EU governments must end social dumping - ETUC calls on ministers to enforce posted workers’ rights.

The European Union should strengthen the enforcement of the posting of workers directive when ministers meet in Brussels next week. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has written to EU governments demanding that member states have the possibility to impose whatever controls they find appropriate to minimise abuse of the posting of workers directive and to establish joint and several liability for contract chains.

Labour ministers will meet on 9 and 10 December to discuss the Enforcement Directive of the Posting of Workers Directive as part of the Employment, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) Council.

In a letter to the responsible ministers, ETUC Secretary General Bernadette Ségol asks EU governments to respect the rights of workers and end social dumping in Europe.

“The reality in Europe today is that social dumping is taking place, often under the pretext of rules on the posting of workers. Workers in Europe are deprived of their rightful entitlements to pay and social protection. This has to stop,” she writes.

In order to combat social dumping, the directive must strengthen the protection of posted workers’ rights, she says. Current compromises being discussed will not achieve this.

“Despite all the cases of posted workers being abused, I fear that the EPSCO Council does not have the political will to agree on effective measures to combat fraud and social dumping,” says ETUC Confederal Secretary, Veronica Nilsson.

“We have called upon governments not to accept any restrictions to their rights to carry out control measures. Yet the presidency’s proposal is full of restrictions.”

“If this proposal is adopted, the Council will let down hundreds of thousands of posted workers and the whole European trade union movement.”

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Re-uptake for the hotel who you work last year, this season (2013).

The Board of our Association wishes you a Happy, Healthy and Creative 2013. Colleagues, those who want to guarantee their work to the same hotel, from last year for this season (2013) are required to make application for reinstatement Hotels, through our Union. After 14/2000 of the Supreme Court and in accordance with the ZIP 25/23-5-2006 Collective Agreement hotel employees, enshrined the right of reinstatement and must all do our requests through the club in January, recalled that last date for submission of application is 25.01.2013. No extension is granted, CAUTION. Applications will be daily from Monday 07/01/2013 until 01/25/2013 Friday hours 10 a.m. until 2 pm, at the offices of the Association except Saturday and Sunday. We urge colleagues not to neglect this duty, nor be afraid of their employers, the times are tough and jobs are limited and you should not neglect this simple no obligation for us to avoid the worst. Whoever does not make the request via reuptake by the association can claim his place afterwards. We look great because we are bent, raise your head to fear them. More information on the club and on the phone 2831024080. Download the application form here and fill it.

ETUC day of action and solidarity for a Social Compact for Europe.

Declaration adopted by the ETUC Executive Committee at their meeting on 17 October 2012
The ETUC Executive Committee meeting on 17 October 2012 call for a day of action and solidarity on 14 November 2012, including strikes, demonstrations, rallies and other actions, mobilising the European trade union Movement behind ETUC policies as set down in the Social Compact for Europe. They express their strong opposition to the austerity measures that are dragging Europe into economic stagnation, indeed recession, as well as the continuing dismantling of the European social model. These measures, far from reestablishing confidence, only serve to worsen imbalances and foster injustice. While supporting the objective of sound accounts, the Executive Committee consider that the recession can only be stopped if budgetary constraints are loosened and imbalances eliminated, with a view to achieving sustainable economic growth, and social cohesion, and respecting the values enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Fiscal consolidation had a sharper effect than originally estimated by Institutions, including the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Indeed the IMF now admits that they grossly miscalculated the impact austerity measures have on growth. This miscalculation has an unmeasurable impact on the daily life of workers and citizens the ETUC represents, and brings into question the whole basis of austerity policies advanced by the Fiscal Treaty and imposed by the Troika. The Executive Committee note mounting opposition among citizens and workers in the countries concerned and reaffirm their support for affiliated unions fighting for decent working and living conditions. This situation results from the lack of coordination of economic policies and the absence of minimum social standards throughout Europe. In the context of free movement of capital, this gave free rein to competition between states, in particular in the field of taxation, labour costs and social conditions. They reiterate that social dialogue and collective bargaining are central to the European Social Model. They strongly oppose the frontal attacks on these rights, at national and European level. The ETUC Executive Committee urgently calls for immediate adoption and transposition of the European social partners agreements currently before Council. They recall that the Union is treaty-bound to “work for the sustainable development of Europe based on balanced economic growth and price stability, a highly competitive social market economy, aiming at full employment and social progress, and a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment”. They further recall that the ETUC’s support for the Lisbon Treaty was mainly predicated on the full application of those objectives. They note that discussions are currently under way among Institutions and governments