European Trade Union Confederation
Encyclopedia
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is a trade union
organization which was established in 1973 to represent workers and their national affiliates at the European level.
Its role has increased as European integration
has expanded EU influence on economic, employment and social policy throughout the 27 Member States.
an countries, and 12 European industry federations, covering some 60 million individual trade unionists. Other trade Union structures operate under the auspices of the ETUC : EUROCADRES
(the Council of European Professional and Managerial Staff) and EFREP/FERPA (European Federation of Retired and Elderly Persons).
The current President, elected in May 2011, is Ignacio Fernández Toxo, Secretary General of CCOO Spain. The General Secretary is Bernadette Ségol, former Secretary General of UNI Europa.
, social protection, equal opportunities, good quality jobs, social inclusion, and an open and democratic policy-making process that involves citizens fully in the decisions that affect them.
The ETUC regards workers’ consultation, collective bargaining, social dialogue and good working conditions as key to achieving these objectives and promoting innovation, productivity and growth in Europe.
The ETUC exists to represent the European trade union movement at EU level. It works with the other European social partners (representing employers) and the European institutions to develop employment, social and macroeconomic policies that reflect the interests of workers throughout Europe.
Since 2002, the ETUC has further expanded its role in EU-level industrial relations, promoting the development of an autonomous social dialogue between workers' and employers' representatives. The social partners have concluded 'autonomous' agreements on :
These are implemented by the social partners themselves at national, regional and enterprise level. The social partners' current Multiannual Work Programme runs until 2011.
The ETUC is the main counterpart to the EU institutions when it comes to representing workers at EU level.
Together with the other European social partners, the ETUC works with all the EU governing bodies: Presidency, Council, Commission and Parliament. Its right to represent the interests of European workers in the formulation of EU employment, social and macroeconomic policy is articulated in the EU Treaty. The ETUC:
At the biannual meetings of the Macroeconomic Dialogue (MED), established in 1998, the social partners discuss economic policy with the EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN), the European Central Bank (ECB), and the Commission.
The ETUC also pursues its campaign for Social Europe through direct action, such as Euro-demonstrations (for example against the Bolkestein Services Directive
), and other campaigns. In this way the ETUC takes a lead in important social and employment issues of relevance to all Europeans.
ETUC-affiliated trade union organisations maintain their own decision-making procedures. Delegates from the member organisations decide ETUC policies and activities at European level democratically, and the ETUC itself does not have a mandate to impose a line on national confederations. The ETUC also has its own democratic structure.
The ETUC coordinates the activities of the 41 ITUCs (Interregional Trade Union Councils), which organise trade union cooperation across national borders in the EU. The ETUC is recognised by the European Union
, by the Council of Europe
and by the European Free Trade Association
as the only representative cross-sectoral trade union organisation at European level.
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
organization which was established in 1973 to represent workers and their national affiliates at the European level.
Its role has increased as European integration
European integration
European integration is the process of industrial, political, legal, economic integration of states wholly or partially in Europe...
has expanded EU influence on economic, employment and social policy throughout the 27 Member States.
Constitution
At present, the ETUC membership comprises 83 National Trade Union Confederations from a total of 36 EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an countries, and 12 European industry federations, covering some 60 million individual trade unionists. Other trade Union structures operate under the auspices of the ETUC : EUROCADRES
Eurocadres
EUROCADRES is the Council of European Professional and Managerial Staff. It is an organisation associated to the European Trade Union Confederation .EUROCADRES is recognised by the European Commission as a European social partner....
(the Council of European Professional and Managerial Staff) and EFREP/FERPA (European Federation of Retired and Elderly Persons).
The current President, elected in May 2011, is Ignacio Fernández Toxo, Secretary General of CCOO Spain. The General Secretary is Bernadette Ségol, former Secretary General of UNI Europa.
Operations
The ETUC's mission is to bring about a united Europe of peace and stability, where working people and their families enjoy full human, civil, social and employment rights and high living standards. To achieve this, it promotes the European Social Model, combining sustainable economic growth with ever-improving living and working conditions, including full employmentFull employment
In macroeconomics, full employment is a condition of the national economy, where all or nearly all persons willing and able to work at the prevailing wages and working conditions are able to do so....
