EU leaders won’t be able to keep their promises on climate change if austerity rules are reintroduced, trade unions are warning after the conclusion of COP28.
EU leaders used speeches at the summit in Dubai to renew their commitment to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.
Millions of workers who have been wrongly classified as self-employed and deprived of their basic rights stand to benefit from the platform work directive agreed today.
The ETUC calls on Member States to adopt this agreement and ensure its thorough implementation and enforcement.
Trade unions have been on the streets and in the courts to win recognition and better conditions for platform workers. This directive will give important legal backing to platform workers to be properly recognised and protected as workers.
Fifteen thousand workers from across the continent marched to the EU institutions in Brussels today to send a clear message to leaders that there must be no return to austerity.
Members of trade unions from 30 countries travelled to Belgium to take part in the Together Against Austerity demonstration organised by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), where General Secretary Esther Lynch warned politicians they would pay the price for any return to austerity at the forthcoming European elections.
Thousands of workers from across Europe will tomorrow (Tuesday) march to the European institutions in Brussels in protest at plans to begin austerity 2.0 programme from next year.
The demonstration called by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is part of a wider campaign for a "fair deal for working people" and comes as ministers and MEPs are in negotiations over a reform of the EU’s economic governance rules.
Commenting on the trilogue agreement on the AI Act, ETUC Deputy General Secretary Isabelle Schömann, said:
“The AI Act agreement as a milestone in our ongoing efforts to regulate artificial intelligence. It signals Europe’s attempt to shape the future of AI in a responsible way that puts people first.”
Plans to reintroduce austerity would stop action to address the top priorities of EU citizens, trade unions are warning in response to the European Parliament’s pre-election polling.
The results of the special Eurobarometer published today show that, six months from the European elections, the priorities of citizens are:
The ETUC is calling on the European Commission to initiate swift legislative action on telework and the right to disconnect following the blocking of a European social partner agreement by employers.
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.
New EU polling showing exposure to solar UV radiation is the most common cancer risk faced by European workers shows the need for stronger rules on the protection of outdoor workers.
The pay of European workers is still falling in real terms despite corporations making above-inflation profits, new research by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has found.
Across the European Union, the value of wages has fallen this year when inflation is taken into account. By contrast, company profits have increased by nearly 2 per cent in real terms.
Real pay is falling while real profits is rising in nine member states, including Germany, France and Italy. In a further 10 member states, increases in real profits are higher than increases in real wages.
Around 1.5 million workers will benefit from new protections from exposure to cancer-causing lead.
Safer exposure limits for lead have been agreed today as part an inter-institutional agreement on the fifth revision of the Carcinogens, Mutagens, and Reprotoxic Directive.
When implemented, the new limits will mean that:
- The occupational exposure limit will be lowered from 0.15 milligrams per cubic meter (0.15mg/m3) to 0.03mg/m3
- The biological exposure limit will be lowered from 70 microgram per 100 millilitre of blood (70µg/100ml) to 15µg/100ml.
Commenting on the IMF Regional Economic Outlook, ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch said:
“The IMF is arguing that the poorest people pay the highest price for a crisis caused by the profits of the biggest corporations.
“Real wages were negative across Europe last year while real profits increased and dividends skyrocketed.
The price of the most basic food stuffs is still rising up to seven times faster than wages, Eurostat data published today shows.
The price of olive oil is 75 per cent higher than it was in January 2021, while there have also been increases in the price of potatoes (53%), eggs (37%) and butter (27%).
By contrast, nominal wages have increased by 11% in the EU and 10% in the Euro area over the last three years.
Trade unions are calling on politicians to stand up to intense lobbying by platform companies and deliver real rights for delivery riders, taxi drivers, carers and other workers.
Uber has bombarded social media in Belgium with over 100 adverts since September 25 in an effort to weaken the EU directive on platform work, the Meta advert library shows.
Trade unions are calling on governments to impose a windfall tax on banks making huge profits on the back of interest rate rises.
The European Central Bank announced today it is maintaining interest rates at their highest level since the creation of the Euro following 10 consecutive increases over the past year.
EU finance ministers have today delayed a decision on new budget rules which would require at least 45 billion Euro in cuts next year.
The Economic and Financial Affairs Council was expected to conclude a deal that would require 14 member states (see table in notes) with a deficit above 3% of GDP to reduce their deficit by a minimum of 0.5% of GDP every year.
However, ministers have instead decided to remain at the negotiating table.
Tens of thousands of people will take part in a major demonstration in Paris on Friday against EU plans to reintroduce austerity, a move which could force countries to cut 45 billion Euro from their budgets next year alone.
Trade unionists from across Europe will join a day of action called by eight French unions against austerity and for pay rises, pensions and gender equality.
The ETUC is calling for the suspension of the EU’s fiscal rules to be extended by another year to allow time for a proper debate about the consequences of and alternatives to reimposing austerity.
The ETUC congratulates Luc Triangle on his election as General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
Elected by representatives of national trade union centres from across the world, he will put his proven leadership and skills to the service of the global trade union body, which represents over 190 million workers.
Luc Triangle is well known to workers and trade unions within Europe from his leadership as General Secretary of industriAll Europe.
European ministers today reached agreement on measures to strengthen Europe’s social economy.
A recommendation approved by the employment and social affairs council aims to “create favourable conditions for social economy organisations to thrive and grow” and includes measures to ensure people working in the sector have decent pay and conditions by promoting collective bargaining.
Serious defects in current legislation allow multinational companies to circumvent workers’ information and consultation rights. The ETUC is adamant that these can only be addressed with a legally binding instrument. The ETUC backs the call by the European Parliament on the EU Commission to revise the European Works Council Directive now.
The ETUC is calling for a directive to bring about much-needed improvements in three key areas:
EU social partners high-level mission to Kyiv expressed the solidarity of the European trade union movement and of SGI Europe for Ukraine, its people, their trade unions and employers’ organisations.
The ETUC and SGI Europe are calling for the EU to do more to help Ukraine make the significant advances needed on social policy for it to make progress towards membership.
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.
