The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) supports the Greek General Confederation of Labour  in its call today for the withdrawal of the referendum.   In a GSEE Plenary convened today, Wednesday 1 July 2015, the Greek union states   “GSEE believes that holding of a referendum is a democratic, constitutional and inalienable right of Greek citizens within the context of European traditions.

The EU should think hard and long before pushing Greece out of the Eurozone warned  ETUC General Secretary Bernadette Ségol. “Decisions by the ECB and Eurogroup Finance Ministers are pushing Greece towards the exit” said Bernadette Ségol. “Everyone should stop and think of the potentially disastrous consequences.” “Grexit is hugely risky for the Euro, for the EU economy and for Greece. The EU would be taking a big gamble on markets keeping faith in the Euro if it waved goodbye to Greece.”

Adopted by the ETUC Executive Committee at its meeting on 17-18 June 2015   The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) expresses its solidarity with its member organisations GSEE and ADEDY, with Greek workers and citizens, at a time of high risks for their country and their people.

Commenting on employment figures from Eurostat showing an increase of 0.1% in the Euro area in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the previous quarter (and 0.8% compared to the same quarter of 2014) and 0.3% in the EU as a whole (1.1% compared to the 1st quarter of 2014), Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, said “Jobs are increasing in Europe very slowly and modestly. Employment remains well below 2007 levels. What concerns me is that jobs are picking up faster outside the EU, and that up to half the new jobs are precarious.

Commenting recent developments in creditors talks on Greece, Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European trade Union Confederation (ETUC) said: “Greece has suffered enough. The EU and the IMF should not impose further pain on Greek pensioners and workers. It is beginning to look like punishment for voting for an anti-austerity government.” “There needs to be a sensible compromise. Grinding the face of the Greek people into the dirt is not the way forward.”     

EU Finance Ministers must compromise with Greece to avoid renewed financial market speculation against the Euro and against the national debt of other Eurozone countries warned the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). “By playing hardball with Greece, EU Ministers risk triggering renewed financial market turmoil for the Euro and for Eurozone countries national debt” said Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the ETUC “as well as dragging the Greek economy down.”

According to the European Commission’s spring forecasts, just released today, the economic recovery is taking hold. After seven years of economic under-performance, and with the European economy still 2% smaller than it was seven years ago, this news is long overdue. 

Speech given by Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation   [Check against delivery]     Ladies and gentlemen, colleagues and friends, Brendan,   It’s an honour for me to be invited to deliver this lecture, commemorating Sir Pat Lowry: well-known as a former Chair of ACAS.

Adopted by the ETUC Executive Committee at its meeting on 10-11 March 2015 The political change in Greece is an opportunity, not only for that crisis-ridden country but also for a fundamental reassessment and revision of EU economic and social policies focusing on failed austerity and structural reforms of the labour market.

  Since the onset of the crisis in 2008, European workers and their families have suffered as a result of the austerity policies and ‘reforms’  imposed by the EU, the ‘troika’ and national Governments. 24 million men and women, including 5 million under-25s, are currently unemployed. Some 10 million jobs have been destroyed.  

Full article in NEWEUROPE : http://www.neurope.eu/article/europe%E2%80%99s-top-trade-unionist-argues-end-austerity

ETUC General Secretary Bernadette Ségol today said Germany was “playing with fire” in rejecting the new Greek Government’s compromise proposal for an its extension of its bailout. “Germany is demanding unconditional surrender from proud people that has elected a new Government on a crystal clear platform of easing austerity.” “There needs to be a deal and for that all sides need to compromise. German is playing hardball but is playing with fire.”   

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is calling on EU Finance Ministers meeting tomorrow to back and boost an ambitious investment plan for Europe.   The Ministers are due to discuss the Juncker investment plan of €315bn over the next three years.   The ETUC strongly supports investment as a means to create demand, growth and jobs, and calls on Finance Ministers to

Commenting on the elections and new Government in Greece, European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) General Secretary Bernadette Ségol said, following a meeting of the ETUC Steering Committee with national trade unions leaders:   “The situation in Greece represents an opportunity not only for Greece but for all Europe.  It is an opportunity to re-evaluate the economic and social policies pursued since the crisis, and to take a new path.

Commenting on the European Commission’s winter economic forecasts, Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), said “Commissioner Moscovici is right that recovery is modest, low and slow, and for too many people it is non-existent.” “If anything the modest forecast is optimistic, and underestimates the risk of deflation and its negative impact on the economy.”

An International Labour Organisation report published today claims that the European Commission’s €315 billion investment plan could create some 1.8 million additional jobs over the next 3 years. An additional 200,000 jobs could be created if the investment was allocated taking into account unemployment levels, and a further 126,000 if €15 billion (of the €315bn) was invested in ‘skill development’, according to the ILO.

The European Central Bank (ECB) buying bonds is necessary, but will not be enough to stimulate growth or create jobs warned the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). “There is a welcome shift in economic policy” said Veronica Nilsson, Confederal Secretary at the ETUC referring to the expected and long-awaited quantitative easing announcement by the ECB, the recent reinterpretation of fiscal pact rules and investment plan by the European Commission.     

Commenting on the European Summit which finished in record time last night, Bernadette Ségol, Secretary General of the European Trade Union Confederation said “Adopting the investment plan is a positive move and I urge the member states to boost the funds available as the current proposal is too small. The proposals for Energy Union and digital single market are ambitious and might create additional jobs. I would like to see the same ambition applied to worker, consumer and environmental protection but I am still waiting.”  

EU Prime Ministers, Presidents and Chancellors attending this week’s European Summit are being urged to agree, and increase, the European Commission’s €315bn investment package by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).

Commenting on the European Commission’s statement on its  work programme, Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation said “The priority given to jobs and the economy is correct.” “There is not a single proposal to improve worker, consumer or environmental protection. This does not seem the best way to restore public confidence in Europe. It is a business agenda, with no sign of Juncker’s commitment to the social market economy: it is all market and no social.”

Adopted at the meeting of the Executive Committee on 2-3 December 2014     Investment for sustainable growth and decent jobs is a long-standing ETUC demand.  The ETUC therefore welcomes the EU focus on investment and concrete initiatives contributing to this end and, in particular, the recent initiative towards an EU-level investment plan.

Editorial published in the Neues Deutschland by ETUC General Secretary : http://www.neues-deutschland.de/artikel/958450.endlich-mehr-fairness-in-europa.html on 15 January 2015.   Europe  – The political cost of the crisis   Europe’s economy has been a mess since the crisis caused by greedy and reckless financial corporates ‘empowered’ by deregulation.

Investment in energy infrastructure, transport, smart phone technology and nanotechnology will have the biggest impact on economic growth and jobs according to a new study for the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). The study by Syndex aims to support the ETUC’s work on an ambitious investment plan for Europe to boost sustainable growth and decent jobs, and feed into the European Parliament and Council’s discussions on the limited proposals tabled by Commission President Juncker.

Is it enough to make a real difference?  To pull Europe’s economy out of stagnation and to steer the Euro Area away from deflation, a substantial investment effort is necessary. The ETUC’s investment plan calls for 250 billion euro or 2% of European GDP for ten years.