CES - ETUC

Standing together for adequate, decent and affordable #housing Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eKQaxdc8

The European Commission's 2024 #enlargement package recognises that strengthening social dialogue, including the capacities of social partners, continues to be relevant in order to address labour market challenges in candidate countries. There is also clarity that economic convergence needs to go hand in hand with social convergence – based on the principles of the EU Pillar on Social Rights, the EU social acquis and strong social dialogue. This is a much-needed reminder to those governments that are still ignore trade unions or actively seek to undermine them. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eVpUpy6x

Ahead of the #EPHearing of the EU's first housing commissioner, research shows low paid workers spend between 35% and 56% of their wages on rent in most member states. Low paid workers spend at least a third of their wages on rent in most member states, new trade union research shows on the eve of the confirmation hearing of the EU’s first commissioner for #housing. The average cost of rent for a property of at most two bedrooms eats up 35% or more of the pay packets of workers earning the statutory minimum wage in 14 member states. Rent accounts for half of monthly earnings for low paid workers in three countries (Netherlands, Ireland, Luxembourg) and, in a further eight member states it is equivalent to 40% or more. And the latest Eurostat data shows the cost of rent has risen by up to 200% across the EU. Know more here: https://lnkd.in/eiuCYR6m

Life is becoming increasingly difficult for working people. In-work poverty is rising across the #EU, with payouts to #shareholders rising up to 13 times faster than wages last year. In most member states, low paid workers spent at least a third of their #wages on rent. Europe is facing a quality job and social justice emergency. According to Eurobarometer, rising prices and the cost of living (42%) and the economic situation (41%) were the main topics that motivated European citizens to vote in the last European elections in June this year. We have called on the new European Commission to raise living standards through directives, investments and action programmes that will deliver quality jobs in every sector and in every region, promote collective bargaining and ensure fair working conditions - on the basis of the ETUC Manifesto for a Fair Deal for Workers. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/emn5mD7c

The majority of EU member states have still not started the process of putting the #minimum #wage directive into national law – just weeks before the deadline for implementation. Around 20 million workers should benefit from the directive which requires member states with statutory minimum wages to ensure they are adequate, and for all member states to promote collective bargaining. The deadline to complete the process of putting the directive into national law, known as ‘transposition’, is November 15. However, just six member states have so far brought forward legislation putting the directive into national law. Discussions are still ongoing in nine member states, while the process has not even begun in seven member states. In three member states, governments have concluded no legislative action is required to fulfil the requirements of the directive. The analysis is part of our ‘Wage Up’ campaign to ensure member states fully deliver on their obligations under the directive. Know more here: https://lnkd.in/gntV3RnX

No one should be subject to #discrimination in the recruitment process or in the workplace because of their #age. Unions, workers and students fight every day against precarious forms of employment and unpaid internships, but they also stand up every day for their right to adequate and decent #wages. These issues have been discussed at 4th learning seminar on ageism of the “Trade Unions against discrimination” project taking place on 22-23 October in Amsterdam. FNV FNV Jong

A year on, the fight for a collective agreement with car manufacturer Tesla continues for Swedish union IF Metall. To demonstrate the ongoing solidarity with the striking workers and their union, IndustriAll Europe’s General Secretary Judith Kirton-Darling, together with ETUC General secretary Esther Lynch visited a Tesla picket line in Stockholm today. The 11th of October 2023 marked a year since Swedish union IF Metal started strike actions against electric car manufacturer Tesla. It has been more than two years since the unions first attempt to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement with Tesla for its members, who service and repair vehicles at TM Sweden AB. Last October 11 all negotiations hit a dead end. In Sweden, almost 90 per cent of the workforce is covered by a collective agreement, across all sectors. Yet despite the union’s efforts, #Tesla has staunchly refused to sign a collective bargaining agreement, arguing that it does not fit with the company’s business model. This refusal has left Swedish Tesla employees without the benefits and protection of a collective agreement. Port blockade In opposition to Tesla’s anti-union attitude, Swedish unions across different industries have taken solidarity action in the last year to protect the right to collective bargaining, resulting in, among other things, the non-delivery of license plates for new Tesla cars. Solidarity for the strikers spread beyond Sweden’s borders. In December 2023 Danish transport union 3F Transport announced a blockade of the manufacturer’s cars in Danish ports. This was followed by similar actions by Fellesforbundet in Norway and AKT in Finland. Elsewhere workers in Tesla are also fighting for union rights. In Germany, IG Metall gained seats in the works council for the first time in the latest internal elections at the beginning of 2024. However, following anti-union actions in the Grünheide site, IG Metall has been unable to negotiate a collective agreement leaving workers unable to benefit from collective terms & conditions. Our General Secretary Esther Lynch said “What is at stake at Tesla Sweden is nothing less than the future of the European social model. I am proud to be with Tesla workers today who are taking an important stand for workers’ and trade union rights that ensure people are paid fairly and are safe at work. “Elon Musk has made his agenda very clear: he says he disagrees with the entire concept of trade unions and is trying to make the green transition about union busting’. “Musk can make up his own rules when he reaches Mars but if you want to do business in Europe, then you need to play by Europe’s rules and that means respecting our tradition of collective bargaining."

The cohesion funds created by Jacques Delors delivers quality jobs and raising living standards in the parts of Europe which most need support. Politically, it is the antidote to the idea that the EU is centralised and remote. Trade unions will not stand for any reform of the EU #budget to become a backdoor to social cuts or allow funds to be taken away from regions which already lack the resources and control over need-based interventions. Know more here: https://lnkd.in/etup2v6S

Corporate greed holding back #investment. Corporations are harming Europe’s competitiveness by choosing to hoard a greater share of profits instead of reinvesting them to raise productivity and create quality jobs as our analysis of EU data shows. Gross investment has fallen by 9% across the EU since 2019 and is at its lowest rates since 2014, when the economy was still reeling from the financial crisis. By contrast, profit share has risen by 3% since 2019. That has coincided with a huge increase in dividends, meaning #profits have been siphoned out of companies and into the pockets of wealthy shareholders. According to the CES - ETUC, making public contracts dependent on reinvesting a fair share of profits would be an effective way of changing the unethical business behaviour which is holding back badly needed investment. Discover our full analysis here: https://lnkd.in/eV_P-djv

Homes not profits! Standing together for adequate, decent and affordable housing. Rea our resolution on the right to adequate, decent and affordable #housing here: https://lnkd.in/eKQaxdc8