UNI Europa

After the horrific events that shook Southport on 29 July and the following riots by right-wing extremists, UNI joins UK trade unions in denouncing disgusting, racist attacks. The UK unions have shared their thoughts with the families and loved ones affected – and denounced the far right’s weaponisation of their pain to spread hatred and sow division. In a statement, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) said: “Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those who have died and are receiving treatment for their injuries. They should be the priority for everyone who cares about what has happened. Instead some have sought to use the tragic event in Southport to divide and spread hate – based on mistruths and false information. Far right thugs have taken to the streets of Southport, Hartlepool and London to attack Police and emergency service workers, to target Muslim communities with xenophobic hatred and to despoil the memories of those whose lives were so tragically cut short.” In a joint statement, the 11 unions affiliated to the Labour Party (TULO) also called out the weaponisation of grief by the far right: “Organised far-right and racist groups have deliberately taken a tragedy, combined it with outright lies and disinformation, and used it to whip up fear and violence. In towns and cities across the country we’ve seen riots, attacks on Muslim and Black communities, and violence against asylum seekers and migrants. We have also seen working people attacked while doing their jobs. Our police and emergency and public service workers, and those working in retail, hospitality and transport have been targeted with threats, abuse and violence.”

ANNOUNCEMENT: On 1 October, essential workers from 6 countries across Europe – cleaners, security guards and catering workers – will stand together in Brussels to protest the race to the bottom on working conditions in their sectors. While the Covid-19 crisis underscored the critical role of essential workers in the functioning of our societies and economies, both public and private clients continue to view them merely as a cost factor rather than an essential investment in safe, clean, and healthy workplaces. Companies employing these workers often cut corners, overload workers, and jeopardize their health, safety, and well-being, undermining their dignity. The timing of this demonstration is crucial. The newly elected EU Parliament will have the highest presence of far-right, extreme-right and fascist parties since its inception. These parties seek to use the EU Parliament to divide workers based on nationality, religion, gender, and sexual orientation. Only the trade union movement has the power to unite all workers, regardless of their occupation, origin and identity. Join in support: https://lnkd.in/e7iXviQ9

In a landmark achievement for the private banking sector, Germany’s United Services Union (ver.di) has negotiated a significant salary increase of 10.5 per cent. As the union announced today, 69.6 per cent of the participating ver.di members ratified the agreement negotiated with the employers’ association for private banking at the start of July. Under the new agreement, workers’ wages will see a 5.5 percent increase from 1 August 2024. Moreover, trainees will benefit from an additional 150 euros in their monthly compensation. In August 2025, salaries will be increased by another 3 per cent, followed by a 2 percent increase in July 2026. With each of these increases, trainees will receive an additional 50 euros. Over 140,000 workers in branches, in risk management and in the back office will benefit from the agreement, which followed a series of “warning strikes” that gave workers and their trade union the necessary momentum in the negotiations. Maureen Hick, Director of UNI Europa Finance, said: We congratulate ver.di and its members for this landmark agreement and significant victory. The salary increases and other provisions will help make a real difference in working people’s lives. 

In Europe, too few workers are covered by collective bargaining agreements. Yet bargaining collectively is the most powerful tool to improve workers’ lives, resulting in higher pay and better conditions. In 2022, a European law – the Minimum Wage Directive – was passed that could transform workers’ bargaining power. Now, as part of the law, EU member states will make national action plans that promote collective bargaining. These national action plans should create a legislative and regulatory framework that will make it easier for unions to achieve 80 per cent collective bargaining coverage, as set out in the law. One of the most effective ways to reach that target is multi-employer bargaining. Learn more about it here: https://lnkd.in/eWpxuQtN

We welcome the re-elected commission president’s promised revision of the EU Public Procurement Directive, a long-standing UNI Europa demand. Public procurement is one of the best tools to reach the EU’s strategic target of 80 per cent collective bargaining coverage. Any revision, however, must ensure that only employers which respect collective bargaining are eligible for public contracts. Our full reaction:

Building an organising culture is an urgent priority for trade unions across Europe. Last week, UNI Europa and its organising centre EPOC held a two-day workshop to introduce participants to the approach we have taken in developing organising capacity. Since 2020, EPOC Network has regularly brought together affiliated unions involved in our organising work to learn from one another. It was initially set up during COVID as a short form webinar whereby unions could present their organising experiences – both successes and challenges – and discuss with other unions in similar situations. More recently, EPOC Network has started to bring together UNI affiliates involved in our organising work in a face-to-face format to really break down the structural challenges we face as unions. The workshop was aimed two distinct groups of participants. Firstly at affiliated unions that are reflecting on their current strategy and exploring the potential for a trade union renewal programme – especially those unions with well-established (including sectoral) collective bargaining. The second group of participants were from the European level – staff of UNI Europa as well as other ETUFs and the ETUC – to explore what the potential is supporting national level affiliates in their renewal from the international and European level. In the context of the forthcoming ETUC Trade Union Renewal Centre this type of collaboration is more important than ever.

Can the ⚖️ Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) be a helpful tool for European Works Council delegates to design innovative due diligence practices? A big question for the participants of a recent ETUI-UNI Europa joint trade union training on what the councils can expect from the new #CSDDD framework 🔭 More info here: https://lnkd.in/ewH_yHp9

📢 WE ARE HIRING! As Project Coordinator on Organising and Collective Bargaining policy, you would organise a series of organising training events, strategy workshops with trade union leadership and analysis of collective bargaining policies. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gFUm7iTb

📢 Call For Tender: European Postal Sector Social Partners Solicit External Expertise For 🌍 EU-Funded Project On “Skills and Work Environment In The Digital Transition” The project’s goal is to provide social partners in the postal sector with a comprehensive insight into the transformation of professional profiles and skills in postal services considering the rise of e-commerce, changing customer requirements, and the imperatives of the green transition. As a result, social partners will be better equipped to identify skills requirements emerging over the next ten years for four occupational profiles, namely back-office operations; delivery of postal items; post offices network; call centers or customer relations. The project will provide insight into essential skills for adapting to changes in postal employment and will collect best practices in terms of training. More on 👉 https://lnkd.in/dzBunD67 All interested applicants must send in their application by 7 June 2024 at the latest to UNI Europa Post & Logistics Director Dimitris Theodorakis.

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