The European Council is meeting tomorrow and Friday to discuss 6 issues: the refugee crisis, terrorism, economic and monetary union, internal market, energy union and the United Kingdom. What’s new to look out for? The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) will be watching out for the following:

Today, Tom Vrijens was elected President of the Youth Committee of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). ETUC Youth Committee elected its President and its ‘bureau’, the governing body which steers political decisions.  

Commenting on employment figures for Q3 2015 that show a 1.1% increase in the Euro area and the EU 28 compared to the same quarter last year, and a 0.3% increase in the Euro area, and 0.4% in the EU28 compared to the previous quarter; Veronica Nilsson, Deputy General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), said “If this is a recovery it is painfully slow.”

The ETUC welcomes the announcement made by Finance Ministers on going ahead with a Financial Transaction Tax. ETUC Deputy General Secretary Veronica Nilsson said “The FTT is still on track after all this time, although many of the key details still need to be worked out.”

Montserrat Mir, ETUC Confederal Secretary, calls for an ambitious and binding climate agreement at COP21 with a Just Transition for workers More info: cop21.etuc.org

Dear Readers, We have just published the November 2015 edition of the ETUC Newsletter. To read the document, please click here. Enjoy!

The ETUC warns that granting Market Economy Status (MES) to China, now, would damage European workers and economies, and it calls on EU Trade Ministers meeting today (27.11.2015) not to take this decision. “Recognising China as a market economy would encourage the unlimited dumping of cheap Chinese imports, with an immediate and devastating impact on a large number of manufacturing sectors in the EU,” stated ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini.

The European Commission kicked off its annual cycle of economic policy guidance with a heavy emphasis on ‘structural reforms’, very little reference to the ‘fairer’ Europe repeatedly promised by President Juncker, and no mention of additional efforts to increase investment. The ETUC is concerned that creating more flexible labour markets appears to be the number one priority. Despite claims to the contrary, this will inevitably lead to more precarious jobs.  

European trade unionists will mark November 25 – the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against women – with a pledge to work against violence against women, whether at the workplace or at home, until it is eliminated.  The shocking facts are that

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) notes that the European Commission has not rejected any national budget plan for next year, and takes this as a much-needed sign of easing off austerity. “Renewed austerity is the last thing Europe needs right now” said Veronica Nilsson, Deputy General Secretary of the ETUC “The European Commission is absolutely right not to push for it. With fragile recovery, high unemployment and the refugee emergency, cutting public spending could create another crisis.”

The European Trade Union Confederation, representing 90, trade union organisations in 40 countries, said it stood with the people of Paris at this terrible, frightening time. Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the ETUC, said "We are with the families and loved ones of the victims, with the workers dealing with these murderous attacks, and with all people of Paris who are shocked, grieving and fearful. We are with our French trade unions and all their members."

The freedom of movement of workers and equal pay for equal work are fundamental rights and European principles which cannot be negotiated away said the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). Responding to Prime Minister Cameron's long-awaited EU reform demands, Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the ETUC warned "European trade unions  will call on their Governments and the European institutions to refuse to open negotiations on any change that would undermine freedom of movement of workers, and equal pay for equal work."

On 11-12 November EU and African Heads of Government will meet in Valletta to discuss the refugee and migration crisis. The International and European Trade Union Confederations (ITUC and ETUC) have made a joint call to European and African leaders to agree concrete measures for dealing with the unprecedented waves of people fleeing war, poverty and persecution.