Trade unions are calling for an urgent rethink of plans to reintroduce austerity as new EU figures show the number of children living in poverty has risen for the third consecutive year.

The Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund (DGB) has put together a list of the steps it  has taken to safeguard workers’ living standards in the face of rising prices and skyrocketing gas and electricity costs across Europe. “Many of the support measures politicians have introduced would not have existed without pressure from the DGB and its member unions” confirms the federation’s website.

The price of a pizza is rising up to nine times faster than wages in Europe, showing the need to stop speculation on food prices and deliver pay rises which match the rising cost of living.

Responding to the Eurobarometer published today by the European Parliament, which shows the cost of living crisis is the biggest worry of citizens, ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch said: “This poll should be a wake-up call for European leaders on the cost of living crisis.

Families will be forced to cut back on Christmas dinner this year as a result of food prices rising up to seven times faster than wages, an analysis by the ETUC has found. Food prices, which is the second highest contributor to inflation after energy, have increased by a huge 18% across the European Union since last winter. The prices of items needed to cook a Christmas dinner have, on average across the EU, increased by: Meat: +16.4% Vegetables: +20.2% Potatoes: +17.6% Flour: +32.1

Across Europe, trade unions are fighting together to help their members meet soaring energy bills and rising living costs. Workers are paying the price for austerity, the war in Ukraine and the legacy of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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.

The European Commission presented today its plan to reduce European gas demand  by 15% from 1 August to 31 March 2023. ETUC agrees that reducing energy consumption and encouraging energy savings is the most effective short term answer to the current emergency. Anticipating the challenges ahead and increasing coordination between Member States is also positive.

ETUC resolution for Recovery and Social Progress 2022 Adopted at the virtual Executive Committee Meeting of 5-6 October 2021

Minister, Vice President, Commissioner, Ministers, colleagues of social partners and social platform, Managing the COVID Emergency was essential to protect jobs and businesses and make our labor market resilient. Now that we are getting out of the pandemic, we need to bridge the gap before recovery starts, in order to avoid an explosion of unemployment. Emergency measures to protect jobs, wages and working conditions, and to strengthen social protection systems must be continued for all the time necessary.

ETUC position on the assessment of the Regulation establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility. A first step toward a People’s Recovery Adopted this document at the extraordinary virtual Executive Committee Meeting of 9th February 2021

Statement adopted at the Executive Committee meeting on 09-10 December 2020 ETUC Revised Statement on the second Covid-19 wave: Emergency measures and Recovery Strategy

Ahead of the video conference of the members of the European Council on 19 November 2020, the European social partners urge member states to endorse the agreement found on the European recovery fund and Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027. The agreement found as a result of the trilogue on the recovery fund and the so-called MFF (the EU's long-term budget) is essential to help the EU economy recover from the damage the COVID crisis continues to inflict.

Responding to the Autumn Economic Forecast published by the European Commission today, ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini said: “The forecast shows the economic crisis created by Covid-19 will continue for longer than expected, which means the measures introduced to deal with it must also continue, and be extended to cover all workers.

Just days after the terrorist murders in Nice, the ETUC extends it solidarity to the people of Vienna following the murderous assault in the Austrian capital last night. ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini said “We stand with the victims, their loved ones and all the people of Vienna. We mourn the victims of this senseless and murderous provocation. We wish a fast and full recovery to those injured.

Dear Ministers, As the European Union shows readiness to implement an ambitious Recovery Plan, Europe must emerge from the COVID-19 outbreak avoiding massive unemployment, a recession and a rise in inequality and social exclusion, and build a socially fair and inclusive recovery.

The ETUC congratulates its Austrian affiliate ÖGB for reaching a new tripartite agreement on short-time work. Thanks to the strength of Austria’s trade unions, it was one of the first countries in Europe to secure workers’ incomes during the crisis and it is now leading the way in extending support. This comes at a time where around 340.000 applications for short-time work have been filed in the country.

Commenting on the European Parliament’s resolution, adopted today, on the EU Recovery Plan and EU budget which will lead to tough negotiations between the EU institutions, Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation said “The European Parliament is right to attack the European Council’s proposed cuts to the EU budgets for solvency support, health and the Just Transition Fund. Trade unions strongly support MEPs in demanding these budgets are restored, and to stand firm against the pressure they will come under from national governments.

Letters sent to President Sassoli and Leaders of the political groups in the European Parliament   The European Trade Union Confederation welcomes the adoption by the Council of the €750bn EU Recovery Plan, which we believe is particularly good news for the 60 million people in the EU who depend on the recovery funds for their jobs. It represents a very welcome change from the disastrous austerity-led response to the last crisis, from which Europe had not yet fully recovered when COVID-19 struck.

Reacting to the adoption of the EU Recovery Plan by the European Council, ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini said: “The adoption of the EU Recovery Plan is good news for the 60 million people across the EU who depend on rapid investment to save their jobs or avoid long term unemployment. The ETUC thanks Presidents Michel and von der Leyen, and the more forward-looking leaders, for their perseverance in reaching an agreement in the most difficult EU negotiations ever.

Brussels, 19 June 2020 Adopted at the Extraordinary Executive Committee meeting of 9 June 2020 ETUC Resolution on the EU recovery strategy after the COVID-19 outbreak The context Europe is facing the worst recession since the 1930s, following the worst pandemic in the last hundred years.

Brussels, 16 June 2020 Adopted at the Extraordinary Executive Committee meeting of 9 June 

Commenting on the EU Recovery Package, Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) said: “Europe is facing the worst recession since the 1930s following the worst pandemic for a hundred years, which risks massive unemployment and inequality. “That’s why the ETUC welcomes the ambitious EU recovery strategy proposed by Ursula von der Leyen. Funds of up to €750 bn for recovery, on top of 1.1 trillion from the MFF, are what Europe needs.

Commenting on the European Spring Package and Country Specific Recommendations, ETUC Confederal Secretary Liina Carr said “The European Commission’s decisions not to enforce EU budgetary rules for member states, not to give fiscal guidance and not to open excessive deficit procedures are necessary and appropriate, especially but not only because of the current crisis. “There must be no return to the catastrophic austerity measures taken after the financial crisis of 2008, not now, not after the crisis is over and not after a recovery.

Commenting on the adoption of the SURE Regulation by COREPER today, ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini said “The ETUC welcomes the decision to adopt the EU job-saving scheme SURE, but regrets that it took one month for this process to be finalised due to the veto of a few member states which have put EU workers’ jobs and income at risk.