and IndustriAll Europe would like to reiterate its suggestions to improve the Green Deal Industrial Plan.
Dear Commissioners,
Official statistics show 500 people losing lives every year in agriculture and forestry in the EU and another 150,000 suffering accidents. Many more fatalities still go unrecorded in these two top-risk sectors.
While these deaths and injuries continue the EU has taken two steps which ought to impact on health and safety in agriculture:
The European Trade Union Confederation and its affiliates, Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine and Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine, fully support Ukraine and its people in the fight for democracy and sovereignty against Russian aggression. That was a year of shock and pain, devastating news and images, but also a year of bravery and consolidation of Ukrainian people and their unions and a year of solidarity, unity and support.
Dear colleagues,
The ETUC stands in solidarity with the French trade unions in their opposition to the extension of the retirement age in France.
The 'reform' of the pension system is an attack on the well-being and aspirations of workers and their families.
This reform is even more unacceptable - and counterproductive - when inequalities are growing and the cost of living crisis is severe.
It will only deepen inequality and increase distrust of a political system that seeks to place a greater burden on working people, particularly the poorest.
Dear President of the European Commission Ms von der Leyen,
Dear High Representative and Vice-President of the European Commission Mr Borrell,
Dear President of the European Parliament Ms Metsola,
Dear President of the European Council Mr Michel,
On 19 December 2022, under the European Partnership for Integration, the Commission and five European Social and Economic Partners - ETUC, BusinessEurope, SGI Europe, SMEUnited and Eurochambres - renewed their commitment to integrate more effectively refugees and other migrants into the EU labour market with a joint statement.
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has appointed an independent company with specialist expertise in anti-corruption practices in response to allegations of corruption involving public figures in and around the European Parliament, which resulted in the questioning and release under conditions of the former General Secretary of the ETUC.
The role and involvement of Social Partners in the European Semester and EU economic governance
ETUC document discussed at the Executive Committee Meeting of 27-28 October 2022
The ETUC encourages the European Commission to set up a more structured and binding framework for social partners involvement in the EU Semester having respect of national practices but mandating the national governments to consult social partners according to quality criteria, and report on the effectiveness of their involvement and its results.
ETUC Proposal for a SURE 2.0
ETUC Resolution adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 27-28 October 2022
IN A NUTSHELLThe ETUC proposes to refinance and scale up the current SURE instrument in the following manner:
The European economy is growing, but this is mainly due to the economic recovery following the pandemic and boosted by the massive public and private investment coming from NextGenerationEU.
The effects of the war in Ukraine on employment have not yet hit, since companies are still trying to cope with the energy crisis and inflation by reducing working hours instead of cutting jobs.
But in the medium term we can realistically expect that many companies will significantly reduce their operations or even close down completely, negatively impacting on employment.
Proposal for a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CSDD) - Updated Roadmap to mobilise ahead of the EU trialogue
Discussed at the Executive Committee meeting of 27-28 October 2022
Summary of key messages
Based on the ETUC key demands as adopted by the Executive Committee in December 2019 in the ETUC Position calling for a European Directive on mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence and responsible business conduct[1], the ETUC position ‘Towards an EU law on mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence: indicative roadmap for ETUC actions in 2021-2022’ (December 2021)[2] as well as the ETUC Position ‘ETUC initial analysis of the Commission’s proposal for a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence and updated roadmap for ETUC actions in 2022-2023” (March 2022)[3], the ETUC Executive Committee is asked to discuss and take note of this (updated) position paper which provides in particular a summary of the main amendments the ETUC intends to put forward to the European Parliament and Member States and other stakeholders as well as an overview and update of the actions undertaken March 2022 and some suggestions for further actions in view of the EU trialogue which is likely to start in Q2 in 2023 at the earliest.
Safeguarding the Right to Strike against Emergency Measures in the Single Market
Position adopted at the Executive Committee meeting of 27-28 October
ETUC key messages
This letter is a joint plea of trade unions, cooperative enterprises, and non-governmental organisations to the European institutions for an effective Directive on improving working conditions in platform work.
We do not oppose digitalisation but believe that it should always provide social improvements, respect working conditions, and be developed in cooperation with workers and trade unions.
Dear EU leaders,
The soaring cost of food and energy is plunging families across Europe into a cost-of-living crisis triggered by Covid-19-induced supply chain disruptions and worsened by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The European Commission has proposed solutions, such as caps on profits from energy production. These short-term solutions are needed but must be complemented with a longer-term approach.
We are entering the last quarter of the European Year of Youth, a year that was dedicated to young people after they were recognised as one of the worst affected groups by the pandemic and after the research showed that poverty and inequality are one of the biggest concerns of young people, preceded only by jobs and employment.