, social protection, equal opportunities, good quality jobs, social inclusion, and an open and democratic policy-making process that involves citizens fully in the decisions that affect them.
The ETUC regards workers’ consultation, collective bargaining, social dialogue and good working conditions as key to achieving these objectives and promoting innovation, productivity and growth in Europe.
The ETUC exists to represent the European trade union movement at EU level. It works with the other European social partners (representing employers) and the European institutions to develop employment, social and macroeconomic policies that reflect the interests of workers throughout Europe.
Since 2002, the ETUC has further expanded its role in EU-level industrial relations, promoting the development of an autonomous social dialogue between workers' and employers' representatives. The social partners have concluded 'autonomous' agreements on :
- telework (2002)
- work-related stress (2004)
- harassment and violence at work (2007)
- inclusive labour markets (2010)
- a framework of actions for the lifelong development of competencies and qualifications (2002), and a framework of actions on gender equality (2005).
These are implemented by the social partners themselves at national, regional and enterprise level. The social partners' current Multiannual Work Programme runs until 2011.
The ETUC is the main counterpart to the EU institutions when it comes to representing workers at EU level.
Together with the other European social partners, the ETUC works with all the EU governing bodies: Presidency, Council, Commission and Parliament. Its right to represent the interests of European workers in the formulation of EU employment, social and macroeconomic policy is articulated in the EU Treaty. The ETUC:
- takes part in the annual Tripartite Social Summits;
- draws up the trade union response to European Commission proposals;
- liaises with a cross-party Intergroup of MEPs in the European Parliament;
- coordinates trade union participation in a number of advisory bodies, including the Economic and Social Committee and the EU agencies for vocational training (CEDEFOP), improvement of living and working conditions (Dublin Foundation), and health and safety Agency (Bilbao).
At the biannual meetings of the Macroeconomic Dialogue (MED), established in 1998, the social partners discuss economic policy with the EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN), the European Central Bank (ECB), and the Commission.
The ETUC also pursues its campaign for Social Europe through direct action, such as Euro-demonstrations (for example against the Bolkestein Services Directive
Directive on services in the internal market
The Directive on services in the internal market is an EU law aiming at establishing a single market for services within the European Union . Drafted under the leadership of the former European Commissioner for the Internal Market Frits Bolkestein, it has been popularly referred to by his name...
), and other campaigns. In this way the ETUC takes a lead in important social and employment issues of relevance to all Europeans.
ETUC-affiliated trade union organisations maintain their own decision-making procedures. Delegates from the member organisations decide ETUC policies and activities at European level democratically, and the ETUC itself does not have a mandate to impose a line on national confederations. The ETUC also has its own democratic structure.
The ETUC coordinates the activities of the 41 ITUCs (Interregional Trade Union Councils), which organise trade union cooperation across national borders in the EU. The ETUC is recognised by the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, by the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
and by the European Free Trade Association
European Free Trade Association
The European Free Trade Association or EFTA is a free trade organisation between four European countries that operates parallel to, and is linked to, the European Union . EFTA was established on 3 May 1960 as a trade bloc-alternative for European states who were either unable to, or chose not to,...
as the only representative cross-sectoral trade union organisation at European level.
See also
- EU labour law
- UK labour law
- German labour lawGerman labour lawGerman labour law refers to the regulation of the employment relationship and industrial partnership in Germany.-Contract of employment:*Burgerliches Gesetzbuch §§ 611–630...
- French labour lawFrench labour law-History:In France the first labour laws were Waldeck Rousseau's laws passed in 1884. Between 1936 and 1938 the Popular Front enacted a law mandating 12 days each year of paid vacation for workers, and a law limiting the work week to 40 hours, excluding overtime...
External links
- European Social Model
- European Social Partners
- European Petition for high-quality public services, accessible to all
- Solidarity in the Economic Crisis. Challenges and Expectations for European Trade Unions (Publication by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung for the ETUC Congress in Athens 2011)