"Solidarity is how workers turn vulnerability into strength. Working together we will win a better future."
ETUC General Secretary @estherlynch.bsky.social brought a message of solidarity on behalf of 45 million fellow trade unionists to the delegates @force-ouvriere.bsky.social's Congress today.
“We need real improvements that workers can feel now.”
ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch speaking just now at the Global Progressive Mobilisation in Barcelona.
Quality jobs, fair pay, strong public services & a real say at work are essential to rebuild trust & deliver a future people believe in.
Raise pay and deliver social justice to fight far-right.
That was the message from the trade union assembly held in Barcelona in the margins of the Global Progressive Mobilisation.
www.etuc.org/en/pressrelease/raise-pay-and-deliver-social-justice-fight-far-right-unions-tell-political-leaders
There was a huge welcome to President Pedro Sánchez at the Trade Union Assembly in Barcelona today.
Showing the way: strengthening workers' rights, raising wages and investing for the common good while maintaining the eurozone's healthiest economy.
Every job should be a quality job.
Too many workers still face low pay, insecurity and no clear future.
A project of hope: @estherlynch.bsky.social is with fellow trade union leaders in Barcelona to push for real plans, real delivery and a real say at work.
#GPM2026 #TradeUnions
Europe needs to follow Spain’s example.
More investment means more jobs, higher wages and stronger economies, with workers having a real say at work.
The time to act is now.
more: www.etuc.org/en/pressrelease/imf-figures-show-eu-must-follow-spanish-investment
Across the EU, investment is stagnating. It is even falling in key sectors.
ETUC is calling for:
🏦 A permanent EU investment fund
🔁 Fair reinvestment of profits
🤝 Stronger collective bargaining to boost wages & demand
Meanwhile, the wider Eurozone is lagging behind, with growth predictions of just 1.1% well below other advanced economies.
Low investment is holding Europe back.
Spain is showing the way.
With strong public investment, its economy is set to grow by 2.1% this year. That's nearly double the Eurozone average.
Proof that investment delivers. 🧵
In 1489, the Thurn and Taxis family had an imperial monopoly to carry the mail of Europe’s elites.
500 years later, that network has become a public service – but its status is now at risk in the place where it was born: Brussels.
Our op-ed in @euobserver.com.
Call centre workers having the tone of their voice monitored and warehouse workers put in danger by automated targets
Today we told MEPs that AI at work is already out of control and must be regulated to ensure it respects workers’ rights
📰 www.etuc.org/en/pressrele...
A Europe-wide survey commissioned by UNI Europa found 72% favour public procurement that strengthens workers’ livelihoods through collective bargaining
Over 100 world-leading economists, including Thomas Piketty and Isabella Weber, signed a letter supporting workers’ demands for a reform
ETUC General Secretary @estherlynch.bsky.social made the case for collective bargaining to be a cornerstone of public procurement in Europe
"We must ensure public money is used in the public interest. That means rewarding companies who create quality jobs by respecting collective bargaining"
2 TRILLION euro is spent on public contracts every year - most of it to whoever offers to do it for the lowest cost
That creates a race to the bottom in the standards of services and jobs. Today unions, businesses and lawmakers joined forces today to call for change
📰 www.etuc.org/en/pressrele...
As the European Commission prepares to reform the rules governing over 2 trillion euros in annual public procurement, UNI Europa brought together a coalition of unions, businesses, civil society and lawmakers for the first-ever Procurement Summit in Brussels today.
EU data shows a “dramatic” fall in spending in our shops, leading to fewer jobs and higher prices
Now is the time to put more money in the pockets of working people – not hit them with higher interest rates
📰 www.etuc.org/en/pressrele...
We urge you to reconsider this approach and reject the proposed bill, which is due to be debated in the National Assembly on 10 April 2026: www.etuc.org/en/document/...
Letter of support to French trade unions calling for the protection of the right to strike & trade union rights: www.etuc.org/en/document/...
As a defender of human rights,France has a duty to maintain & promote these achievements,which contribute to preservation of democracy, equality & solidarity
🗣️Emergency steps taken during the last energy crisis mitigated its impact and we must re-active them. But we must also deal with the root cause of the problem by investing in cheap and reliable European energy production so that we are not left hostage to fortune in future - @estherlynch.bsky.social
That is why the ETUC is calling for:
1️⃣The decoupling of electricity prices from gas
2️⃣An increase in electricity grid capacity
3️⃣An increase public investment in infrastructure
4️⃣SURE 2.0 to save jobs and livelihoods
5️⃣Windfall taxes on energy companies
6️⃣A suspension of the EU's fiscal rules
If current prices persist, the average annual energy bill in the EU would:
💸Rise from €3,792 to €5,688 – 12% of total household spending
💸Cost €2,000 more in 11 member states
💸Account for more than 10% of all household spending in the majority of member states
Europe must act to reduce bills
🔴The average household energy bill in the EU will rise by more than €1800 a year if current prices persist
New trade union research shows the devastating cost for working people of the failure to address Europe’s dependency on highly volatile fossil fuel
📰 www.etuc.org/en/pressrele...
Every year, EU public authorities spend over €2 trillion on goods and services.
But the system for awarding these contracts to private companies is broken.
We are here to fix it.
Join us at the Procurement Summit next week on 14 April in Brussels.
Register: www.uni-europa.org/meetings/eur...
Emergency measures taken during the last energy crisis mitigated its impact – and we must re-activate them today to save jobs, people’s livelihoods and strategic industries - @estherlynch.bsky.social
www.euractiv.com/news/househo...
Commissioner Jørgensen calls for saving energy by working from home.
But what about workers’ rights?
EPSU agreement for central governments protects the teleworking rights of 9 million workers - yet the Commission is still delaying making it legally binding.
Read more👇🏾
🔴The European Commission has a responsibility to protect people's right to disconnect after urging Europeans to work from home to save energy
People working from home are 4 times more likely to work in their free time and should not have to pay any extra costs
📰 www.etuc.org/en/pressrele...
Across Europe, workers and their trade unions are joining demonstrations in solidarity with the working people of the United States of America.
We are taking a united stand for democracy and against the attack on working people’s rights.
We will not back down ✊✊✊
Crucial: the @ec.europa.eu must in turn ensure its fiscal rules do not put member states under pressure to reduce spending on public services.
Read more 🧑🚒⤵️
EPSU General Secretary @jwgoudriaan.bsky.social 📢
"The next step must be a comprehensive European strategy for firefighters and emergency services, with numeric targets on staffing, training and operational capacity."
ETUC General Secretary @estherlynch.bsky.social 📢
“There has been no better demonstration of the dangerously shortsighted nature of austerity policies than the cuts made to our fire services at a time when the risks of extreme weather events is rising due to climate change."
