Trade unionists and green campaigners staged a protest in Brussels today to tell the European Commission to ‘slam the brakes’ on its Omnibus package which is driving Europe towards deregulation that will weaken workers’ rights and environmental protections.  

Commenting on the European Parliament plenary vote on the Net Zero Industry Act, ETUC Confederal Secretary Ludovic Voet said: “This is the first time that the importance of social conditions to a successful industrial policy have been recognised at EU level. The text calls for public contracts to be evaluated on their contribution to creating decent wages, working conditions, apprenticeship and training opportunities in order to increase the attractiveness of employment in net-zero industry sector.

This summer, young people planted thousands of saplings in the forest named after Finnish trade union confederation Akava, in North Ostrobothnia. The 4H organisation’s Taimiteko project is restoring forests in areas where peat has been taken for energy production, and at the same time supporting summer employment for young people.

ETUC resolution on “Fit for 55” package Adopted at the virtual Executive Committee meeting of 22-23 March 2021 Summary of key messages

The European Commission published today its new Adaptation Strategy designed to increase the resilience of the EU against climate change consequences.   While the European Trade Union Confederation strongly welcomes the idea of developing a new EU Adaptation Strategy, we regret to see that the one proposed by the Commission today fails to protect European workers against climate change consequences.

A new EU adaptation to climate change strategy for the world of work ETUC Resolution adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting of 28-29 October 2020 Summary of key messages

Brussels, 6 July 2020 ETUC position on the New Industrial Strategy for Europe Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee of 2 July 2020 Summary of key messages

Brussels 11 June 2020 ETUC resolution on European Green Deal initiatives: Climate Law, EU Sustainable Investment Plan, Just Transition Fund Regulation and new EU Industrial Strategy Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee of 9 June 2020 Summary of key messages

Commenting on the publication of the European Commission’s proposal for the establishment of a Just Transition Mechanism, ETUC Confederal Secretary Ludovic Voet said: “A socially just transition is essential to winning the support and confidence of working people for the major changes to the economy that are needed to save the planet from climate change. The European Commission’s proposals are important and much-needed. 

The ETUC is bitterly disappointed that EU has not adopted unanimously a carbon neutrality target for 2050. "Poland should have embraced the zero emissions target. It would have helped to convince workers and communities in Poland and elsewhere if the European Commission had included earlier this week a comprehensive and ambitious Just Transition strategy, with full details of the mechanism and fund, with the European Green Deal. This would have created more confidence in adopting the carbon neutrality target" said Ludovic Voet, Confederal Secretary of the ETUC.

Brussels 30 October 2019 ETUC position for an inclusive European Green Deal Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee of 23 October 2019

Spanish trade union CC.OO wants to make ecological transition and climate change a central feature of debate in the workplace. “The future is either ecological or not at all, because there will be no jobs on a dead planet," warned Mariano Sanz, CC.OO Secretary for Environment and Mobility. The union wants to be active not only in raising awareness, but also in proposals for change, because the involvement and participation of workers and workers’ representatives in companies is key. 

As the world watches the Amazon burning in horror, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) urges the EU and the international community to act decisively to save the world’s largest rainforest. The ETUC proposes that action should include

A pact between the social partners and the Spanish government provides for €250 million to be invested in mining communities, as the country’s coalmines shut down in the near future.

ETUC POSITION ON THE STRUCTURAL REFORM OF THE EU EMISSIONS TRADING SYSTEM Approved at the Executive Committee Meeting of 16-17 December 2015

Position adopted by the Executive Committee of 17-18 June 2015 In December 2015, countries will meet in Paris under the UN auspices to seal a new global agreement to fight climate change. Ahead of this crucial summit, the ETUC reiterates its key demands to Parties, and specifically to the EU which must continue to play a leading role in the negotiations.

ETUC position Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee on 21-22 October 2014  

The European Trade Union Confederation today called for

Acknowledging the 40% cut in greenhouse gas emissions agreed by the EU at its October Summit as  “a decent effort” and sending a positive signal for international climate talks, the ETUC regrets that the unambitious renewable energy and energy efficiency targets will not generate investment and create jobs in Europe: /press/etuc-comment-european-council%e2%80%99s-climate-deal Just before the crucial EU summit on climate and energy targets the ETUC adopted a far-reaching resolution calling for

Commenting on the European Commission’s Green Growth Package, Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the  European Trade Union Confederation said “The European Commission’s Green Growth Package is forward-thinking and progressive. It rightly puts together the need to create jobs with the need for a more environmentally sustainable economy.”   

Brussels, 2013 Sector analysis - Automotive - Chemicals - Construction - Distribution and Trade - Furniture