• In memory of those who have died at work: the ETUC calls for tighter inspections and the replacement of carcinogenic substances

    In memory of those who have died at work: the ETUC calls for tighter inspections and the replacement of carcinogenic substances

    Brussels, 27/04/2007 According to statistics from the International Labour Organization (ILO), every year over 150,000 people in the European Union die as a result of accidents at work or diseases linked to the workplace.
    Press release Published on 27.04.2007
  • European social partners sign an agreement to fight against harassment and violence at work

    European social partners sign an agreement to fight against harassment and violence at work

    Brussels, 26/04/2007 With this agreement, the European social partners firmly condemn harassment and violence in all their forms and recognise that harassment and violence can potentially affect any workplace and any worker; even if in practice some groups and sectors can be more at risk. Amongst other, the agreement provides a method to prevent, identify and manage problems of harassment and violence at work, which
    Press release Published on 26.04.2007
  • ETUC demands stronger labour law to respond to 21st century challenges

    ETUC demands stronger labour law to respond to 21st century challenges

    Brussels, 23/04/2007 In its response to the Commission's Green Paper on 'Modernising labour law to meet the challenges of the 21st century', the ETUC welcomed the recognition that urgent action needs to be taken to increase protection of the most vulnerable groups of workers in the EU.
    Press release Published on 23.04.2007
  • UNI-EUROPA 2nd Regional conference

    UNI-EUROPA 2nd Regional conference

    Athens, 23/04/2007 To be checked against delivery Chairman, delegates, I am privileged to bring the greetings of the ETUC to this Congress. UNI-Europa, and UNI generally, have gone from strength to strength and play an essential part in European and world trade unionism. The mergers have gone smoothly to my outside but still close eye.
    Speech Published on 23.04.2007
  • Trade Unions must have a say in defining 'Flexicurity', says ETUC

    Trade Unions must have a say in defining 'Flexicurity', says ETUC

    Brussels, 20/04/2007 Flexicurity is supposed to be about combining a flexible workforce with high levels of employment and social protection. The European Commission is due to present proposals to the December 2007 European Council.
    Press release Published on 20.04.2007
  • Stakeholder conference on flexicurity

    Stakeholder conference on flexicurity

    Brussels, 20/04/2007 To be checked against delivery Is it a coincidence that the European countries which are most in line with fulfilling the Lisbon targets - and are also currently among the leaders of the world's economies on OECD statistics - are precisely those with the highest proportion of trade union members and the most extensive collective bargaining systems with good pay and working conditions?
    Speech Published on 20.04.2007
  • More than 200 European Works Council members meet in Brussels to push for urgent revision of EU Directive

    More than 200 European Works Council members meet in Brussels to push for urgent revision of EU Directive

    Brussels, 19/04/2007 European Works Councillors, together with ETUC and the European Industry Federations, will demand an effective system of information, consultation and participation rights and the definition of a legal framework for transnational collective bargaining, in order to foster a sustainable European integration process based on a strong social dimension.
    Press release Published on 19.04.2007
  • Publication of a joint trade union guide

    Publication of a joint trade union guide

    Brussels, 17/04/2007 On 4 April, the Commission announced that the "EU offers full market access to Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) regions as part of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations". Indeed, the negotiations that will lead to the conclusion of EPAs entered into their final phase in 2007. The Cotonou Agreement, the framework for negotiation of the EPAs, calls on the trade union organisations from the ACP and European countries alike to participate actively in their development (principle of active participation).
    Press release Published on 17.04.2007
  • ETUC welcomes the condemnation of the Bulgarian Government by the ECSR (Council of Europe) for not respecting the right to strike in the public sector

    ETUC welcomes the condemnation of the Bulgarian Government by the ECSR (Council of Europe) for not respecting the right to strike in the public sector

    Brussels, 12/04/2007 This decision follows from a collective complaint submitted in 2005 jointly by ETUC, Podkrepa and CITUB after the refusal of the Bulgarian government to broaden the right to strike of civil servants in general as well as to repeal the absolute ban of strikes by workers in the communications and health sector. The ECSR's decision, which was now made public, concludes that the currently applicable Bulgarian laws providing for:
    Press release Published on 12.04.2007
  • Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE) - 33rd Congress

    Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE) - 33rd Congress

    Athens, 17/03/2007 President, friends, I'd like to thank the previous speakers for the warm-up or the windup. It is with great pleasure that I come to the 33rd Congress of the GSEE to bring greetings from the ETUC, to express our appreciation of the support from, and the work of, the GSEE and to pledge to work together in the future. As your slogan says - Trade Unions- Our Strength.
    Speech Published on 03.04.2007
  • European trade union view made clear at European Parliament hearing on EADS

    European trade union view made clear at European Parliament hearing on EADS

    Brussels, 28/03/2007 The purpose of the hearing was to discuss the reasons for the Airbus crisis, possible solutions and the role of the European institutions and the social partners in the development of the European aeronautics industry. The Parliamentary groups invited the EMF and ETUC, together with the trade unions involved in EADS, to an exchange of views on this issue.
    Press release Published on 28.03.2007