• Climate change: EU commitments must not compromise the well-being of populations and workers in the developing countries

    Climate change: EU commitments must not compromise the well-being of populations and workers in the developing countries

    Brussels, 02/06/2008 "The climate package proposed by the Commission for 2020, and in particular its measures on biofuels and industrial emissions, paves the way to an externalisation of CO2 emissions outside the European Union", commented John Monks. This creates a serious problem for the credibility of the EU's commitments on climate change and sustainable development.
    Press release Published on 02.06.2008
  • ETUC welcomes European Parliament initiative on the future of collective agreements

    ETUC welcomes European Parliament initiative on the future of collective agreements

    Brussels, 30/05/2008 The report's author, Jan Andersson, made a series of proposals that move in the right direction. MEPs of different political persuasions have stressed the need for legislators to react to the recent judgements in the European Court of Justice (ECJ): the Laval, Viking, Rüffert cases.
    Press release Published on 30.05.2008
  • ETUC demands release of Zimbabwean trade unionists

    ETUC demands release of Zimbabwean trade unionists

    Brussels, 13/05/2008 Zimbabwe police arrested President Lovemore Motombo and Secretary General Wellington Chibebe on 8 May 2008, after raiding their homes two days earlier. The ETUC understands that they face unsubstantiated charges of allegedly ‘inciting people to rise against the government and reporting falsehoods about people being killed’, following speeches they made on May Day. The ETUC is extremely concerned about their welfare, in view of the brutal treatment meted out to trade unionists in Zimbabwe on several previous occasions.
    Press release Published on 13.05.2008
  • Seminar: What is Social Europe – a UK perspective

    Seminar: What is Social Europe – a UK perspective

    London, 12/05/2008 To be checked against delivery Opening Remarks I welcome this seminar. At times, I have wondered if the UK recognised that there is a social Europe in any way that we in the trade union world could identify with.
    Speech Published on 13.05.2008
  • ETUC protests at May Day incidents in Istanbul

    ETUC protests at May Day incidents in Istanbul

    Brussels, 02/05/2008 Once again the Turkish government has failed to recognise and safeguard fundamental rights, and in particular social and trade union rights. The ETUC continues to press the European Commission and the Turkish government to ensure effective respect for trade union freedoms in Turkey.
    Press release Published on 02.05.2008
  • On the offensive for stronger European Works Councils

    On the offensive for stronger European Works Councils

    Brussels, 30/04/2008 ETUC has been calling for a long time for a revision of the EWC directive; this is the reason why it will strongly support the Commission’s plan to strengthen EWCs. ETUC reaffirms the importance of European Works Councils: indeed, they afford millions of workers across the European Union the right to information and consultation on company decisions through their EWC representatives, and that can affect a large number of workers. It's an important message to remember on the occasion of May Day.
    Press release Published on 30.04.2008
  • ETUC demands policy action to prevent the slowdown from turning into a long-term slump

    ETUC demands policy action to prevent the slowdown from turning into a long-term slump

    Brussels, 28/04/2008 The ETUC report’s basic line is that macroeconomic policy cannot stand by and watch shocks multiply throughout the economy, ultimately giving rise to negative confidence and expectations becoming entrenched.
    Press release Published on 28.04.2008
  • ETUC condemns the assassination of three trade union leaders in Honduras

    ETUC condemns the assassination of three trade union leaders in Honduras

    Brussels, 25/04/2008 According to the police, trade union leader Rosa Altagracia Fuentes was hit by 16 shots, showing that the killing was brutally premeditated. The ETUC has expressed its solidarity to the coordinating body of Central American and Caribbean trade unions (CSACC), to which the CTH is affiliated, and its support for investigations to solve this triple murder.
    Press release Published on 25.04.2008